2D Platformer – CtrlAltNoob

Tales of Kenzera: ZAU

Developer: Surgent Studios

Release Date: 23 April 2024

Wield the dance of the shaman. Reclaim your father’s spirit. Brave the beautiful and treacherous land of Kenzera with the God of Death in Tales of Kenzera™: ZAU, a metroidvania-style adventure crafted by Surgent Studios.

Games like Tales of Kenzera: ZAU are the reason I am so glad that demos exist. Viewing a trailer of a 2.5D metroidvania – while it does convey the aesthetic and themes of a game – doesn’t really tell me whether it is a game for me. Feeling it with my own hands however is another matter.

As someone who doesn’t play games for challenge or mastery, this one could have easily passed me by. But the similarities to Ori and the opportunity to play the demo have instead cemented this game onto my Wishlist.

The similarities to Ori are strong. The entire structure of the game provides a comfortable, familiar feel while the use of setting, backgrounds, lighting and music provide that awe inspiring beauty to make it stand out from the rest. While themes of grief and connection are present in both games, ZAU does bring its own take on the genre.

The combat is the biggest notable difference, and the game does not hold back, giving you plenty of tools from the get go. ZAU has two styles of combat. One draws from the sun, bringing the heat with your fists in close range. The other draws from the moon, sending lunar projections out to damage enemies from afar. Switching between styles is instantaneous and encouraged. Each has its own skill tree that is upgraded through a shared currency, allowing you to make decisions based on your preferences.

The demo also provided a satisfactory look into the platforming side of the game. It feels good in the hands to move at a fast pace, weaving through the obstacles with a series of jumps and dashes. I felt like I had good handle of Zau and whenever I did have a fateful meeting with some spikes, I couldn’t blame a lack of control.

Finally, as for the metroidvania side of the game, I am specifically looking forward to seeing what abilities are going to be found throughout the entire experience. The demo displayed that not only will new abilities grant you access to previously inaccessible areas, but they are also usable in combat, allowing for great immersion and an even greater excitement about what we may find next.

While I may be slightly intimidated by the potential complexity of the combat, Tales of Kenzera: ZAU is not only a story that I want to witness, but a world that I would like to explore and ultimately, a game that I would like to play.

Demo Length – 1 hour
At a glance
+ Stunning.
+ Atmospheric.
+ Regular checkpoints.
+ Movement is fun.
+ Kalunga.
+/- Combat has potential to be very complex. I only put this in the neutral section as this will be music to some folks ears, but kill it for others. Personally, I hope for difficulty options.