Kena: Bridge of Spirits Review
Developed by Ember Lab, Kena: Bridge of Spirits is a new action/adventure video game. It is available now for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC (personal computer). In this adventure, you play as Kena, a young female lead who is referred to as a spirit guide.
The Beauty of Kena
Visually, the game is stunning. When watching cutscenes, it feels as if you’re watching a Pixar movie and everything is wonderfully animated. However, Kena: Bridge of Spirits isn’t the most impressive visual experience; far from it. Transitions between gameplay and cutscenes aren’t as smooth as other games out there. Also, I noticed the frame rate in certain sections would dip, and that felt a little jarring to say the least.
Sound design is really good as well. Everything from the Rot’s cute dialogue to the sound of Kena’s unique abilities make the world feel more alive.
Additionally, the music that plays throughout the entire game is wonderful. There are happy notes that give off a Disney vibe as you move through clear areas. While in enemy territory, darker tunes play out. As things in the story start to escalate, grander, more epic melodies can be heard. This adds so much more to an already pleasant experience.
The Adorable Rot
Early on, Kena runs into a mysterious little creature called Rot; and it might be the cutest thing I’ve ever seen in a video game. Throughout her adventure, Kena runs into many more of these adorable creatures.
The Rot are honestly the best part of Kena: Bridge of Spirits. They are primarily used during the many combat sections in the game and make taking down enemies both fun and exhilarating. Combat is simple yet satisfying. Kena’s primary weapon is her staff, which does more than just hit enemies.
Besides combat, the Rot also help with other things. Whether you’re trying to snag collectables or solve puzzles, the Rot will make it a joy to get through.
A Challenge Awaits
Kena: Bridge of Spirits is also surprisingly challenging. Even on the normal difficulty setting, I found myself having a hard time getting through certain sections. That has a lot to do with the variety of enemies in the game.
During specific moments, I feel like the challenges in the game can be more punishing than they need to be. That isn’t to say that challenge isn’t a good thing. Challenges in video games are always welcome. However, too much challenge can be a bad thing when it begins to detract from the experience.
A Great Spiritual Journey
In terms of story, it feels very rewarding when you’re finally able to unravel the mystery and understand the significance of Kena’s journey. Likewise, the great acting throughout makes you care more for each character and makes the events that unfold more meaningful.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits is an exciting, heartfelt, and emotional experience that anyone who likes video games, such as tridewi, will thoroughly enjoy. With beautiful world design, amazing music, great characters, and a satisfying conclusion, this is a wonderful adventure worth playing.
Ryan Leon is a Journalism major who aspires to work in the video games industry as a games journalist. In his spare time, Ryan loves to play video games,...