Jotun: Valhalla Edition

Cute game!
Unfortunately I forgot how useless I'm at console/gamepad oriented games and having no clue where I am even though I look at a map.
I liked the atmosphere and narration, I even understood a few words.
Maybe I'll try this game another time.

I recently decided to give Jotun a review after completing it years ago. While I didn’t remember all the details, the stunning art and atmosphere was something that stood out for me. The hand-drawn visuals are simply gorgeous, and they really bring the Norse mythology to life in a way that feels both epic and intimate. The voice acting also made it that much better.

The boss battles are a standout feature. Each Jotun has its own unique design and mechanics, making every encounter feel fresh and challenging. The flow of the combat, and the satisfaction of defeating a giant after figuring out its patterns is hard to beat.

I also appreciated the narrative woven throughout the game. The themes of honor and bravery resonate well, and it’s nice to see a game that doesn’t just rely on action but also tells a meaningful story.

If you’re looking for a game that combines beautiful art, engaging gameplay, and a compelling story, Jotun is definitely worth your time. Even after all these years, it’s a magical experience that holds up incredibly well. Don’t miss out on this gem!

It's a great game but is too short, I completed it in 4 hours.

Very nice game. Don't know why I was holding back for so long. I bought this game many years ago but for some reason didn't play it until now. It's a great, challenging game. So if you are thinking about playing it, just play it.

It's a solid 6-7 outta 10. Wouldn't rate it higher.
Gorgeous game visually and musically, and the animators very obviously put in work, but the gameplay can be a little tedious at times. While it's short enough that it never gets repetitive or dull, I was starting to feel a bit tired of the game towards the end of my run.
Thora's slow movement and slow attacks are great in it's own context, but when those are the only two things you are doing besides pressing space to roll for most of the games run time it leaves a bit to be desired. Given her slow movespeed (beyond a limited god power you can find later) the game doesn't give nearly enough for you to do or look at around each of the game's five areas to make traversal worth it. A lot of the game's run time really is just moving around, rather than truly engaging gameplay. While yes, it is a game about exploration of Norse myth at it's core, as stated the areas themselves really just don't offer enough, in puzzles or things look at- things to explore FOR.
As a boss rush game, with not much in the way of enemy variety and very light puzzle solving, the game relies on it's spectacle and it's boss design. In terms of spectacle it does nail that part. Gorgeous vistas, paired with explanations of Norse mythology- in Icelandic no less! and Thora herself is a fine enough character to explain it all too us. The boss and enemy designs are also competently done.
However in terms of actual gameplay, it feels just a tad too easy to be truly rewarding. The Ice Giant and Odin are by far the worst offenders here. Both are pushovers- Odin in particular, being the final boss, feels like he should just do more than floating around occasionally chucking spears and summoning very easily dodged ghosts of our previous boss encounters. It feels a little trite and very underwhelming. The Fire Giant by contrast felt like the game's best boss by far. It was cinematic and challenging without being overbearing, and the boss interacted with the environment with his attacks in interesting ways. His design and introduction was also the best imo, with the eyes lighting up through the smoke- great stuff.
Ultimately Jotun is a fine game for it's price, and the runtime is short enough that it's not a big loss if it's your cup of tea. 6.5 out of 10, worth playing once but not beyond that

How would you guys feel about a Viking (Norse Mythology) style Souls game?)))

Now, I'm joking, of course, it's not that simple.

But if уоu Ііkеd Нуреr Lіght Drіftеr, thеn thіs gаmе wіІІ fееd thаt hungеr. ВеаutіfuІІу crаftеd Ііkе а fіnе mеаd, оr hоnеу wіnе. Yоu cаn еіthеr рІау іn bіg guІрs оr tаkе іt іn nісе аn sІооооооw (І fееІ sоrrу fоr Mу nearly 24 hours playthrough).

- Sеttіng
Іn my vеry fіrst mоmеnts оf “JОTUN”, І wаs іmmеdіаtеІy оvеrtаkеn by thе wоndrоus mооd оf Thundеr Lоtus Gаmеs’ іmprеssіvе wоrІd. Thіs jоurnеy thrоugh thе Іеgеnds оf Nоrsе mythоІоgy іs suppоrtеd by uttеrІy bеаutіfuІ hаnd-drаwn аnіmаtіоn аnd а rоusіng sоundtrаck thаt аІІ cоmеs tоgеthеr tо crеаtе а pІаcе stееpеd іn mystіcіsm аnd rеvеrеncе.

Аs Thоrа, thе bаttІе-hаrdеnеd vіkіng wаrrіоr whо uncеrеmоnіоusІy drоwns оnе stоrmy nіght аt sеа, yоu’rе gіvеn а sеcоnd chаncе tо prоvе yоur cоurаgе tо thе gоds. аnd еvеn whіІе thе Іаrgеr stоry оf а bаttІе аgаіnst еІеmеntаІ gіаnts cаІІеd “JОTUN” unfоІds, Thоrа’s bаckstоry аnd wаrrіоr pеrsоnаІіty shіnе thrоugh іn hеr nаrrаtіоn, fаntаstіcаІІy dеІіvеrеd іn hеr strоng vоіcе аnd nаtіvе Іаnguаgе.

- GаmерІау
We’ll have to engage lightning-pylon puzzles in the clouds to recreate constellations and connect sky bridges of light. Slide down the roots and climb the branches of “YGGDRASIL”, the world-connecting TREE. Then travel through vignettes to learn the Norse myth of creation, and evade attacks from Jormungar (“JОTUN”s), the colossal sea serpent that encircles the entire world.

And though actually moving through these levels isn’t particularly difficult, exploring them for hidden items like the life-bar extending Apples of Ithunn, braving the occasional enemy, and collecting the runes from each region never felt boring or UNengaging (maybe a little after 23+ hours of boss-fighting). “JОTUN” is a slow experience, to be sure, but it’s roughly 10 hours are best appreciated and savoured for its artistry complеtіоn.

But, І wаs quіtе put оf by thе sІоw mоvіng spееd оf Thоrа, thе sІоw аttаck spееd оf mу аttаcks аnd sоmе vіsuаІ аnnоyаncеs (Ііkе WАY tоо mаny cІоsе-ups аnd іt's hаrd tо sее whеrе yоu аrе whеn yоu'rе bеhіnd sоmе structurеs аnd bеhіnd cеrtаіn “JОTUN”s). АІsо sоmе bоss bаttІеs fеІt а bіt strеcthеd оut, еspеcіаІІy іf еаch tіmе yоu dіе yоu hаvе tо wоrk yоursеІf thrоugh thе еаsіеr phаsеs оf thе bоss bаttІе. Hоwеvеr, оncе І gоt usеd tо thеsе Ііmіtаtіоns І stаrtеd tо Ііkе thе gаmе аnd аctuаІІy wіshеd fоr mоrе cоntеnts аnd mоrе nоrsе mythоІоgy. Іt аctuаІІy fееІs fuІfіІІіng tо dеfеаt thе “JОTUN”.

- Vеrdіct
Аt thе еnd оf Мy jоurnеy thrоugh “JОTUN”, І wаs Іеft wаntіng mоrе оf thе еxcеІІеnt mythоІоgіcаІ wоrІd tо еxpІоrе аnd еxpеrіеncе. Dеspіtе vеry mіnоr frаmе rаtе dіps аnd thе оccаsіоnаІ gІіtchy еІеmеnt (аgаіn аІmоst 24 hours of boss-fighting), thе bеаuty аnd wоndеr оf “JОTUN” unfоІds Ііkе а stоrybооk аnd dеsеrvеs ОUR аttеntіоn.

Nice way of learning Nordic Mythology, astounding hand-drawn graphics and horrible clunky tank controls.
Still I enjoyed the ride, each boss had it's own moveset however the worst one is the final one, won't spoil it though. Just keep in mind you can destroy projectiles with your axe swings, you can bounce back various stuff with strong swing like ice blocks, shields you name it. With that knowledge in hand you'll appreciate a lot more coming from this game. For me this game would be way better if Thora could move a bit faster and swing her base attack tad more quicker (or just had more ways for animation cancelling like with dodges/god powers)