Although the PlayStation 5's Future of Gaming conference had a number of incredible reveals, one of its more interesting titles was Kena: Bridge of Spirits. The title's gameplay trailer showed off a solid slice of what this ambitious next-generation project was offering, with stunning visuals, layered combat, and, of course, a lot of adorable companion creatures in tow.
A new video from the developers at the Future Games Show looks to shed even more light on what players will be getting their hands on later this year, with Ember Lab's Michael Grier and Josh Grier diving deeper in Kena: Bridge of Spirits' incredible trailer. Although the clip lasts just under two minutes, the pair do highlight and expand upon a number of the game's more interesting aspects, including its tone and cute little companion creatures.
According to the developers, Kena: Bridge of Spirits is a "story-driven action-adventure game that combines fast-paced combat with exploration and a really fun, charming companion mechanic where players are going around collecting force creatures we call the Rot." It seemingly will be quite a versatile game, especially with the trailer showing off a strong divide between puzzle mechanics, combat encounters, and areas meant for exploration. The pair also elaborate on the game's story, claiming "you play as Kena, she's a spirit guide who has traveled to this forgotten village and soon discovers that there are many trapped lingering spirits." This will seemingly lead to the emergence of the game's antagonists, with Michael Grier claiming "it becomes clear that there are larger forces at play who have sort of corrupted the environment and stopped things from moving on."
According to the pair, "the main focus of the game revolves around helping these trapped spirits," with levels supposedly themed around the soul Kena is trying to help set free. To do this, players will solve puzzles, find clues in the environment, and fight enemies, which will all rely on "building and growing your team of rot." According to the developers, the adorable companions can do a number of important things and are crucial to progression. In their words "the more rot you have, the stronger you're going to be as a player, and the more abilities you get to unlock."
Finally, the developers claim that, while the game might look fairly innocuous, the title will have darker elements. It seems that Kena's adventure will look to have a mix of more lighthearted moments and frightening themes, which is likely to make for a far more narratively interesting combo.
Kena Bridge of Spirit is targeting a holiday 2020 release for the PC, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5.