Tales of Kenzera: Zau

Last updated

Tales of Kenzera: ZAU
Tales of Kenzera Zau cover art.jpg
Developer(s) Surgent Studios
Publisher(s) Electronic Arts
Director(s) Abubakar Salim
Composer(s) Nainita Desai
Engine Unreal Engine
Platform(s)
Release23 April 2024
Genre(s) Metroidvania
Mode(s) Single-player

Tales of Kenzera: ZAU is a 2024 Metroidvania video game developed by Surgent Studios and published by Electronic Arts, under its EA Originals label. The game was released for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S on 23 April 2024. Upon release, it received positive reviews from critics.

Contents

Gameplay

Tales of Kenzera: ZAU follows the story of a young shaman named Zau, who must capture the spirits of three monsters as offerings to Kalunga, the God of Death, who promises to revive his father. Zau is very athletic, being able to double jump, wall jump and dash through air. Zau is equipped with two weapons: the sun mask and the moon mask. The sun mask allows Zau to deal melee damage up close, while the moon mask enables him to damage enemies from afar. Both masks have their own distinct upgrade paths. [1] As players defeat enemies, they will collect "Ulogi", a form of soul energy that can be used to purchase new skills for Zau. [2] Tales of Kenzera is a 2.5D Metroidvania game. Players will gradually gain new skills, enabling them to unlock new paths to progress. [3]

Development and release

Abubakar Salim, who is most known for being the voice actor for Bayek in Assassin's Creed Origins , is the game's creative lead. He founded Surgent Studios in 2019, and Tales of Kenzera: ZAU is the studio's debut project. [4] Tales of Kenzera was inspired by Salim's own experience of grief over the loss of his father. [5] The game was heavily inspired by Bantu cultures and Salim's own experience with tribal groups while filming Raised by Wolves in South Africa. [6] The story was also inspired by tabletop role-playing games, with Critical Role Productions assisting the game's development. [7] Nainita Desai served as the game's composer. Salim described the game's soundtracks as a mix of synth, electric sounds and African traditional music, and compared it to the music from Black Panther and Tenet . [8]

Surgent Studios (then known as Silver Rain Games) announced that it had partnered with publisher Electronic Arts for the development of a new game in March 2021. [9] Tales of Kenzera: ZAU was officially announced by Salim at The Game Awards 2023 in December 2023. It was released for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S under the EA Originals publishing label on 23 April 2024. [10]

Reception

Tales of Kenzera: ZAU received "generally favorable" reviews from critics according to review aggregator website Metacritic. [11]

Impact

In July 2024, Surgent Studios laid off "just over a dozen" employees. [25]

Awards and accolades

Accolades for Tales of Kenzera: Zau
YearAwardCategoryResultRef.
2024 The Game Awards 2024 Games for ImpactNominated [26]
2025 New York Game Awards 2024 Off Broadway Award for Best Indie GameNominated [27] [28]
Statue of Liberty Award for Best WorldNominated
Great White Way Award for Best Acting in a Game (Abubakar Salim)Nominated
Game Audio Network Guild Awards Best Audio for an Indie GamePending [29]
Best Dialogue for An Indie GamePending
Best Music for an Indie GamePending
Best Original Soundtrack AlbumPending
Music of the YearPending
25th Game Developers Choice Awards Social ImpactHonorable mention [30]

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References

  1. ↑ Castle, Katherine (February 1, 2024). "Watch out Prince Of Persia, there's another platforming-packed Metroidvania coming to steal your crown". Rock, Paper, Shotgun . Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  2. ↑ Donnelly, Joe (February 2, 2024). "The Metroidvania genre is on fire right now, and Tales of Kenzera Zau just jumped to the top of my most-anticipated list". GamesRadar+ . Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  3. ↑ Nightingale, Ed (February 15, 2024). "Tales of Kenzera: Zau has the heart to heighten its spin on the metroidvania". Eurogamer . Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  4. ↑ Herte, Charles (December 7, 2023). "Tales of Kenzera: Zau Is A Magical Metroidvania Inspired By Bantu Myth". Game Informer . Archived from the original on December 8, 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  5. ↑ Donnelly, Joe (December 8, 2023). "From Hollywood to Assassin's Creed to creating a fascinating new Metroidvania inspired by grief: "I think my father would be proud"". GamesRadar . Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  6. ↑ Welsh, Oli (December 7, 2023). "How — and why — Assassin's Creed Origins' Bayek founded his own game studio". Polygon . Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  7. ↑ Ramée, Jordan (February 1, 2024). "Tales Of Kenzera: Zau's Tabletop Inspirations And Rhythmic Combat Are Making Me Excited". GameSpot . Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  8. ↑ Ramée, Jordan (February 1, 2024). "Tales of Kenzera: Zau Tackles Grief As A Metroidvania With Dance-Like Combat And Incredible Music". GameSpot . Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  9. ↑ Takahashi, Dean (March 11, 2021). "Silver Rain Games will make a game for EA Originals". VentureBeat . Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  10. ↑ Stedman, Alex (December 9, 2023). "EA Originals' Next Game, Tales of Kenzera: Zau, Revealed". IGN . Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  11. 1 2 "Tales of Kenzera: Zau for PC Reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  12. ↑ "Tales of Kenzera: Zau for PS5 Reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  13. ↑ "Tales of Kenzera: Zau for Xbox Series Reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  14. ↑ "Tales of Kenzera: Zau for Nintendo Switch Series Reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  15. ↑ Colantonio, Giovanni (April 22, 2024). "Tales of Kenzera: Zau review: emotional Metroidvania is a spiritual journey". Digital Trends . Retrieved January 19, 2025.
  16. ↑ Nightingale, Ed (April 22, 2024). "Tales of Kenzera review: a compassionate Afro-futurist exploration of grief". Eurogamer . Retrieved January 19, 2025.
  17. ↑ Harte, Charles (April 22, 2024). "Tales of Kenzera: Zau Review". Game Informer . Archived from the original on May 30, 2024.
  18. ↑ Ramée, Jordan (April 22, 2024). "Tales of Kenzera: Zau Review - Bladedancing". GameSpot . Retrieved January 19, 2025.
  19. ↑ Green, Jarrett (April 22, 2024). "Tales of Kenzera: Zau Review". IGN . Retrieved January 19, 2025.
  20. ↑ Reynolds, Ollie (April 26, 2024). "Tales of Kenzera: ZAU Review (Switch eShop)". Nintendo Life . Retrieved January 19, 2025.
  21. ↑ Bailes, Jon (April 22, 2024). "Tales of Kenzera: Zau review". PC Gamer . Retrieved January 19, 2025.
  22. ↑ Croft, Liam (April 22, 2024). "Tales of Kenzera: ZAU Review (PS5)". Push Square . Retrieved January 19, 2025.
  23. ↑ Meija, Ozzie (April 22, 2024). "Tales of Kenzera: Zau review: The circle of life". Shacknews . Retrieved January 19, 2025.
  24. ↑ Middler, Jordan (April 22, 2024). "Review: EA's Tales of Kenzera: ZAU is a challenging, poignant Metroidvania". Video Games Chronicle . Retrieved January 19, 2025.
  25. ↑ Chalk, Andy (July 2, 2024). "Just 3 months after launching Tales of Kenzera: Zau, developer Surgent Studios lays off 'just over a dozen' employees". PC Gamer . Retrieved October 20, 2024.
  26. ↑ Jackson, Destiny (November 18, 2024). "The Game Award Nominations: 'Final Fantasy VII Rebirth' Slices Its Way To Victory With Seven Nominations". Deadline . Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  27. ↑ Maas, Jennifer (January 7, 2025). "New York Game Awards 2024 Nominations". Variety . Retrieved January 1, 2025.
  28. ↑ Bankhurst, Adam (January 21, 2025). "New York Game Awards 2025 Winners". IGN . Retrieved January 27, 2025.
  29. ↑ Coates, Lauren (December 17, 2024). "'Alan Wake 2' and 'Astro Bot' Among Game Audio Network Guild Nominees (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety .
  30. ↑ Yang, George (January 28, 2025). "Game Developers Choice Awards 2025 Nominees Revealed". GameSpot . Archived from the original on January 28, 2025.
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