Sony finally unveiled the PlayStation 5 and many of its upcoming games earlier this month. A ton of exciting titles received trailers, including Horizon II: Forbidden West, Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart and Resident Evil 8: Village. But among the big franchises were games from smaller development teams, including the gorgeous-looking action-adventure title Kena: Bridge of Spirits.
While there was always going to be a lot of hype surrounding returning franchises, fans of The Legend of Zelda and Sony's own Horizon should take notice of Kena: Bridge of Spirits, because the game is absolutely one to be excited for.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits follows the titular guide as she helps wandering spirits trapped in an abandoned village and the surrounding forest. The adorable spirits, called the Rot, maintain balance in the forest by decomposing dead and rotting elements. It doesn't seem like these spirits will be mere things to collect in order to advance, like Mario's stars/moons. Instead, they'll help Kena solve puzzles, gain powerful new abilities and fight enemies. The story, from what we know so far, invokes elements of Avatar: The Last Airbender, as Kena must tap into the Spirit Realm to bring balance to the real world.
The enemies themselves are trapped spirits, transformed into beasts by a strange curse. The quick-paced combat looks to keep players on their toes, and Kena will face multiples enemies at once that are twice her size with her mystical staff. Kena's weapon also looks highly adaptable to different combat situations, both serving as a physical weapon and something of a bow and arrow. A multi-purpose weapon that can be upgraded as the player progresses should lead to intensely satisfying battles.
While there's no way to tell just how big the game's world is, developer Ember Lab promises a story-driven title that's rich in exploration. Given that the game's graphics resemble the best movies Pixar or Dreamworks has to offer, fully exploring the dense wilderness should be a priority. But the game's similarity to animated movies is no coincidence.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits is the first game from Ember Lab. The studio has a background in animation, having produced commercials for The Coca-Cola Company and Major League Baseball. Additionally, Ember Lab released a short film in 2016 titled Terrible Fate, which is a five-minute short based on The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask and shows the Skull Kid acquiring the game's titular evil mask. Featuring unsettling imagery and sound design, Terrible Fate is widely regarded as one of the best video game fan films and shows how the studio's skills in animation could lead to a lush, imaginative world in Kena: Bridge of Spirits.
There are plenty of action-adventure games to choose from these days. Though not many try to explore the sense of childlike wonder that Kena: Bridge of Spirits will seemingly bring. Ember Lab's background in animation also lends itself well to the game's design and a story of this nature. Plus, the brief look at combat that we've been given teases a game that just might stand with the titans of the genre.
Developed by Ember Lab, Kena: Bridge of Spirits does not have a release date. While a timed-exclusive for PlayStation 5, the game is also expected to launch on PlayStation 4 and PC.