Tales of Kenzera: Zau Reviews
Tales of Kenzera: Zau is simply stunning. It looks amazing on every platform, it features some of the best platforming I’ve played in any game, the combat is fun, and the story makes you feel. Even with all this, I think my favorite part about the game is that it’s short and sweet. I Platinum’d the game in about six hours, and I loved the vast majority of time I spent playing.
Tales of Kenzera: ZAU is truly a passion project of Abubakar Salim. Opening his own game development studio was the best idea to help make his dream a reality and make the game in his vision. African culture, history, and mythology are represented in a big way through this game, and it is only the beginning for Surgent Studio. The price tag of $26.95 AUD shouldn’t be an indication of the game’s quality, as there is so much to enjoy and discover.
Tales of Kenzera: ZAU is exactly what we deserve, as we’re getting a great package for a very low price. This isn’t often that you can say that about a game until you meet this one. I would strongly recommend any player, especially those who are grieving to play this, and you’ll surely obtain one of the most heartwarming experiences in recent years. Do I consider this to be a genuine Game of the Year contender? You bet I do.
Surgent Studios' debut title is a tale of two extremes: enthusiasm for this heartfelt story about grief and apathy for the Metroidvania around it.
Tales of Kenzera: ZAU impresses visually but falls short in gameplay. It struggles to manage its ambitions in the Metroidvania genre effectively. The game often feels overwhelmed by unnecessary ideas, suggesting a more straightforward, linear approach might have been more effective than its overstretched attempt to emulate successes like Ori and the Blind Forest.
Review in Czech | Read full review
Tales of Kenzera: Zau is a great concept that was clearly pushed forward by a good writer and storyteller. There is a deep narrative here that I enjoyed and it really carries the whole package here. While it starts out as a fairly simple, run-of-the-mill metroidvania gameplay wise, it is unfortunately brought way down by its lack of polish and design. Too often I felt like I was fighting the game itself instead of actually enjoying a good challenge. While the story shines bright, its enjoyment is diminished by its frustrating gameplay design.
Tales of Kenzera: ZAU is an achievement in storytelling, and its gameplay only complements it, giving players an avatar to live through a universally human experience. The combat, platforming, and exploration are satisfying and thoughtful, combining to create another great entry in a hall-of-fame genre in gaming. I can only hope that the title of the game hints at more tales to come. Surgent Studios has something special on its hands, and this is a developer and IP worth keeping an eye on.
Tales of Kenzara: Zau is a touching and emotional metroidvania that very literally and metaphorically portrays the pain of loss and the subsequent grieving process. The narrative is very strong and its world is a delight to discover and explore, just missing a more robust combat system and the resolution of some problems to be an experience that takes us to heaven. Still, I have no doubt that fans of this genre will find an absolutely captivating and memorable experience here.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Tales of Kenzera: ZAU will take you on one hell of an adventure as it tells a story of grief and overcoming it. The combat and movement mechanics will definitely have you losing more time than you’d like as you explore this masterpiece in design. However, you might also end up learning a few things about yourself and maybe even find closure in a recent loss of your own as you experience Zau’s story, and Zuberi’s resolve. So, while Zau’s father’s story might have come to an end, his story also started there.
Tales of Kenzera: Zau captivates me with an exciting, personal story and a great presentation in an unusual setting. Less gripping are the generic Metroidvania gameplay elements. There should also be more enemy variety and more challenging enemies. Due to the relatively short playtime of around eight hours, the lack of variation is not an absolute dealbreaker. If you're looking for a short action platformer with an emotional story, I can recommend this game. If you're looking for a Metroidvania in the style of Hollow Knight, you'd better pass.
Review in German | Read full review
Ultimately, Tales of Kenzera: ZAU doesn’t revolutionize the Metroidvania genre, but it does offer a compelling and deeply moving journey that is worth experiencing. It’s a celebration of life, loss, and the courage to continue against all odds, wrapped in a visually stunning and thoughtfully crafted world.
Tales of Kenzara: ZAU is a strong debut title for Surgent Studios, offering a short but solid Metroidvania experience. It's limited by its small scope, and is a little formulaic, but that won't stop you from enjoying the tight combat and gorgeous visuals. Pick this one up and enjoy the heartfelt, emotional story in a beautifully rendered setting that doesn't see enough limelight.
Tales of Kenzera: He associates Zau's mechanics and direction with a lack of ambition rather than accessibility. This game, which lasts only 10 hours, treats brevity as part of the design. Ultimately, the story is about letting go, accepting life's harsh limits, and finding meaning in the time you have. As short as Tales of Kenzera is, it makes sense of what players need to encounter.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
Tales of Kenzera: Zau is a solid metroidvania that provides 7 to 10 hours of very good fun. However, it is not a perfect title. It has a flaw in almost every category. Nevertheless, the pros definitely outweigh the cons. This game is like a diamond, but full of imperfections and lack of polish. Personally, I had a great time with this production. Between game sessions, I couldn't wait to get into Zau's character again. If another Tales of Kenzera is created, I will be very eager to check it out.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Tales of Kenzera: Zau was made with affection for it's source material and it shows. It celebrates life and death, as it's embedded in African culture. The colorful environments are a grand backdrop that pleases the eye. The ten hours of play offer enough new gameplay elements to stay refreshing. The main drawback of the game is it's imbalance in difficulty and controls
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Tales of Kenzera: ZAU is a good action-platformer with a great emotional impact, but it smacks of a wasted opportunity due to a too light approach to metroidvania mechanics and some problems with the controls. It however remains an enjoyable experience for fans of the genre.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Tales of Kenzera: ZAU unfolds as a poignant narrative, serving as a profound tribute to the enduring strength of love and the remarkable resilience embedded within the human spirit when faced with the challenges of confronting one’s deepest pain. Through its intricate storytelling and emotive depth, the tale navigates the complexities of emotional turmoil, weaving together threads of vulnerability and courage. Each character’s journey becomes a mirror reflecting the universal truths of human experience, where love emerges as both a source of profound healing and a catalyst for transformative growth. Within the intricate tapestry of the narrative, the reader is invited to witness the beauty of redemption and the profound catharsis that accompanies the journey toward self-discovery and acceptance. Tales of Kenzera: ZAU stands as a testament to the resilience of the human heart, reminding us of the boundless capacity for love to transcend even the deepest of wounds.
Tales of Kenzera gives the player access to a beautiful world with a colorful presentation inspired by African culture. The levels, battles and upgrades are well developed, but it all feels a bit minimal. For a player who plays few action platformers or metroidvania titles, this is a game that you can pick up without any prior knowledge. It is therefore extremely unfortunate that the controls feel less fluid at a certain point and I hope that this will be resolved in an update. The focus is on Zau's journey and the loss of an important person in your life. Unfortunately, the weight of this message is not reflected in the gameplay and that is a great loss.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Minor gripes with the linearity of its world can be forgiven when the gameplay that backs up the narrative is so enthralling. While I doubt I’ll go back for the collectables, the lessons that Tales of Kenzera: ZAU has to teach will stay with me long after I put down the controller.