| Tales of Kenzera: ZAU | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Release Date | Gameplay & Story | DLC & Pre-Order | Review |
| Release Date | |
|---|---|
| April 23, 2024 More Details |
|
| Genre | |
| Metroidvania, Action-Adventure | |
| Platforms | Price (MSRP) |
    |
$19.99 |
| Developer | Publisher |
| Surgent Studios | Electronic Arts |
| Number of Players | Age Rating |
| Single-Player (1) | ESRB E 10+ |
| Time to Finish | Cross Platform Play |
| 10 Hours | No |
| Official Website | Official Website for Tales of Kenzera: ZAU |
Tales of Kenzera: ZAU Latest News
⚫︎ Coming to Game Pass: Metaphor ReFantazio, The Division 2, Tales of Kenzera: Zau, and More (Xbox)
⚫︎ Tales of Kenzera: Zau devs react to 45 minute speedrun (GoNintendo)
⚫︎ Palworld Developer Pocketpair Moves Into Publishing to Release Tales of Kenzera Dev's Next Game (IGN)
⚫︎ Tales of Kenzera: ZAU PATCH 1.5 NOTES (EA)
⚫︎ Tales of Kenzera: ZAU Creator Says It’s Time for AAA Studios to Move Away From Safe Bets (IGN)
Tales of Kenzera: ZAU Overview
Tales of Kenzera: ZAU is an action-adventure, Metroidvania game developed by Surgent studios and published by Electronic Arts under its EA Originals Label. Scheduled for release on April 23, 2024, for PC, the Nintendo Switch, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, it is a standalone title inspired by the personal experiences of its creator, Abubakar Salim, dealing with grief after the loss of his father.
Inspired by Bantu mythology and African folklore, the game unfolds in the fictional land of Kenzera. Players assume the role of Zau, a young shaman grieving the loss of his Baba (father). In his despair, Zau makes a deal with the God of Death, promising to bring back three powerful spirits in exchange for his father’s return.
Zau wields two masks, each imbued with the powers of the Sun and Moon. These masks grant him distinct fighting styles. For instance, the Mask of the Sun focuses on close-range melee combat, while the Mask of the Moon allows him to shoot projectiles and makes his movement more agile. As a Metroidvania, players will gain new abilities and upgrades throughout their journey.
| Steam |
 Epic |
 EA |
|||
| PlayStation |
Xbox |
Switch |
|||
| $19.99 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tales of Kenzera: ZAU Gameplay
Discover the untold lore of chaos and order in the mystical 2.5D realms of Kenzera complete with handcrafted animations and made alive by multi-award-winning composer Nainita Desai’s amazing musical scores. Wield the powers of both the Sun and the Moon to defeat the restless spirits in this Metroidvania-styled rhythmic adventure.
Use the Mask of the Moon to manipulate time and crystallize or the Mask of the Sun to launch fiery spears and slash your foes that stand in your way. Advance through the Highlands, Woodlands, and Deadlands as you leap and glide many obstacles as you unlock new abilities to help you in your journey to save your Baba.
Tales of Kenzera: ZAU Reviews
A Favorable Tale
Tales of Kenzera: ZAU has received mixed reception from critics and users. On Metacritic, the PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S versions hold a generally favorable critic score of 76 out of 100, while the Nintendo Switch version scores 71.
Among critics, VideoGamer awarded the game an 8/10, praising its mythologically and culturally rich world but noting a limited variety in powers and combat. GameSpot also gave it an 8/10, highlighting the music and narrative while criticizing the lack of checkpoints in challenging platforming sections. Conversely, Nintendojo gave a less favorable C grade, appreciating the platforming and setting but finding the game generic and lacking distinct features compared to other Metroidvanias.
User reception on Metacritic is significantly less positive, with an average score of 4.5 out of 10. While some users praised the setting, many echoed the sentiment of generic gameplay. A significant portion of negative user reviews also cite objections to perceived "propaganda" within the game.
Tales of Kenzera: ZAU Announcement Trailer
Official Reveal Trailer
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