1 player
Available on PC, PS4, PS5
Among the games released in 2021, Kena : Bridge of spirits deserves a place on the podium of the most captivating. It ticks many boxes on the list of what makes an excellent title to explore, for experienced or tenacious players.
In this first game from the studio Ember Lab, made up of barely a dozen people, you play a young woman named Kena. She is a spirit guide. She seeks out the ghosts of people who cling to their present lives and refuse to depart for the afterlife. Her quest takes her to a village nestled in the heart of a forest, where everyone seems to have mysteriously disappeared. Kena will have to explore the surroundings to free the spirits, whose abnormal presence corrupts nature, and discover what could have happened to the inhabitants.
This is a pure example of an action/adventure game, in the great tradition of the Zelda series, for example. Kena is helped on her wanderings by adorable little creatures called Rots. They allow her to use magical attacks and learn new skills to progress. The player is then asked to master combat techniques and puzzle solving.
Kena : Bridge of Spirits benefits from its studio’s animation know-how for a dazzling result, worthy of the best films today. This means there is (almost) as much pleasure in watching someone play as in exploring it yourself. A promising choice if you want to make gaming a group activity !
But beware: beneath its shimmering looks, be wary of a difficulty that can come as a surprise. The boss fights in particular are especially tricky and are somewhat out of step with the rest of the rather easy game. But do not lose patience ! Each of these confrontations shows ingenuity and will give you a big surge of satisfaction (and relief) once you have triumphed.
A few themes raised by the game that can become topics of discussion :
- There are more and more female characters in games (heroines). What does this evoke ?
- How does it feel to face increased difficulty ? Satisfying ? Frustrating ?
- There is an underlying ecological message in Kena. How do we understand it ? Is it a plus for the game ?
