Kena: Bridge of Spirits is a 2021 action-adventure video game developed and published by Ember Lab. The story follows Kena, a young spirit guide who uses her magical abilities to help deceased people move from the physical to the spirit world. The game is presented through a third-person perspective. The player uses Kena's staff for attacking enemies, and her pulse ability for defending against attacks. They are tasked with collecting small spirit companions known as the Rot, who help to complete tasks and battle against enemies.
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I was interested due to the beautiful art style but actually it ended up being THE last straw for me as far as being completely done with conventional modern game design. Just completely devoid of any meaningful gameplay innovations or ideas of its own. Playing this made me go 100% Dark Souls 2 instead, Kena leaves me begging for an ounce of inaccessible non-standard elements.
Just kinda gross to see an indie game suffer from much of the same stuff the AAA scene does. At least this game actually does look pretty and animate well, unlike most of its AAA contemporaries that only pretend to look the part. Despite that, I still end up bored by its lack of environmental variety, and the overall stylistic direction is too modern, wasting what should be an easy S tier aesthetic. It's a modern Playstation game it's not allowed to have interesting direction, deadpan minimalism with a focus on being vaguely cinematic is the prison food we gotta endure even in truly enjoyable games. Combat is engaging, puzzles are puzzling. It's well made but that means nothing to me when every element is just going through the motions a thousand other games have gone through. They've got the recipe for "good game" down to a soulless science and it drives me crazy.
I think I'm about 65%ish done with the game. I almost exclusively review games I've finished, and I do intend to actually finish this someday. It's just been a slow uphill battle with multiple months between sessions. I just really doubt I'll have much more to say playing more. Perhaps an updated review with more specifics if I decide I have more to say but this is about it. Definitely a studio to look out for, even if this wasn't for me it's not a pitiful first effort. I can see someone less jaded by playing hundreds of games for 20 years finding this phenomenal. I'd like to see them branch out and make something special. Though I worry the focus on next gen graphics and cinematic minimalism will continue to be a creative dead end.
Just kinda gross to see an indie game suffer from much of the same stuff the AAA scene does. At least this game actually does look pretty and animate well, unlike most of its AAA contemporaries that only pretend to look the part. Despite that, I still end up bored by its lack of environmental variety, and the overall stylistic direction is too modern, wasting what should be an easy S tier aesthetic. It's a modern Playstation game it's not allowed to have interesting direction, deadpan minimalism with a focus on being vaguely cinematic is the prison food we gotta endure even in truly enjoyable games. Combat is engaging, puzzles are puzzling. It's well made but that means nothing to me when every element is just going through the motions a thousand other games have gone through. They've got the recipe for "good game" down to a soulless science and it drives me crazy.
I think I'm about 65%ish done with the game. I almost exclusively review games I've finished, and I do intend to actually finish this someday. It's just been a slow uphill battle with multiple months between sessions. I just really doubt I'll have much more to say playing more. Perhaps an updated review with more specifics if I decide I have more to say but this is about it. Definitely a studio to look out for, even if this wasn't for me it's not a pitiful first effort. I can see someone less jaded by playing hundreds of games for 20 years finding this phenomenal. I'd like to see them branch out and make something special. Though I worry the focus on next gen graphics and cinematic minimalism will continue to be a creative dead end.
A very colourful, beautiful game with excellent art design and, of course, adorable little friends. I don't know why this wasn't talked about more, as I thought it was a very tight, well constructed game. Short and to-the-point, a perfect game to play with your PS Plus sub.
I am right near the end and will absolutely finish this game.
Its so beautiful and I adore the story.
Its so beautiful and I adore the story.
A very fun and beautiful game
Story 4 | Gameplay 4.5 | Audio 5 | Visual 4 | Details 3 | Entertainment 5
Total 4.3
Total 4.3
Really pretty art style and enjoyed the combat and story. Excited for what they release next.