For its part, the PS5 performance mode operates in a similar resolution window with reconstruction up to 4K, but can run in some areas with a reduced resolution. Signed distance field ambient occlusion - used to great effect on PS5 - is also missing.

In comparison to PS5's 60fps performance mode, vegetation density is pared back, object LODs are more noticeable and shadow resolution is also chunkier. We didn't have time to test the base PS4 game, but the Pro targets 30fps and seems to run at a dynamic resolution between 1188p and 1440p, but seems to stick to the upper end of the range for the most part. In terms of engine scalability, let's start at the bottom of the stack. The level of polish is excellent but not without its issues: transitions between animations aren't quite smooth enough, while camera motion can be prone to minor hitching. Secondary animations such as the effects of your actions within the scene are also expertly implemented. On top of that, character expressions and animations are first class: Ember Lab previously worked on animation shorts for fan films, product advertisements, and other mainstream media.įlourishes in all areas of the animation are excellent, while the expressiveness of Kena and her 'rot' companions is also a high point - it's lovingly crafted and so, so cute. Combine it all together and you rarely find an object that sticks out as being of an inconsistently low res, or modelled oddly. There's an understanding of which edges need to be rounded and which can retain a more obvious polygonal structure. Every object, every texture and material seems to have been authored with a consistent style and polygon budget. In terms of what makes Kena special, it's not just the style of the art that stands out but also the basic quality in delivery.

As it happens, everything plays out as logically as you would expect - but the extra horsepower in PS5 and high-end PC goes a long way in delivering Kena at its best. In theory, the PC version should allow us to see Kena running at its absolute best, while taking a look at the game operating on PS4 Pro gives us an idea of how older hardware copes with a very attractive game. In putting this piece together, we took a look at the game running in both quality and performance modes on PlayStation 5 and factored in platform scaling in both directions. However, underlying issues with UE4 do peek through - and they're especially evident on the PC version of the game. Based on Unreal Engine 4, Kena shines through the artistic accomplishments of the developer, backed by a solid game design and mostly solid performance. Kena: Bridge of Spirits from Ember Labs finally released this week, initially capturing our attention at the PlayStation 5 gameplay reveal event last year thanks to a visually fresh, appealing presentation.

Nvidia ambient occlusion