![]() They can also become an actual amorphous blob that will help Kena explore more of the world - certain flowers allow you to summon the Rot into a single entity. It’s a nice bit of additional detail that doesn’t change the way you play, but adds to the supportive, adorable role these pals play along the journey. They’re not always just running behind Kena as an amorphous blob of cuteness - as you run, climb, and leap through many exploratory sequences that call to mind Horizon and Ghost’s platforming, you’ll notice the Rot in a variety of context-sensitive spots supporting you as you go. The Rot are with you throughout your journey, though, and they add a delightful addition to the already beautiful world. These skills were only just the first, and finding ways to weave them into combat was not only a fun bit of variety in its own right but a necessity to take on Kena’s bigger and badder foes, including one boss that concluded my playtime and nearly bested me in my favorite fight of the demo. Another ability lets you channel the spirit power of your staff into a hammer-like move that can deal powerful ranged damage. You only have one use of an ability at a time at first, but one of Kena’s many unlockables will allow you to increase the number of specials you can store.īut they’re not all defensive moves. One miniboss, for example, would disappear into the ground in one of three spots if I got too close, meaning I had to build up enough of a charge to freeze it in place. The skill is not only vital to thin out the herd and allow you to focus your attacks on particular enemies, but Ember Lab has smartly made it a vital combat asset during some battles. One of the first unlockable ones is the ability to use the Rot to temporarily freeze an enemy in place. Tied to a meter akin to Ghost of Tsushima’s Resolve circles, you can build up energy (known as Courage) with successful kills and from the environment to allow you to use special abilities. ![]() These cute creatures - for which you can unlock a host of cosmetic-only hats throughout the adventure to make them even more adorable - can be used in a variety of ways that can really tip a fight in your favor. Kena’s abilities, tied to unlockable skill trees, and the series’ adorable Pikmin-esque Rot are where the combat really comes to life, though. ![]() I definitely appreciated the extra layer to both fights and exploration with the bow’s addition and am glad to see it comes relatively early in Kena’s journey. Instead, the bow has a number of shots that automatically recharge over a short bit of time. Rather than outfitting our hero with too many weapons to carry, the bow simply becomes another way for her to use her staff’s power, which means you’re also not worrying about recouping ammunition along your journey. ![]() (The Griers did promise that Kena will have more difficult combat scenarios to unlock, and more brutal combat difficulties for those looking for a greater challenge.)Ī little further into the area I played, I also gained access to Kena’s bow ability. It’s easy to become surrounded if you’re not careful, so it’s important to always keep an eye on the wider battlefield, but playing at standard difficulty things felt balanced enough to be engaging but not frustrating. At the core of Kena’s combat systems is a Souls-lite set of abilities, a light attack, a heavy attack, and the chance to parry using Kena’s Pulse ability when it’s timed just right. ![]()
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