From the moment Kena’s staff ignite with great magic, the world around them crackles with excitement, creating an enchanting atmosphere for one of the best adventure games I’ve played lately. Kena: Bridge of Spirits is Ember Lab’s debut game, but it hits with the sophistication and beauty you would expect from a studio that has been doing this for decades.
With environmental puzzles around almost every corner and secrets waiting for those who can solve them, Bridge of Spirits has a strong heart for adventure. That heart beats constantly as new areas are discovered, and each beat pulls you in different directions to discover hidden gems and items that help rejuvenate a fallen society.
Kena (pronounced “Kay-nuh”) is an inexperienced spirit guide who must seek out stubborn souls who are reluctant to leave this mortal shell. Before sending them on their way, she needs to learn something about their life and, ultimately, what happened to them. Exploring the country will bring their past to light and learn of their triumphs and hardships through brief flashbacks that make the story sing in fascinating ways and help to substantiate its main actors. Many of these revelations play out in beautifully animated story sequences that swell with emotion and are enhanced by a superb soundtrack of traditional Balinese music. I found myself humming along to the superbly composed, soft melodies, some of which were sung by Ayu Larassanti, the same actress who brought Kena’s voice to life. How cool is that
The serenity of the experience extends to the world. Be prepared to switch to Photo mode multiple times during the playthrough. Bridge of Spirits is as beautiful as games can come, and this beauty is inspiring to explore – you’ll want to see this fantasy kingdom. Ember Lab’s artists make every little detail shine, be it in the vast forest Kena travels through or the little creatures she meets on her way. These adorable little blobs are called red and are one of the game’s most sought-after collectibles. They play a huge role in both the gameplay and the story, but more importantly, they wear cute hats (another item to track down). You don’t know what the Reds are or why they are helping Kena, but you keep collecting them (up to 100 total) and hope that they will continue to be your allies as the story unfolds.
As Kena jumps through the sun-drenched forest, she comes across rotten areas littered with thorns, dirt, and gray vines that lead to a red, pulsating blob called Tangled Heart. When Kena enters these locations, red mist enemies materialize and a fight ensues. Throughout the game, Kena only uses her staff to defeat these enemies, but this simple weapon is as customizable as it gets.
Kena’s movements are quick, and the staff’s hand-to-hand combat strikes the land with one satisfactory blow. She can dodge, block, and parry to stun her opponents. These fight sequences are buzzing with intensity, fun, and complex as Kena learns to deploy staff in new ways.
Some of the Staff Upgrades are unlocked through purchase, but the most important additions are earned as you progress through the story. Along the way, Kena learns how to turn her staff into an arch and channel its powerful energy to make bombs. Marking an enemy with a carefully placed bomb is great fun, but the bow is the real star of the fight. It feels amazing and was developed with the utmost precision. When Kena jumps in the air and pulls the tendon back, time slows down so an arrow can hit exactly where it wants – be it a small weak zone on an enemy’s chest or a hanging lantern under a galloping monster. Landing those shots is an empowering experience, and it is your job to do it all the time. It’s such a satisfying gameplay hook.
The reds, those adorable companions I mentioned earlier, also play an important role in combat. They can heal Kena, stun enemies and are game changers against bosses. These conflicts increase the difficulty level to 11 and require near perfection in your timing and strategies. Don’t be surprised if these bosses toss you around like a rag doll and you often die. The jump in difficulty is surprising and is one of those areas where the game struggles a bit. The level of difficulty can be switched at any time, but with unsatisfactory results – from glowing intensity to cakewalk.
Bridge of Spirits also relies a little too heavily on the same puzzle mechanics, especially in the late game where almost every vertical movement causes Kena to throw a bomb and detonate it with an arrow to find a way forward to accomplish. While I appreciate how clever the puzzles are and how fluid the platforming is, using the same motions gets tiring and robs some of the fun from exploring.
Ember Lab was upfront about the release of Kena’s track and said it could be completed in a weekend. Given how much I adore this experience, I wish it would last longer, but the shorter footprint works well, especially for seeing all that the world has to offer. The final act is the only aspect that feels rushed. The story ends well (in ways I wasn’t expecting), but some of the big revelations and conflicts come and go on the fly and aren’t treated with the same care as at other moments in the game.
Bridge of Spirits stumbles a little in some places, but sprints confidently into the heart of the adventure and rewards the player with many secrets and images that are almost always worth admiring. If you love Zelda-like games or are just looking for an experience that will make you smile every step of the way, you can’t go wrong with Kena: Bridge of Spirits.
