Tales of Kenzera: ZAU

I really wanted to like this game. I loved the idea. The dev was passionate. I love Metroidvanias. This is NOT a MV. It is a linear platformer mired down by unresponsive controls, boring combat, and the worst level design I've seen since Ghosts N Goblins. I've been stuck on the terrible lava chase for days, just watching Zau plummet to his demise every ten seconds before I disgustedly shut it off. You're better off playing Convergence.

Cheap, lame instant deaths. The buttons constantly do not register the desired action

Its a pretty mediocre MV and the combat doesnt flow very well, it feels clunky in big part thanks to the constant stun locks when you get hit and the attack "combos" are super basic and slow. Youre better off playing about 100 other metroid/vanias before this one.

There are lots of great Metroidvanias, this isn't one of them.

Why do yunklinks inSIst on comparing everything to the greatest version of that thing? Perfectly good pizza? 2 stars bc it's not from a Michelin rated kitchen. Car that gets good mileage and comfy seats? It's no Masersti with teeth rattling look at me mommy engine, 1 star. 2.5D platformer with actual story, one of a kind ambience, and plenty of content? Demand refund bc its not an instant classic like Hello Kitty Wall Run n Hug. Judge games by their own merit. Experience of everything you've ever played definitely matters, but why do people allow that to ruin their enjoyment of newer games? Seems like a real shame 🤷‍♂️ I also appreciate games that share things from cultures other than my own, but I do understand that frostyflakes fear the very notion.