Summary
- Tales of Kenzera: Zau blends African folklore with metroidvania gameplay, offering a unique experience for players.
- Players control Zau, who uses two masks to manipulate time and launch fiery attacks, adding depth and freedom to gameplay.
- The story follows Zau's grief over his father's death, drawing players in with emotional storytelling and meaningful themes.
Tales of Kenzera: Zau is the debut game from Surgent Studios, and it looks to deliver a new experience using one of gaming’s oldest formulas. With a brand-new developer, it can be hard to imagine what the game may feel like, but with the powerhouse publisher of EA behind it, Tales of Kenzera: Zau could turn out to be an experience for the ages.
Brought to life by creative lead Abubakar Salim, known for the role of Bayek in Assassin's Creed: Origins, Tales of Kenzera: Zau is set to take players on a unique journey. Similar to Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, Tales of Kenzera: Zau is a metroidvania game that focuses on high speed action segments mixed with clear real-world inspirations. Pulling heavily from African folklore, players will be transported to a land of shamans, magic, and mysticism set on an African backdrop. Beyond the gameplay though, the story of a son’s journey of grief over the death of his father is sure to strike a chord with many players. Between action-packed gameplay and a meaningful message, Tales of Kenzera: Zau looks to bring players an experience unlike any they've had before.
New Metroidvania Game Inspired by Afrofuturism and Bantu Culture
Inspired by grief and imbued with Afrofuturistic and Bantu inspired visuals, a new game aims to showcase the emotional journey that comes with loss.
Classic Metroidvania Gameplay Collides With African Folklore
Fans of metroidvania games have a lot to look forward to in this innovative new title. The shamanic mysticism at the heart of many African tales informs the various mechanics expected in Tales of Kenzera: Zau. Most notably, main character Zau starts the game in possession of two powerful masks. When wearing the mask of the sun, Zau can launch fiery attacks, such as flaming spears towards his enemies. On the other hand, wearing the mask of the moon will allow him to manipulate time and crystallize his enemies. Gameplay seems to hinge upon which mask the player is wearing at the time, with each granting different abilities as the game progresses.
As is typical for games in the metroidvania genre, players will unlock plenty of powerful new abilities as the game progresses. It appears that each ability will be assigned to one of the two masks, meaning that it will only be available half of the time. While it’s likely that players will have to use both masks in order to traverse the levels, the combat experience will heavily depend on which mask the player favors. This allows for incredible freedom for the player to impact the game.
Gameplay seems to hinge upon which mask the player is wearing at the time...
The Deeper Themes at Play in Tales of Kenzera
Games are an incredible way of delivering a story to players, and Tales of Kenzera: Zau has a very important story to tell. By combining storytelling with gameplay, the game will tell the story of Zau, and his trials to overcome the greif of his father's passing. Through embodying Zau, players will feel the grief that he does over the death of his father. A grief so strong, that he calls upon Kalunga, guardian of the underworld, in order to make a deal. This deal sets off a mission to defeat powerful Godlike guardians of different realms, all in the hopes that Zau will be rewarded with the return of his father. Blending gameplay and storytelling is a powerful way to allow players to really feel for the characters involved. Everyone faces grief in their life, and this game seeks to help players through it in the best way it can.
Another unique part of the story is the heavy influence of African folklore and storytelling. Abubakar Salim seeks to highlight the common folkloric elements he witnessed during his time in Africa. In a divided world, it is important that people be aware of other cultures, and indigenous Africans have often been overlooked by the media until very recently. A key joining point between African influence and the theme of grief is connection to one’s ancestors. In the game, it appears that Zau will gain his new abilities by interacting with shrines devoted to those who came before him. Surely, this element of the story will be key to helping Zau overcome the grief that is consuming him. All of these elements combine to make Tales of Kenzera: Zau a game unlike any before it, which is sure to transport players to a world beyond imagination.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 76 /100 Critics Rec: 66%
- Released
- April 23, 2024
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Fantasy Violence
- Developer(s)
- Surgent Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Electronic Arts
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
WHERE TO PLAY
A grieving boy begins to read a Bantu tale written by his late father. Adventure into the beautiful and treacherous lands of Kenzera as Zau, a young shaman who bargains with the God of death to bring his Baba back from darkness. With your cosmic powers and untried courage, you advance into unknown mythological lands. Once bursting with life, Kenzera is now rife with lost ancestral spirits. As Zau advances toward his goal, three mighty beings lie in wait, fearsome in their strength yet somehow strangely familiar. Will you embrace the dance of the shaman?
Embark on a poignant single-player story shaped by actor Abubakar Salim’s own experience with grief, discovering how love gives us the courage to press on after devastating loss. Wield powers from the Sun and the Moon to defeat restless spirits in rhythmic combat and become a worthy Nganga: a spiritual healer. Discover a rich universe with untold lore of chaos & order and journey through mystical 2.5D realms awash with colour and depth, emboldened by multi-award-winning composer Nainita Desai's enchanting original score.
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
