We had the chance to try out the upcoming game Tales of Kenzera: Zau. Our experience shows that Kenzera will be one of the most ambitious independent productions of this year.
Tales of Kenzera: Zau First Look: Kenzera was first revealed at the end of last year’s 2023 Game Awards as a very personal project of Abubakar Salim, who voiced the main character in Assassin’s Creed Origins, before sitting in the director’s chair and establishing his own studio. In the game, which is basically a Metroidvania game, we expected plenty of fighting and exploration, as is customary in this genre. Instead, we are treated to a gripping story of love and grief about the death of a parent and a young child’s journey to find solace and self-discovery through a book and those around him. Many of the stories and mechanics presented in the game are much more emotional and narrative-oriented than what we are used to.
Tales of Kenzera is also brimming with incredible stories, many of which Salim grew up hearing from his father. “All these mythological characters and spirits are inspired by the basic stories in Bantu cultures. But there is also something my father told me; these have always inspired me,” says Salim.
Tales of Kenzera: Zau First Look / A Story of Loss and Development
The story of Zuberi, a young boy grieving after his father dies unexpectedly, is told in Zau. Despite his obvious grief and despair, he manages to contact his parents through a book left for him. He discovers the story of a young shaman named Zau, who is also struggling with the death of his father, and sets out to make a deal with the God of Death to bring his father back at any cost.
It is immediately clear from the beginning of the game that the main focus of the game is the parallel stories of Zuberi and Zau. As was said during the special presentation of the play to the press, it is no secret that the director created this play to commemorate his father and mourn his own death, which makes the play full of intensely emotional moments from beginning to end. Even though one of the main characters battles gods and primitive creatures that defy conventional logic, the story still presents grief in very human ways. Every aspect of Zau is immersed in this exploration of loss and personal growth, from the anger and grief to the excruciating pain of losing such an important person in your life.
First of all, we have to say that Tales of Kenzera: ZAU is in the Metroidvania genre. You’ll spend most of the game exploring a pretty big world, traveling through amazing places, breathtaking landscapes, and making friends. Of course, enemies too. Dubbed the “dance of the shaman,” fights in this game revolve around the power of the Moon Mask and the Sun Mask and your character’s capacity to use both simultaneously to adapt to any combat scenario.
With the help of his solar mask, Zau can perform quick melee combos and powerful strikes. You can even use this moveset to juggle enemies in the air and put them in a position to be hit by follow-up attacks from the other mask. On the other hand, with the Moon mask, you can perform ranged attacks with fast bullets fired from a safe distance. You need to be proficient in both forms and constantly switch between them as you fight to create incredibly satisfying combos.
Enemies are not the only thing you need to pay attention to in the game. There are also some side missions in the form of many obstacle courses, as most of them require precise timing and retrying. When you accidentally enter the wrong place or fall, you may find yourself stuck in a challenging obstacle course.
Independent Game of the Year Awaits Us
Considering how many Metroidvania games there are on the market, you may not have included Kenzera on your list because you thought it was one of them. We must say very quickly that it is definitely a production ahead of other examples of the genre. While it impresses with its narrative-oriented story, you will also enjoy following the battles and explorations filled with colorful landscapes. Kenzera’s world has a vibrant and colorful design. The world you explore offers vibrant graphics in every chapter, from lush forests to drier regions where you begin the story inspired by African mythology and folklore.
Finally, we should definitely mention the music of the game. During the presentation, she stated that Nainita Desai started her work without seeing anything about the play, which led her to produce her works by visualizing the entire play before her eyes. This helped him create a fascinating work by combining contemporary musical genres with traditional Bantu African instruments. The choir, which also contributed to Marvel Studios’ Black Panther movie, was recorded with musicians from around the world and created touching and epic compositions. Answering our questions during the presentation, the artist stated that these music will be published along with the game on platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music.
Tales of Kenzera: ZAU features a vibrant world, engaging game mechanics, and an engaging story that will fascinate casual gamers as well as fans of the Metroidvania genre. They will be immersed in rich action as they embark on Zau’s journey of self-discovery and redemption, tied together by universal themes of love, loss and perseverance. The game, which will be released on April 23, 2024, appears as one of the most important independent productions of this year.
