Electronic Arts certainly scored points at the Game Awards, held on the night of December 7-8, 2023! And with good reason: the publisher unveiled a beautiful game combining deeply personal artistic sensibilities with unique narrative power. Discover Tales of Kenzera: ZAU, available on PC via Steam, Epic Games Store and EA app, PS5, Xbox Séries and Nintendo Switch from April 23, 2024. Inspired by the personal story of Surgent Studios founder Abubakar Salim, this game pays poignant tribute to the father figure through an adventure that is as exciting as it is deeply moving.
Abubakar Salim, BAFTA-nominated actor and founder of Surgent Studios, pays tribute to his father, a great fan of video games, by immersing us in a mystical universe inspired by the rich Bantu culture. Facing loss and mourning, the player takes on the role of Zau, a shaman who, guided by the God of Death Kalunga, attempts to save his father from death. Part of the metroidvania genre, the gameplay offers a balanced challenge of platforming and adventure, leading the player to explore splendid mystical realms in 2.5D while learning to master the powers of a warrior shaman.
Powered by the EA Originals graphics engine, Tales of Kenzera : ZAU offers a visually dazzling and poignant gaming experience, inviting the player to overcome his or her sorrows by traversing its difficult ordeals. "EA Originals' goal is to provide resources and support for new talent in game development, enabling creative people to share their visionary stories with a wide audience," explains Jeff Gamon, Managing Director ofEA Partners. He continues:"Our enthusiasm for Abu's touching vision, which draws on his family history and a millennium of Bantu mythology, led us to support Surgent Studios from their inception several years ago.The EA Originals team is very proud to help Abu share this unforgettable and moving experience with the world".
Tales of Kenzera: ZAU is also inspired by Bantu tales, where chaos and order clash, and stories are told of ancestral shamans, sacred spirits and fascinating creatures. In this spiritual journey, players will manipulate the powers of the Sun and Moon masks to fend off restless spirits in rhythmic combat.
The game's music, by award-winning composer Nainita Desai, perfectly accompanies the poetic and spiritual ambience of this atypical title, adding to its emotional impact. Please note that pre-orders are now open, offering in-game bonuses and the " Soulshifters " digital comic book, further immersing players in its rich and complex universe.
Our review of Tales of Kenzera - ZAU :
Playing time: 8 hours
So, what do you think of this little UFO available on PC and consoles? Tales of Kenzera: ZAU is a beautiful game in many ways. Starting with its graphics, reminiscent of the latest Prince of Persia. It's aesthetically very beautiful, very colorful, in a very graphic and urban style. It's a pleasure to wander through the different zones, enjoying the scenery and the beautiful colors... In short, a very good point!
From a gameplay point of view, the game is also reminiscent of Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown (it's a metroidvania, remember ....), offering similar, extremely fluid and fast 2D gameplay. It's a game that's even better, taking the best of what Ubisoft's opus had to offer, namely a smaller map and a less arduous (but still challenging) difficulty, and transposing it here. But don't think that Tales of Kenzera: ZAU is an easy game... Sure, it's more accessible, but it'll still give you a few cold sweats.
As far as Zau's powers are concerned, it's easy to switch from one to another, without this hindering our progress through the game. The powers of the Mask of the Sun and the Mask of the Moon really complement each other, and the other abilities learned throughout the adventure greatly diversify the approach to the obstacles encountered. There's never a dull moment, and we love it!
A game with a very touching story, too, immersing us in the various stages of grief in a very pretty, well-presented way. In short, a truly beautiful game, just the way we like it... All you have to do is make up your own mind!
So, are you ready to dive into the world of Zau?
