There has been quite a lot of speak this 12 months about Xbox console exclusives like Hi-Fi Rush, As Dusk Falls, and Sea of Thieves going multiplatform and being available on the PlayStation 5 consequently. For as soon as, we’re seeing that course of work the opposite approach round.
Next week, Ember Labs will launch Kena: Bridge of Spirits on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. This sport has a popularity as being one of many best-looking PS5 exclusives. Having gone hands-on with its Xbox Series 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. If you by no means had an opportunity to attempt Kena: Bridge of Spirits since you don’t personal a PS5, this Xbox port provides you the proper excuse to take a look at this memorable journey.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits follows the titular spirit information as she explores the world round a distant mountain village and shrine. The land is crammed with corruption, and with the intention to rid the world of it, Kena wants the assistance of cute and small however highly effective creatures known as the Rot. Along the way in which, she helps people who find themselves caught between the actual world and the spirit world cross on, similar 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 unique, apart from the truth that Kena builds up vitality with each assault and might ultimately 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 kind. Outside of battle, Kena will often have to command the Rot to maneuver sure objects for her with the intention to remedy environmental puzzles. It’s not extraordinary, however is strong 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 basic. That honor goes to its general presentation. Instead of going for an ultra-realistic look, developer Ember Lab went a extremely detailed, stylized one. It appears to be like nearly as good if not higher than up to date animated fantasy movies like Pixar’s Onward or DreamWorks’ How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World. Ember Lab got here from a background in 3D animation; the studio made a viral animated short film about Skull Kid from The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask in 2016. The studio utilized that have to make Kena an immaculately animated action-adventure sport.
It’s the form of sport 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. Performance mode “targets 60 frames per second with upscaled 4K resolution,” whereas Fidelity mode has a “locked frame rate of 30fps at native 4K resolution.” I wasn’t in a position to take a look at it on Xbox Series S, however it’s price noting that it’s the most cost effective {hardware} that you could play this great-looking sport on. (Both screenshots on this article had been taken in Fidelity mode if you’d like an thought of how good this port appears to be like.)
Kena: Bridge of Spirits’ industry-leading visuals made it a defining sport 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 cause to be caught on only one console platform. I’m glad Xbox gamers now have the possibility to check out this PS5 basic. I hope some other third-party exclusives on both console additionally ultimately make the bounce to different platforms, whether or not they’re huge like Final Fantasy VII Rebirth on PS5, indie like Dungeons of Hinterberg on Xbox, or someplace in between like this sport.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits launches for Xbox Series X/S on August 15. It’s at present obtainable on PC and PS5.