It’s always good to be surprised. Kena: Bridge of Spirits proved that, by being a brand-new IP from a brand-new studio, and immediately entering the conversation in 2021 as one of the PS5’s best action-adventure games. While we’ve had the announcement for its much-anticipated sequel, Bridge of Spirits has a newfound territory to purify: Nintendo’s newest platform, the Switch 2. Interestingly, after five years, this is where Kena: Bridge of Spirits feels most at home.
Kena is a Spirit Guide. This role sees her tasked with dealing with unruly, wakeful spirits who haven’t travelled to the afterlife, and who are seemingly more interested in corrupting the world and attacking people than, you know, going in peace. Kena is very keen on helping them get there too, some of which involves smacking them in the head with a big stick, and her journey sees her steadily gain in confidence and knowledge as she restores the land around her, while helping spirits to leave in peace.
At its original release, much was made of Kena: Bridge of Spirits’ Pixar-like visuals and the incredible art direction of the world. The transition to the Switch 2 hasn’t dimmed any of those qualities, and this is a game that feels truly cinematic, enveloping you immediately thanks to its attractive art design, adorable creatures, and stunning ambient soundtrack.
There are concessions here when comparing the PS5 version to this Switch 2 port, but this was always a cross-gen release, so a combination of a delightful art direction and the utilisation of DLSS ensures that this is still a game that looks absolutely stunning. It also runs well, with a responsive and solid frame rate that feels reliable and consistent. Interestingly, the marketing for the Switch 2 version has targeted a visual improvement over the other handheld versions of the game, which is essentially saying that the experience here will be better than playing on a Steam Deck.
The key differences for Switch 2 lie in the telltale shimmer of anti-aliasing, particularly on hard edges, and Kena herself. There’s once again a clear difference in the texture and movement of her hair, and just as we’ve seen with recent ports like Star Wars Outlaws and Resident Evil Requiem, there’s a clear need to tune down the appearance and responsiveness of hair, as it must prove too costly in terms of processing. It doesn’t look bad, but if you’ve played on PS5 or better, it’s immediately noticeable. It does not, of course, change one iota of the game’s exploration or storytelling, and unless you’re an almighty graphics snob, the Switch 2 version of Kena: Bridge of Spirits still looks lovely.
The stars of the game remain the adorable Rot. These little folks hide amongst the scenery, forcing you to seek them out, and as you collect more of them you unlock new abilities and skills that the Rot can perform for you, lifting, carrying and purifying as they go. They are unbelievably characterful, and the strength of the game’s charm can largely be laid at their door, especially once you start to dress them in a variety of hats. Kena is perfectly fine as a protagonist, but it’s the Rot that you’ll care about.
Alongside all of the previous DLC and updates, the team at Ember Labs have aimed to make this the definitive and most accessible version of the game so far. First up, there’s now five difficulty levels, as opposed to the original release’s four. The team have added a new intermediate Apprentice Spirit Guide setting, which is tougher than the extremely forgiving Story Mode, but less taxing than the standard difficulty, suiting players who are looking for a touch more challenge, but still not too much. Perhaps, as this is a Nintendo console, it caters in particular for younger players. It’s a good addition regardless, not least because options are always good.
I’d forgotten just how lovely Kena: Bridge of Spirits is, and with a much-anticipated sequel on the way, now is the perfect time to check out Kena’s original adventure.
