Tales of Kenzera: Zau Reviews
A remarkably accomplished 2.5D metroidvania platformer, Tales of Kenzera: ZAU melds fluid traversal and combat with an emotional, heartfelt narrative. Its difficulty spikes can be a little off-putting, but it's worth persevering and pushing through to the end.
For now though, Tales of Kenzera Zau is a game you should definitely play for the story it tells, even if the gameplay doesn’t quite meet the same standard.
Tales of Kenzera: ZAU is an earnest first video game effort from a studio that's destined for great things. Weak exploration and a lack of combat variety are minor flaws in an overall package that offers up fluid platforming, some great gameplay hooks, an emotionally-resonant story and a rich tapestry of sights and sounds that's like little else in the space. It's almost the perfect pairing to the recent Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, offering a succinct and approachable take on the concept that offers even more story, worldbuilding and visual flair.
Tales of Kenzera: ZAU is a beautiful game that navigates the difficult journey of grief. Abubaker Salim delivers a great story and performance that resonates with anyone going through that process. It’s backed up with stunning visuals and a score that supports this strong story. While this game doesn’t reinvent the Metroidvania, fans of the genre will still be impressed. Hopefully, they’ll fix the bug of having Zau frozen after exiting the menu. Despite that, Tales of Kenzera is an impressive debut from Surgent Studios.
Tales of Kenzera: Zau delivers a genuinely touching and heartfelt story in a rich and mystical world, even if it lets itself down with its combat, platforming, and design.
Tales of Kenzera: ZAU is an emotional rollercoaster that doubles as a Metroidvania with edge, at $20 it is a must play title for everyone.
Tales of Kenzera: ZAU is a metroidvania enjoyable for both casual and hardcore players, as long as you don't expect a complex gameplay or huge replayability.
Review in Italian | Read full review
By the time the credits roll on Zau, players will have fought through swaths of foes and explored many interesting locales. As much as Zau manages to get right, it’s ultimately failed by a lack of innovation that results in an experience that feels like something is missing that would have pushed the game to the next level. Whether it might have been more creative uses of Zau’s powers, or more inventive world exploration, it’s hard to say exactly. I would nonetheless still love to see Salim and Surgent Studios team on another project and take what they learned with Zau and expand upon it. I give Zau a light recommendation for those who have been wanting a new Metroidvania to play, but anyone looking for something truly new is likely to be disappointed.
Tales of Kenzera: Zau is an overall solid entry into the Metroidvania genre. The core mechanics are strong, and the story is surprisingly engaging. Only some lackluster level design holds it back from true greatness, and there are enough moments of excellent gameplay that it isn't a huge negative, either. If you're looking for something to scratch that Metroidvania itch, Zau is more than up to the challenge.
Viewed as a game that gets to the point and takes some, but not all, essential elements of the Metroidvania genre to provide an accessible experience, Tales of Kenzera: ZAU delivers and you will undoubtedly have a good time, although nothing May it change your life or take you back. Despite its limitations and flaws, the combat system, some puzzles and platform challenges, as well as boss battles, are enough to keep going and see if the god of death keeps his word.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Lasting in the ballpark of 8-10 hours, Tales of Kenzera is a well-paced Metroidvania that is a blast to play, featuring novel unlockable abilities, a good challenge, and most of all, an incredible story. Just be ready to shed a tear or two, especially if you're in my shoes of being a parent to a young kid because hoo boy - that whole father/son element is played to perfection. The story is a true triumph and the gameplay supports it perfectly.
Tales of Kenzera: ZAU is a solid debut for Surgent Studios and a genuinely heartfelt and moving piece of art to boot. We love its focus on narrative aspects, and the obvious time and effort that's been put into its characters and dialogue. For anyone who's had to go through the pain of losing a family member there's a genuinely emotional and uplifting adventure to undertake here, regardless of some slight clunkiness along the way.
Tales of Kenzera: Zau is an impressively built Metroidvania game that weaves enjoyable gameplay and deep emotional storytelling.
Tales of Kenzera: Zau is a Metroidvania full of heart and soul. With its engaging combat, sublime soundtrack and story that grabs your attention from the get-go, fans of the genre should consider this a must-have.
"Every story begins at the end of another." This is the main premise of Tales of Kenzera: ZAU, a metroidvania-style game that, while inviting us to explore the beautiful biomes of Kenzera, also makes us reflect on loss and mourning, making it possible to see death with new eyes. The debut title from Surgent Studios gets it right by bringing a good balance between exploration, puzzle, combat and action while presenting us with a story full of inspiration from Bantu myths and legends, guided by a great soundtrack. The game works as an excellent gateway to the genre and brings with it a plot of reflection and acceptance.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Tales of Kenzera: ZAU is one of the best Metroidvanias that I've played in a long time and it looks and sounds incredible, too.
Tales of Kenzera: ZAU is a visually stunning game, complemented by good music and a passable story, but ultimately it lands as a rather ordinary experience. Given that gameplay is the heart of any video game, the borrowed, shallow, and repetitive mechanics of this title quickly dull the impact of its visual and audio charm. By the time you reach the end—if you haven't given up midway—you're left feeling like you've merely completed a chore. And when you factor in the frame rate drops on the Nintendo Switch, calling this game "average" might be a bit too generous.
Review in Persian | Read full review
The strongest points of Tales of Kenzera: ZAU are its presentation and story, showcasing Surgent Studios' big heart with a personal narrative full of thought-provoking elements and vivid, exotic visuals.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
With its ups and downs, Tales of Kenzera: ZAU manages to make the experience worthwhile and still stands out in some areas, especially in the deeply human narrative and the art of the scenarios. The simplicity of the campaign is a double-edged sword: it may please beginners, but it may not satisfy those who want a deeper challenge and exploration.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Tales of Kenzera ZAU is a brilliant platformer adventure game that is visually appealing and backed by a solid storyline with heart-touching voiceovers. The game is not free of bugs, and may not excite you in terms of progression, but the exploration will keep you hooked. If you’re a platformer aficionado, ZAU is the right pick for you!