I’m not obstinate, however a buddy of mine has really helpful Kena: Bridge of Spirits to me because it first launched in September 2021. And, I by no means acquired round to it. No excuses, it’s simply one thing I by no means acquired round to.
Now although, it arrives on Xbox, with many new avid gamers desirous to see what the fuss is all about. Myself included. So, we could?
Kena is a younger lady who travels to locations to assist spirits cross on from the bodily world. For no matter cause, sure spirits of people that have handed away have held onto the bodily world and want the assistance of a spirit information to maneuver on. It’s very a lot The Sixth Sense, solely with much less Bruce Willis and extra third-person action-adventure.
Being a spirit information could be a lonely and introspective journey, so fortunately Kena isn’t alone on her journey. She rapidly comes throughout these lovable creatures often called the Rot. It is probably not essentially the most affectionate identify for them, however I can not stress how cute and cuddly they’re. Even my coronary heart of stone warmed to them immediately.
You begin off with simply the one, however rapidly discover an increasing number of. They’re rewards for defeating bosses – extra on these later – hidden away in chests and actually by turning over stones. A lot in order that the achievement for locating each single Rot is named No Stone Unturned. You’ll know you’re close to one when your controller vibrates.
However essentially the most lovable factor in regards to the Rot is that they are often seen on display always. It’s one factor once they comply with you round – not not like say, Pikmin – however arrive at nearly any constructing, construction or outcrop and they’re going to teleport to a extra snug place and simply watch Kena do her factor. They may sit on tabletops, stand on a stone for a greater view of the vista or simply allow you to spotlight areas try to be exploring.
Plus, did I point out that you could unlock hats for them to put on? At present, one in every of mine has a pirate captain hat and, in my narrative, he’s undoubtedly the chief of the Rot.
Cute is one factor, however being versatile is one other. Fortunately, the Rot can do each in equal measures. They may help in battle when directed, capable of distract opponents for a short while and beef up sure assaults. Their main use outdoors of battle nonetheless, is to take away the corruption discovered all all through the world.
An unknown spirit at the start of the sport tells you that he’s the reason for the corruption discovered all through the world. However quite than letting Kena free his spirit, his causes for remaining aren’t clear.
This corruption is everywhere in the world, and eradicating it’s one in every of two main aims for Kena. It’s primarily used to gate progress to sure areas or in environmental puzzles. Eliminating it brings color again to the world, and offers the already lovely visuals an additional punch of color.
Kena’s different goal is to journey the world and free the spirits nonetheless right here. The primary two you encounter are two little twins who’ve misplaced their older brother. To free them you have to discover three objects tying them to this world. Do that and also you get some emotional storytelling to fill within the gaps, earlier than the trio then depart this world.
After this, one other spirit is trapped and the identical actions have to be carried out. After which as soon as once more. These self-contained tales are performed nicely, however don’t progress the bigger narrative in any respect. I’d go so far as to say the primary narrative solely bookends the sport itself, and these moments – pretty much as good as they’re – are purely filler to offer the gameplay some context. And maybe, aren’t actually that vital.
That’s as a result of the gameplay and exploration in Kena: Bridge of Spirits does such job of directing you to your subsequent goal. From the second you arrive within the village, you possibly can see the place you possibly can and might’t go, and the place you’ll need to come back again to when you will have new instruments in your arsenal. And the sport continues in the identical vein all through. There may be a lot to be discovered when exploring away from the primary path, with loads of goodies to be discovered. New Rot, new hats, chests, meditation spots and extra will be discovered for many who enterprise off the overwhelmed monitor.
However watch out the place you go, because the corruption brings with it loads of enemies to attempt to put down Kena. There’s a pretty excessive problem to Kena: Bridge of Spirits on the usual setting, and it ventures into extraordinarily tough on the toughest problem. There are frequent bosses to come across with every one sometimes taking a couple of makes an attempt to finest them. However even the usual enemies can pack a punch, with a few of them proving to be very irritating if multiple seems without delay.
Your arsenal begins off fairly primary as all you will have is a workers and lightweight and heavy assaults. This bit feels very Past Good & Evil, and never simply because I’ve been enjoying the 20th anniversary of that sport. However as you progress you get entry to a bow and a few bombs, in addition to different upgrades you possibly can select from within the expertise menu. These new weapons are additionally used within the atmosphere for but extra puzzle fixing.
Upon getting your devices of destruction, Kena: Bridge of Spirits feels lots like God of Battle, solely with out the wanton violence and dismemberment. It provides you simply the proper variety of expertise and strikes to defeat the enemies with out bombarding you with unnecessary and complicated strikes.
However regardless of these tense encounters, there’s a actual sense of melancholy to the world that Kena explores. That might be all the way down to the abandoned villages, dilapidated farmlands or simply the very good soundtrack accompanying you. Weaving conventional gamelan music into it really works wonders; the soundtrack effortlessly matches no matter is occurring on display always.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits is a sport that has one thing for everybody. Some might love the story, others maybe the fight. Just a few folks could wish to discover the world and put the issue on simple. Every factor of the sport is completed nicely sufficient to create an all spherical superb sport. However then again, none of it stands out as spectacular, one thing that the sport itself strives to be. It’s strong, however not groundbreaking, taking little bits from every thing similar to Studio Ghibli to God of Battle, all with out pushing any boundaries in any respect.
However everyone knows that the actual star of the present are the Rot themselves. Cute, cuddly and versatile, you possibly can’t assist however really feel that these little guys are the primary promoting level of Kena: Bridge of Spirits.
