Kenzera's Chronicles: Zau invites players into a captivating Metroidvania journey where they harness the celestial energies of the Sun and Moon Masks through a mystical dance. Drawing inspiration from Bantu folklore, gamers uncover a plethora of abilities for the main character, Zau, a young shaman embarking on a poignant quest to resurrect his father. During an exclusive preview event with Game Rant, Abubakar Salim, the founder of Surgent Studio, likened the game's combat to a graceful dance.
Each Mask bestows cosmic powers upon players - the Sun Mask empowers Zau with fiery spear attacks, while the Moon Mask specializes in crowd control and precise long-range strikes, challenging players with intense combat scenarios. The Moon Mask also grants temporal manipulation abilities, allowing players to freeze adversaries and water temporarily, offering strategic advantages in battles and exploration. In a recent interview with Game Rant, Zi Peters, the lead designer, and Ackeem Durrant, the art lead and character artist at Surgent Studios, shed light on Zau's time-manipulating skills and the evolution of his skill tree.
Unraveling Time-based Abilities in Kenzera's Chronicles: Zau
Following the Metroidvania tradition, Kenzera's Chronicles: Zau integrates core abilities that unlock new regions through Ability Gates, as showcased in the Steam demo earlier this year. For instance, players acquire skills from sacred shrines like Bamba's Stone, enabling them to momentarily solidify water bodies and cascades, facilitating traversal by wall-jumping. Peters hinted at the existence of non-time-related capabilities and introduced Pulse, a distinctive ability in the game.
Kenzera's Chronicles: Zau's Enigmatic Trinket System
In contrast to the skill tree enhancing the Sun and Moon Masks, Peters elaborated on the innovative trinket system, allowing players to equip specific trinkets for unique buffs. This system promises a dynamic and customizable combat experience in Kenzera's Chronicles: Zau, catering to varied playstyles and preferences within the Metroidvania community.