Tales of Kenzera: ZAU GameSpot Review

Surgent Studios' debut game, Tales of Kenzera: Zau, is another incredible EA Originals title.
Grief is a messy, convoluted emotion to navigate. There's rarely a straightforward path to get through it; oftentimes it can feel like you're walking in circles around what you're looking for, or banging your head against the same mental roadblock again and again. In many ways, the experience of playing through a metroidvania mimics the feeling of working through grief--the genre is built on a similar path of progression, where the necessary tools to move forward are earned step-by-step, and a protagonist's evolving moveset makes it easier to overcome its challenges and navigate a seemingly inescapable world. Tales of Kenzera: Zau leans into that parallel, creating a powerful and moving message within the context of a stellar action-adventure game.
Tales of Kenzera: Zau's strength lies in its powerful narrative, digging into how one navigates the sadness, rage, and terror that accompanies the worst moments of grief. Its tale has its hiccups, but Zau's adventure of coming to terms with loss resonates through the beating heart of the thumping musical score, standout vocal performances, and dance-like battles that feel straight out of Bantu myth. Loss is a universal human emotion, making Zau's attempts to grapple with grief uncomfortably relatable. But there's catharsis to be earned in working through that discomfort alongside Zau, and a touching story to enjoy along the way.

[@piku5637]

Normalize game dev co-ops and Ⓐctive unions. Game devs make the games run, game devs should run the gaming world.🌏🎮🍄

[@dirtyoldmano]

Where is Kurt?

[@MasterBlade111]

This game looks great. Getting it now

[@Leopez02]

As a big fan of a 2D Metroidvania platformers, as a nerd of a diffrent Countries Chultures and religions and the Reason what Backstory this game have what I've been heard about of some Africa's tribe, I already love this Tales of Kenzera: ZAU, I'll give even a 9/10 even without playing the Game. My eyes with seeing this Gameplay plays ZAU and says: I LOVE ZAU! 🌏🌍🌎🌃🏜🛖🎭👑🔥😮

[@VROOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM]

It's a 7/10 at best

[@jeremiahkisimba5938]

Finally a game with an African main character ❤️❤️🐐🐐 can't wait for assassin creed red 😭

[@Leopez02]

Is Assassin's Creed Red an African?

[@jeremiahkisimba5938]

@@Leopez02 yes male main character

[@Leopez02]

@@jeremiahkisimba5938 ooh taht's nice!

[@jaraherzig9711]

Me too! Yasuke deserves a proper game and the perspective of an outsider can offer interesting story, hopefully it delivers.

[@thaneros]

@@jeremiahkisimba5938 Thought Red was going to be Japan

[@GamingSN223]

Awesome we are enjoying it

[@DreamingCactus]

⚠SBI DETECTED⚠

[@nolongerinbetween3913]

BS detected. Stop talking nonsense.

[@calinubro]

I beat it last night! Super hard….. but fun!

[@MasterBlade111]

5 hours in. Combats tight and reactive. Voice acting is cool. I’d recommend

[@sterlingarcher2366]

Recommendations after 5 hours.. hit the ignore on this one.

[@MasterBlade111]

@@sterlingarcher2366 I’m sorry, you gotta play a game for 30 hours to figure out if you like it?

[@CallmeLQ]

The smog sequence wasn't that hard. It took me about 5 tries and it's not that hard after you mess up a couple times. I really am enjoying the game so far.

[@therealsabs]

Very good! Looks amazing. Day one! ❤❤❤

[@MrSiKO12]

They gave it an 8

[@Devinci297]

Is it good or bad?

[@Bricks56]

I know

[@aspectofdecay007]

Ofc cuz its sbi

[@sharonmazor9531]

Way better than Prince of Persia

[@KnightOfTheEmpire]

SBI detected, purchase rejected

[@monbou13]

Sadly, I like how this looks and plays, and since you said SBI... then sailing the seas it is.

[@allanjensen8324]

SBI?

[@M7son3000]

What’s SBI?

[@monbou13]

SBI = Sweet Baby Inc.

[@chazzyg5908]

Just say you don't want to play as a black main character and move on.

[@Oku_yappin]

Chapter would help this video cause i mainly came for combat

[@jaysonmanman]

It seems like an interesting premise. Though im not a huge metroidvania fan, i think i may just give this try.

[@ForgottenArmy1944]

This game looks amazing!

[@nithitdolorfino9010]

Hello from Thailand 🇹🇭

[@kkampo_]

⚠️ Sweet Baby Inc ⚠️

[@acorlite]

prove it

[@monkeymonkey217]

@@acorlite i'll try. can't post links so you will have to do some work. easy way is to type SBI and open their wikipedia page. it's in the list. the second is to go on SBI detected curator page. open the link that is provided and look for the game name. it may not be accurate but it makes SBI involvemt a concrete possibility.

[@krisridge1985]

​@@acorlite literally just looked it up on Wikipedia

[@krisridge1985]

What I don’t like however is that the game has been touched Sweet Baby Inc. Thus getting it put on the Sweet Baby Inc Detected Curator page. What this means is that the game is most certain to fail JUST because of SBI.

[@coopstain1728]

IS THIS FREE ON PS PLUS EXTRA?

[@OldgamerNL]

Yes

[@azariahgaming3254]

@@OldgamerNLwhen?

[@OldgamerNL]

@@azariahgaming3254 today

[@VROOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM]

@@azariahgaming3254 Now

[@mswerkmeister]

Now

[@blairsnyder1067]

That intro was beautiful written

[@mrfluffy9387]

Don't care if it's good, need to take a stand against the evil SBI. Never seeing my money

[@DJSteezy]

You realize a black African man with an Indie studio is telling a story about loosing his father with this game? You also realize how consulting firms work? You pay them, in this case, to ensure the African culture represented here is accurate and not offensive. So what is it that you are all taking a stand against. Imaginary slights?

[@dagoblack666]

SWEET BABY INC.☠

[@acorlite]

prove it

[@Mike-hj7gg]

@@acorlite they literally listed it on their website.. 100 percent sweet baby

[@krisridge1985]

What I don’t like however is that the game has been touched Sweet Baby Inc. Thus getting it put on the Sweet Baby Inc Detected Curator page. What this means is that the game is most certain to fail JUST because of SBI.

[@definer0]

Wonder when the reviewer realises it is not KenzAra

[@josephjoy2245]

SBI Detected 🛑

[@MaximilianoAedo]

The title certainly fooled me for a while. As someone who plays Bandai Namco games since boyhood, I'm surprised at the gameplay mechanics.

[@SojiRo23]

Fully voice acted?

[@masonrock]

Yes, think of it like Hades.

[@peterfalk7084]

It looks.just lke Price of Persia, is it? It looks almost identical, so much so I can't play this yet having just spent hours completing that.

[@lucasvieiradacosta]

SWEET BABY INC DETECTED ⛔️ Purchase rejected

[@richardwhite3521]

Whaaat does this mean??

[@acorlite]

prove it

[@josephjoy2245]

It’s on the SBI Detected curator. 5th game on the list

[@krisridge1985]

What I don’t like however is that the game has been touched Sweet Baby Inc. Thus getting it put on the Sweet Baby Inc Detected Curator page. What this means is that the game is most certain to fail JUST because of SBI.

[@TheBlademan-]

sheep detected. reject ignorance

[@trinikeston]

Few more hours cant wait

[@sdmugabe]

Can't wait to dive in

[@krisridge1985]

sweet baby Inc detected

[@krisridge1985]

What I don’t like however is that the game has been touched Sweet Baby Inc. Thus getting it put on the Sweet Baby Inc Detected Curator page. What this means is that the game is most certain to fail JUST because of SBI.

[@seagrey75]

No buy thanks.

[@TheLover20xx]

Sweet baby inc

[@launchpadmcquack3380]

Bruh who tf cares

[@gleekthemonkey4570]

Don’t care. If the game is good I’ll play it.

[@SuperMandibleclaw]

And?

[@gidds617]

Just say your racist

[@acorlite]

prove it

[@davidnonya7359]

there is a disturbing lack of diveristy in this game

[@RAK-6106]

Sweat baby inc. detected

[@ayooeverything]

Sweet baby inc a part of the game. No thanks. Wont be buying this.

[@acorlite]

prove it

[@diadlo777]

I thought that was a "Tales of" game, I am disapointed.

[@SoulfulKira]

Admitting the max size of your brain capacity is brave. 👏

[@Manmade023]

Ori rip off shameless

[@MasterBlade111]

Ori is not the first Metroidvania kid 😂

[@thaneros]

This man calling a game an Ori rip off lol

[@gidds617]

What are you 12 😂

[@donnyohakam]

Sounds like you have no idea what you’re talking about

[@user-gu9io8tg8t]

Sweet baby stank

[@stevezy4772]

Sweet Baby Inc DETECTED! Sweet Baby Inc REJECTED!

[@weedmonkeyfu]

Sweet Baby Stinc detected. PASS!!

[@talonman1825]

This isnt a tales game...

[@geraldofrancisco5206]

oh.. another purple game

[@wkim22]

A game made for non-gamers and Twitter/X keyboard warriors who can't afford anything.

[@JohnDavidSullivan]

SBI Detected folks.

[@mikerochburns4104]

ESG slop.

[@jjw8306]

150 players playing. Another incredible flop by ea.

[@chrisbrown-lx7qz]

the gameplay copy from prince of Persia the lost crown

[@Kat1kafka]

When the creator said hes making this game for his dad, it made me cry. But if this game is SBI related,then I'm gonna have to pass.

[@gleekthemonkey4570]

I don’t care. If the game is good then I’m going to play. You guys are just like the annoying anti Hogwarts legacy people. Lol

[@dailyversace5546]

Gamers.

[@RpgAddict325]

It’s not SBI related, people just say that when they see a black main character.

[@acorlite]

you see a black main character and just assume? says more about you, imo

[@shagaru1234]

@@RpgAddict325 except they are credited on sbi's website