| Tales of Kenzera: ZAU | |||
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| Release Date | Gameplay & Story | DLC & Pre-Order | Review |
Tales of Kenzera: ZAU is a brand new action adventure metroidvania game developed by Surgent Studios under Electronic Arts.Read on to learn about our first impressions of the game, its story, and gameplay.
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Tales of Kenzera: ZAU Gameplay
Tales of Kenzera: ZAU is a 2.5D Metroidvania-style action-adventure game. Gameplay centers around controlling Zau, a young shaman grieving the loss of his father, who strikes a bargain with the God of Death to bring him back. This premise translates into exploration and combat mechanics interwoven with platforming obstacles. Zau traverses interconnected environments, typical of the Metroidvania genre, gaining access to new areas by acquiring abilities and items. These abilities are intrinsically tied to the game’s two spiritual masks.
Zau can switch between the Mask of the Sun and the Mask of the Moon, each granting him a different set of combat skills and traversal options. The Mask of the Sun is more aggressive and melee-focused, while the Mask of the Moon emphasizes ranged attacks and enhanced mobility, such as a spectral dash that can be used to traverse gaps or close distances quickly.
Tales of Kenzera: ZAU Story
Tales of Kenzera: ZAU presents a dual narrative centered on grief and healing. The primary storyline follows Zau, a young shaman who, after the death of his father, seeks to reverse this loss by bargaining with Kalunga, the god of death. Kalunga agrees to Zau's plea on the condition that he captures three powerful spirits. Zau's journey through the land of Kenzera involves confronting these spirits, each embodying different aspects of grief, and interacting with characters who reflect various responses to loss. Through these encounters, Zau gradually comes to terms with his own sorrow and the natural cycle of life and death .
Parallel to Zau's tale is the story of Zuberi, a boy mourning his father's death in a futuristic setting. Upon discovering a book authored by his late father, Zuberi becomes engrossed in Zau's narrative, which serves as a metaphor for his own grieving process. As Zuberi reads, he finds solace and understanding, mirroring Zau's journey towards acceptance.
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