Tales of Kenzera: Zau is an impressive debut from fledgling game developer Surgent Studios. Helmed by actor Abubakar Salim (Assassin’s Creed: Origins, Raised By Wolves), the game tells a timeless tale of grief and self-exploration as its chief protagonist, Zau, a young shaman, tries to bring his father back from the dead. This journey mirrors Salim’s own, as Tales of Kenzera: Zau came into being as a way for him to process his own grief at the passing of his father. That loss, and the difficulty coping with that loss, all form the game’s story, including its world design and boss fights.
The game’s setting is its most striking feature. Inspired by African folklore and legend, the world of Kenzera is bursting with color and life, though there are cracks in the terrain. This beautiful world is suffering. Storms rage, rot has set in. The Great Spirits are in trouble, and Zau, along with his companion and mentor, the God of Death, Kalunga, must find a way to set things right. This setting is wonderfully unique, steeped in legends we rarely (if ever) see in video games. A gorgeous and lively score from Nainita Desai helps breathe even more life into the rolling plains and dark caverns of Kenzera. And all of this is topped off with an incredibly talented cast led by Salim himself as Zau.
The gameplay in Tales of Kenzera: Zau is fast-paced, starting you off with both your double-jump and dash abilities, and your baseline Sun and Moon mask combat abilities from the get-go. You’re already a pretty skilled warrior and platformer right off the bat, and you build on this as you progress. It’s fairly basic compared to some Metroidvania games, but this makes it ideal for gamers new to the genre, or for those more interested in exploring the unique world rather than breaking new ground.
As you make your way through the game’s surprisingly large map, you’ll unlock new powers and abilities that open up new areas and traversal options. One power allows you to freeze rivers and waterfalls. In combat, you can use this to freeze enemies as well, temporarily taking them out of the fight. There is a grappling hook and a spear that can activate nodes that open special doors or activate special power-lines so on and so forth. All these abilities unlock new pathways.
Punctuated throughout this adventure are tougher boss fights that add some nice gameplay variety, as well as special challenges that provide much more difficult platforming challenges, giant trees where you can meditate to gain more HP, and Trinkets that bolster Zau’s abilities, secreted away in hidden areas.
However, the game also has its flaws. The platforming could be tighter, with some imprecise and floaty moments that can be frustrating, especially in the optional challenges. Combat variety and difficulty spikes are other issues, with a limited number of enemy types and some choke-points where difficulty really spikes. The map design and UI also leave something to be desired, with an oddly linear map and a lack of greyed-out map regions to indicate unexplored areas.
Despite these complaints, Tales of Kenzera: Zau is a genuinely enjoyable experience. Its themes of loss and grief, and certainly of parenting, hit home. It’s also quite lovely how the game tackles these heavy issues while still remaining so upbeat and hopeful, reminding us that even in our darkest hours we can strive to find the light. I definitely recommend you give Tales of Kenzera: Zau a shot. If you’re a PS Plus Extra subscriber, it’s free on day-one. The game is available today, April 23rd, on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
