Tales of Kenzera: Zau Review
OUR RATING: 8/10
From the outset, Tales of Kenzera: Zau envelops players in a vibrant celebration of African culture. The menus and title screens exude a warmth reminiscent of Ryan Coogler’s visionary Black Panther, adorned with vibrant hues of purple and intricate patterns.
This reverence for representation extends beyond mere aesthetics, permeating the very fabric of Kenzera’s world-building. The game’s presentation is a love letter to African peoples, meticulously crafted to foster a sense of familiarity and belonging.
Zuberi, a young man grappling with his father’s passing, serves as the narrative’s entry point. Gifted with his father’s final written work, a book intended to guide him through this harrowing transition, Zuberi embarks on an introspective odyssey. The tale within the tome follows Zau, a shaman tasked with an extraordinary bargain: to deliver three Great Spirits to Kalunga’s realm, in exchange for the return of his own departed father.
As Zau’s quest unfolds, the narrative deftly explores the multifaceted dimensions of grief. From the helplessness that accompanies loss to the desperate yearning for control, the anger and doubt that inevitably surface – Tales of Kenzera: Zau captures these emotional intricacies with profound authenticity. Moments of raw vulnerability punctuate the journey, compelling players to confront their own experiences with mourning, forging an indelible connection between the virtual and the visceral.
While the narrative serves as the heart of Tales of Kenzera: Zau, the gameplay mechanics are its lifeblood. Zau’s mastery of two masks – the Sun and the Moon – forms the crux of the combat system, aptly dubbed the “Dance of the Shaman.” The Sun Mask imbues Zau with melee prowess, while the Moon Mask grants him ranged capabilities, allowing for seamless transitions between close and long-range encounters.
This dynamic combat system is further enriched by the introduction of spiritual shields, which demand strategic mask switching to overcome. Enemies adorned with these mystical defenses present a constant challenge, ensuring that each encounter remains fresh and engaging.
Tales of Kenzera: Zau’s boss battles stand as towering monuments to the game’s thematic depth. These colossal adversaries transcend mere combat encounters, embodying the various facets of grief that Zau must confront. From labyrinthine vine traps that mirror the entanglement of emotions to volcanic pursuits that evoke the searing anguish of loss, each boss battle is a meticulously crafted allegory, seamlessly interweaving gameplay and narrative.
Complementing its combat prowess, Tales of Kenzera: Zau offers a rich tapestry of exploration. Zau’s journey begins with a double jump and air dash already in his arsenal, paving the way for more intricate movement abilities to be introduced. The acquisition of magical stones that freeze water, enabling Zau to traverse rushing rivers and waterfalls, adds a layer of complexity to the platforming experience.
However, the game’s true strength lies not in its individual obstacles but in the intricate choreography of their interplay. Kenzera’s map, while straightforward in its design, presents a series of interconnected challenges that demand mastery of Zau’s abilities. Each obstacle course, each locked door, and each climactic encounter with a Great Spirit serves as a testament to the developers’ commitment to crafting a cohesive and engaging exploratory experience.
While Tales of Kenzera: Zau excels in many aspects, its platforming mechanics occasionally falter. The presence of instant-kill spikes, coupled with seemingly enlarged hitboxes, can lead to frustrating and unfair deaths. However, the game’s generous checkpoint system mitigates this issue, allowing players to swiftly return to the fray and continue their journey.
Amidst the challenges and tribulations, Kalunga emerges as a guiding force, defying conventional depictions of death deities. Rather than a sinister presence, Kalunga acts as a compassionate companion, offering wisdom and encouragement throughout Zau’s quest. His advice evolves from criticism to empathy, mirroring the deepening bond between mentor and pupil, a bond that transcends the boundaries of their respective realms.
The interplay between Zuberi and Zau’s narratives forms the core of Tales of Kenzera: Zau’s thematic resonance. While their worlds appear vastly different – Zuberi’s opulent Amani contrasting with Zau’s struggle for survival in Kenzera – their shared inheritance of their fathers’ legacies binds them. As Zau overcomes each Great Spirit, he imparts lessons on the multifaceted nature of grief, lessons that ultimately guide Zuberi in completing his own journey of healing.
Tales of Kenzera: Zau stands as a testament to the power of authentic storytelling and artistic vision. Its portrayal of African culture, while rooted in a fictional world, resonates with a profound sense of respect and reverence. The characters of Zuberi, Zau, and Kalunga are not mere avatars but embodiments of relatable, universal conflicts, inviting players to immerse themselves in their struggles and triumphs.
While the game’s platforming mechanics may occasionally falter, its combat system shines as a beacon of excellence. The dynamic interplay between the Mask of the Sun and the Mask of the Moon, coupled with the strategic necessity of mask switching, elevates Tales of Kenzera: Zau above mere genre conventions.
Tales of Kenzera: Zau stands as a bold and ambitious work, a testament to the power of storytelling in the interactive medium. Its exploration of grief’s many facets, woven into a narrative that transcends cultural boundaries.
