![]() ![]() Several publishers expressed interest but developers struck a deal with Sony. They worked on an early version of Kena, which they pitched at game conferences. A short fan film based on The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask went viral in 2016 and this pushed the brothers to try their hand at full-time game development. “I think that helped push us to the front of the line in terms of games they were going to highlight and showcase when they could,” said Mike Grier, in the interview with Bloomberg.Įmber Lab started life as an animation service house in 2009. Partly due to pandemic conditions, Sony’s stable of blockbusters were delayed and the Japanese games giant boosted Kena’s visibility with outsized marketing, treating it as a big launch.īut it was the June 2020 showcase which really helped the brothers out, as the trailer for Kena proved to be a hit, drawing glowing write-ups from fans and critics. ![]() The Los Angeles-based Ember Lab had to prepare a virtual showcase instead, hiring a cameraman who had to wear a full hazmat suit to film a video. Founded by two brothers, Mike and Josh Grier, they had previously never made a videogame but understood a trailer launched under Sony’s stewardship would guarantee millions of eyes for their title.īut things went a little awry when the pandemic came. In an interview with Bloomberg, the tiny team behind Kena revealed the serendipitous and strange road to releasing Kena: Bridge of Spirits.Īt the start of 2020, with Sony preparing to formally announce the PlayStation 5, the console maker’s marketing team worked with Ember Lab to polish their trailer for Kena. Its impressive visuals, meanwhile, have been described variously as “ a beautiful aesthetic and perhaps the best animation I’ve ever seen in a game” and as a “ hollow pastiche of Pixar and Studio Ghibli”.īut all this attention may have been brought about by an unusual set of circumstances. While remarking on this action-adventure trail of borrowings, TheGamer gave it 4/5, with our editor-in-chief calling it “so damn lovable”. Titles such as God of War, Horizon Zero Dawn, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Tomb Raider, and Breath of the Wild have all been cited as potential influences on Kena: Bridge of Spirits. Following Kena’s launch in September this year, critics noted its gameplay was somewhat derivative and safe. ![]()
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