Kena: Bridge of Spirits

 PlayStation 4
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 252 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 191 out of 252
  2. Mixed: 31 out of 252
  3. Negative: 30 out of 252

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  1. Rocknow5
    Sep 23, 2021
    9
    This game is simplicity done right. The game is beautiful, the soundtrack is incredible and the gameplay is simple but fluid and fun. The game runs surprisingly well on PS4. The progression could be better but for the first game of an indie studio this is a masterpiece.
  2. SewAwOw
    Sep 27, 2021
    8
    Игра мне понравилась. Очень красивое, милое, сказочное приключение, в котором и неплохие загадки есть, и боевка хорошо отточена, боссы разнообразные (хоть и убивались по одной тактике почти), есть элементы платформинга, тоже не что-то выдающееся, просто норм. Взаимодействие с тленышами прикольное сделано, не только помогают с головоломками, но и в бою, ну и шапкодрочерство здесь возведеноИгра мне понравилась. Очень красивое, милое, сказочное приключение, в котором и неплохие загадки есть, и боевка хорошо отточена, боссы разнообразные (хоть и убивались по одной тактике почти), есть элементы платформинга, тоже не что-то выдающееся, просто норм. Взаимодействие с тленышами прикольное сделано, не только помогают с головоломками, но и в бою, ну и шапкодрочерство здесь возведено в абсолют :) Артдизайн безумно красив, на пс4 про временами даже подлагивало. Поначалу, глядя на карту думал, что опять открытый мир, но оказалось, что он довольно компактен и долго возиться в нем не получится, что только плюс. Сюжет... какой-то шаблонный, про познание себя и мира, всё в таком духе, не напрягает и хорошо. Блин, игра, созданная студией из 15 человек без игрового опыта, выглядит и звучиткруче многих ААА-игр от крупных издателей, моё почтение.… Expand
  3. Adoraperi
    Oct 24, 2021
    10
    Amazing game ! The OST was super good as was the story. I was a part of the game. Love the Rots
  4. besiegedparent
    Oct 19, 2021
    6
    Beautiful game that looks like a Pixar film but plays more like a Soulsborne. I'm playing the default difficulty and every 10 minutes there’s another boss kicking my ass. (Though there is an easy, mode, it eliminates almost all challenge from boss fights -- the gap between those two modes is very wide.) I've seen it tagged as a "Zelda like" but gameplay is MUCH more combat-focused thanBeautiful game that looks like a Pixar film but plays more like a Soulsborne. I'm playing the default difficulty and every 10 minutes there’s another boss kicking my ass. (Though there is an easy, mode, it eliminates almost all challenge from boss fights -- the gap between those two modes is very wide.) I've seen it tagged as a "Zelda like" but gameplay is MUCH more combat-focused than that series.

    One thing I do really appreciate is that that Kena collects the karma used for upgrades by restoring parts of the forest -- picking up fallen statues, etc. instead of destroying things.    … Expand
  5. Sensou
    Feb 6, 2022
    6
    Great Debut from Indie Developers

    I tried this game after hearing the music of it not because of the visual or the gameplay. I notice that its sound like my country traditional music and instruments which I'm correct about it as this game inspired from the culture of Java, to be more specific, Bali. Music for sure its great as Its funny and a complete joy moment to play a game with a    Great Debut from Indie Developers

    I tried this game after hearing the music of it not because of the visual or the gameplay. I notice that its sound like my country traditional music and instruments which I'm correct about it as this game inspired from the culture of Java, to be more specific, Bali.

    Music for sure its great as Its funny and a complete joy moment to play a game with a great arrangement of "Angklung", "Gamelan", "Kolintang" and other traditional instruments from Indonesia. This is the greatest experience to enjoy my country traditional music hahaha.

    Graphics is great as they already on the level of film-making industries with a stunning cutscene. But there are some visual bug and texture issue where I guess it's related to the optimization for PS4.

    Performance not too good as the FPS tend to drop to below 20 sometimes especially when I'm entering "Adira" arc. Hopefully they come up with an update to optimize and fix this issue.

    Combat surprisingly challenging. I've played Sekiro and I can say that this game provide you with a great challenge where some non-souls gamer will find it way too hard. My suggestion don't dodge too much but learn the parry mechanic as it will help you to make the battle way easier.

    Story quite good but lack Kena's background and the main goal as the story just start where Kena is purifying the area and that's it. Need more background and concrete conflict of the story to make it more appealing.

    Design of the menu and UI is the biggest reason or the main reason that make me want to drop this game. It's like they didn't put much effort into it which make my first impression is horrible for this game.

    Update my rating from 8 to 6 due to the performance issue. Keep getting worse as you progress and the texturing also getting worse. This game is not well optimized so better not purchase this game on PS4.    … Expand
  6. Suslik13
    Feb 18, 2022
    0
    I **** hate this game. No normal fps, no normal timing. You just need to suck from bosses. Theres no sence of skills or how many levels you have. transitions between animations suck. Final boss have unrealistically much damage, and kill you in 2 picks. It is not interesting to waisting your time like this. I hope developers mamas hates them, otherwise how else to explain their hatred ofI **** hate this game. No normal fps, no normal timing. You just need to suck from bosses. Theres no sence of skills or how many levels you have. transitions between animations suck. Final boss have unrealistically much damage, and kill you in 2 picks. It is not interesting to waisting your time like this. I hope developers mamas hates them, otherwise how else to explain their hatred of the players. So i regret that I spent my money on this game. Make cartoons and don't get into games. You **** bad on it!!!… Expand
  7. PlayerBoy95
    Sep 22, 2021
    9
    Has some bugs and fps drops on base ps4, but definitely must play in my opinion.
  8. IntrovertRobot
    Sep 24, 2021
    3
    Good:
    -Animation
    -Music
    -Boss Fight
    Bad:
    -Story
    -Characters
    -Collectibles are useless
    -Upgrades are useless
    -Combat is extremely simple and is extremely repetitive
    -Gameplay was repetitive
    I did a review on the game on my YT channel
  9. tdebug
    Aug 23, 2022
    2
    This game only looks beautiful on youtube ads videos. Right after you purchase, you find quite primitive mechanics and repetitive gameplay.
  10. Mauriciogallego
    Sep 23, 2021
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Es un video juego excelente … Expand
  11. spiton675
    Oct 31, 2021
    10
    Kena is an amazing game. Fluid gameplay, fast pace combat, incredible soundtrack and boss fights that are really challegning even on defaut difficulty. But it's only a matter of learning the buttons and solving the puzzles each boss is, like it is in shadow of the colossus. I really don't understand the 0's here. People are just mean and lazy to lear a how to play a real old fashion game.Kena is an amazing game. Fluid gameplay, fast pace combat, incredible soundtrack and boss fights that are really challegning even on defaut difficulty. But it's only a matter of learning the buttons and solving the puzzles each boss is, like it is in shadow of the colossus. I really don't understand the 0's here. People are just mean and lazy to lear a how to play a real old fashion game. Congrats to Ember lab, first game is already a must play.… Expand
  12. Phuz
    Mar 11, 2022
    0
    This is only a 0/10 for me. You might love the game.

    This is one of those games that the creator has taken it upon themselves to use every button on the joypad. It just didn't need it. The PS4 game pad is uncomfortable for me to use at the best of times, so creating all these finger gymnastics for me killed the game instantly. I played for about an hour and now my hands are sore. I    This is only a 0/10 for me. You might love the game.

    This is one of those games that the creator has taken it upon themselves to use every button on the joypad. It just didn't need it. The PS4 game pad is uncomfortable for me to use at the best of times, so creating all these finger gymnastics for me killed the game instantly. I played for about an hour and now my hands are sore. I could have played Tales of....., or Ys..... for 3 hours no problem. I have been playing hours and hours of games all week on my PS4, Switch, PC and WiiU and had no finger twisting control layout issues on any of the games. So many buttons could have been ditched. It probably could have lost 3 of the shoulder buttons. The whole r1 r2 attack button set up was dire.

    Graphics, now this is where Nintendo consoles win for me. Does this game look nice - yes, does it completely ruin game immersion when the console sounds like a helicopter engine - absolutely, PS4 noise drowns out game sound. I would happily take massive hits to average FPS and a resolution drop to not have my PS4 making lift off sounds. Only a month ago I dismantled it, so it's not dusty. People just keep making games it can't handle. I can't play when the missus is asleep, when it is so damned loud. I even have it wedged up for better air circulation but it's no better for it.

    OST, I just didn't like it. It is well mastered, the drums sounded like they were booming through the forest, even on my TV. I just didn't think much to the songs.

    The VA. I generally hate American voice acting but this was surprisingly good. No-one seemed ridiculously OTT, Kena sounded lovely. She reminded me of youtuber Eva Zu Beck. Impressed here and this is usually the hardest area to get a like from me on.

    I think a lot of love went in to this game. It is not sloppy. Not enough frame drops to complain about performance either. I just did not find it fun. I didn't find it very atmosperic. I was waiting to stop playing, rather than wanting to play all night.

    Now I have to waste fuel driving to Cex and lose money exchanging the game. For me a very short lived, boring experience that cost me time and money. 0/10

    Good effort but out of 8 new games I have just bought, this was my least favourite.    … Expand
  13. nathanliapis
    Sep 25, 2021
    9
    Great game, great story, great playability! The graphics are superb even on a PS4 and the soundtrack is spot on! Buy this game. Graphics 10/10, sound 10/10, gameplay 9/10, loading 9/10.
  14. Satisfyer
    Dec 14, 2021
    0
    The physical edition has patch 1.06, so that ruins the glitch to go platinum trophy. Some players enjoy playing on normal difficulty, these decisions ruin the experience.
  15. woolywooly
    Nov 16, 2021
    5
    Very very hard. Was expecting a nice delightful puzzle like game, which it mostly is. But the bosses for each section are crazy difficult. Some of the puzzles also have no clues at all, so take lots of time “trying all possible combinations”, which gets boring fast. Have no idea why they made it so difficult. I barely finished it, but was angry that I wasted so much time trying andVery very hard. Was expecting a nice delightful puzzle like game, which it mostly is. But the bosses for each section are crazy difficult. Some of the puzzles also have no clues at all, so take lots of time “trying all possible combinations”, which gets boring fast. Have no idea why they made it so difficult. I barely finished it, but was angry that I wasted so much time trying and retrying to defeat the almost invincible bosses. A pity. It’s otherwise really nice and would have been an easy 9/10.… Expand
  16. Maugaran
    Sep 22, 2021
    1
    Boring too simple Indiegame. A game for housewives but not for real gaming experiences.
  17. wesker2012
    Sep 24, 2021
    8
    The game gets better and better as you play. It started off a bit rough for me, but I was impressed by the end. The visuals are breathtaking and gorgeous all the way through. There is a lot of platforming and combat. The combat is kind of repetitive but the combat system gets more rewarding the more you upgrade your move-set. There's also a lot of collectibles to find. I'd rate it aThe game gets better and better as you play. It started off a bit rough for me, but I was impressed by the end. The visuals are breathtaking and gorgeous all the way through. There is a lot of platforming and combat. The combat is kind of repetitive but the combat system gets more rewarding the more you upgrade your move-set. There's also a lot of collectibles to find. I'd rate it a higher score if there was some more variety to the game besides mainly platforming and combat.… Expand
  18. Perroga
    Sep 29, 2021
    10
    An excellent game, I love it, A beautiful story, a beautiful atmosphere, beautiful music, became one of my favorites, excellent game A beautiful story, a beautiful atmosphere, beautiful music, became my favorites, excellent game!
  19. WSS_125
    Sep 25, 2021
    9
    Очень красивая игра для playstation 45! хотелось бы конечно русскую озвучку ))
  20. alex82101
    Jun 10, 2023
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. KENA: Bridge of Spirits is a heartwarming game about dealing with grief, guilt, and bonds between people. The game's graphics are very pleasant to look at, being very similar to the style of Disney/Pixar movies. Combat is very fast-paced and Souls-like. The highlight of this game is definitely the story and the combat but the music and graphics shine as well. This one definitely has the potential for a sequel and I am sure there are a lot of fans who are eagerly waiting for one… Expand
  21. Nobilis1984
    Nov 8, 2021
    5
    Looks nice, but has become very monotonous in terms of play.
    It seems like the good old copy-and-paste principle was used to create the game world. The 40 euros doesn't hurt now, but you expect more.
  22. Frankie_Sp
    Nov 13, 2021
    10
    Videogaming at it's best!
    I very rarely give a 10 but this gem needs to be played.
    Great overall atmosphere, awesome combats with a bit of tactic involved with various difficulty levels that make it enjoyable for everyone.
  23. DrZomboid
    Feb 15, 2022
    8
    Wonderful game. Fresh and simple, fun and beautiful. Story could be better also the voice acting. The are speaking like there are shy and dying
  24. SuperkenGaming
    Sep 25, 2021
    9
    Kena: Bridge of Spirits
    Pure beauty
    Kena Bridge of spirits is a 7 and a half hour long 3d platformer where you play as kena, youre tasked with helping purify souls and the land around you.. there are 3 main spirits that need your help, theyre tormented by something in their past.. so youll go to each area of the map, traversing through environmental puzzles, gathering items to be able to    Kena: Bridge of Spirits
    Pure beauty
    Kena Bridge of spirits is a 7 and a half hour long 3d platformer where you play as kena, youre tasked with helping purify souls and the land around you.. there are 3 main spirits that need your help, theyre tormented by something in their past.. so youll go to each area of the map, traversing through environmental puzzles, gathering items to be able to summon the spirit of that area and help purify them in a boss battle.. let me start off by saying a lot of critics are calling this the best ps2 game of the year.. if you actually play more than AAA titles youll know that Kena Bridge of Spirits is nothing like a PS2 game other than LOL you jump in a 3D world if anything this is closer to a modern Tomb Raider game meets the pathless. Youll explore these little open areas, findig these cute charcters called Rots, you collect these rots which helps you level up and unlock new skills and you use these rots to purify the land and get to one of the 3 items you need to summon th spirit.. to do this youll go into these areas that are corrupted, there will be enemies there for you take take down, after a while you can sick your rots onto a corrupted heart and you then explode it and the land clears up and you can move on.. rinse and repeat.. howver not a repetitive rinse and repeat.. what kena does so great on is its pacing.. combat is few and far between, and im so glad it is because of how dull and boring combat is here… youre kinda just mashing buttons.. the joy comes from exploring, finding these rots, finding hats for them, and solving the puzzles… these puzzles aren’t necessarily hard.. theyre all environmental and just come down to you spotting the solution, and as you progress the game youll gain new items such as a bow that can zip you through the air, and a bomb that can fling debris up into the air.. constantly changing the puzzle solving up… but again simple puzzles.. this is a game you sit back and enjoy.. no thinking no stress.. just doing.. and I loved that.. and onto the beauty of this game.. The charcters, the level design, the set pieces.. this game is gorgeous.. my only real negative aside from the awful combat, iss the pretty lackluster story.. don’t get me wrong I absolutely loved the first half of this game, I even cried becsue the emotions and storying telling was so good.. but after that, the storytelling falls flat and is kinda just there…
    That being said Kena is a really special game and is a must play.
    I give Kena: Bridge of Spirits
    an 8.5/10    … Expand
  25. Ciccioboy
    Oct 25, 2021
    5
    Un titolo estremamente mediocre. Non so il perché di tutta questa meraviglia per un nulla di nuovo. Già visto e rivisto. Combat system legnoso sotto alcuni aspetti, grafica carina (si salva solo quella) e longevità nella media. Non dico che sia pessimo, ma non è un giocone.
  26. MiguelFloyd96
    Jun 10, 2022
    6
    I don't know how this game have really good things like music, art, animations, even the design of the map, but the combat, the f**king combat, i thing is the worst combat i ever played, but all the other things are ok.
  27. overdrive
    Nov 14, 2021
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. this game is very beautiful and the story is great yes some of the boos fights do have you thinking on how to do them which most games nowadays don't do, I can't recommend this game more then I am already… Expand
  28. Empyrea
    May 3, 2023
    7
    Although it's not a bad game I expected more from this game. I thought it would have a more gripping story. Gameplay is good but if the game should have been longer it would have felt repetitive. About the difficulty sometimes can be a bit tricky even in story mode. Honestly, if the target of this game were the kids I think the story mode should have been easier. It took me about 12 or 13Although it's not a bad game I expected more from this game. I thought it would have a more gripping story. Gameplay is good but if the game should have been longer it would have felt repetitive. About the difficulty sometimes can be a bit tricky even in story mode. Honestly, if the target of this game were the kids I think the story mode should have been easier. It took me about 12 or 13 hours having done some extra things that I found during the game. In my opinion it's a good game but not a must have game.… Expand
  29. Direjor
    Sep 6, 2022
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Великолепная игра, которая возвращает вас в эпоху PlayStation 1 и 2 , очень душевная, всем рекомендую… Expand
  30. marmotmx
    Nov 8, 2021
    8
    Kena is simply a gem. The first game of Ember Labs delivers, the gameplay sometimes it is kinda simple but effective. Kena shines in bringing to the table an interesting and moving story for all ages.

    Lovely and emotional characters and their stories allows us to have a glimpse into this world that has a lot of love and dedication poured in it.
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Critic Reviews

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Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 5 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. KeenGamer
    Oct 6, 2022
    70
    In the medley of action-adventure games, Kena: Bridge of Spirits stands out with its soundtrack, unbeatable graphics, and creative storyline. It’s a fantastic first impression of Ember Lab’s game-developing skills. A few kinks need fixing, but that shouldn’t deter you from playing the game!
    Read full review
  2. Cultured Vultures
    Oct 15, 2021
    80
    Kena: Bridge of Spirits grounds itself on relaxation, healing, and cuteness, getting us to reflect and meditate on the beauty in the world when there is darkness abound.
    Read full review
  3. RPGamer
    Oct 6, 2021
    70
    As its first major release, Kena: Bridge of Spirits must be considered a success for Ember Lab. There are areas where significant improvement can be made, especially its combat, but the game provides a strong base to build upon. The overall gameplay will be very familiar to 3D adventure fans, but the visuals and charm help to make it feel like a fresh experience in the genre. More adventures for Kena and the Rot would be very welcome.
    Read full review
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