Summary
While the 2023 Game Awards was an evening packed with video game announcements and updates, there were a few standout titles that managed to rise above the rest, such asMarvel’s BladeandGod of War Ragnarok: Valhalla. These stood out for their out-of-nowhere reveals and high-profile nature, and yetTales of Kenzera: ZAUmanaged to stand out due to its striking art style and its creative lead’s impassioned, heartfelt speech.
A 2.5D Metroidvania based on African culture,Tales of Kenzera: ZAUis currently set to launch on June 16, 2025, and looks like it’ll be a familiar treat for anyone who enjoyed the recently releasedPrince of Persia: The Lost Crown. A tale of grief and hope,Tales of Kenzera: ZAUseems as though it still has plenty of secrets hidden beneath its surface while what’s already been confirmed is exciting in the Metroidvania space.
Every Major Feature of Tales of Kenzera: ZAU Currently Confirmed
Tales of Kenzera: ZAU Tells a Story of Loss and Grief
The general story ofTales of Kenzera: ZAUsees players take control of the titular warrior as they go in search of a way to resurrect their recently deceased father. Their journey takes them to the God of Death, Kalunga, who agrees to resurrect Zau’s father if he can manage to bring back the souls of three great spirits, which is no easy feat. But what truly setsTales of Kenzera: ZAU’s storyapart from its competition is its deep personal connection to the game’s creative lead, Abubakar Salim.
Perhaps known best for his performance as Bayek inAssassin’s Creed Origins, Abubakar Salim is leadingTales of Kenzera’s development and is imparting plenty of his own life experiences into the game. In a recent interview with Games Radar, Salim discussed how his own father’s recent death has impactedTales of Kenzera’s narrative, and how he believes thatthe Metroidvania genreis the perfect place for a tale about grief.
Tales of Kenzera: ZAU Revolves Around Two Masks
A big draw ofTales of Kenzera: ZAUis its core mask concept. Right at the start of the game, players are given two masks that they can switch between on the fly. The Mask of the Moon allows players to dish out ranged attacks, while the Mask of the Sun gives players access to melee attacks. Each has a separate skill tree, granting players unique abilities while using each one on top of general stat upgrades for the player character.
Players can also equip Zau with a Trinket, which seems to function very similarly toPrince of Persia: The Lost Crown’s Amulet system, whereby players' stats increase or they are granted a unique power.Tales of Kenzera’s trailer briefly showed a trinket that will give players more spirit points for juggled enemies.
Tales of Kenzera: ZAU Features Powers That Affect Combat and Platforming
Fans can expect to see all theclassic 2D Metroidvania abilitiesinTales of Kenzera: ZAU, ranging from a double jump to a wall jump to an air dash to a glide. ButTales of Kenzerais also home to a few unique abilities of its own, affecting both combat and platforming. The two abilities showcased so far are Akida’s Spear and Bamba’s Stone. The former ability is a ranged attack that both sets enemies on fire and lights fuses in the environment, while the latter freezes enemies and freezes running water, allowing players to traverse past waterfalls.
Tales of Kenzera: ZAUis scheduled to release on June 12, 2025, for PC, PlayStation 5, Switch, and Xbox Series X/S.
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