Ember Lab, a development studio with experience creating animated short films and commercials, plans to recapture the spirit of the action-platformer heyday with their debut, Kena: Bridge of Spirits. This adventure sees players controlling a girl named Kena as she searches for the sacred Mountain Shrine. In her world, those who die can still inhabit the physical world before moving on if they have unfinished business. Kena acts as a spirit guide, using her talents to help spirits leave the physical world in peace.
In-game visuals are not too shabby either, though of course they can't reach the pure technical quality of the pre-rendered stuff. The village and surrounding forest you'll get to explore are full of greenery, lush plants, and some more barren corrupted areas. The character designs of Kena and spirits are reminiscent of animated films, as are the Rot. Strangely named, The Rot are little creatures that Kena will collect over the course of her journey, and can be used in combat and exploration. These small, puffy and overly happy creatures try to overload the cuteness factor, and could have done so if there was more interaction and close-up opportunities with them.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits is the gorgeously animated story of a young woman who serve as a spirit guide, helping to free spirits trapped in a forgotten village so they can pass on to the next life. She's helped along by her adorable-and-potent spirit companions, the Rot.
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