There has been a lot of talking this twelvemonth about Xbox cabinet exclusives likeHi - Fi boot , As Dusk Falls , andSea of Thievesgoing multiplatformand being promptly uncommitted on the PlayStation 5 as a upshot . For once , we ’re project that procedure work the other way around .

Next week , Ember Labs will releaseKena : Bridge of Spiritson Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. This biz has a repute as being one of the well - look PS5 exclusives . Having gone hired hand - on with its Xbox Series X port wine , I can say thatKena : Bridge of Spiritsis just as unspoiled as it ’s ever been on the new platform . If you never had a chance to tryKena : Bridge of Spiritsbecause you do n’t own a PS5 , this Xbox porthole cave in you the perfect apology to check out this memorable dangerous undertaking .

Kena : Bridge of Spiritsfollows the titulary life guide as she explores the sphere around a outback mountain village and shrine . The commonwealth is occupy with corruption , and to disembarrass the region of it , Kena needs the help of cute and small but powerful creature called the Rot . Along the way , she help people who are stick between the real world and the spirit reality pass on , such as a interested older brother who was tell apart from his twin siblings . It ’s a surprisingly personal adventure , where actor are slow informed of Kena ’s personal character traits as she interact with all the dissimilar hard drink she meet on her pursuance .

On the gameplay front , Kena : Bridge of Spiritsmixes action , platforming , and Pikmin - like unit commanding in how players can control the Rot . Nothing about Kena ’s geographic expedition or fighting is that original , except for the fact that Kena builds up muscularity with every onset and can eventually utilise that to command the Rot with various power . Some stun enemies , while in certain situations Kena can command the Rot to combine into a more powerful bod . Outside of battle , Kena will occasionally necessitate to command the Rot to move certain objects for her in parliamentary procedure to solve environmental puzzles . It ’s not sinful , but is solid enough to serve as a spine for the game ’s narrative and audiovisual experience .

Neither story nor gameplay madeKena : Bridge of Spiritsas a PS5 classic . That honor go to its overall intro . rather of blend in for an ultra - realistic look , developer Ember Lab went a extremely detailed , stylized one . It take care as good if not better than contemporary animated phantasy films like Pixar’sOnwardor DreamWorks’How to civilise Your Dragon : The Hidden World . Ember Lab came from a ground in 3D animation ; the studio apartment made aviral animate myopic filmabout Skull Kid fromThe Legend of Zelda : Majora ’s Maskin 2016 . The studio apartment utilize that experience to make Kena an immaculately revive activity - adventure plot .

It ’s the kind of game that does n’t find next - gen because of particle upshot or re trace , but because of outstanding art direction . TheXbox porthole ofKena : Bridge of Spiritsstill runs well across both of its graphics fashion . carrying out way “ targets 60 bod per second with upscaled 4 kB resolution , ” while Fidelity mode has a “ locked frame pace of 30fps at native 4 M closure . ” I was n’t able to test it on Xbox Series S , but it ’s worth noting that it ’s the cheapest ironware that you may play this great - look game on . ( Both screenshots in this article were taken in Fidelity way if you want an musical theme of how respectable this larboard search . )

Kena : Bridge of Spirits’industry - lead visuals made it a defining game for the PS5 early on in its lifespan . As is the case with many of the Xbox exclusives that went multiplatform , it ’s an experience that has no mechanically skillful or technological cause to be stand by on just one cabinet platform . I ’m glad Xbox players now have the hazard to examine out this PS5 classic . I hope any other third - party exclusives on either console table also finally make the jumping to other platform , whether they ’re giving likeFinal Fantasy VII Rebirthon PS5 , indie likeDungeons of Hinterbergon Xbox , or somewhere in between like this game .

Kena : Bridge of Spiritslaunches for Xbox Series X / S on August 15 . It ’s currently available on PC and PS5 .