Kena: Bridge of Spirits – Spotlight

For a first game by a studio that was previously known for CGI animations and trailers, Kena: Bridge of Spirits is a stellar entry. The studio’s talent at visual spectacle shines through, and it’s layered with good combat, excellent puzzles and exploration. You play as Kena, a spirit guide tasked with setting trapped spirits free, and helping them move on. The story sees you helping various such spirits, as you traverse a gorgeous and treacherous world.

The combat is where Kena’s strength rises above being just a pretty game. It’s fairly tough, with varied boss designs that demand careful approach and pattern recognition. The regular enemies are more easy to manage, but the various particle effects, combination of moves and weapons, keep things always interesting.

Pros:
Absolutely gorgeous
Fun combat
Great characters and voice acting
Memorable world and puzzles

Cons:
Combat could be tighter

Score – 9/10

About:

Immerse yourself in a story-driven action-adventure set in a charming world rich with exploration and fast-paced combat. Play as Kena, a young Spirit Guide travelling to an abandoned village in search of the sacred mountain shrine.

Find and grow a team of tiny spirits known as the Rot who maintain balance by decomposing dead and rotting elements. Enhance your companions’ abilities, create new ways to manipulate the environment and uncover the secrets of a forgotten community hidden in an overgrown forest where wandering spirits are trapped.

This gorgeous adventure takes players on a journey of self-discovery as Kena restores balance to an ancient village in a once-thriving environment. Players take on the role of Kena, a young Spirit Guide on a quest to uncover the mysterious story surrounding the demise of the village. Using her staff and the help of her collection of tiny companions known as the Rot, the player will disarm adversaries, unlock new skills, uncover secrets, and restore the beauty of the land.

Kena: Bridge of Spirits is the first game from Ember Lab, a small indie studio that honed its skills creating character-driven animated commercials and branded game apps for clients such as Coca-Cola, Major League Baseball, and Hisense. The studio was formed in 2009 by brothers Josh and Mike Grier with the mission to tell great stories with universal appeal. Ember Lab is a tight-knit team of 14 that seeks out and collaborates with emerging talent and developers worldwide.