A heartfelt journey by way of beautiful pure environments.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits is one among only some former PlayStation unique titles to make their technique to Nintendo, however this one waited particularly for Change 2–and for good motive. Its lush forest environments, particularly throughout wet sequences, look superb, and it is exhausting to not stare on the breathtaking artwork and surroundings of the sport as you make your manner by way of. Whereas the gameplay of Kena serves it effectively sufficient, the center of its story and the fantastic thing about its visuals are the actual standouts.
Kena is on a journey to discover a sacred mountain shrine and comes upon an deserted village that has been overtaken by corruption. By gathering little (oddly named) Rot spirits, she will manipulate the atmosphere and even flip the tide of battle in an effort to deliver steadiness again to the world. Gameplay might be acquainted to followers of different PlayStation Third-person motion titles like God of Warfare and Horizon Zero Daybreak, with Bridge of Spirits being lighter fare however with a few of the similar problem, each when it comes to puzzles and fight. There’s heaps to gather when it comes to the Rot themselves, hats for them to put on, and forex to improve Kena’s skills.
Throughout a medium-size map, Kena will encounter spirits and different people who information her in direction of eliminating the corruption that has blocked paths and disrupted life within the village. Armed at first with only a workers and the power to make use of her Rot to ensnare enemies and open up paths, finally she acquires a bow, expands her well being meter, and provides powers like making a therapeutic flower. 5 problem ranges enable gamers to customise the expertise, however even the default setting gives a very good problem throughout most of the boss encounters.
Cautious commentary of your environment is required to finish puzzles and work out learn how to transfer ahead. Whereas your trusty map does point out factors of curiosity, together with warp stones, every new part of the world brings with it new obstacles to navigate. Typically you may have to command your Rot followers to choose up a stone to create a pedestal from which you’ll be able to activate unfold out beacons to open a door ahead. When the bow is finally in hand, you should use it to shoot sure flowers to hookshot you as much as greater floor. Activating pillars in a specific order or defeating waves of enemies earlier than purifying the battleground are a number of extra of the sequences you may encounter, all of which culminate in a well-known however pleasant romp.
The place Kena stumbles only a bit is when it comes to its controls, motion, and repetition. One other Rot mechanic sees the lot of them remodel right into a dragon-like entity that you just information with one stick whereas controlling Kena with the opposite, and these moments by no means felt responsive or satisfying. At different instances, there are ledges, hills, and platforms that it seems like you need to be capable of traverse, however as an alternative the sport simply pushes you away, forcing you to seek out one other manner round. Despite the fact that the aesthetic of Bridge of Spirits is sort of engaging, the forest areas do mix in with each other, making me want for a bit extra visible selection, despite how stunning these locations are.
There are some actually heartfelt moments that Kena witnesses in her journey to the sacred mountain shrine. One in every of these entails a pair of youngsters who function guides to you early on as they seek for their older brother. The conclusion of their story arc was one which genuinely choked me up, all of the extra so as a result of the cutscenes are so evocative and gorgeously animated. Adjustments between day and evening time all through the sport contribute equally to it being in moments ominous but in addition tranquil. The steadiness that Bridge of Spirits manages to realize when it comes to tone is a formidable one.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits had lengthy been on my radar as I held out hope for a future Change port. It took the facility of the Change 2 to make {that a} actuality, however there is no doubt that the constancy of the visible expertise was definitely worth the wait. Bridge of Spirits is not overly distinctive in its gameplay, however it compensates for that with an enthralling story and delightful environments. Even in handheld mode, the sport holds up effectively and the allure stays intact. Kena: Bridge of Spirits does not outstay its welcome, and with luck it is going to proceed the apply of what have been as soon as PlayStation exclusives discovering a house on Nintendo platforms.
