The Gateway Game to Metroidvania – Tales of Kenzera: ZAU Review
The experience of Tales of Kenzera: ZAU serves as a decent gateway game into the Metroidvania genre, especially for those looking to explore new realms on their Nintendo Switch. With the market filled with incredible titles, Kenzera offers a relatively breezy 6-7-hour gameplay that provides a glimpse into the genre. However, for veterans of the genre, while the gameplay is sufficient to see you through the story, it lacks the innovation and depth found in other established titles.
One of the highlights of the game is its captivating setting and storyline. Inspired by Abubakar Salim’s personal experiences with parental loss, Tales of Kenzera weaves a tale that resonates with emotions. Salim’s involvement as the voice of protagonist Zau adds a layer of authenticity to the delivery of the narrative, making it more engaging for players.
Zau’s Epic Journey and Combat Encounters
Zau embarks on a mission to revive his deceased father by capturing the spirits of three monsters and presenting them to Kalunga, the God of Death. Accompanied by Kalunga, Zau navigates through practical and philosophical advice, making each encounter with the sagely spectre memorable. The game’s story is elevated by exceptional voice acting, creating a touching and heartfelt experience for players.
While the gameplay mechanics in Kenzera are solid, there are areas that could use improvement. The fluid movement and satisfying dash ability enhance the overall experience, but the lack of challenging exploration and variety in unlockable abilities may leave players wanting more depth.
Aesthetic Appeal and Concluding Thoughts
Visually, Tales of Kenzera presents a colorful and vibrant world that draws comparisons to Ori and the Blind Forest and Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. However, the game suffers from muddy visuals and frame rate issues on the Switch, which may impact the overall enjoyment for some players.
Conclusion
Tales of Kenzera: ZAU offers a decent gaming experience, but falls short when compared to other notable Metroidvania titles on the Switch. Despite its engaging setting and narrative, the game struggles to differentiate itself with repetitive combat and lackluster exploration. While newcomers to the genre may find the gameplay enjoyable, veterans may find it lacking in depth and innovation. Consider playing on a system with better performance for an optimal experience.