Jusant

It's a climbing game with a squishy baby in your backpack. It's easy to miss the story and lore if you don't explore and read the letters and frescos scattered throughout the tower. I really enjoyed learning about this strange stone tower, its critters, and the people that once lived there. The game leaves much to the imagination. You don't learn much about the character you play, where they came from, or how they met the little guy. I would have liked to see a bit of what happens after the end of the game, even just some concept artworks during the credits. After all that climbing, I want to know what happens next!

This is exactly what I expect out of a high-budget indie game. The environmental storytelling is incredible, yet the game is peppered with hidden text logs. If you don't want the flow of gameplay to have constant interruptions, avoid those.

Great game.

A note for Steam Deck owners: You may need to switch to an older Proton version to get the game running. It's also not particularly well optimized, draining the battery fairly quickly, so lowering some graphics settings is recommended for a smoother experience. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed my playthrough of [i]Jusant[/i]. Its minimalist presentation and clean user interface enhance the sense of exploration, allowing you to immerse yourself in the world at your own pace. The climbing controls take a little time to get used to, but the mechanics are simple and well balanced, striking a nice middle ground between relaxed traversal and more demanding climbing sequences. The toughest sections took me a few attempts, but I wouldn't consider this a particularly challenging game. Overall, it's a wonderful, short, and relaxing experience that's perfect when you want to unwind. Although you're climbing alone, the letters you discover and the places you reach gradually reveal a thoughtful and engaging story.

short and sweet

I am big fan of DON'T NOD. I appreciate their experimentation in design and narratives. I love exploration and piecing together stories. I cannot do the climbing mechanic with mouse and it feels clunky. I get the direction, but it is physically agitating for little rewards. I enjoyed Journey and Sky, which this appears to attempt to emulate vertically with a Sable style aesthetic (Moebius like color direction, but too busy here). It appears far more barren, with little info (boring?) or narrative hook to overcome the climbing mechanic blocking my getting there. While it seems to be my kind of game, the approach is off or not connecting.