Tales of Kenzera: ZAU

Tales of Kenzera: ZAU is a modern 2.5D platformer that takes the player on a journey through the beautiful and treacherous lands of Kenzera. A challenging platform game with a beautiful story, familiar mechanics, and striking visuals. Here is our review…

Developed by Surgent Studios and published by Electronic Arts, Tales of Kenzera: ZAU was announced at the Game Awards 2023 by the game’s creative lead, Abubakar Salim (known for his roles in the TV show “Raised by Wolves” and as the voice actor for Bayek in Assassin’s Creed Origins).

Story: A Personal Odyssey

We start the game as Zuberi, a young man dealing with the loss of his father. Framed as a tale written by Zuberi’s late father, the game follows a young shaman named Zau, driven by the desperate quest to resurrect his father. Tasked with capturing the spirits of three monsters as offerings to Kalunga, the God of Death, Zau embarks on a moving journey through the mystical realms of Kenzera.

Split into four acts, the game guides players through the once thriving yet now desolate lands of Kenzera, infested with ancestral spirits. With Kalunga, the God of Death as our guide, we journey through mystical realms full of color and depth to harness the cosmic powers of the warrior shaman.

Inspired by Abubakar Salim’s personal experiences with grief over the loss of his father and influenced by Bantu cultures, the game weaves personal themes with rich cultural elements. The narrative feels deeply intimate and relatable. After all, who hasn’t lost someone they care about?

I jumped into the game knowing little about its story, just that it was a platformer, but I certainly didn’t need to know its background to grasp the personal nature of the game. But I still recommend watching the short film “My Shoes Your Feet” in which Abubakar Salim talks about the game’s development and his father.

I believe Tales of Kenzera is one of those games that further cemented the status of games as a legitimate form of art and expression.

Visuals and art style

The game exudes a vibrant atmosphere, with its bold and clashing colors perfectly in harmony. Different areas with distinct color palettes and gameplay elements enriched the storytelling beyond dialogue, immersing players visually. The chaos left behind by lost spirits and the enduring impact of these catastrophes render the lands of Kenzera both desolate and lived-in. 

Blend of familiar gameplay and unique mechanics

Bringing together the classic gameplay of a Metroidvania, with its own unique gameplay elements, Tales of Kenzera offers a fun and challenging platform experience.

The main gameplay features two unique play styles embodied in the Sun and Moon Masks, allowing seamless switching between them at any time. While the Sun Mask excels in close combat, the Moon Mask provides options for ranged attacks. Players have the freedom to select the mask that best suits their style. As the game progresses, Zau’s abilities evolve, becoming more potent and varied, catering to both specific masks and Zau’s overall skill set.

From stopping running water to breaking walls, each ability adds a new layer of challenge and mechanic that the players need to master. And just as you master one, another ability is presented, so, the gameplay always felt fresh and never too repetitive. Same goes for the enemies and bosses in the game; there are various different enemies, some best tackled with the Sun Mask while others with the Moon Mask. But this mechanic isn’t set in stone – technically, you can beat a Moon Mask enemy with the Sun Mask, though it’s definitely harder.

The game has a handful of main bosses you need to defeat. They are the aforementioned lost ancestral spirits. The Spirit of the Sky, Nature and Mankind; they all differ in their fighting style, weaknesses, and difficulties.

Playtime and difficulty

Maybe I’m going to reveal myself as a noob here, but keep in mind, this is like the first platformer I’ve played in probably the past 10 years. I finished the game in give or take 20 hours with close to 70% completion of all achievements. So, maybe for a seasoned platform enthusiast, it could last a lot shorter. But there were places where I was stuck for a while that I left the game open to go get food or something, so cut me some slack on the time.

Speaking of being stuck, the game’s difficulty was challenging at times, but often rewarding. There were few places where I would be stuck for like 40 minutes to an hour, but like I said, I’m not that good with platformers lol. Overall, the difficulty level was just right, suitable even for beginners, yet it never got too easy, keeping it interesting as Zau’s abilities got stronger.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Tales of Kenzera: ZAU is a moving journey through sorrow and resilience. Its heartfelt narrative, inspired by personal experiences and rich cultural themes, draws players into a vibrant world teeming with life and emotion. The seamless blend of familiar gameplay mechanics with innovative twists keeps the experience fresh and engaging, while the balanced difficulty ensures both newcomers and veterans can enjoy the journey. With its striking visuals and immersive storytelling, Tales of Kenzera: ZAU leaves a lasting impression, reminding us of the transformative power of video games as a medium of expression and connection.

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