There was loads of discuss this yr about Xbox console exclusives like Hello-Fi Rush, As Nightfall Falls, and Sea of Thieves going multiplatform and being available on the PlayStation 5 because of this. For as soon as, we’re seeing that course of work the opposite manner round.
Subsequent week, Ember Labs will launch Kena: Bridge of Spirits on Xbox Sequence X and Xbox Sequence S. This recreation has a fame as being one of many best-looking PS5 exclusives. Having gone hands-on with its Xbox Sequence X port, I can say that Kena: Bridge of Spirits is simply nearly as good because it’s ever been on the brand new platform. Should you by no means had an opportunity to attempt Kena: Bridge of Spirits since you don’t personal a PS5, this Xbox port offers you the right excuse to take a look at this memorable journey.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits follows the titular spirit information as she explores the realm round a distant mountain village and shrine. The land is stuffed with corruption, and as a way to rid the realm of it, Kena wants the assistance of cute and small however highly effective creatures known as the Rot. Alongside the way in which, she helps people who find themselves caught between the true world and the spirit world move on, comparable to a involved older brother who was separated from his twin siblings. It’s a surprisingly private journey, the place gamers are slowly knowledgeable of Kena’s private character traits as she interacts with all of the totally different spirits she encounters on her quest.
On the gameplay entrance, Kena: Bridge of Spirits mixes motion, platforming, and Pikmin-like unit commanding in how gamers can management the Rot. Nothing about Kena’s exploration or fight is that authentic, apart from the truth that Kena builds up power with each assault and may finally use that to command the Rot with numerous skills. Some stun enemies, whereas in sure conditions Kena can command the Rot to mix right into a extra highly effective type. Outdoors of battle, Kena will sometimes must command the Rot to maneuver sure objects for her as a way to remedy environmental puzzles. It’s not extraordinary, however is stable sufficient to function a spine for the sport’s narrative and audiovisual expertise.
Neither story nor gameplay made Kena: Bridge of Spirits as a PS5 traditional. That honor goes to its total presentation. As an alternative of going for an ultra-realistic look, developer Ember Lab went a extremely detailed, stylized one. It appears nearly as good if not higher than modern animated fantasy movies like Pixar’s Onward or DreamWorks’ Prepare Your Dragon: The Hidden World. Ember Lab got here from a background in 3D animation; the studio made a viral animated quick movie about Cranium Child from The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Masks in 2016. The studio utilized that have to make Kena an immaculately animated action-adventure recreation.
It’s the type of recreation that doesn’t really feel next-gen due to particle results or ray tracing, however due to excellent artwork route. The Xbox port of Kena: Bridge of Spirits nonetheless runs nicely throughout each of its graphics modes. Efficiency mode “targets 60 frames per second with upscaled 4K decision,” whereas Constancy mode has a “locked body fee of 30fps at native 4K decision.” I wasn’t capable of take a look at it on Xbox Sequence S, however it’s value noting that it’s the most affordable {hardware} you can play this great-looking recreation on. (Each screenshots on this article have been taken in Constancy mode if you’d like an concept of how good this port appears.)
Kena: Bridge of Spirits’ industry-leading visuals made it a defining recreation for the PS5 early on in its lifespan. As is the case with most of the Xbox exclusives that went multiplatform, it’s an expertise that has no mechanical or technological purpose to be caught on only one console platform. I’m glad Xbox gamers now have the prospect to check out this PS5 traditional. I hope another third-party exclusives on both console additionally finally make the leap to different platforms, whether or not they’re huge like Last Fantasy VII Rebirth on PS5, indie like Dungeons of Hinterberg on Xbox, or someplace in between like this recreation.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits launches for Xbox Sequence X/S on August 15. It’s presently accessible on PC and PS5.
