I wasn’t certain what to anticipate from Kena: Bridge of Spirits. Developer Ember Lab’s lovely journey induced fairly a stir when it was revealed on the PlayStation Way forward for Gaming showcase in 2020 Following a delay, it felt like Kena retreated into the shadows a bit - leaving some anxiousness about whether or not it could nonetheless meet its new launch date of September 21, and whether or not it could fall on the ultimate hurdle many highly-anticipated releases have within the final couple of years.
Creating a recreation within the present local weather is a heavy cross to bear, notably for a smaller studio like Ember. My coronary heart hoped I'd be pleasantly stunned whereas my head mentioned to mood expectations.
This cautious method was in all probability for the perfect. Kena’s charming world and artwork model is its actual hook, providing a family-friendly action-adventure that wouldn’t look misplaced as Pixar’s subsequent movie. Nevertheless, it’s, sadly, let down by its lack of originality and poor technical efficiency, with the latter usually being too obvious a problem to disregard primarily based on my expertise with PS5 code.
Equally difficult and charming
Kena: Bridge of Spirits follows younger spirit information Kena who, whereas on a quest to achieve a sacred place of energy, comes throughout an deserted village that's bothered with corruption because of misplaced souls who haven’t fairly moved on to the opposite aspect. Accompanied by companions often called Rot, who take the type of lovely little blob-like creatures, Kena units out to uncover the secrets and techniques of the village and to clear the corruption by serving to the spirits transfer on - an act that helps her untangle her personal previous. "[Kena's] world is a vivid and lush one, packed full of ruins, shrines and flowing rivers, beckoning you to explore but also offering a serenity that’s only bolstered by its unforgettable Balinese score."
The very first thing that’s placing about Kena: Bridge of Spirits is its aesthetic. Its world is a vivid and luxurious one, packed stuffed with ruins, shrines and flowing rivers, beckoning you to discover but additionally providing a serenity that’s solely bolstered by its unforgettable Balinese rating. Thankfully, exploration is completely inspired and rewarded - and proves a necessity as you progress.
Whereas Kena is about particular goals to finish, there may be loads to gather and unlock in your journey, from Spirit Mail that must be delivered to the village, to Rots that, when discovered, be a part of your posse and observe you want kids on a faculty journey. Sadly, it’s exhausting to trace which of those collectibles you’ve picked up as they don’t truly seem on the map, it simply tells you what number of you could have out of the overall for an space.
Whereas Rots are cute, the sport leans on this maybe too closely, letting you acquire Gems (hundreds of Gems) to purchase hats to pop in your spirit companions. Whereas hats are an lovely characteristic, and can doubtless delight kids, it seems like there’s maybe more emphasis on amassing Gems for these than on the “Karma” wanted to unlock new talents. And you'll, at instances, end up clamoring for that Karma - and for brand new Rots. Each play a key half within the recreation’s fight, with Rots helping in battles with particular assaults (after they’ve gained sufficient braveness in brawls to attract them out) and Karma permitting you to unlock new talents by way of the sport’s considerably restricted ability tree.
Whereas the fight and its varied components take a little bit of getting used to, it does really feel fairly good. On PS5, the DualSense controller’s haptic suggestions helps to immerse you within the motion whereas its adaptive triggers allow you to really feel the stress in your bow as you line up your shot. It’s a pleasant contact, however I've seen it carried out higher elsewhere.
However don’t let the family-friendly nature of Kena trick you into pondering that is a simple recreation. I used to be taken barely aback, enjoying on Spirit Information mode (the equal of medium), that I struggled with a few of Kena’s boss battles and puzzles. This stage of problem is a pleasing shock to a level, because it does present a little bit of chew, however I discovered myself questioning how a baby enjoying on the identical issue setting was meant to grapple with the weather I discovered tough.
Typically, boss battles depend on accurately timed dodges, utilizing the best technique and realizing when to make use of assets resembling {health} - which is usually restricted and might solely be unlocked by utilizing a Rot skill. If this was a recreation primarily geared toward adults, this wouldn’t be as a lot of a problem as it's, however even the best mode can see boss fights being pretty relentless.
A technical letdown
What makes Kena’s fight that rather more irritating is its technical efficiency points. The sport has two modes, Efficiency Mode, which sees it operating at upscaled 4K at 60fps, and Constancy Mode, which sees it operating at native 4K at 30fps. To be trustworthy, I can not see a huge distinction visually within the two modes however I've discovered Constancy Mode virtually unplayable because of how sluggish it's - so I've caught with Efficiency Mode. "While the general bugs are annoying, the frame rate issues are detrimental to the game experience itself. Not only do they throw off dodges that need to be timed correctly, but it means that cinematic cutscenes - which are actually incredibly stunning and beautifully done - stammer like a knockoff PS1 game."
Even nonetheless in Efficiency Mode, Kena suffers from body charge drops very often - together with a large number of different bugs resembling cutscenes not triggering, getting caught within the environments and textures generally not trying fairly proper. Whereas the overall bugs are annoying, the body charge points are detrimental to the sport expertise itself. Not solely do they throw off dodges that have to be timed accurately, however it signifies that cinematic cutscenes - which are literally extremely beautiful and fantastically carried out - stammer like a knockoff PS1 recreation.
The cinematics have such potential, it’s irritating to see it wasted. That is very true as they’re the pillar stones of the story and sometimes I discovered their stammering points an impediment to emotionally connecting with the sport and its characters - I really feel that, with out these points, possibly I may have made that connection. Based on Ember Lab, these cinematics are pre-rendered movies operating at 24fps - so we might anticipate them to run higher. It’s a disgrace as they do look ok to go toe-to-toe with Hollywood animated movies however I discovered them virtually unwatchable as they had been so janky. What’s more, there’s no seamless transition again into gameplay, with a really clear distinction from once you’re watching the cinematic to once you’re again within the less-visually-impressive gameplay world.
A launch day patch was set to repair points, however I nonetheless discover the cutscenes tough to observe because it was carried out. It’s a problem that presently robs Kena: Bridge of Spirits of its greatest moments, and a component that would have garnered it the redemption it wanted.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits is nearly harking back to an Xbox 360-era journey: it’s enjoyable, colourful and charming. Nevertheless it additionally dangers turning into forgettable. Positive, Kena’s artwork model and world are its hooks, however it doesn’t really feel like the sport does a lot that’s distinctive - that pushes the style ahead and cements its place as a must-play action-adventure amongst a plethora of others.
Nevertheless, I perceive that Kena isn’t solely constructed for adults and, for youthful gamers - and people not notably bothered by technicalities - Kena is more likely to delight. It’s a recreation of coronary heart and empathy, however isn’t afraid to draw back from its darkish moments - in spite of everything, it's a recreation that’s finally about demise.
I cherished enjoying Kena within the second, as soon as I seemed previous its jarring technical points, and performed for hours on finish. However for those who ask me in a 12 months to recall the perfect bits, it’s doubtless I'll have forgotten lots about it. I loved it because it suits a system I’m already fairly acquainted with, which many video games have tapped into earlier than. However I couldn’t assist ready for a “wow” second that by no means got here.
