Remember the golden era when games were all about one thing—sheer enjoyment? Those moments when you’d dive into a game and immediately find yourself immersed in its captivating story or stunning art style? Games back then were about unadulterated fun, without the pressure to conform or compete. But somewhere along the way, the gaming landscape shifted. Today, it seems most games have lost that 'pure fun factor.' Instead, we're bombarded with complex combat systems that take ages to master or vast open worlds that feel empty and lackluster. And that's just the single-player genre! Venture into the realm of 'ever online' live service games, and the picture gets even bleaker (and that’s coming from a Destiny 1 and 2 fan).

Everything has a battle pass now.

Everything feels like a grind.

Simply put, the fun seems to have faded away and the sense of obligation has taken over.

Don’t get me wrong, I'm not here to bash modern gaming or claim that the industry is dying. Quite the contrary, we got gems like Baldur's Gate 3 or Spiderman 2. Though we also got some historic flops as well. But we have to be honest, its rare to get a game that feels like a game and is just plain fun with no strings attached.

Enter Kena: Bridge Of Spirts.

What Is Kena: Bridge Of Spirts?

(Spoiler Warning.)

Kena: Bridge Of Spirts is a single-player story driven adventure, platform, and action game that hides a very bleak and bitter sweet narrative behind a cute and cuddly exterior. You play as Kena, a Spirit Guide who is searching for a ancient mountain shrine and in the process bumps into a two children playing with a very adorable small creature. At first glance the fact that the children shimmer and glow a off color of blue and can vanish on command may seem like nothing, that its just the game’s unique style, but upon reaching a empty village covered in Rot with your new cute friend on your shoulder something seems off.

This is the first time the game hints at its bleak undertone. But Kena is a Spirt guide which is exactly what the name suggests, she helps restless souls pass on to the afterlife. Ouch. Yeah, trust me, it gets really painful.

From this point onward the game really lets the player explore its sudo open world as they reach new sections and unlock new tools and abilities to play with. All the while fighting growingly difficult enemies and bosses.

Gameplay Loop -

Essentially the entire game works like this: you are tasked with helping a troubled soul let go and pass on in order to clear the ‘Rot’ that is infesting the land. These souls are separated in their own areas starting with the Forgotten Forest. While exploring these areas Kena has to find three relics to summon the spirt and fight them in order to free them and in the process of collecting each relic learning about the character and how they died and their motivations. Its quite moving stuff really. All the while engaging in very satisfying platforming sections as well as combat sections with some light puzzles here and there.

This is the game at a very basic level, but how it slowly opens up and evolves never gives this gameplay loop a chance to feel old or stale.

Combat -

Starting off with nothing but a staff and double jump, it can be deceiving at first how deep the combat can actually get. As time goes on Kena unlocks new tools such as a bow, bombs, and a dashing teleport ability. Combine this with the three main ability upgrade paths for each tool she has, (bow, staff, and bomb,) the combat becomes deep enough to stay entertaining but not to deep where it takes to long to learn and enjoy. Throw in a rather large group of enemy types from your standard ‘whack them till they die’ to foes that have you aiming for weak spots or forcing you to adapt and use your abilities to open up weak points, there are always new combinations to keep the combat encounters fresh.

Outside of the normal and special enemies types there are also a few bosses in the game that really challenge the player depending on what difficulty is picked, which can be swapped at anytime. I like to say these bosses pull in elements of the Souls games but that can be a mute point depending on the perspective. None the less, due to the fantastic level of gameplay and narrative pacing each boss had a great sense of weight behind them as you are fighting someone you learned about over the last hour or two of progressing in that soul’s area. That and unique mechanics for each fight, boss’s are quite fun to do. And don’t even get me started on the soundtrack.

Finally there are also charms that you can equip to augment your playstyle. Good at parrying? Use the charm that fills your shield upon a perfect parry. Always at full health? Throw on the charm that gives your staff more damage while full.

My advice, rush the upgrades for the bow. Soon enough it will feel like your playing Horizon Zero Dawn with slow motion and a special super charged arrow that makes you feel like a badass when you use it.

Story -

The narrative of Kena: Bridge of Spirits ingeniously lulls players into a false sense of tranquility at the outset. Its vibrant and charming art style, coupled with the endearing 'Rot' companions and initial interactions with child characters, create an illusion of innocence. However, beneath this façade lies a poignant and, at times, agonizing tale that the game is determined to unfold, whether you're prepared for it or not.

Kena embarks on a mission to reach the mountain shrine, only to discover its connection to a corrupted village. Her progression halts as she learns that she must liberate the spirits of two crucial figures to proceed. Without divulging too much, these characters harbor intricately woven stories, revealed in fragmented pieces as Kena confronts and vanquishes the malevolent forces restraining their essence. Each liberated spirit shares its tale through exquisitely rendered cinematics that evoke the essence of an animated masterpiece—a truly gratifying reward amid tears shed.

The game adeptly navigates intense themes of death and suffering, demanding the player's attention and engagement with its narrative. It's a story that challenges players to push forward, beckoning them towards its profound conclusion.

World -

The world and setting of Kena is picturesque and a sight to behold. Countless times the game is not afraid to show its unique art style and drop you at a breathtaking vista overlooking the ground you just covered. Let alone the amazing graphics and perfect transitions to rendered cinematics into in-game cutscenes, the game is a sight to behold throughout its 14 or so hour run time. Exploring the well built out zones to find secrets never feels boring and spending as much time as possible in each area to see it all is worth it.

Ember Lab have set up a great world but sadly we don’t see much of it outside of the current moment narratively. Kena and her quest in the village feels like an isolated bubble, not fully part of the world. There is no mention of anything outside of the game space, this would be my only gripe in a otherwise perfect indie game. The AAA space should take some notes.

Conclusion -

It’s a short one today, the holiday fatigue is starting to vanish. Instead of doing a long and deep blog about something technical, figured it would be fun to start the new year with a short conversation about a game that truly merits more attention. Kena: Bridge of Spirits, though succinct in its gameplay experience, beckons players to immerse themselves in its world. It's a game that deserves a slice of your time, offering an enchanting experience that leaves you craving for more.

Ember Lab's creation has the potential to burgeon into a star franchise if nurtured further. There's a longing for more depth, more intricacies, more stories within this captivating setting. One can only hope that future developments from Ember Lab will expand upon this world, enriching it with the depth it deserves.

Kena: Bridge of Spirits, thank you for whisking us back to an era when games were solely about the sheer joy of playing. Your charming narrative and immersive gameplay serve as a reminder of what gaming can truly achieve—an experience that captivates, enthralls, and leaves an indelible mark on its players

Kena: Bridge Of Spirts Is A Breath Of Fresh Air