Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Kaena’s gameplay centers on real-time combat and exploration within the massive, mysterious tree called Axis. You control Kaena from a third-person perspective, navigating pre-rendered backgrounds while contending with the game’s static camera angles. This design choice lends a cinematic feel reminiscent of classic survival-horror titles, but it can sometimes make platforming sections and jumps feel less precise than modern action-adventure standards.

(HEY YOU!! We hope you enjoy! We try not to run ads. So basically, this is a very expensive hobby running this site. Please consider joining us for updates, forums, and more. Network w/ us to make some cash or friends while retro gaming, and you can win some free retro games for posting. Okay, carry on 👍)

Combat is straightforward yet satisfying. Kaena wields a variety of weapons—ranging from energy blades to bulky clubs—and you chain together light and heavy attacks to unleash combos. Filling up Kaena’s “berserk meter” by landing hits and collecting specific spheres unleashes a devastating special move, adding a layer of strategy to otherwise hack-and-slash encounters. Enemies drop three types of colored spheres: red for weapon upgrades, blue for berserk energy, and green for health regeneration, which encourages aggressive play and exploration of every nook and cranny.

Exploration is equally important to progress. As Kaena ventures deeper into Axis, you solve environmental puzzles that often involve moving objects, activating ancient mechanisms, or manipulating the sap that nurtures the tree’s chambers. These sections break up the combat nicely and introduce platforming challenges that test spatial awareness—though the static cameras occasionally obscure critical jumps or hidden passages.

While the core loop of fighting, upgrading, and puzzle-solving remains engaging throughout, Kaena sometimes falls short in variety. Enemy designs repeat frequently, and later stages can feel like more of the same corridors with tougher foes. Nonetheless, the berserk system and weapon upgrade paths help maintain a sense of progression, ensuring that Kaena’s abilities keep pace with the increasing difficulty.

Graphics

Visually, Kaena leans heavily on its heritage from the French computer-graphics movie Kaena: La Prophétie. The game adopts lush, otherworldly environments filled with bioluminescent flora and twisted organic architecture. Pre-rendered backgrounds allow for richly detailed vistas that bring Axis’s interior to life, crafting a unique alien atmosphere few other games of its era achieved.

Character models, however, show their age. While Kaena herself is decently animated—her hair and clothing reacting believably to movement—NPCs and most enemy models lack the polish seen in the backgrounds. Animation frames can be stiff, and some combat moves feel a bit choppy, especially when chaining multiple attacks or triggering a berserk finish.

Lighting effects shine when Kaena’s weapons glow during special attacks or when sap flows through ancient conduits, casting dynamic hues across the environment. These touches reinforce the game’s mystical vibe. But occasional frame-rate dips, especially in combat-heavy scenes with multiple foes on screen, remind players that Kaena was pushing the hardware limitations of the PlayStation 2 era.

Despite these technical hiccups, Kaena’s art direction holds up as its greatest visual strength. The colour palette shifts from verdant greens in the lower branches to ominous purples and reds as you ascend, reflecting the tree’s slowly dying state. If you value creative world-building over hyper-detailed polygons, Kaena’s graphics remain a compelling reason to explore Astria.

Story

The narrative picks up directly from the film’s prophecy: Axis, the life-source of Astria, is running dry, and only a chosen one can restore its balance. Kaena, a headstrong young woman, believes she is that chosen one after experiencing a vivid dream in which Axis calls to her. This personal connection drives the plot with sincerity, casting Kaena as an empathetic heroine determined to save her world.

Storytelling unfolds through in-game dialogue, cinematic cut-ins, and environmental lore scattered across Axis’s chambers. While some dialogue can feel exposition-heavy—villagers initially dismiss Kaena’s vision, and her interactions with friends border on repetitive—the overarching mystery of the sap’s decay keeps you invested. The disappearance of Essy, Kaena’s best friend’s younger brother, adds emotional stakes and motivates Kaena’s urgency.

As you delve deeper, revelations about Axis’s ancient builders and the hidden dangers within its core give the plot depth. The writers introduce thematic questions about humanity’s reliance on a single power source and nature’s resilience. These ideas resonate, even if some plot twists rely on familiar tropes like hidden betrayals or last-minute rescues.

By the time Kaena confronts the source of Axis’s corruption, the narrative arc feels complete, albeit somewhat predictable. Still, the journey—including moments of quiet reflection in half-lit groves and tense battles against corrupted guardians—elevates the story beyond cardboard characters. Fans of fantasy adventures will appreciate the blend of personal stakes and grand mythology.

Overall Experience

Kaena offers a distinct flavor of early-2000s action-adventure gaming: pre-rendered backdrops, static cameras, and a focus on atmosphere over raw polygon counts. If you’re drawn to games that prioritize artistic vision and world-building, Kaena’s depiction of Axis is likely to captivate you for its entire runtime.

However, modern players accustomed to fluid camera control and highly polished combat may find Kaena’s mechanics a bit rough around the edges. Platforming moments can frustrate if the camera obscures your landing zones, and repetitive enemy waves may test your patience in the late game. Balancing these shortcomings, though, are the weapon upgrades and berserk system that keep combat evolving.

Performance-wise, slight frame-rate drops and occasional clipping issues occur, but they rarely derail the experience. The soundtrack, blending ethereal choral arrangements with tribal percussion, enhances the otherworldly tone and rarely overstays its welcome.

In sum, Kaena is an ambitious title that stands out for its art direction and unique premise. It may not match the technical polish of today’s action-adventure blockbusters, but its blend of engaging combat, environmental puzzles, and immersive world-building makes it a memorable journey for players willing to embrace its quirks. Potential buyers seeking a classic PS2-era adventure with a distinctive visual identity will find Kaena a worthwhile expedition into the heart of Axis.

Retro Replay Score

null/10