Few indie games see the kind of spotlight that Kena: Bridge of Spirits showed during the PlayStation 5 reveal event. With that kind of attention comes huge expectations, some that indie studio Ember Lab has not only been able to satisfy but exceed as a freshman game developer. Kena: Bridge of Spirits can stumble a few times while running, but it's one of the most enjoyable and emotional journeys you'll experience this year.
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Kena: Bridge of Spirits is such a beautiful and unique game that it can be hard to believe that the studio behind it, Ember Lab, has never made a game before. Initially, the company specialized in animated feature films, but their transition to the video game industry was a resounding success. Ember Lab uses its unparalleled talent in the visual arts to bring the story of Kena, a rookie spirit guide, to life. Throughout her journey, Kena helps souls attached to a spirit mountain come to terms with their deaths after a tragedy occurs in their once-thriving village, while trying to uncover the mystery of that disaster. Seeing her connect and call upon these spirits is one of the most unforgettable parts of the experience, and each soul is more interesting than the last. Add to that some of the best voice acting, sound design and music of 2021
Unfortunately, Kena is at its weakest in its gameplay loop. While nothing about the gameplay is downright poor, there's little design that sets it apart from other third-person adventure games. The arc mechanics, for example, work much like the 2013 Tomb Raider reboot, feeling just as awkward today as that title would by today's standards, even with haptic feedback. The combat never really clicks either, as the mechanics never expand enough to be as sensational as the rest of the game. Kena has a light attack, heavy attack, bow, bombs, and dash ability. Compared to the varied moves of the bosses, it can be shocking that Kena has so little at her disposal during the game. Although there is an upgrade system, it is basic, giving Kena only a few abilities and attacks. additional that she will not win throughout the campaign. Another noticeable flaw comes from bosses with inconsistent difficulty spikes even on the game's lowest settings, which can be frustrating. Considering this is Ember Lab's first game, these are understandable hiccups in an otherwise amazing experience.
Benefits
- Stunning visuals like the most prolific animation film studios
- Phenomenal soundtrack that amplifies the experience
- moving story
- Faithful inspiration drawn from Asian culture
- Excellent dubbing
- Haptic feedback and DualSense features are
The inconvenients
- Clunky combat that never feels fluid
- Shallow leveling system
- Inconsistent difficulty
- Bad checkpoint system
Verdict
Despite some inconsistent design decisions behind Kena: Bridge of Spirits, the game is a remarkable story about dealing with loss and overcoming that pain told through the lens of a girl dealing with her grief on her own. Kena's story, gorgeous visuals, unparalleled soundtrack, and vibrant voice acting come together to create an indie title like no other this year that's well worth your money.
Note: 8 / 10
For more on Kena: Bridge of Spirits, be sure to check out some of our other plays on this hit indie, like Kena: Bridge of Spirits – What's in Every Edition here on Creamofgames.
