Kena: Bridge of Spirits

The story of Kena: Bridge of Spirits has received a mix of positive and negative feedback from critics. Many reviewers praised the game for its engaging and emotionally compelling narrative. Critics like Impulsegamer appreciated the modern fairy-tale storytelling and beautifully animated cutscenes that enhanced the overall experience. Additionally, RPGamer highlighted the focus on Kena's journey to cleanse a corrupt village with the help of spirit companions, adding depth to the protagonist's interactions with the villagers she aids. The narrative's exploration of themes like grief, regret, and coming to terms with loss resonated with several critics, such as PlayStation Universe, who found the tale touching and cathartic. On the other hand, some critics expressed concerns about the story's depth and character development. GameStar noted that while the narrative unfolds gradually and is emotionally engaging, it lacked the expected complexity, potentially leaving players wanting more. PC Invasion criticized the lack of depth in the protagonist, Kena, and the unremarkable characters, which hindered the overall storytelling experience. Additionally, Hardcore Gamer and TheGamer highlighted the story as basic and sparse, lacking a compelling narrative to fully captivate players until the end. Overall, the consensus among critics regarding the story of Kena: Bridge of Spirits leans towards the positive side, with many appreciating its emotional depth and engaging themes. However, there is a notable divide in opinions, with some critics feeling that the narrative could have delved deeper into character development and storytelling intricacies. Despite the mixed feedback, the majority of reviewers found the story to be heartfelt, touching, and well-crafted, resonating with players through its exploration of grief, healing, and the journey towards closure. Critics like PlayStation LifeStyle and Worth Playing highlighted the narrative's ability to connect with players on multiple levels, showcasing its strengths in delivering a compelling and immersive storytelling experience.

The gameplay of Kena: Bridge of Spirits has received praise for several aspects. Critics such as RPGamer and PlayStation Universe highlight the engaging combat, rewarding exploration, and challenging puzzles that provide a satisfying gameplay experience. The incorporation of the Rot creatures in combat and puzzle-solving, as noted by AusGamers and Slant Magazine, adds a unique and enjoyable element to the gameplay. Additionally, the platforming challenges, as mentioned by Gfinity and PlayStation LifeStyle, are smooth and exhilarating, contributing to the overall positive reception of the game's mechanics. On the other hand, some critics have pointed out certain drawbacks in the gameplay of Kena: Bridge of Spirits. Critics like GameGrin and Inverse mention limited combat options, repetitive gameplay, and lack of innovation as negative aspects of the game. PC Invasion and Easy Allies also highlight issues with combat mechanics, including narrow dodge and parry windows, leading to frustration during boss battles. Furthermore, Checkpoint Gaming and GameSpot note that the variety in combat and mission design could be improved, and rewards for exploration lack excitement, detracting from the overall experience. Overall, the consensus among critics regarding the gameplay of Kena: Bridge of Spirits leans towards the positive side, with many praising its engaging combat, exploration, and puzzle-solving elements. The incorporation of the Rot creatures, as appreciated by critics like Worth Playing and Video Chums, adds depth and creativity to the gameplay experience. However, there are concerns raised by some reviewers about the repetitive nature of the gameplay, lack of innovation in combat mechanics, and certain design issues that impact the overall enjoyment of the game. Despite these criticisms, the majority of critics find Kena: Bridge of Spirits to offer a satisfying and enjoyable action-adventure experience, blending familiar gameplay elements with unique twists that make it a worthwhile gaming experience.

The majority of critics unanimously praised the graphics and visual design of Kena: Bridge of Spirits, considering it a masterpiece in terms of visual presentation. KeenGamer highlighted the cinematic animations, cultural richness in visuals, and unique character designs, particularly for the final bosses. RPGamer commended the game for its beautiful environments, detailed character designs, and stunning animations that effectively portrayed the themes of corruption and its removal. The Games Machine compared the visuals to a Pixar film, praising the attention to detail in character and environmental design, showcasing the developer's background in animation. While the overall sentiment towards the graphics and visual design of Kena: Bridge of Spirits was overwhelmingly positive, a few critics did mention some drawbacks. PC Invasion noted that while the game boasts stunning visual design with cutscenes rivaling CGI movies and breathtaking environments, there were concerns about the lack of originality and creativity in some aspects of the design. Slant Magazine pointed out that while the graphics and visual design were inspired by Japanese and South East Asian cultures, the world itself felt disconnected from these details, lacking a sense of liveliness. Overall, the consensus among critics is that Kena: Bridge of Spirits excels in its graphics and visual design, with the majority considering it a visual masterpiece. Critics such as PlayStation Universe and PlayStation LifeStyle praised the breathtaking visuals, exceptional art design, and detailed environments that rival big-budget animated films. The game was lauded for its stunning animation, vibrant world design, and attention to detail, with comparisons to the visual quality of Pixar and DreamWorks films. Despite some minor criticisms regarding originality and world liveliness, the overwhelming positive feedback from critics solidifies Kena: Bridge of Spirits as a standout title in terms of graphics and visual design in the gaming industry.

The Sound Design and Music of Kena: Bridge of Spirits have received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the majority of critics. Many reviewers praised the game's soundtrack, which features Balinese and Indonesian influences, creating a unique and immersive experience. Critics like Game Informer and PlayStation Universe highlighted the outstanding traditional Balinese music that amplifies the emotional impact of the game's story sequences. Additionally, critics such as Video Chums and Push Square appreciated the mesmerizing and enchanting vocal arrangements that enhance the overall atmosphere of the game. The use of cultural tones and gamelan-inspired music was also lauded for adding depth and magic to the mysterious world of Kena. Despite the widespread acclaim for the Sound Design and Music of Kena: Bridge of Spirits, there were some criticisms raised by a few reviewers. RPGamer mentioned that while the music enhances exploration and emotional scenes, they felt that more cultural aspects of the Balinese inspiration could have been incorporated. COGconnected and Easy Allies noted that while the sound design and soundtrack were good and captivating, the voice acting and writing did not stand out as much. These critiques suggest that there may have been missed opportunities to fully leverage the cultural influences and potential of the game's audio elements. Overall, the consensus among critics is overwhelmingly positive regarding the Sound Design and Music of Kena: Bridge of Spirits. The breathtaking Balinese music, immersive sound effects, and captivating soundtrack have been widely praised for enhancing the overall gaming experience. Critics like PlayStation LifeStyle and Gfinity emphasized the impactful and brilliant voice acting that added nuance to the characters, while others appreciated the small details in the sound design that immersed players in the world of Kena. The majority of reviewers found the audio elements of the game to be a significant strength, contributing to the game's immersive and emotional storytelling. The positive reception of the Sound Design and Music underscores the critical importance of these elements in creating a rich and engaging gaming experience in Kena: Bridge of Spirits.

The voice acting in Kena: Bridge of Spirits has received a mix of positive and negative feedback from critics. RPGamer, Gfinity, Impulsegamer, Noisy Pixel, Player 2, and But Why Tho? all praised the voice acting, highlighting strong performances that added depth and emotion to the characters. Gfinity specifically commended Ayu Larassanti's portrayal of Kena, noting the nuance it added to her interactions. Game Informer also singled out Larassanti's performance as bringing the character to life and enhancing the overall experience. Additionally, GameStar mentioned the English voice acting as fantastic and emotionally engaging in the well-crafted cutscenes, contributing to the storytelling experience. On the other hand, there were critics who expressed more critical views on the voice acting in Kena: Bridge of Spirits. KeenGamer and PC Invasion both pointed out issues with the delivery of the voice acting. KeenGamer mentioned that the voice acting was not bad but delivered flatly, while PC Invasion criticized the voice acting for lacking energy and presence, impacting the portrayal of the characters, particularly Kena. COGconnected also felt that the voice acting was functional but did not stand out in a crowded field of voice-acted characters and stories. Overall, the general consensus among critics leans towards the positive side regarding the voice acting in Kena: Bridge of Spirits. While there were some criticisms regarding flat delivery and lacking energy, the majority of reviewers appreciated the strong performances that added depth and emotion to the characters. The standout performance of Ayu Larassanti as Kena was widely praised for bringing the character to life and adding nuance to the interactions. The voice acting was noted to enhance the storytelling experience, with compelling and emotionally engaging performances that contributed to the overall enjoyment of the game.

In terms of technical performance on PlayStation consoles, the general consensus among critics is positive. Critics like COGconnected and Metro GameCentral praise the game's performance on PS5, highlighting smooth gameplay and stable frame rates. Additionally, Push Square mentions swift load times and minimal bugs encountered during gameplay. The Games Machine also notes that the game runs smoothly on PS4 Pro, utilizing the hardware effectively with good graphical effects. These positive aspects indicate that Kena: Bridge of Spirits delivers a satisfying technical experience on PlayStation platforms. However, there are some negative aspects mentioned by critics regarding technical performance on PlayStation consoles. KeenGamer reports issues with controls feeling awkward, clunky jumping mechanics, frame rate drops, and occasional crashes on PS4. GamingTrend points out the need for technical optimizations, including heavy pop-in and occasional frame rate stutters on PS5. Screen Rant and Slant Magazine highlight minor glitches and occasional mechanical issues that can impact the overall gameplay experience. These criticisms suggest that while the game performs well on PlayStation consoles, there are still areas that could be improved to enhance the technical performance further. Overall, the critics' opinions on the technical performance of Kena: Bridge of Spirits are mixed but generally positive. While some reviewers encountered issues such as frame rate drops, glitches, and occasional technical hiccups, others praised the game for its smooth gameplay, stable performance, and impressive visuals. MMORPG.com commends the bug-free experience on high-end hardware, showcasing the studio's attention to detail. Despite some inconsistencies across different platforms, the general sentiment leans towards a well-optimized game that showcases the capabilities of both current and next-generation consoles. As highlighted by PlayStation Universe, the commitment to resolving technical issues through patches indicates a dedication to improving the overall technical performance of the game for all players.

The opinions of the critics regarding the replay value of Kena: Bridge of Spirits are varied. Some critics highlighted positive aspects that contribute to the game's replayability. For instance, Android Central and Noisy Pixel appreciated the different difficulty options, hidden areas for exploration, challenging boss battles, and collectibles, making it compelling for players to revisit the game. Press Start Australia also noted the opportunities for completionists to explore the environment, find secrets, and collect adorable hats for the Rot, enhancing the joy of discovery and surprise. Additionally, the inclusion of a Photo Mode, as mentioned by DualShockers and Shacknews, adds to the overall experience and may entice players to replay the game to capture memorable moments. On the other hand, several critics pointed out limitations and drawbacks that may affect the game's replay value. RPGamer and COGconnected noted the lack of strong incentives for replay, such as limited character customization and growth, repetitive gameplay elements, and a lack of rewards beyond cosmetics and currency. AusGamers highlighted the absence of significant incentives to explore and discover secrets, making the game feel more like a superficial experience. Metro GameCentral and TheGamer mentioned familiar mechanics, lack of innovation, and a short gameplay length as factors that could hinder replayability. PC Invasion also emphasized that the customization options mainly focusing on Rots may not appeal to all players, contributing to the lack of variety in rewards. Overall, the consensus among the critics leans towards a mixed reception regarding the replay value of Kena: Bridge of Spirits. While some critics like Android Central, Noisy Pixel, and Press Start Australia found aspects like challenging gameplay, collectibles, and exploration to be engaging and compelling for replay, others like Metro GameCentral and TheGamer felt that the game's limitations in terms of innovation, rewards, and customization may deter players from revisiting it. The inclusion of a Photo Mode was appreciated by some reviewers, adding to the game's charm and potential replay value. Ultimately, the decision to replay Kena: Bridge of Spirits may depend on individual preferences for exploration, collectibles, and the overall gameplay experience.