GamesAdventureThe Metroidvania genre is on fire right now, and Tales of Kenzera Zau just jumped to the top of my most-anticipated listWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
GamesAdventureThe Metroidvania genre is on fire right now, and Tales of Kenzera Zau just jumped to the top of my most-anticipated listWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: EA)
It’s a simple system, a traffic-light style rubric where red marks the games I’m least interested in, amber is games I want to play, green is the games Ineedto play, and purple is the one Metroidvania game I’m looking forward to most – the latter slot only ever housing one game at a time. At present, there are no games in the red zone. And at present, Tales of Kenzera: Zau holds my one purple top spot.
Zau and now
(Image credit: Surgent Studios)
THE JOURNEY SO FAR…
(Image credit: Surgent Studios)
Moreover, as with any Metroidvania worth its salt, Tales of Kenzera boasts an array of genre-familiar features that complement all of the above. Ulogi, for example, is a soul energy that’s sucked from fallen foes or from breaking open Ulogi Crystals. In turn, these are used to earn Shaman Points that can be used to upgrade your Skills. In combat, as well as the aforementioned light, heavy, melee and ranged offerings Spirit Attacks consume extra Spirit Segments (identified in glowing purpley-pink at the foot of the HUD) to deliver more powerful attacks. With the Mask of the Moon equipped, a Lunar Blast delivers a devastating energy beam, the direction of which can be steered towards whoever/whatever you fancy obliterating; whereas the Mask of the Sun’s Spirit Attack is the Super Nova, which transforms you into “a towering inferno of Shamanistic fire”. Ouch.
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(Image credit: Surgent Studios)
“The Metroidvania genre is firing on all cylinders at the moment… it really is a great time for fans of gated worlds, extraordinary abilities, and bastard-hard baddies. Especially those with colorful spreadsheets.”
“The Metroidvania genre is firing on all cylinders at the moment… it really is a great time for fans of gated worlds, extraordinary abilities, and bastard-hard baddies. Especially those with colorful spreadsheets.”
Ultimately, any demo time with a decent Metroidvania is welcomed but never enough. I’ve barely scratched the surface of what promises to be an epic, heartwarming and inevitably heart-wrenching adventure in Tales of Kenzera: Zau, that’s as thoughtful as it is incisive.
Again, the Metroidvania genre is firing on all cylinders at the moment, with the likes of The Last Case of Benedict Fox,Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown,Blasphemous 2and Worldless all launching in the last year, and with Ultros, (hopefully)Hollow Knight: Silksong, and, of course, Tales of Kenzera: Zau all perched on the horizon, it really is a great time for fans of gated worlds, extraordinary abilities, and bastard-hard baddies. Especially those with colorful spreadsheets.
Throw in some narrative nous that tackles lesser-explored lore and idiosyncratic cultural legend, and I’m more than sold. If you are too, know that Tales of Kenzera: Zau is due on April 23 on PC,PS5,Xbox Series Xand S, and the Nintendo Switch.
Check out thebest Metroidvania gamesto play while you wait for this one
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5
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