Usually once I play Metroidvanias, I’m not specializing in the story. I like Metroid and I’ve geeked out over Chozo lore, however on the finish of the day, so long as I’ve obtained some ambiance amidst the labyrinths, I’m good to go. The energy of Tales of Kenzera: Zau is in its story, which is intertwined via the gameplay, instructed in a fashion that makes the sport higher by its emotional impression. The quasi-abstract story of loss and grief is the inspiration that the tight platforming, nice sense of motion, and pleasing fight funnels all construct from. Within the course of, developer Surgent Studios has made probably the greatest video games of its sort in latest reminiscence.
Nearly all of the sport focuses on a younger shaman named Zau who just lately misplaced his father. He goes to Kalunga, the God of Demise, to attempt to revive his dad, which takes him on a quest all through the land of Kenzera to defeat the three nice spirits. Every spirit has its parable about demise and loss, delivering highly effective emotional beats often. I didn’t count on to be close to tears throughout boss fights throughout this sport. Whereas the story is a spotlight, it doesn’t interrupt gameplay, with many of the lower scenes instructed economically on the again of unimaginable writing. Zau additionally has recurring dialogue with Kalunga whereas he’s working and leaping all over the world.
The platforming and motion that accompanies the story is generally incredible, as Zau’s maneuverability begins nice and will get even higher as you unlock extra talents. The mix of a double leap, wall leap, and sprint makes platforming fast and enjoyable in an nearly rhythmic sample. Whereas the sport holds secret paths and unlockables, it’s largely easy throughout the plot. Even nonetheless, I had fun leaping round areas I’ve already gone via.
The fight is straightforward at a look however has quite a lot of layers, a few of which will be low-key cheesed throughout sure fight conditions. Zau has a solar masks and a moon masks that may be swapped between at will. The solar masks is extra aggressive and melee-focused, providing gentle combos and once you unlock it, a particular highly effective ranged assault. The moon masks is extra targeted on protection, with an early stun add-on energy in addition to a primary ranged assault. Swapping between the 2 strategically is the place the fight begins to take off. It feels nice to put out a mask-swapping plan and execute it to perfection. The one actual situation with the fight is the few stretches of too many kill rooms in shut proximity. They each sluggish the momentum down and present the cracks of the fight.
Visually, the artwork type is general expressive and nice, working nicely sufficient on Change. It isn’t the best place to play Tales of Kenzera, however should you simply have entry to Change, it is ok to expertise the greatness this sport has to supply. The sport has auto-save, so it removes any want for save rooms. The checkpointing is generally good, although it’s onerous to search out out the place the sport will go away you once you give up the sport. My greatest situation with the checkpointing is when there’s a reaction-based platforming problem. A few of these are aspect challenges, so the very fact they’re meant to be troublesome doesn’t hassle me there, however when these are in the primary story, I felt like I used to be being punished for not having preternatural data of what was coming subsequent. Prolonged trial-and-error segments had been the bottom level of Tales of Kenzera.
Fortunately that low level is the outlier, however that is nonetheless general a stellar online game. Lasting within the ballpark of 8-10 hours, Tales of Kenzera is a well-paced Metroidvania that could be a blast to play, that includes novel unlockable talents, an excellent problem, and most of all, an unimaginable story. Simply be able to shed a tear or two, particularly should you’re in my footwear of being a mother or father to a younger child as a result of hoo boy – that complete father/son ingredient is performed to perfection. The story is a real triumph and the gameplay helps it completely.