Kena: Bridge of Spirits - Deluxe Edition (PS5)

Game raw

Have just finished and loved it. Absolutely beautiful, with a moving story. Had assumed when purchasing it was a cute version of Hellblade. That was confirmed in the first few minutes of playing; and then the Alice: Madness Returns vibe kicked in (one of my fave games ever!) so it got even better. Happily played through for a few hours, and then....WHAT HAPPENED? Sudden;y it got SO difficult. Had to turn the setting down to story mode a few times, there were some bosses that were soooooooo hard (but so much fun!) - and I've finished Dark Souls 3 and Bloodborne - some fights were harder than Amygdala in the defiled chalice dungeon!!!!!Might have another go at master level one day, can't wait to see what they come up with next!

Had a lot of fun with Kena: Bridge of Spirits. It's visually the most beautiful game I've played and it is a lot of fun (and surprisingly difficult at times on the normal mode)The music is lovely too.I can't quite give it a 5 stars because I don't think I'd replay it. There isn't quite enough depth.For all it's beauty and the lovely rot companions it does just feel pretty lonely, melancholy and I guess just a bit sad? But then I guess you do play a spirit guide, so what should you expect?As it's not a AAA title and the price is cheaper it is well worth it regardless, I'd definitely give it a solid 7.5-8 out of 10.

This game plays as you would imagine from the videos and images, it is exactly what I expected. Really pretty and cool theme! I love the graphics!This also has to be the buggiest game I have seen in years, most of the bugs are hilarious but some really hinder your play. I wasted hours trying to get past a thing that wasn’t actually meant to be there on screen thinking there was a trick to it but when I reloaded the file the object was gone and I could just proceed - gah. Also in the already hard time trials sometimes it will bug out and just stop counting and doesn’t reset, interrupting your finest attempts. I have honestly had to reload this game hundreds of times because I find myself stuck inside a boulder or due to other weird glitches. In the new era of PS5 I can’t believe they would release a game with such glaring bugs.I also am someone who always plays through games on the hardest modes, like some others this game unlocks the hardest mode when you have beaten the game once, so I have played it through twice. I usually enjoy these modes but this one isn’t much fun, the fights are very long and you have to hit the enemy hundreds of times barely making a dent in their health bar, it is very unsympathetic to any healing and your creatures won’t help you for the most part in this mode, meanwhile the boss can just kill you in one or two hits so you basically need to stay untouched. You may like that challenge but with the control button layout calling for holding down the joystick etc the intensity just made my hands ache. I got there in the end but was the least fun I’ve had in taking on the worst mode in a game and I personally think the encounters could have been designed better.Overall I have played through the game twice so definitely think it is worth a play but can’t give 5/5 when it is the buggiest game ever.

I bought Kena Bridge of Spirits as an impulse buy based on its reputation but knowing nothing else about it.On first starting the game I was a little concerned that it would be a children's game due to the cartoony graphics and music but as the game goes on it becomes clear that this is not the case.This is a great game with beautiful, charming graphics and music and likeable characters. It is mainly based around exploration and story with deceptively nuanced combat. The difficulty level itself is on the higher end but not frustratingly so.I have given this 4 stars only because it is a little short but otherwise I was pleasantly surprised how good this was. I hope we see another offering from this promising new studio soon!

I should say that the PS5 was the first console I ever got which was for the kids to compensate a bit for the chore of Covid. So I am not a gamer, and I am writing this for parents. Played through ratchet and clank before which has similar issues: the storyline is flat and “gets in the way” and while promising at the beginning it becomes in the end a matter of pushing buttons as fast and accurately as you can to kill enemies. If you can’t (I barely went past the corrupt wood smith boss on easiest story telling mode), it is just repetitive and frustrating. And yes: our kits lost interest in Kena as well as ratchet and clank very quickly. Different story for “It takes two” though. If it is a rainy day and you are trapped inside on your own and nothing better to do, go for it. Otherwise enjoy the improving spring weather or play with children a good board game like Catan. To all those game developers: if you ever wish to expand to other target groups, games need to be far more immersive, educational, engaging and not merely a matter of speedy button pushing. And they probably need to be more developed by girls for girls and include better storytelling.