“Baba…help me Baba…I need you Baba….” So says protagonist Zau at the start of Tales of Kenzera, his voice shaking. That’s the voice of Abubakar Salim (Assassin’s Creed: Origins), who founded Surgent Studios to create this game as he deals with the loss of his own father.
Tales of Kenzera: Zau reviewDeveloper: Surgent StudiosPublisher: EA OriginalsPlatform: Played on PCAvailability: Out 23rd April on PC Steam, Epic, EA), Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Switch
When he says those words, it doesn’t feel like he’s acting.
It’s this raw, personal edge that lifts Tales of Kenzera above the usual influx of indie metroidvanias. The game’s reveal at last year’s The Game Awards was one of the more memorable moments of the show as Salim shared the poignant story of playing games with his father. It’s this personal history with gaming that’s inspired Tales of Kenzera and its paralleling father-son relationship. Playing the demo as part of Steam Next Fest is a striking experience.
The titular Zau is a shaman, able to wield the masks of the moon and sun for great abilities. But, as he points out himself, ‘how does a shaman perform his duties when he is the one in need of healing?’ And so he summons Kalunga, the God of Death, and vows to shepherd three Great Spirits to reclaim the soul of his father.