Fresh, genuine storytelling.
Of all the Metroidvania elements inTales of Kenzera: Zau, my favourite are the trees.
Simply enough, meditating inside a tree provides a health boost.
There’s even a moving short film released ahead of the game.
Yet even without knowing this, Tales of Kenzera itself exudes passion and love.
There’s humour too that touches deeper still than sincerity.
He’s the voice of Zau and their words are one.
These are later boosted by unlocks in a simple upgrade tree.
Tales of Kenzera: Zau accessibility options
Multiple difficulty options.
Control tweaks like controller aiming sensitivity and toggle for hold inputs.
Screen shake, camera sway and chromatic aberration can be disabled.
Yet I’m not quite convinced it satisfies as a Metroidvania.
This didn’t happen to me in Tales of Kenzera, and that’s for two reasons.
Secondly, while the world branches in multiple directions, progression is linear.
Metroid fans expecting an interconnected world of backtracking and disorientation may be left wanting.
Tales of Kenzera thrives on its authentic African setting and offers vital representation as a result.
The game’s presentation merges modernity and tradition in a unique global melting pot of ideas.
And its incredible score combines Western orchestration, sci-fi synths and ethnic instruments.
The games industry needs diverse stories, both to highlight difference and prove their universality.
So reach out and grab it.
A copy of Tales of Kenzera: Zau was provided for review by EA.
