Game: Kena: Bridge of Spirits
Genre: Adventure, Action, Indie
System: Steam (Windows) (also on PS4 & PS5)
Developers | Publishers: Ember Lab
Controller Support: Yes
Price: US $43,50 | UK 31.99£ | EU € 39,99
Release Date: September 26th, 2022
No review code was used; I purchased the game myself.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits is a 2022 action-adventure game developed and released by Ember Lab.
Premise
In Kena: Bridge of Spirits, we play as Kena, a young spirit guide. Her job is to guide the spirits of recently departed people stuck between the physical and spirit worlds if they have unfinished things to do. Kena is looking for the sacred Mountain Shrine. During her travels, she happens upon an abandoned village, and she needs to uncover its secrets and help its dwellers move on.
The Gameplay of Kena: Bridge of Spirits
Kena: Bridge of Spiris is an action-adventure third-person game with puzzle elements. We control Kena, a young spirit guide. Along the way, we collect small creatures called the Rot, who act not only as our cute companions but also as helpers who can do tasks for us, such as moving objects, taking shapes, etc. You can also collect cute hats for them, and if you see fruits, shoot them down to feed the Rot. They can also help you during combat by infusing your attacks for a more substantial effect.
The game has some combat – with staff for light, heavy, and charged attacks. At a later stage, we get an upgrade for the staff to transform into a bow for ranged attacks, but also transportation and sometimes as a tool for solving puzzles by hitting crystals. Kena has some spirit abilities as a spirit guide; she can use a pulse ability to shield or activate objects. It can also be used to stun enemies or dodge attacks. Some people find the combat easy and not particularly inventive. Still, it was the right balance of easy enough for me. I am not big on games with complicated combat mechanics.
Another fun update is the use of Spirit Bombs, which can float rocks for platforming, puzzles, or stun enemies.
While wandering around the map, you can find chests with gems and other collectables. And, some of the chests might be cursed and, instead of gems, might contain some enemies to fight. The gems can be used to buy hats. You can also collect Karma by completing tasks and finding chests. You can use the Karma to buy upgrades and skills. Other things to see are spirit letters, which, if you deliver them, unlock areas on the map and help trapped spirits. Also, look for meditating locations – more meditation, higher health bar. In Kena: Bridge of Spirits, we have a map and a fast travel option via shrines. The more shrines we find, the more easier the travel.
As I mentioned above, the gameplay combines combat and puzzles. The game’s primary goal is to reach the Mountain Shrine, but on the way, we must free the forest, the village, and the spirits from decay. To do that, we have different enemies we have to fight. The puzzles are of various types: move and press things, hit crystals within a time frame, and overcome obstacles like walls and fences.
The World of Kena: Bridge of Spirits
The world of Kena is bright and colorful. The creatures, the dwellers, the spirits, and even the enemies are vibrant. They make you care about them and what will happen to them. The village is abandoned and forgotten, and I wished to see it how it was before- full of life.
There is a defined eastern influence on the game. The developers were inspired by places like Japan and Bali when creating the locations. There is this feeling of playing a Studio Ghibli game or even the recent Disney movie Raya and the Last Dragon.
The soundtrack, available for purchase, was composed by Jason Gallaty (Oxenfree) in collaboration with the Balinese ensemble group Gamelan Çudamani. It’s inspired by the traditional ensemble music of Indonesia’s Javanese, Sundanese, and Balinese peoples, which is made up predominantly of percussive instruments. It fits perfectly within the world of Kena.
Some Side Notes
In Kena: Bridge of Spirits, we have four difficulty settings: from Story Mode, which has little combat, to Expert Spirit Guide. We also have extensive video, audio, controls, and accessibility settings. We also have a “New Game+” option, which allows you to start a new game while retaining all upgrades and skills you’ve gotten. Kena: Bridge of Spirits has Steam achievements and trading cards.
Conclusion
Kena: Bridge of Spirits is one of my favorite games from the last few years. It’s dynamic and colorful; it has a story and heart. It makes you think and care about its characters and story. The only thing I don’t like about this game is that it still has no sequel.
Final Verdict: Two Thumbs Up: