Since 2013

Search

Search

Review: Kena: Bridge of Spirits

8/10

Summary

Whether it’s on PlayStation or the newly released Xbox version, Kena remains a captivating experience that is a beautifully crafted adventure that blends a heartfelt narrative with stunning visuals and engaging gameplay. This is a game that excels in storytelling and visual artistry, making it a must-play for anyone who appreciates a meaningful adventure.

Developer – Ember Lab

Publisher – Ember Lab

Platforms –  Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X (Reviewed), PS4/5, PC

Review copy given by Developer

It’s about time Kena: Bridge of Spirits finally came to Xbox, after partnering with Sony Interactive Entertainment for a console-exclusive deal back in 2021. As someone who doesn’t play PlayStation often other than Triple A (AAA) exclusives, this game was one I passed on at the time, but It always looked like something I would love to play. While Kena got decent reviews on Playstaion and Pc back in 2021 , will 3 years of time help make the Xbox Version shine any extra ? Let’s find out !

In Kena: Bridge of Spirits, the world is inhabited by spirits of the deceased who remain trapped between the physical and spirit realms due to trauma or unresolved issues. Spirit guides, like the young protagonist Kena, have the responsibility of understanding and helping these spirits move on.

Kena embarks on a journey to a forsaken village in search of the sacred Mountain Shrine. Along the way, she gathers small, mystical creatures called the Rot to aid her. She soon encounters a powerful masked spirit responsible for corrupting the forest, causing decay and spawning dangerous monsters. Despite Kena’s offer to help him move on, the spirit refuses and vanishes.

In the village, Kena meets Zajuro, a former elder who instructs her to assist trapped spirits before she can reach the Mountain Shrine. Her first mission is to help two young spirits, Saiya and Beni, whose brother Taro is struggling to find peace. After collecting relics of Taro’s memories and defeating the corruption that consumes him, Kena learns about Taro’s tragic past. When their village was destroyed by the explosion of the Mountain Shrine, Taro’s spirit was overwhelmed by guilt and corruption. Kena helps him forgive himself, and he reunites with his siblings, allowing their spirits to move on.

Kena then seeks to aid Adira, the village’s Woodsmith, and encounters the spirit of Adira’s partner, Hana. Kena discovers that Adira and Hana attempted to harness the Mountain’s energy to sustain the village, but the Shrine’s explosion disrupted their efforts. After helping Adira find peace and acknowledging the enduring legacy of her work with Hana, their spirits are freed.

To reach the Mountain Shrine, Kena must confront the masked spirit, who is revealed to be Toshi, the former village leader. Toshi’s corruption overpowers Kena, but she eventually uncovers relics of his past and learns that his misguided actions led to the village’s destruction. Kena battles Toshi, who has fused the Rot with corruption to create a monstrous entity. After defeating him, Kena urges Toshi to forgive himself, allowing his spirit and that of Zajuro to move on.

In the end, Kena bids farewell to the Rot, who are revealed to be fragments of the Rot God. The Rot reunite to restore the spirit of the Rot God, and Kena finds peace as she meditates at the Mountain Shrine.

With launching on Xbox, One of the standout features of the Xbox release was the inclusion of exclusive cosmetic items, most notably the pirate hats for the Rot. These hats, unavailable on other platforms, give the Rot a unique and playful look, adding a bit of extra charm for Xbox players. While not much difference , from the PC or PlayStation versions, the game does show some performance boosts on Xbox Series S|X with optimization in the frame rate area vs other platforms.

Whether it’s on PlayStation or the newly released Xbox version, Kena remains a captivating experience that is a beautifully crafted adventure that blends a heartfelt narrative with stunning visuals and engaging gameplay. This is a game that excels in storytelling and visual artistry, making it a must-play for anyone who appreciates a meaningful adventure.

Share Everywhere!
RELATED ARTICLES