Kena: Bridge of Spirits – Choosing the Right Difficulty for You

So, you’re ready to dive into the enchanting world of Kena: Bridge of Spirits! One of the first decisions you’ll face is which difficulty level to choose. The answer, as with many things in gaming, isn’t a simple one-size-fits-all. It depends entirely on your experience with action-adventure games, your tolerance for challenging combat, and what you hope to get out of your playthrough.

The short answer? If you’re new to the genre or prefer a more relaxed experience focused on exploration and story, start with Normal (Spirit Guide). If you’re a seasoned gamer who thrives on a good challenge, go for Expert Spirit Guide. And if you’re a masochist who enjoys relentlessly punishing boss fights, Master Spirit Guide is waiting to test your mettle. For those completely new to gaming or who just want to enjoy the beautiful story, Story Mode is the clear choice.

Let’s break down each difficulty level and help you determine which one aligns best with your playstyle:

Understanding the Difficulty Levels in Kena: Bridge of Spirits

Kena: Bridge of Spirits offers four distinct difficulty settings, each influencing various aspects of gameplay:

• Story Mode: This is your “easy” mode. It’s designed for players who prioritize experiencing the narrative and exploring the world without significant combat challenges. Enemies are significantly weaker, and resources are more plentiful.

• Spirit Guide (Normal): The recommended starting point for most players. It provides a balanced experience with a moderate level of challenge in combat and exploration. It is what the developers consider to be the intended way to play the game and is the ideal place to begin.

• Expert Spirit Guide (Hard): For experienced action-adventure gamers who relish a tough fight. Enemies are more aggressive and deal more damage, requiring skillful dodging and resource management.

• Master Spirit Guide (Very Hard): This is where things get brutal. Designed for hardcore players who want a true test of their skills. Enemies hit extremely hard, and your resources are severely limited. Master Spirit Guide completely changes how you approach combat.

How Difficulty Affects Gameplay

The main difference between each difficulty setting in Kena boils down to the following:

• Enemy Health and Damage: The higher the difficulty, the more health enemies possess and the more damage they inflict. This forces you to be strategic in your attacks and careful about taking damage.

• Courage Gain and Loss: Courage powers Kena’s abilities, such as healing and using Rot actions. Higher difficulties impact how quickly you gain Courage and how much you lose when hit.

• Resource Availability: Healing opportunities become scarcer on higher difficulties, requiring careful resource management.

• Enemy Aggressiveness: Enemies on harder difficulties tend to be more aggressive and have different attack patterns, further increasing the difficulty.

Why Your Choice Matters

Choosing the right difficulty isn’t just about making the game easier or harder; it’s about shaping your overall experience. A difficulty that’s too easy might leave you bored and unchallenged, while one that’s too hard can lead to frustration and discouragement. Finding the sweet spot ensures you’re engaged, challenged, and having fun.

The boss fights of Kena are known to be hard. Starting on a lower difficulty gives you time to learn the game before committing to a harder mode. Remember, you can change the difficulty at any point of the game.

Tips for Choosing the Right Difficulty

• Consider Your Gaming Experience: If you’re new to action-adventure games or haven’t played many games recently, Story Mode or Spirit Guide (Normal) is a safe bet. If you regularly play challenging games and enjoy a good fight, Expert Spirit Guide might be more your style.

• Think About Your Playstyle: Are you a completionist who likes to explore every nook and cranny? Or do you prefer to focus on the main story? If you’re the former, a more forgiving difficulty like Story Mode or Normal might be better so that you do not get stuck on enemies while exploring.

• Don’t Be Afraid to Experiment: Kena allows you to change the difficulty at any point in the game. Start on one difficulty and, if you find it’s too easy or too hard, adjust accordingly.

• Read Reviews and Watch Gameplay: Get a sense of what the different difficulty levels are like by reading reviews or watching gameplay videos. This can give you a better idea of what to expect.

• Trust Your Gut: Ultimately, the best difficulty level is the one that you find most enjoyable. Don’t be afraid to choose a difficulty based on your intuition and personal preferences.

Kena is a gorgeous, challenging game with rewarding combat. Picking the right difficulty for you will ensure that you have a great time playing! Consider if you need to use any beginner tips before starting the game, so you aren’t put at a disadvantage.

Kena: Bridge of Spirits – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is Kena: Bridge of Spirits too difficult?

It depends on the difficulty setting and your experience. On Story Mode and Spirit Guide (Normal), the game is generally considered manageable. Expert and Master Spirit Guide offer a significant challenge, especially during boss fights. Some players compare the difficulty of the boss fights to those in Soulslike games, however without being able to “cheese” the boss fights by overleveling.

2. Can you change the difficulty in Kena?

Yes! You can change the difficulty at any time during your playthrough. This is a great feature that allows you to adjust the challenge as needed.

3. What is the hardest difficulty in Kena?

Master Spirit Guide is the hardest difficulty setting in Kena: Bridge of Spirits.

4. Is Kena kid friendly?

While the game has a beautiful art style reminiscent of Pixar, some of the enemy designs can be scary for younger children. The combat can also be challenging. If you’re playing with a younger child, it’s recommended to start on Story Mode or Spirit Guide (Normal).

5. Is Kena like Zelda?

Kena: Bridge of Spirits shares some similarities with The Legend of Zelda series, particularly in its exploration, puzzle-solving, and overall fantasy setting. It offers a different gameplay experience.

6. How long does it take to finish Kena?

On average, it takes around 10-12 hours to complete the main story of Kena: Bridge of Spirits. Completionists can expect to spend around 20 hours to obtain 100% completion.

7. Can you heal in Kena?

Yes, you can heal in Kena by using the Rot to consume certain plants scattered throughout the environment. Kena also regenerates health when standing still.

8. Is Kena a AAA game?

Kena: Bridge of Spirits has the visual polish of a AAA game but is technically an indie game developed and self-published by Ember Lab.

9. How many bosses are there in Kena?

There are 16 boss fights in Kena: Bridge of Spirits. The boss fights are known to be some of the most challenging parts of the game.

10. Is Kena worth playing?

Yes! Kena: Bridge of Spirits is a visually stunning and engaging action-adventure game with rewarding combat and a heartwarming story. It is often regarded as one of the best Soulslike games.

11. What are the cons of Kena: Bridge of Spirits?

Some players find the story predictable and shallow. The puzzle-solving is regarded as simplistic. These cons don’t detract from the quality of the game, overall.

12. Will there be a Kena 2?

As of now, Ember Lab has not announced any plans for a Kena: Bridge of Spirits sequel.

13. Can you play Kena after beating the game?

Yes, you can continue to explore the world and complete any remaining side quests or collectibles after beating the main story.

14. How many levels are there in Kena?

There are 23 missions in the game for you to complete.

15. What culture is Kena based on?

The fictional world of Kena: Bridge of Spirits was inspired by Eastern locations such as Japan and Bali.

Games are a learning tool as much as they are a source of entertainment! Find out how to teach and use games effectively at the Games Learning Society: GamesLearningSociety.org.

Ultimately, the best difficulty for Kena: Bridge of Spirits is the one that allows you to enjoy the game to its fullest. Don’t be afraid to experiment and find the setting that works best for you! Good luck, Spirit Guide!