Kena: Scars of Kosmora vs Relic: The First Guardian

• Perspective: Third-Person
• Multiplayer: Single-Player Only
• Setting: Dark Fantasy (Inspired by Korean Folklore)
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One
• Release Window: Early 2026
• Unique Feature: A unique, level-less progression system where character strength is determined by finding runes and gear, combined with a fast-paced, stamina-breaking combat system inspired by Sekiro.

• Fragments: Found by exploring the vast environments. These are essential for unlocking new skills, armor, and weapons.
• Runes: Found through exploration and by defeating enemies. Runes are the primary method of enhancing and customizing the player's abilities.

• Dark Fantasy
• Soulslike
• Korean Folklore
• Action RPG
• Mythology
• Post-Apocalyptic

• Weapon Options (5 Types): Varies (Swords, Axes, etc.)
  Players can choose from 5 different weapon types that radically change the combat style, from heavy, armor-crushing swings to high-mobility jumping attacks. Each weapon has unique, alterable skills.
• Shield: Defensive
  One of the weapon options includes a shield, allowing for a more defensive playstyle centered on blocking and bashing to disrupt opponents.

With her staff broken, progression shifts to 'Elemental Alchemy.' Kena learns to manipulate Fire, Water, and Earth to solve puzzles and infuse attacks. The new 'Spirit Bond' system allows her to upgrade elemental companions, unlocking unique combat and traversal abilities.

Progression is a significant departure from traditional RPGs, as there are no character levels. Instead, players strengthen their character by finding and upgrading runes, items, and crafting new gear. Each of the 5 weapon types has unique skills that can be altered to fit a player's playstyle. Progression is intrinsically tied to exploration and completing dungeons.

The game features a semi-open world structure that encourages free exploration of the collapsed world of Arsiltus. The environment is dynamic, with random enemy encounters and interactive terrain that can be used strategically in combat, such as breakable cliffs and flammable surfaces.

• The Last Guardian: Playable Protagonist
  The hero of the story, tasked with a mission to find the pieces of a broken great relic to save the continent of Arsiltus.
• The Brutals: Bosses
  70 formidable and massive bosses that the player must defeat. Each Brutal has a personal tale of sorrow that the player inherits.

• Main Story Quests
  A cinematic campaign that follows the Last Guardian's quest to find the pieces of the broken great relic and close the void that has consumed the continent of Arsiltus.
• Dungeons
  Optional and mandatory dungeons that must be completed to expand the world and acquire essential items and upgrades for character growth.
• Brutal Hunts
  Targeting and defeating the 70 formidable 'Brutal' bosses scattered throughout the world to progress the story and gain powerful special items.

• Q: Is this an open world game?
  A: No, it features 'sprawling but tightly designed regions,' favoring dense, deliberate progression over a vast, empty world.
• Q: Can I play the game on PS4?
  A: No, Kena: Scars of Kosmora is built exclusively for next-gen hardware on PS5 and PC.
• Q: Do I need to have played the first game?
  A: While the story is accessible to newcomers, returning players will appreciate the context of Kena's growth and the Rot companions.
• Q: Is the game harder than Bridge of Spirits?
  A: It retains the Soulslike DNA but adds strategic depth via elemental powers, allowing for more ways to overcome challenges.
• Q: Who is the composer?
  A: The music is again a collaboration between Ember Lab and The Jason Graves, featuring the Balinese ensemble Gamelan Çudamani.

• Q: What is Relic: The First Guardian?
  A: It is a single-player, dark fantasy action RPG with Soulslike elements. It features a semi-open world, fast-paced combat, and a unique progression system without character levels.
• Q: How does progression work without levels?
  A: Instead of gaining XP, you strengthen your character by exploring the world to find and upgrade runes, items, and crafted gear. Defeating the game's 70 bosses is also essential for acquiring powerful upgrades.
• Q: What is the combat like?
  A: The combat is fast-paced and skill-based, often compared to Sekiro. The core mechanic is parrying enemy attacks to break their stamina gauge, which staggers them and allows for massive damage.
• Q: Is it an open-world game?
  A: It is described as a semi-open world. Players can adventure freely and explore, but the experience is still guided by an exciting main story.

• Requires an SSD for seamless world streaming. Features high-fidelity particle effects powered by UE5 Niagara.
• Laptop Performance Note: Laptops should target GPUs with at least 8GB VRAM to handle the dense, high-bit pixel environments without stuttering.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: Minimum 95W (Mid-range), Recommended 130W+ (Performance)
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: Crucial for maintaining boost clocks during particle-heavy elemental combat.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: UE5's Nanite geometry benefits from unhindered CPU clock speeds.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: Dedicated GPU mode is essential to eliminate frame-time jitter in platforming.
• Optimization Detail: Upscaling Tech: Supports DLSS 3.5, FSR 3.1, and PSSR on PS5 Pro.
• Optimization Detail: Key Settings Impact: Elemental Particle Intensity and Volumetric Lighting affect FPS the most.
• Game Name: Kena: Scars of Kosmora

• SPECULATIVE PC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS. As official specs are To Be Confirmed (TBC), these are hypothetical projections for a next-generation Soulslike built on Unreal Engine 5.
• Laptop Performance Note: A title like this would demand a high-performance gaming laptop for the best experience. The fast-paced, reaction-based combat requires a high and stable framerate.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: Maximum TGP for the laptop's GPU would be essential to handle the advanced graphical features, ray tracing, and maintain high framerates during boss fights.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: The game's visually rich world and intense combat will require a laptop with a cutting-edge cooling solution to prevent thermal throttling.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: A powerful multi-core mobile CPU will be critical for handling the advanced enemy AI and physics-based combat.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is a critical feature for reducing latency and ensuring the best possible performance in a game reliant on precise timing.
• Game Name: Relic: The First Guardian

• G P U T G P: Minimum 95W (Mid-range), Recommended 130W+ (Performance)
• Cooling Thermals: Crucial for maintaining boost clocks during particle-heavy elemental combat.
• C P U Power Limits: UE5's Nanite geometry benefits from unhindered CPU clock speeds.
• M U X Switch Optimus: Dedicated GPU mode is essential to eliminate frame-time jitter in platforming.

• G P U T G P: Maximum TGP for the laptop's GPU would be essential to handle the advanced graphical features, ray tracing, and maintain high framerates during boss fights.
• Cooling Thermals: The game's visually rich world and intense combat will require a laptop with a cutting-edge cooling solution to prevent thermal throttling.
• C P U Power Limits: A powerful multi-core mobile CPU will be critical for handling the advanced enemy AI and physics-based combat.
• M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is a critical feature for reducing latency and ensuring the best possible performance in a game reliant on precise timing.