Developer Ember Lab has divulged the myriad ways in which Southeast Asian culture influenced the creation of the PlayStation console-exclusive, Kena: Bridge of Spirits. The studio announced the interesting action-adventure title during the PlayStation 5 reveal event last June. Kena: Bridge of Spirits immediately won over the heart of viewers, thanks to its vibrant art style, fun-looking gameplay, and interesting sprite characters.
Even more interesting is that this particular project marks the first from Ember Lab, a studio founded in 2009. In the past, the company's produced commercials and animated shorts for the likes of Coca Cola and MLB. Now the studio is putting its talents to use in another medium. And, thus far, it seems there's plenty of reason for PlayStation fans to keep their eye on what Ember Lab has in store.
In an interview with GamesRadar, co-founder Josh Grier spoke candidly about the cultural influences deeply ingrained in Kena: Bridge of Spirits. Notably, the studio took inspiration from Southeast Asian cultures such as Balinese. Said influences didn't only inform the game's charming aesthetic, either. They also affected how Ember Lab approached the game's music, characters, and world. Grier stated:
"The influence of south-east Asian cultures on Kena can not be overstated. However, our understanding and exposure to Balinese culture came only after we began collaborating with the Çudamani group. Our composer, Jason [Gallaty], reached out to Gamelan Çudamani with the hope of incorporating their musical style and traditional instruments into the soundtrack. Jason spent a lot of time working with the Çudamani team to build a collaboration that would bring their sound into the game in a respectful way. Through that collaboration we discovered the incredible Balinese culture included similarities with the game's core concept: helping trapped and struggling spirits move on. Music is an important part of this process in Balinese culture and the collaboration with Çudamani helped us build that out in an authentic way."
Games that explore different cultures are always compelling, particularly if done right. The fact that Ember Lab is delving into a Southeast Asian culture that most western audiences may not be familiar with is all the more exciting. Now, the wait is on to see how exactly the team incorporates real-world influences into its fictional fantasy world.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits was originally on track to launch somewhere around the PlayStation 5's launch window. However, Ember Lab delayed the title in September, citing a need for extra time to polish as one reason for the push. Challenges brought about by the coronavirus pandemic served as another motivating factor for the delay. It appears the game's release is nearly upon us, though. During its CES presentation last week, Sony's sizzle reel trailer unveiled a slew of release details for first and third-party PlayStation projects. Kena: Bridge of Spirits counted among them, receiving a March 2021 launch window. Sony soon thereafter removed mention of all third-party dates from the video, raising many questions. Yet, since no one's denounced the release information, it's possible Kena: Bridge of Spirits will roll out in the very near future.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits is slated to hit PC, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5 in March.
Source: GamesRadar