Should I Buy Kena: Bridge of Spirits? – Kena: Bridge of Spirits Review

Few indie games see the type of spotlight that Kena: Bridge of Spirits had shown during the PlayStation 5 reveal event. That type of attention comes with hefty expectations, some that indie studio Ember Lab was able to not only meet but exceed as a freshman game developer. Kena: Bridge of Spirits may stumble a few times upon execution, but it's one of the most enjoyable and emotional journeys you'll pick up this year.

Kena: Bridge of Spirits is a game so beautiful and unique, it might be hard to believe that the studio behind it, Ember Lab, hasn't made a game before. Initially, the company specialized in animated features, but their transition to the video game industry was a resounding success. Ember Lab uses its unmatched talent in the visual arts to bring the story of Kena, a fledgling spirit guide, to life. Along her journey, Kena helps the souls tethered to a spiritual mountain come to terms with their deaths after a tragedy occurs in their once-thriving village—all while trying to uncover the mystery of this disaster.

Seeing Kena connect and appeal with these spirits is one of the most unforgettable parts of the experience, and each soul is more interesting than the last. Kena also has some of 2021's best voice acting, sound design, and music often used to heighten emotions during tense scenes.

Related: How to defeat the Rot God in Kena – Corrupt Rot God Boss Guide

Unfortunately, Kena: Bridge of Spirits is at its weakest within its core gameplay loop. While nothing about the gameplay is outright poor, there's little in the way of design that sets it apart from other third-person adventure games. The bow mechanics, for example, function much like 2013's Tomb Raider reboot, feeling just as awkward as that title would handle by today's standards (even with the Haptic Feedback.)

Combat never truly clicks either, as the mechanics never expand enough to feel as sensational as the rest of the game. Kena has a light attack, a heavy attack, a bow, bombs, and a dash ability. Compared to the bosses' varied moves, it can be jarring to feel Kena has so little at her disposal during gameplay. While there is an upgrade system, it's elementary, only providing Kena a few extra abilities and attacks she won't even earn throughout the campaign.

Another noticeable flaw stems from bosses with inconsistent difficulty spikes, even on the game's lower settings, which can be frustrating. Considering this is Ember Lab's first game, these are understandable hiccups in an otherwise incredible experience.

Verdict

Despite a few inconsistent design decisions behind Kena: Bridge of Spirits, the game is a remarkable tale of dealing with loss and overcoming that pain told through the lens of a girl coping with grief on her own. Kena's story, gorgeous visuals, an unmatched soundtrack, and vibrant voice acting assemble to create an indie title unlike any other this year, one well worth your money.

Score: 8/10

For more on Kena: Bridge of Spirits, be sure to check out some of our other pieces on this hit indie, like, Kena: Bridge of Spirits – What comes in each edition here on Pro Game Guides.