REVIEW: Jusant is a journey that will move you

DONTNOD's new game brings a colorful and at the same time thoughtful atmosphere, and brings with it a moving and memorable narrative, equipped with fun and easy-to-learn gameplay.

Jusant is a unique adventure

There are games that don't need to do much to move us. Jusant is one of them. Developed by the French studio DONTNOD, the same as the incredible series Life is Strange, it gives us a moving journey of a young girl as she climbs a seemingly summitless mountain, into a world of singular beauty.

Jusant unfolds as you, as the protagonist, a girl named Bianca, climb a mountain full of ruins, uninhabited houses and mysterious objects. On the way, the girl finds notes with messages from the people who lived there, including letters written by herself, and it is in these manuscripts that the game's story is told.

Simple but fun gameplay

The gameplay is simple: the controller's two triggers serve as the young climber's hands, and you must switch between the two while pointing in the direction you want to go with the left analog stick. Along the way, you can plant up to three tritons to support you in the event of a fall; With them, you can swing from side to side, as well as descend or ascend vertically.

Despite the tranquility when playing, there are moments that give you butterflies in your stomach during Jusant, especially when there is no clear place to hold on and you are forced to jump blindly in search of the next support. Not to mention the splendor of the beautiful world designed by DONTNOD, which is both simple and extremely expressive.

With its colors and expressiveness that speak for itself, with few words written outside of the cards you find and the game controls' assistance instructions, Jusant is capable, masterfully, of transmitting a wide range of emotions throughout its 4 hour duration. 

A simple new thing every time

There are also cool new features that make the coming and going more interesting as you progress through the adventure, such as, for example, the participation of Bianca's partner, a curious little creature capable of manipulating different objects and plants, a great help on your journey, as it opens paths through previously insurmountable climbs. And speaking of paths, there are alternative trails that you can follow, where you can find different ways to climb the mountain, or even collectibles and other games in which there is additional interaction with the game's beautiful environment.

As it is not a long adventure, Jusant does not waste the little time it has on frills, and delivers a very memorable gaming experience with enough content for more than one playthrough, as it is very easy to go unnoticed by the optional points mentioned above, even if there is a kind of radar on the protagonist's part. . 

Presentation and incentives to continue playing

Many of the achievements of Jusant they are linked to the complete exploration of the game, which gives an extra incentive to return to it even after finishing it. However, unlike other titles, all achievements here are clear, direct and quite intuitive, which makes the hunt for them easier and more fun, not to mention that it is completely possible to be completed without the use of guides or similar.

The audiovisual presentation of this title is a show in itself. Subtle, but with an incredible visual power, conveyed by the vibrant color palette and polygonal models with impactful simplicity, the graphics Jusant together with the almost silent soundtrack of the adventure, they transmit a feeling of pure wonder and curiosity with each step taken. 

Without a single word spoken, the gaming experience is more than enough to communicate the desired message from the excellent developers at DONTNOD with Jusant. This studio's ability to bring messages of such great emotional weight to their games is incredible, in such different ways as they have done with their releases and which they take to heart in this latest one.

Conclusion

Regardless of whether or not you've played any of the other games from this talented team, Jusant It is a recommendation without any reservations. It is an adventure treated with sensitivity, respect and great care for its creators, and it is a game that can be enjoyed by any type of player, as it has a large number of accessibility options. 

Jusant is one of the most pleasant surprises I had at the end of 2023, a year full of big games, so many that it was difficult to reach a consensus when drawing up the list for that matter. I will carry my memories of him forever, as one of the best I have ever played. It is without a shadow of a doubt among the masterpieces in DONTNOD's extensive catalogue. 

It is simply unmissable.   

Jusant is available on PlayStation 5 e Steam and can be played on PC, Xbox Series S / X and also through the Cloud Gaming, through Xbox Game Pass.  

LEARN MORE

Source: Game page on Xbox Game Pass.

Text proofread by: Pedro Bomfim (13 / 12 / 23)