Kena: Bridge of Spirits β A Beautiful Package with Little Substance
Imagine stepping into a breathtaking world full of magic, spirits, and adorable little companions. Sounds great, right? Now imagine that this adventure consists of many linear paths, a predictable story, and a bunch of collectible tasks that mostly serve to unlock cosmetics or upgrades. Welcome to Kena: Bridge of Spirits β a game that looks like a Pixar film but sometimes feels more like a to-do list.
Story
You play as Kena, a spirit guide who helps lost souls move on β basically a mix of spiritual social worker and action hero with a magic staff. She is accompanied by the Rot, cute little furballs that look adorable but offer only mild support in combat.
πΉ Visually impressive, but the story remains predictable.
πΉ Emotional moments, yet no real surprises.
πΉ Spirit-world themes that suggest depth but donβt fully deliver.
πΉ A dull story β Nicely told, but lacking excitement and engaging characters.
Strengths and Weaknesses
βοΈ Stunning visuals β Top-tier animations and environments.
βοΈ Charming companions β The Rot are cute and bring some life to the world.
βοΈ Decent combat β Some bosses provide a fair challenge.
β Dull story β Lacks excitement, highly predictable, and forgettable.
β Hidden repetitive gameplay β Lots of collecting, lots of backtracking, not much variety.
β Clunky controls β Especially frustrating in platforming sections.
Who Should Play / Who Should Avoid
βοΈ Fans of Pixar-style visuals β If you care more about presentation than gameplay.
βοΈ Players who enjoy short, linear adventures β A great weekend game.
βοΈ Completionists who love collecting β If you enjoy exploring every corner, this could be fun.
βοΈ Younger players or newcomers β Accessible, visually appealing, and not too complex.
β Players looking for a deep story β The narrative remains surface-level with no major twists.
β Anyone who dislikes collecting tasks β Not needed for the main story, but essential for upgrades and achievements.
β Experienced gamers expecting depth β The story and gameplay stay quite simple.
Achievements
If you're aiming for 100%, keep this in mind:
Some achievements are missable, so use a guide if you want them all.
The highest difficulty mode unlocks only after completing the game once, meaning at least two playthroughs are required.
Many collectibles are optional but necessary for upgrades and achievements.
My Opinion
Kena: Bridge of Spirits is a visual masterpiece but an average game. The world looks fantastic, but behind the beautiful facade lies a linear adventure with repetitive tasks and a forgettable story. If you're looking for a short, visually stunning experience, you might enjoy it β but if you expect deep exploration or engaging mechanics, you may be disappointed.
Scientific observation: My playtime does not reflect how long this game actually takesβitβs simply evidence of my deep spiritual connection to the world of Kena. If you want a more grounded estimate, check HowLongToBeat.