Tales of Kenzera: ZAU on PlayStation 5
The Metroidvania genre is full of gems that have strong gameplay foundations, keeping players engaged in whichever world they find themselves in, and incentivizing them to keep coming back for more. That said, not many of them feature stories that touch upon more poignant themes that require more emotional investment from the player. This is where Surgent Studios’ Tales of Kenzera: ZAU shines brightly, even if there are several issues that dim its brilliance along the way.
With the central core of the story being about the love of a father and son, players will join Zuberi, a child who is now mourning the loss of his father, in the distant future. That sense of loss is profound, and the only way to placate the unnerving swell of emotions is through a book written by his father, of a shaman called Zau who is facing the same predicament in the lands of Kenzera. Yet, the healer is able to strike a deal with the God of Death, Kalunga. By overcoming three lost ancestral spirits, Zau wants the deity to bring his Baba back from the dead.