Title: Jusant: A Breathtaking Climbing Adventure Game Review
Subtitle: Explore the Tower’s Treacherous Cliffs and Uncover Its Mysterious Past
By Pierre Herubel
Dont Nod’s Jusant, a climbing adventure game, captures the essence of scaling mountains in the virtual world. Set to be released on October 31, 2023, Jusant promises an epic experience for gamers on the PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
At the heart of the game lies a towering structure that entices players with its hypnotic allure. As a young traveler, your mission is to ascend this colossal tower using only your climbing gear and a helpful alien companion. The ultimate goal is to reach the summit while unraveling the tower’s enigmatic history. Jusant not only delivers exhilarating heights but also introspective moments throughout the climbing journey.
Navigating the tower involves a combination of man-made structures and natural rock faces, remnants of a lost civilization. While you can easily maneuver through the former, the latter demands your skill in utilizing grip holds, climbing techniques, and tools like abseiling, wall running, and rope swinging. The most nerve-wracking aspect is the jump mechanic, where you have to time your launch and desperately find grip on the wall. Jusant offers heart-pounding challenges and breathtaking drops to keep players on the edge of their seats.
Fortunately, the game ensures your safety by keeping you tethered to the rock face with a rope and pitons that can be secured into the wall. However, both the rope and pitons have limitations, adding an element of strategy to your climb. Your stamina meter also depletes as you ascend, necessitating careful planning and frequent rests to replenish it. Jusant presents players with a vertical puzzle, requiring them to strategically map out their routes, overcome environmental obstacles, and make split-second decisions.
Jusant’s climbing system relies on a controller’s triggers, simulating the tactile experience of gripping the rock face. The constant need to switch between triggers adds to the tension and immersion. As you progress further up the tower, the environments become increasingly treacherous, testing your climbing skills and knowledge. Each completed stretch of the climb feels like a monumental accomplishment, especially when faced with elements like heat, wind, and rain.
The game effectively elicits a visceral response, engrossing players in the climbing sequences. From the adrenaline rush of attempting a seemingly impossible leap to the relief of reaching safety after a grueling climb, Jusant establishes a physical connection with the player.
Amidst the thrills, Jusant also offers moments of tranquility and serenity. Planning your route and executing each step with precision creates a sense of flow and peace. The game’s peaceful music complements this aspect, enhancing the overall experience.
While Jusant delivers sensational gameplay, it does have its share of frustrating moments. The character’s tendency to clip into objects and become wedged in environmental crevices can hinder exploration. Additionally, a mechanic involving light creatures boosting you up the rock face feels out of place and disrupts the game’s focus on careful climbing.
Jusant’s narrative adds depth to the game, allowing players to explore abandoned villages and structures within the tower. Through scattered letters and notes, the story reveals the civilization’s forgotten history. However, the game’s reliance on textual storytelling could have been supplemented by environmental storytelling for a more immersive experience.
Regardless of its flaws, Jusant’s story resonates, emphasizing the importance of returning to a forgotten place and restoring what was lost. Coupled with its tactical climbing system, heart-pounding thrills, and tranquil reflections, Jusant presents an epic climbing adventure that deserves pursuit.
Jusant caters to players’ accessibility needs with customizable controls, adjustable text size, dyslexic font option, toggleable hints and mechanics reminders, and camera shake settings.
In conclusion, Jusant offers a breathtaking climbing adventure that combines adrenaline-inducing gameplay with moments of serenity and reflection. With its release just around the corner, this game is primed to become a standout title in the climbing genre. Prepare to embark on a thrilling journey up the tower and piece together its mysterious past.
