I love when a small studio surprises everyone with something quality, especially when so many large AAA companies phone it in these days. I tend to root for the underdog
You fight the same tree enemy with variations only 12 skills to unlock that don’t affect combat at all and it becomes a pikmin basic game very simple the best part is the cutscenes and visuals other than that I believe almost every company is putting out this if not better content
Sometimes simplicity isn't always a bad thing. A lot of absolute classics are very much that way. Then in the other side of things, Fre Emblem has almost 600 PLAYABLE characters, and you need a PhD to understand the Kingdom Hearts story and timeline.
@@daestka5512 we rip on big companies cause the refuse to pay game Devs good wages and put out broken games with pay walls. Given the budget and Dev team of Kena it's a very impressive game. CD projekt red worked on Cyberpunk for literally a decade and it's essentially unplayable. There are still big companies making good games, sure. But they're fewer and further between every year.
When developers focus on simplicity and fun combined with technical quality, there's no mistake. This game is a rescue of the good old art of making video games.
I prefer 10 or 15 hours of an amazing game instead of 100 hours of bull crap in a huge empty world. I really like this game and think they’ve set a great foundation to make this a series.
Same here these huge games, with 100's of hours of gameplay is becoming overrated and repetitive. There also isn't time to do all that irrelevant stuff anyways. These type of games are more simple and fun. Wish they would make more games like this. I would love to see Jak&Daxter and Sly Cooper back on ps4/5.
The real fun begins once you unlock all the abilities! Trying to figure out which to use and in what sequence to utterly destroy the bosses in less than 3 minutes each is a blast, lol.
Playing on hard this game is genuinely rather hard and after the 1st 3rd button mashing isn’t really an option anymore from my experience so trying to pick the right option on the fly is a blast I agree.
I like games that are simple. Studios have been too busy trying to overcomplicate things, which was interesting for a while but it gets in the way of fun sometimes. This game brought the roots of simple but fun back into video games for me. Well done guys
Considering this was their first game, I say it’s a big win. The world that they constructed was absolutely stunning, puzzles are fun with a little challenge, combat is simple which is a nice change of pace. Only critic I have is the movement, it feels clunky. If ember labs keeps making games I can see them creating a game that is beyond our imagination
Yeah this is what i was thinking. This game is already a hidden gem, and their graphic art style is incredible. Hoping for what you said, something beyond our imagination in the years to come.
I originally planned to pre-order the game but, with the delays and lack of media coverage i got a lil iffy and figured id wait till reviews came out, and thankfully the game is exactly what I expected it to be. An extremely pretty action adventure with a great animation studio feel and crisp story/music elements. Thanks for the quick coverage!
I've been waiting all year for this game and I'm so happy with the purchase. I pre ordered it and took time off for the August release but it delayed again, I wasn't even mad. At only 3 hours in a can still say this game is perfect for me.
I dunno how to really explain it but her design is just so good. Like she would make a great company mascot if they continue to develop her (like Mario with nintendo etc).
I am so happy to see this game especially from the people who made Majora's mask - Terrible Fate short. I have been tracking it since it was posted on their yt.
This game is amazing!! I’ve sunk close to 8 hours in so far. The game mechanics are very similar to god of war with the fighting, dodging, parrying, upgrading. I’m playing on normal and have died close to 10 times. It gets surprisingly challenging. You have to learn your enemies move sets to dodge and attack like in dark souls games. The graphics are also so gorgeous! The Rots add a lot different play variety and charm to the game. Every time I boot it up I get lost in the world of Kena. I haven’t been so excited about playing a game in a very long time. This one really draws me in and makes me forget about the outside world for awhile. You guys should definitely check it out in my opinion
just finished ut and its such a great game, i had a love hate relationship with how you respawn all the way at the begining if you are doing a mutiple fights
I have to disagree bro i have bought this game & this is not similar to god of war mechanics in my opinion nor dark souls not even close. I was incredibly disappointed personally i feel like there are not many different enemies throughout the game, fighting feels super super repetitive & gets boring after a while. Not many upgrades at all also when i first played kena i would've thought the hats actually did something in combat for the little guy's but it's just cosmetic aswell as they should atleast be somewhat different colors instead of all black to bring even more life & beauty to the game. Throughout cutscenes the frame rate drops atleast for me which honestly isn't really an issue so no biggie but i can see how it would bother other's. I think the boss battles are not too shabby but me and my friend have played this on the hardest difficult & it just feels way a little too easy story wise feels just bland & mediocre.... i was truly expecting this to be the new Zelda mascot for Playstation & who knows it might just be! Not giving my hopes just yet because i do know that this is ember labs first ever game but i do have some pros & i just love how beautifully designed this looks pretty much identical to a Pixar film ❤ i can assure they put tons & tons of work into this the map is pretty big. I love how calming the atmosphere is just giving off a vibe of pure bliss & emerging you into landscape nature honestly a game never has done this for me besides breath of the wild but it completely takes away any anxiety i sometimes tend to deal with, it just puts me in a meditative 🧘🏻♂️ state but it sure is a fun game no doubt Overall 5/10
I am balls and elbows deep in this game. 10 out of 10 for me. Haven't had 1 issue with bugs and such either. For their first ever game, Ember Lab made one hell of a debut in the gaming community. I can't wait to see what other games they put out. Will definitely be keeping my eye on this dev studio.
I've been following this game's development for a while now and I'm having an absolute blast with it. It gives me similar feelings from when I used to play The Legend of Zelda. I love it! Only the platforming could indeed be a bit more polished.
@@archenemy2242 Same Jesse. Back in the day my Dad randomly surprised me with a PS2, and Jak & Daxter was the first game I played on it. I remember thinking it was the best graphics I'd ever seen (at the time).
@@DigitalKid14 ya, game really does feel like a jak and daxter game.... Also first game I played on PS2 is final fantasy 10 and when showed the cinematic. I was completely blown away by it.
I picked this one up because my wife was interested. Haven't made it too far yet, but first impressions are really good. The world is gorgeous and looks so good on ps5.
I have been playing Kena for a long while and delay finishing it, as I enjoy exploring around every hidden forest path and crevice. I pretty much agree with your review, yet there's one thing I'd like to add. Yes the graphics and the music are lovely, the boss fights are surprisingly challenging, and its exploration personally fills me with joy. But above all, I value the feel that this game gives me. It is truly my "meditation" game. In between the tense fights and the cheerful discoveries, wandering in this world makes me feel calm and free at the same time. I also actually love how the game doesn't focus on the character too much, contrary to modern games that over-showcase their protagonists as the ultimate hero / most important person. Kena is humble and silent and she gets the feel across. It's also super cool that the studio involved native artists in the game's making! Now that the game is coming on Steam, I hope everyone will share some of the experiences I had with this beautiful game!
I love the game and I can’t wait to see what Ember Labs does next, also the Majora’s Mask Terrible Fate film is incredible, THAT is what video game films should look like and i want an extended version now! 😊
Loving the game! I’ve been anticipating it since the trailer was revealed. The length is surprisingly okay for me. I tend to like longer games, but between cutscenes, exploring, taking photos, doing puzzles, finding collectibles and chests, and getting beat by monsters, I’m already 5 hours in and not even to the first true boss fight yet.
No I agree. Why to speed run games? We should take our time to enjoy all the job that’s be done. Then the game is far more than a 10 hours game. Some games can also be too long… I would say it is a 40€ long game☺️
I’m just shy of half way through the game and I think it’s something special. It has this horizon feel to it but a little less complex. I think this game is quite overlooked because it may not have the best of the best combat mechanics or options but the simplicity allows you to fully appreciate the cinematic experience. I was very impressed and especially loved all of the little puzzles. I like that they don’t baby you through the whole game. I find some games get repetitive and boring when they tell you exactly what to do and how to do it. KBS makes you think before you act.
I know this video is a year old, but I recently just started playing the game and I am loving it! It was actually one of two games - the other being Ratchet & Clank: A Rift Apart - that sold me on preordering the PS5. I'm not sure how far I am into the game time wise, but it feels like I just embarked on what will likely be the last set of quests. There really isn't much I don't like about the game. Like you said, it looks and sounds beautiful, the story and characters are endearing and well told, it plays pretty well, and the upgrade system is laser-focused on stuff with actual utility. It's a bit strange to hear you say that Normal is easy. The difficulty of some of the bosses and enemies caught me off-guard and I'm playing it on the lowly "story" difficulty. I still haven't come to grips with the parry timing so I don't even try it anymore, I just stick to dodge rolling or double jumping. Maybe that's why it's giving me some trouble here and there. I don't know if you play the Souls-like games... maybe that's why this seems easy to you? I don't bother with 'em. I would absolutely love a sequel, but if Ember Labs is making one, they're being very tight-lipped. The only thing they've said is they're more likely to do more with Kena in other mediums like movies and such, not necessarily games. A shame, because Bridge of Spirits is phenomenal for a first outing by a fledgeling games studio.
I've been enjoying this immensely. It is so nice to have a game I've been excited for launch as a complete product with so much polish. Can't wait to see what this dev studio does next
I haven't played a game that reminded me of a platform adventure game since the old mascot platformers form the playstation 2 era. I'm so glad I got to get that old school childhood feeling again. For me this game is a breath of fresh air. I can't wait to see what this developer brings to the table and am very hopeful that this game becomes a series.
@@thesherlockhokage3046 Kena seems like it would be up your alley. I'm having a blast with it. There's good exploration with plenty of collectables. As soon as I get the bow and arrow, the gameplay gets more interesting. Also, this game gives me Rayman 2 vibes. Another fantastic platformer that everyone should play.
I’m glad the reviews for this game are good, I’ve been interested in this one for a while now. Probably will wait to pick it up for half price during Christmas time
Yeah they're coming out with a physical version in November, so if you prefer that, waiting is perfect! They first said it was digital only, so that's what I got. It's such a good game!
@@grim_56 I know, trust me I have to think 10 times before I purchase a game. But it has great reviews so I doubt you will find it half a price soon. Wish you do, because its a great game. Good luck!
I wasn't really expecting much of this game after checking out the trailers, just another game I could miss, but with all the positive reviews it's getting, I am considering to buy it
I think you haven't played opus the echo of starsong, it's one of the best at game of this year in terms of story and music. If this game can be a game of the year potential then opus echo of starsong will be the game of the year.
People are going to try to buy Ember Labs. I don’t see them selling, but could you imagine what they could make with a Sony first party budget and still with total control?
I think what really stands out about the game (that I wish was discussed more) was the music and environmental sound effects. Theophany really hit it out of the park with the tracks for each section, and I didn't mind redoing certain boss fights because the music was always phenomenal. Truly, in my mind, the best part of the experience
This is one of the best games , it feels like i'm playing a sony exclusive you know especially it's coming from a smaller studio , i will buy it to help them make new games in the futur , they totally deserve it and nailed it.
This was something that has been on my wishlist since 2022, and it took a Black Friday sale discount of $13.99 for me to finally look up a review! The reason I never forgot this game (besides the small Astro Bot cameo) was because Ember Labs was responsible for one of my all-time favorite animations: “Majora’s Mask - Terrible Fate”. It is god-tier, and knowing that this same studio made a great looking video game always stuck with me. I’m definitely buying it tonight.
It reminds me of games from the SNES era that aren’t long but you can replay easily because you enjoy the overall game. For me I’m barely in it right now, pulled it from ps+ but after playing it I’m definitely buying a copy to support the developer. I want more games like this, not everything has to be 100+ hours. It’s been said, when a developer actually spends time on a 10-15 hour game, it shows and I can see that with this.
Got this game for Christmas. Just started playing this a few days ago. Stellar game so far. My favorite is the art, graphics, and the music, and nature sounds are just breathtaking.
I have been waiting so long for this game to come out. It was probably my most anticipated game of 2021, and thankfully I wasn't disappointed at all. I loved it. It's so beautiful, and has a pretty good (and kind of sad and bleak) story. The mechanics are great, and the fighting is a little more challenging than I expected it to be. I wouldn't necessarily call it hard, but it's also not boringly easy I can't think of many negative things to say about it honestly. I will say that the story probably could have been a little better (and longer), but it was still pretty good. And there's no new game plus, but that could always come later. And they definitely could have come up with a few more types of skills, just to add a little more variation to the fighting. The rot creatures were adorable though, especially with the little hats. All around I'd give it an 8 out of 10. But when you consider that this is the first game this small company has ever released, it definitely bumps the score up to 9.5 out of 10. I can't wait to see if they release some dlc for this. And I'm also really excited to see what games they develop in the future. I will definitely be picking it back up at some point in the future to play it on the harder difficulty that's unlocked upon beating the game. Hopefully they might decide to come out with some dlc for it as well by then. All in all, I definitely recommend it.
Dude, time and time again you 99% align with how I feel towards a certain game. You're a real one bro. Thanks for the content. Also, IGN's review of this definitely put a sour taste in my mouth before I played it. It's just nice to hear someone with genuine thoughts talking about this beautiful gem of a game. Definitely not a polished game but one you just can't help but beat as a game between games. Cheers!
Just finished this yesterday and its a great game. Simple move set but the game can still get plenty hard at times. The game was longer than I expected since all the reviews say its short, but either I play slow or I spent more time exploring. Didn’t really run into any issues with the game except double jumping was a bit awkward, as the 2nd jump seems to almost entirely lose forward momentum. But once you kinda figure timing for longer jumps then its alright. I found most of the time you want to run off the ledge then jump. Had only one instance where I needed to save and start the game again, I had fallen into some area I wasn’t supposed to be able to go and got stuck. Overall worth the buy for me.
I’m just past Taro and I love love love this game. I don’t really have many gripes. Maybe the invisible walls in places where you should be able to jump but that’s so minor it doesn’t really make me like it any less. It’s up there with Racket and Clank as best of the year so far
I just finished his storyline last night. Man I was surprised at how emotional it got! I originally downloaded this to play with my daughter's but now I'm super invested in it on my own haha
Game looks great, interesting story, fun exploration and amazing music. When it comes to the combat though it does a lot of things that personally I really dislike such as: enemies re-targets/rotate mid animations making dodge timings unnatural. You are locked in to animations and can't cancel attacks with dodge or parry. Combat lock goes on enemies heads, meaning when you are in melee with tall enemies the camera ends up on the floor, sometimes even beneath the floor. There is no grace period for damage in dodge OR even when you take damage, making a few of the enemies attacks basically one shots if you get hit at the start as you get locked in without being able to dodge or parry. This is just to name a few and not mentioning a couple of bugs I've encountered but those I assume will get fixed.
Great game! I'm busy playing it now. I agree with the jumping and climbing though, but the exploring and fighting is enjoyable. This reminds me a lot of the Horizon series.
My dad installed this game on my laptop, but I've never tried it out. But now, looking at it it looks so freaking beautiful. I am gonna play this for sure, it looks so cool and fun
I fell in love when the game was shown for the first time because of the graphics, music and atmosphere. Playing it now, I really enjoy it! It's beautiful and fun to play and, I never say such things but I cannot resist in this instance, Rots are sweet/kawaii. I'd appreciate it if there was more way to interact with Rots and there were any consequences if you did not! Maybe there are but I am not far enough in the game but I doubt that. The only problem I have is movement: 1. jumping between ledges is a bit off; just from looking at the position of the character, I don't know whether I already can or can't jump/leap from them. 2. I play on keyboard + mouse so moving Rots with a mouse is HORRIBLE. I need to check how the game behaves with Steam Controller.
I am actually really glad the story isn't long. I'm currently working on this, lost in random, ghost of Tsushima, and Deathloop. Then got at least 5 games in October I'm getting, maybe 6 depending if I like the open beta for 2042.
The game is interesting, my biggest criticism is the movement/animation work for Kena, it quite stilted and lacks fluidity, one of those things you can generally push past, but sometimes it can feel bad and distracting.
Omg this game gives me such nostalgia of all the old games back then. Some of the world building and atmosphere kinda reminds me of Pitfall - The Lost Expedition.
THIS COMMENT!!!! I fucking loved that game so much so when this got announced I couldn’t help but think about Kya: Dark Lineage. Honestly felt like I was the only one that remembered that game.
@@adhdandrea glad to hear someone else remembers that game. It has a special place in my heart and reminds me of the good times of my childhood. I still have my PS2 and just bought Kya dark lineage on eBay.
This game is so good. I get what you mean about the platforming, if I had to put it into words: Kena's jumps are too vertical, where most platformers focus on the horizontal jumps. Kena launches up high with every jump. A long jump would be incredible here. I honestly liked the platforming, other games do it better yes, but still great platforming.
Caught this on sale on Steam. Then my sister sent me this review after I recommended the game to her. (Nicely done, btw!) I’m about 4 hours into it. But I’ve been exploring “every crevice.” And I’ve been thoroughly enjoying it! My only major complaint so far is the default keyboard mapping. I highly recommend using a controller instead of your keyboard if you play on PC. Some of the actions are really awkwardly placed on the keyboard. At least for me. I didn’t even know there was a sprint button or an in-game (fully kitted out) camera feature until I switched the the controller and started playing with buttons to see what was where. I agree that jumping distances does feel a little weak, but I haven’t really had any trouble. I thought I might, in the first area that has a lot of cliffs and climbing/jumping, but it ended up being pretty easy. No accidental deaths. Lol. Overall, loving this game so far. Definitely recommend.
Never commented before but just wanted to let you know that you are amazing at what you do. The way you review games is professional and tells me all I need to know but in a very friendly and conversational way and because of that, I ALWAYS watch your video before I buy a new game. Keep doing what you do Jake, it does make a difference!
@@Ale-nv2bo Well, it uses the shoulder buttons to attack and block. It uses right stick to lock on to enemies. B is dodge. Seems pretty much the same as Dark Souls and I haven't heard of any game before Dark Souls that uses that control scheme. Probably Demon's Souls too but I haven't played it yet.
I love when a small studio surprises everyone with something quality, especially when so many large AAA companies phone it in these days. I tend to root for the underdog
You fight the same tree enemy with variations only 12 skills to unlock that don’t affect combat at all and it becomes a pikmin basic game very simple the best part is the cutscenes and visuals other than that I believe almost every company is putting out this if not better content
@@maddix17 yh it looks really too basic
@@maddix17 , agree the game is very basic. Some people just like to hate on big companies
Sometimes simplicity isn't always a bad thing. A lot of absolute classics are very much that way.
Then in the other side of things, Fre Emblem has almost 600 PLAYABLE characters, and you need a PhD to understand the Kingdom Hearts story and timeline.
@@daestka5512 we rip on big companies cause the refuse to pay game Devs good wages and put out broken games with pay walls.
Given the budget and Dev team of Kena it's a very impressive game.
CD projekt red worked on Cyberpunk for literally a decade and it's essentially unplayable.
There are still big companies making good games, sure. But they're fewer and further between every year.
When developers focus on simplicity and fun combined with technical quality, there's no mistake. This game is a rescue of the good old art of making video games.
old art of making video games good said! :)
aaaaaaaamen to that
Preach
Hear, hear!
this comment is so refreshing. absolutely true!
The last time I felt like this while playing a game was back in the PS2 and Nintendo GameCube Era of games. It's so, sooo special!
I been looking for games like this since thanks for telling me
I have the same feeling. Just a simple but immersive game to lose some time in!
@@gamechaser94 Immortals Fenyx Rising i’d recommend
Yep, strong early ratchet and clank and Jak and Daxter vibes. To wait for ps5 stock or play on PS4...
Reminds me of tak and power of juju!
I prefer 10 or 15 hours of an amazing game instead of 100 hours of bull crap in a huge empty world. I really like this game and think they’ve set a great foundation to make this a series.
I don't think it's that long
Same here these huge games, with 100's of hours of gameplay is becoming overrated and repetitive. There also isn't time to do all that irrelevant stuff anyways. These type of games are more simple and fun. Wish they would make more games like this. I would love to see Jak&Daxter and Sly Cooper back on ps4/5.
@@mr.anonymous.2749 My friend you are preaching the gospel, I’d love to see those series make a big comeback on PS4/5.
If you believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried, and raised to life on the third day, you will be saved. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
If you believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried, and raised to life on the third day, you will be saved. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
The real fun begins once you unlock all the abilities!
Trying to figure out which to use and in what sequence to utterly destroy the bosses in less than 3 minutes each is a blast, lol.
😐
Oh look a verified person
Playing on hard this game is genuinely rather hard and after the 1st 3rd button mashing isn’t really an option anymore from my experience so trying to pick the right option on the fly is a blast I agree.
@@AuraJewel sounds like a dev
Seems like a paid or sponsored comment tbh.
I like games that are simple. Studios have been too busy trying to overcomplicate things, which was interesting for a while but it gets in the way of fun sometimes. This game brought the roots of simple but fun back into video games for me. Well done guys
Yeah
Too bad the game is shit and not worth 40 dollars. 10 dollars at best
Ikr now it feel like real game, not overrealistic thinga. It so fun to play
@@ghostlegit Wrong, stop being a hater
@@ghostlegit oh my days 😂😂 , do something other than spreading your nonsensical comments
Considering this was their first game, I say it’s a big win. The world that they constructed was absolutely stunning, puzzles are fun with a little challenge, combat is simple which is a nice change of pace. Only critic I have is the movement, it feels clunky. If ember labs keeps making games I can see them creating a game that is beyond our imagination
If you believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried, and raised to life on the third day, you will be saved. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
Yeah this is what i was thinking. This game is already a hidden gem, and their graphic art style is incredible. Hoping for what you said, something beyond our imagination in the years to come.
I originally planned to pre-order the game but, with the delays and lack of media coverage i got a lil iffy and figured id wait till reviews came out, and thankfully the game is exactly what I expected it to be. An extremely pretty action adventure with a great animation studio feel and crisp story/music elements. Thanks for the quick coverage!
The visual of this game is insane.
Pixar or dreamworks animation
The fact that it’s simple but challenging gives me so much nostalgia it’s unreal.. probably best game I bought this year
Buy it for me please 🙂
@@ANGEL-fg4hvdid u get the game? I hope u did cuz it’s fire
@@elifkabak9261 nah
@@ANGEL-fg4hv Did you get it now? 50% off
@@kobi2024 thanks for the heads up lol I'll look into it , is it really worth it?
I really like the look of this game. It sounds really good.
looks great but they need to do something about that idle animation, transition isn't smooth
How does the LOOK of a game SOUND good?
@@thesherlockhokage3046 By Review
@@rowenmiddendorf8083 Can looks sound?
You are talking about the game itself not the looks of it🤔
@@thesherlockhokage3046 yes try to make others look dumb on the internet to boost your ego or
I've been waiting all year for this game and I'm so happy with the purchase. I pre ordered it and took time off for the August release but it delayed again, I wasn't even mad. At only 3 hours in a can still say this game is perfect for me.
👌
@@gameranxTV Ever completed a game?
Hi, my names Jeff.
@@gameranxTV 👌
I dunno how to really explain it but her design is just so good. Like she would make a great company mascot if they continue to develop her (like Mario with nintendo etc).
Kratos: *walks in* quiet boy
Idk she reminds me of the character Raya
If not her, the little spirits 😁 gimme a plushie of one of those lil dudes now plz 💳💳💳
yeah idk what it is, her design is what made me interested in the game from day 1
@@MyNamesRevenge name Microsoft second mascot I'll wait
I am so happy to see this game especially from the people who made Majora's mask - Terrible Fate short. I have been tracking it since it was posted on their yt.
ahh i didn’t know this was them!
That's wild because as soon as I heard there was a central hub with different directions, I thought of Majora's Mask!
I held off buying this until I heard for you guys. Thanks for making this an easy purchase
👌
You can buy it especially for this price. They are already working on the lock-on-system.
@@gameranxTV 👈?
I love this game so far. Just finished The Medium and Ratchet & Clank: Rift apart and now playing Kena. It's great!
this was an instant purchase for me and so far I'm really enjoying it. agree that controls are occasionally a tad off but totally forgivable.
Not with my money it isn't
@@CrimsonBladezz on God 🤣
The game is ass
@@ghostlegit Saying "The game is ass" without giving even a single fucking reason to why you find it ass isn't very convincing
@@KayP90 low budget. Not good gameplay. Mediocre visuals. 40 dollar price tag for an indie game ? Seriously why would anyone want this game
This game is amazing!! I’ve sunk close to 8 hours in so far. The game mechanics are very similar to god of war with the fighting, dodging, parrying, upgrading. I’m playing on normal and have died close to 10 times. It gets surprisingly challenging. You have to learn your enemies move sets to dodge and attack like in dark souls games. The graphics are also so gorgeous! The Rots add a lot different play variety and charm to the game. Every time I boot it up I get lost in the world of Kena. I haven’t been so excited about playing a game in a very long time. This one really draws me in and makes me forget about the outside world for awhile. You guys should definitely check it out in my opinion
just finished ut and its such a great game, i had a love hate relationship with how you respawn all the way at the begining if you are doing a mutiple fights
only bad thing is it end quite soon :(( The game is not long (only around 12h) but still worth your time
I have to disagree bro i have bought this game & this is not similar to god of war mechanics in my opinion nor dark souls not even close. I was incredibly disappointed personally i feel like there are not many different enemies throughout the game, fighting feels super super repetitive & gets boring after a while. Not many upgrades at all also when i first played kena i would've thought the hats actually did something in combat for the little guy's but it's just cosmetic aswell as they should atleast be somewhat different colors instead of all black to bring even more life & beauty to the game. Throughout cutscenes the frame rate drops atleast for me which honestly isn't really an issue so no biggie but i can see how it would bother other's. I think the boss battles are not too shabby but me and my friend have played this on the hardest difficult & it just feels way a little too easy story wise feels just bland & mediocre.... i was truly expecting this to be the new Zelda mascot for Playstation & who knows it might just be! Not giving my hopes just yet because i do know that this is ember labs first ever game but i do have some pros & i just love how beautifully designed this looks pretty much identical to a Pixar film ❤ i can assure they put tons & tons of work into this the map is pretty big. I love how calming the atmosphere is just giving off a vibe of pure bliss & emerging you into landscape nature honestly a game never has done this for me besides breath of the wild but it completely takes away any anxiety i sometimes tend to deal with, it just puts me in a meditative 🧘🏻♂️ state but it sure is a fun game no doubt
Overall 5/10
Can you explore the world a bit or is it very linear?
@@tango8011 its a linear game not open world. You open new places in the game process, you can tele back to old place ofc but still linear
This game is brilliant! Been having a blast with it. Very fine quality for it being the studio’s first game. 🔥🤘🏻
The game is fucking garbage. What game are u playing
@@ghostlegit go play fortnite or pubg or what ever u like. Just don't give ur garbage opinions on the internet.
@@ghostlegit Wrong
@@iamacat3517 not a opinion. The game is trash!
@@Assassin199410 not wrong
I am balls and elbows deep in this game. 10 out of 10 for me. Haven't had 1 issue with bugs and such either. For their first ever game, Ember Lab made one hell of a debut in the gaming community. I can't wait to see what other games they put out. Will definitely be keeping my eye on this dev studio.
I've been following this game's development for a while now and I'm having an absolute blast with it. It gives me similar feelings from when I used to play The Legend of Zelda. I love it! Only the platforming could indeed be a bit more polished.
I like how you never spoil not only story but like features or like upgrades. I appreciate it. Great vid.
This seems like the Jak & Daxter of our generation.
Hella polished platformer-esque/adventure game that has you wanting more.
I miss Jak & Daxter. I hope they bring those back and to the PC. Same with Twisted Metal. Those were my childhood games
@@archenemy2242 Same Jesse. Back in the day my Dad randomly surprised me with a PS2, and Jak & Daxter was the first game I played on it.
I remember thinking it was the best graphics I'd ever seen (at the time).
Would love a new war of the monsters game. We need more 2-4 player couch coops like that!
What i would give to have Jak&Daxter back on ps5. 😔
@@DigitalKid14 ya, game really does feel like a jak and daxter game....
Also first game I played on PS2 is final fantasy 10 and when showed the cinematic. I was completely blown away by it.
I picked this one up because my wife was interested. Haven't made it too far yet, but first impressions are really good. The world is gorgeous and looks so good on ps5.
I like your wife
I like your PS5
Picked it up?😂 you mean doenloaded it
Bought it, LOVING IT, Game of the Year so far!
I have been playing Kena for a long while and delay finishing it, as I enjoy exploring around every hidden forest path and crevice. I pretty much agree with your review, yet there's one thing I'd like to add. Yes the graphics and the music are lovely, the boss fights are surprisingly challenging, and its exploration personally fills me with joy. But above all, I value the feel that this game gives me. It is truly my "meditation" game. In between the tense fights and the cheerful discoveries, wandering in this world makes me feel calm and free at the same time. I also actually love how the game doesn't focus on the character too much, contrary to modern games that over-showcase their protagonists as the ultimate hero / most important person. Kena is humble and silent and she gets the feel across. It's also super cool that the studio involved native artists in the game's making! Now that the game is coming on Steam, I hope everyone will share some of the experiences I had with this beautiful game!
I love the game and I can’t wait to see what Ember Labs does next, also the Majora’s Mask Terrible Fate film is incredible, THAT is what video game films should look like and i want an extended version now! 😊
Well, FF7 Advent Children is a better example outside Nintendo games.
This game took me over 20 hours to complete. The last boss took like 3-4 hours before i gave up and completed the game on easy mode.
Last boss is easy
@@Fellipe2k5easy is subjective
bought it and I'm loving it 😊
Watching this trailer gave me chills the same way seeing the Jak and Daxter trailer for the first time did. I'm so excited for this!
Ayy was waiting for this 🔥🔥🔥
Loving the game! I’ve been anticipating it since the trailer was revealed.
The length is surprisingly okay for me. I tend to like longer games, but between cutscenes, exploring, taking photos, doing puzzles, finding collectibles and chests, and getting beat by monsters, I’m already 5 hours in and not even to the first true boss fight yet.
You
No I agree. Why to speed run games? We should take our time to enjoy all the job that’s be done. Then the game is far more than a 10 hours game. Some games can also be too long… I would say it is a 40€ long game☺️
I’m just shy of half way through the game and I think it’s something special. It has this horizon feel to it but a little less complex. I think this game is quite overlooked because it may not have the best of the best combat mechanics or options but the simplicity allows you to fully appreciate the cinematic experience. I was very impressed and especially loved all of the little puzzles. I like that they don’t baby you through the whole game. I find some games get repetitive and boring when they tell you exactly what to do and how to do it. KBS makes you think before you act.
I know this video is a year old, but I recently just started playing the game and I am loving it! It was actually one of two games - the other being Ratchet & Clank: A Rift Apart - that sold me on preordering the PS5. I'm not sure how far I am into the game time wise, but it feels like I just embarked on what will likely be the last set of quests. There really isn't much I don't like about the game. Like you said, it looks and sounds beautiful, the story and characters are endearing and well told, it plays pretty well, and the upgrade system is laser-focused on stuff with actual utility.
It's a bit strange to hear you say that Normal is easy. The difficulty of some of the bosses and enemies caught me off-guard and I'm playing it on the lowly "story" difficulty. I still haven't come to grips with the parry timing so I don't even try it anymore, I just stick to dodge rolling or double jumping. Maybe that's why it's giving me some trouble here and there. I don't know if you play the Souls-like games... maybe that's why this seems easy to you? I don't bother with 'em.
I would absolutely love a sequel, but if Ember Labs is making one, they're being very tight-lipped. The only thing they've said is they're more likely to do more with Kena in other mediums like movies and such, not necessarily games. A shame, because Bridge of Spirits is phenomenal for a first outing by a fledgeling games studio.
I've been enjoying this immensely. It is so nice to have a game I've been excited for launch as a complete product with so much polish. Can't wait to see what this dev studio does next
Its included with PS Plus this month and started playing it. I was very pleased to find it.
I haven't played a game that reminded me of a platform adventure game since the old mascot platformers form the playstation 2 era. I'm so glad I got to get that old school childhood feeling again. For me this game is a breath of fresh air. I can't wait to see what this developer brings to the table and am very hopeful that this game becomes a series.
Agreed!!! 👍🏻💯
You don't see many games like Kena. I'm in love with this game.
Do you have any other recommendations if I can ask?
@@thesherlockhokage3046 Depends on what you're looking for...
This game is reminiscent of games like Starfox Adventures and Horizon: Zero Dawn.
@@ashhousewares445 I am looking for anything fun.
Good cartoony or non realistic graphics.
Charming World.
Good Exploration
Good fighting system
Etc.
@@thesherlockhokage3046 Kena seems like it would be up your alley. I'm having a blast with it. There's good exploration with plenty of collectables. As soon as I get the bow and arrow, the gameplay gets more interesting. Also, this game gives me Rayman 2 vibes. Another fantastic platformer that everyone should play.
@@ashhousewares445 Thanks for the headsup. Enjoy your game
Did you play God of War by the way?
This looks like the PERFECT Friday evening game for me!!
I’m glad the reviews for this game are good, I’ve been interested in this one for a while now. Probably will wait to pick it up for half price during Christmas time
Yeah they're coming out with a physical version in November, so if you prefer that, waiting is perfect! They first said it was digital only, so that's what I got. It's such a good game!
I understand because I do the same with a lot of games, but this is not $60 game. It's $40 and it's worth the money.
@@domitabs
$40 isn't cheap
@@grim_56 I know, trust me I have to think 10 times before I purchase a game. But it has great reviews so I doubt you will find it half a price soon. Wish you do, because its a great game. Good luck!
It just makes me feel happy
Thanks Jake. Looks amazing and very happy with a ten hour game. Bored of 100 hr experiences which I never finish!
It's a ten hour game if you rush it.
Been playing it for the past two days and only just beat the first story boss... I think I'll be playing this for another two weeks at least!
@@luuketaylor Same here. I just started second region and played, like, 15 hours.
After 46 seconds i'm already bought. I wanna play that right now!
I wasn't really expecting much of this game after checking out the trailers, just another game I could miss, but with all the positive reviews it's getting, I am considering to buy it
Did you buy it? I might buy it on Wednesday on my day off. It looks great
@@ju4n831 not yet, I have a lot of expenses these days, but I may be able to buy it next month, we'll see
i stated playing this game yesterday. I played for 8 hours and im about to knock out 4 more. It's absolutely beautiful and fun! This game is a must
Probably game of the year for me. Looking at the complete package it just has this charm that made me genuinely smile while playing.
Me too, smiling all the way through
Have you even played? That’s a huge statement
@@grahamkelly8662 I have played yes
I think you haven't played opus the echo of starsong, it's one of the best at game of this year in terms of story and music. If this game can be a game of the year potential then opus echo of starsong will be the game of the year.
Not gtoy. Garbage game
People are going to try to buy Ember Labs.
I don’t see them selling, but could you imagine what they could make with a Sony first party budget and still with total control?
That’s what I’m saying
I think what really stands out about the game (that I wish was discussed more) was the music and environmental sound effects. Theophany really hit it out of the park with the tracks for each section, and I didn't mind redoing certain boss fights because the music was always phenomenal. Truly, in my mind, the best part of the experience
This is one of the best games , it feels like i'm playing a sony exclusive you know especially it's coming from a smaller studio , i will buy it to help them make new games in the futur , they totally deserve it and nailed it.
true also bought it to support the studio and all I can say is I'm already fan of Ember Labs
I finished playing Fenyx Rising, and was looking for something similar. This looks like fits the bill.
That was a fun ass game man, I definitely hope they make a sequel
That's exactly the vibe I got off this and loved Fenyx Rising.
play biomutant aswell :)
Then play biomutant, destroy all humans (new one), legend of Zelda botw cemu (if u have a strong enough pc)
*Gods & Monsters
Had such great time with this game. Whenever you can't put down a game till you beat it, you know it's good!
Literally waited for this before I made my final decision. 👍🏼 thx!
This was something that has been on my wishlist since 2022, and it took a Black Friday sale discount of $13.99 for me to finally look up a review!
The reason I never forgot this game (besides the small Astro Bot cameo) was because Ember Labs was responsible for one of my all-time favorite animations: “Majora’s Mask - Terrible Fate”. It is god-tier, and knowing that this same studio made a great looking video game always stuck with me. I’m definitely buying it tonight.
Just bought this game today...stoked to play it down the line!
Absolutely recommend this game. Especially if you have the new OLED steamdeck. It is so gorgeous. ❤
I’m loving this game, so old school with new school tech to show it off. Great first job can’t wait to see what they do next with a bigger budget.
It reminds me of games from the SNES era that aren’t long but you can replay easily because you enjoy the overall game. For me I’m barely in it right now, pulled it from ps+ but after playing it I’m definitely buying a copy to support the developer. I want more games like this, not everything has to be 100+ hours. It’s been said, when a developer actually spends time on a 10-15 hour game, it shows and I can see that with this.
I already bought it and played it, it's amazing
Got this game for Christmas. Just started playing this a few days ago. Stellar game so far. My favorite is the art, graphics, and the music, and nature sounds are just breathtaking.
I have been waiting so long for this game to come out. It was probably my most anticipated game of 2021, and thankfully I wasn't disappointed at all. I loved it. It's so beautiful, and has a pretty good (and kind of sad and bleak) story. The mechanics are great, and the fighting is a little more challenging than I expected it to be. I wouldn't necessarily call it hard, but it's also not boringly easy I can't think of many negative things to say about it honestly. I will say that the story probably could have been a little better (and longer), but it was still pretty good. And there's no new game plus, but that could always come later. And they definitely could have come up with a few more types of skills, just to add a little more variation to the fighting. The rot creatures were adorable though, especially with the little hats. All around I'd give it an 8 out of 10. But when you consider that this is the first game this small company has ever released, it definitely bumps the score up to 9.5 out of 10. I can't wait to see if they release some dlc for this. And I'm also really excited to see what games they develop in the future. I will definitely be picking it back up at some point in the future to play it on the harder difficulty that's unlocked upon beating the game. Hopefully they might decide to come out with some dlc for it as well by then. All in all, I definitely recommend it.
If you believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried, and raised to life on the third day, you will be saved. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
@@RealJewels Go to bed.
i bought it on launch and im inlove with it. it looks fantastic and the world looks really wonderful
Dude, time and time again you 99% align with how I feel towards a certain game. You're a real one bro. Thanks for the content.
Also, IGN's review of this definitely put a sour taste in my mouth before I played it. It's just nice to hear someone with genuine thoughts talking about this beautiful gem of a game. Definitely not a polished game but one you just can't help but beat as a game between games. Cheers!
Same here, I love their reviews. Now days I only stick to their reviewed and angry Joe too.
Just finished this yesterday and its a great game. Simple move set but the game can still get plenty hard at times. The game was longer than I expected since all the reviews say its short, but either I play slow or I spent more time exploring.
Didn’t really run into any issues with the game except double jumping was a bit awkward, as the 2nd jump seems to almost entirely lose forward momentum. But once you kinda figure timing for longer jumps then its alright. I found most of the time you want to run off the ledge then jump. Had only one instance where I needed to save and start the game again, I had fallen into some area I wasn’t supposed to be able to go and got stuck. Overall worth the buy for me.
I’m just past Taro and I love love love this game. I don’t really have many gripes. Maybe the invisible walls in places where you should be able to jump but that’s so minor it doesn’t really make me like it any less. It’s up there with Racket and Clank as best of the year so far
I just finished his storyline last night. Man I was surprised at how emotional it got! I originally downloaded this to play with my daughter's but now I'm super invested in it on my own haha
One of my favorite games of this year. Brings back AOL in spectacular fashion. "You've got Spirit Mail!"
Game looks great, interesting story, fun exploration and amazing music.
When it comes to the combat though it does a lot of things that personally I really dislike such as: enemies re-targets/rotate mid animations making dodge timings unnatural. You are locked in to animations and can't cancel attacks with dodge or parry. Combat lock goes on enemies heads, meaning when you are in melee with tall enemies the camera ends up on the floor, sometimes even beneath the floor. There is no grace period for damage in dodge OR even when you take damage, making a few of the enemies attacks basically one shots if you get hit at the start as you get locked in without being able to dodge or parry. This is just to name a few and not mentioning a couple of bugs I've encountered but those I assume will get fixed.
Its funny how no one here mentions combat, when its rather clunky and unnecessarily hard. Everyone is afraid of the "get gud" mob.
Being locked in animations is something I'm used to from MH but the rest sounds rather annoying
@@Surokis matching animations to multi-clicks...I just can't stand. Looking at you Batman Arkham games.
Great game! I'm busy playing it now. I agree with the jumping and climbing though, but the exploring and fighting is enjoyable. This reminds me a lot of the Horizon series.
Hi should i buy this game ? How is the adventure is this like uncharted or something
It's such a beautiful game It's definitely in my top 3 for 2021
I just started this game a month ago. I’m loving it. 10/10 for me.
My dad installed this game on my laptop, but I've never tried it out. But now, looking at it it looks so freaking beautiful. I am gonna play this for sure, it looks so cool and fun
I fell in love when the game was shown for the first time because of the graphics, music and atmosphere.
Playing it now, I really enjoy it! It's beautiful and fun to play and, I never say such things but I cannot resist in this instance, Rots are sweet/kawaii.
I'd appreciate it if there was more way to interact with Rots and there were any consequences if you did not! Maybe there are but I am not far enough in the game but I doubt that.
The only problem I have is movement:
1. jumping between ledges is a bit off; just from looking at the position of the character, I don't know whether I already can or can't jump/leap from them.
2. I play on keyboard + mouse so moving Rots with a mouse is HORRIBLE. I need to check how the game behaves with Steam Controller.
Love this game. Took a gamble when I bought it a week ago but wow it has surprised me. Coming from a guy that’s obsessed with GoW 2018
the gameplay can look better than the cutscenes at times
Going to play this after I finish Tales of Arise
It reminds me of a classic PS1 action/platformer
Perfect time to catch this video now that it's come to Playstation Plus 😊 I can't wait to jump in.
I am actually really glad the story isn't long. I'm currently working on this, lost in random, ghost of Tsushima, and Deathloop. Then got at least 5 games in October I'm getting, maybe 6 depending if I like the open beta for 2042.
👌
i loved this game as much i enjoyed it and still waiting for the next game from Ember Lab
So excited for this game! Was going to get it at launch, but I'm going to wait for the physical copy
its gonna have a non digital copy?
@@rpgfan007 they announced the other day that a physical version is coming later this year
I would highly recommend this game to anyone considering it. Absolutely love it so far (about 6 hours in so far)
The game is interesting, my biggest criticism is the movement/animation work for Kena, it quite stilted and lacks fluidity, one of those things you can generally push past, but sometimes it can feel bad and distracting.
I also have problems with movement, especially jumping between ledges + moving Rots while playing with a mouse.
No game is perfect.
Getting major Studio Ghibli vibes, especially the little spirit guys.
Visuals are clearly the selling point here. I’m not a big fan of disney princess style but I’ll pick it up at some point. It does look beautiful.
Cant wait. I'm waiting for a physical copy
I may pick it up, hearing the lack of voice acting doesn't bother me since link in Zelda games never talks!
This game gives me the same feel that aid got when booting up Jak and Daxter up for the 1st time back in the day and I love it
It’s 17 right now on sale should I buy it?
Omg this game gives me such nostalgia of all the old games back then. Some of the world building and atmosphere kinda reminds me of Pitfall - The Lost Expedition.
Does anyone remember the game Kya on PS2? Getting those kinds of vibes from this game which is super nostalgic
THIS COMMENT!!!! I fucking loved that game so much so when this got announced I couldn’t help but think about Kya: Dark Lineage. Honestly felt like I was the only one that remembered that game.
@@adhdandrea glad to hear someone else remembers that game. It has a special place in my heart and reminds me of the good times of my childhood. I still have my PS2 and just bought Kya dark lineage on eBay.
Looks incredible. This blows me away for a smaller studio's first outing.
Who’s here after it got added to ps plus extra
Playing this game with my fiancee - stunning game with plenty of charm, variation and awe-inspiring moments! And the soundtrack... it's gorgeous!
This game is so good.
I get what you mean about the platforming, if I had to put it into words:
Kena's jumps are too vertical, where most platformers focus on the horizontal jumps. Kena launches up high with every jump. A long jump would be incredible here. I honestly liked the platforming, other games do it better yes, but still great platforming.
This game looks beautiful. I don't care how long it is I will buy it❤
It’s a very pretty game. My only complaint is that it’s more of a kids game. I got bored of it really fast.
This game rocks and I’m going to be paying close attention to Ember Labs
Man, this and Deathloop wants me to have now a PS5!!
Caught this on sale on Steam. Then my sister sent me this review after I recommended the game to her. (Nicely done, btw!)
I’m about 4 hours into it. But I’ve been exploring “every crevice.” And I’ve been thoroughly enjoying it!
My only major complaint so far is the default keyboard mapping. I highly recommend using a controller instead of your keyboard if you play on PC.
Some of the actions are really awkwardly placed on the keyboard. At least for me. I didn’t even know there was a sprint button or an in-game (fully kitted out) camera feature until I switched the the controller and started playing with buttons to see what was where.
I agree that jumping distances does feel a little weak, but I haven’t really had any trouble. I thought I might, in the first area that has a lot of cliffs and climbing/jumping, but it ended up being pretty easy. No accidental deaths. Lol.
Overall, loving this game so far. Definitely recommend.
Never commented before but just wanted to let you know that you are amazing at what you do. The way you review games is professional and tells me all I need to know but in a very friendly and conversational way and because of that, I ALWAYS watch your video before I buy a new game. Keep doing what you do Jake, it does make a difference!
I'm only 30 minutes into it and I'm already in love with this game
The game looks fantastic and the combat is Dark Souls style so I'm happy. Plus the Rot are super cute.
Not everything is dark souls. Especially this.
@@ChocolateEffigy By that I just mean it controls the same way.
@@raphaelalexander3692 It really doesn't wtf dude
@@Ale-nv2bo Well, it uses the shoulder buttons to attack and block. It uses right stick to lock on to enemies. B is dodge. Seems pretty much the same as Dark Souls and I haven't heard of any game before Dark Souls that uses that control scheme. Probably Demon's Souls too but I haven't played it yet.