Jotun

 PC
User Score
7.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 117 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 54 out of 117
  2. Mixed: 46 out of 117
  3. Negative: 17 out of 117
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  1. Brainstrain
    Dec 12, 2019
    7
    Jotun is a fun romp through Norse myth. Bosses are impressively animated and have some fun mechanics. For most of the game I thought the challenge struck a perfect balance - most bosses took a few tries, but nothing was too frustrating. Unfortunately the last boss is ridiculously hard, and it hurt my enjoyment of the game a lot.

    The hand-drawn environments are nice in some places, and    Jotun is a fun romp through Norse myth. Bosses are impressively animated and have some fun mechanics. For most of the game I thought the challenge struck a perfect balance - most bosses took a few tries, but nothing was too frustrating. Unfortunately the last boss is ridiculously hard, and it hurt my enjoyment of the game a lot.

    The hand-drawn environments are nice in some places, and ugly in others. Getting around the maps can be tedious, and some are quite large. It's a good but not great game - wait for a sale.    … Expand
  2. S3XU4LH34L1NG
    Mar 12, 2021
    7
    Fantastic voice acting, great artstyle and plus points for retelling some of the norse mythology. It's a chill easy going game but with challenging bosses that kinda remind me of demon souls. Sadly the clunky controls and the strangely low walking speed suck. Care - it's a nice game but extremly short 3,5 h for me for 100%. Would not recommend if it costs more then 5 bucks. Would Ratatorsk again.
  3. MarcioCavalcant
    May 17, 2019
    6
    Amazing art and soundtrack, but as far as gameplay and mechanics go, this game is terrible. The story is interesting, thus why I don't think it deserves a red grade. But it's a medium quality game because of the gameplay and mechanics, It's really sad because I love norse mythology!
  4. kikopaff
    Nov 30, 2018
    7
    Set in Norse mythology, Jotun spans sprawling regions of various weather types, landscapes, and architecture. You play as Thora, a Viking warrior who dies an inglorious death and gets a second chance to prove her might to the gods and enter Valhalla, the equivalent of Norse heaven. In your quest to achieve the thumbs up from the gods, you search for hidden runes across the game to awakenSet in Norse mythology, Jotun spans sprawling regions of various weather types, landscapes, and architecture. You play as Thora, a Viking warrior who dies an inglorious death and gets a second chance to prove her might to the gods and enter Valhalla, the equivalent of Norse heaven. In your quest to achieve the thumbs up from the gods, you search for hidden runes across the game to awaken the five Jotuns, giant Norse elementals, in which you battle for glory. If you enjoy Norse mythology or mediums that implement this rich history, then Jotun will feel like your childhood dream coming to life. Voiceovers are spoken in Icelandic, allowing your experience as Thora to feel richly authentic and vibrant.

    Navigating through Jotun is an absolutely gorgeous expedition. You enter Yggdrasil, the connector of the nine worlds, aka the nine zones, in which you spend your journey exploring. The hand-drawn animations are incredibly detailed, from Thora’s cloak waving behind as you run around, to the top-down view of the environment below. Every detail is executed with finesse and is seamlessly attractive to watch; like little screen shakes as Thora smashes her axe to the ground or subtle flashes when a Jotun receives damage. Each of the nine worlds feels distinct and unique, able to hold its own beauty. I enjoyed running through lush twigs and giant mushrooms, or carefully tiptoeing around glowing red cracks that bubbled with lava underneath. There is always something new to discover in Jotun‘s rich world and is worth staring at with awe. These subtle details also stress urgency when highly stressful situations arise; like a shadow looming from the thin ice below and suddenly, a giant sea serpent smashes through the ice. Shadows are also cleverly used throughout Jotun to indicate safe zones or the size and width of the Jotun’s attack, making combat especially easier to plan. As you wander around, I notice that Thora is very small in scale in comparison to the rest of her world. This reminds me that there is a universe far bigger than ourselves. It’s refreshing to be able to surrender your control to the forces of nature. Plus, Jotun does a great job of adding the David versus Goliath element throughout your gameplay.

    But despite its attention to visual detail and its smooth animations, I struggled with Jotun‘s lack of clear level objectives. Yes, searching for the hidden runes are made known thanks to the early narration in the game, but even as I marvel at the world around me, each zone feels slow and unmotivating. This could be due to a very obtuse map, which took me a couple of zones to figure out what each legend means and where my location corresponds with the map’s design. I spent most of Jotun aimlessly running around trying to find a landmark that would indicate some vague idea of my whereabouts. Thankfully, you can explore each of the nine worlds in any order you choose, so I was able to leave and enter as I pleased. It made my exploration feel a little less repetitive, and if one zone felt too tedious, I could easily access another zone. One of the major landmarks to locate are statues dedicated to different Norse gods, and when discovered, you gain a special ability or a ‘blessing’ to use in your brawls against the Jotuns. There are also golden apples lying around that when consumed, extends your health bar. Despite such bait for upgrades, Jotun feels like a sluggish tenth round of hide-and-seek and takes some time to get used to.

    Jotun is a visual masterpiece, flaunting its fluidity through humble hand-drawn animations and sweeping palettes. Its combat is one of the most exciting I’ve played through, leaving me with memorable victories and a sense of pride that’s sure to last. Jotun poetically combines the rich and ancient history of Norse mythology and the creativity of somehow allowing this mythology to be your own. Despite some issues with pacing and an unclear map, Jotun offers players a satisfying journey, a call to impress the gods and enter Valhalla for yourself – an achievement worth dying for.    … Expand
  5. Blindman
    Feb 7, 2020
    7
    Would have liked a map that shows where you are. The added confusion of this not being there didn't really add to the game.
  6. FirstSpawn
    May 26, 2021
    7
    + Красивая, мультяшная графика и приятный саунд.
    - Игре просто не хватает масштаба и глубины проработки.
  7. Topoide
    Feb 18, 2022
    7
    buena dificultad, buenas mecánicas aunque le faltan muchas cosas, es un juego muy corto.
  8. RoboyITA
    Jun 11, 2023
    7
    Bello è bello, boss di grande impatto, altalenante nel giocare le parti di perlustrazione un po' labirintiche, perla artigianale come tale qualche parte grezza. Avventura da vivere nella sua durezza (si anche nella difficoltà ... attualmente rimandato il boss finale, ero senza tutti i poteri e non lo sapevo, riperlustrare le zone per l'ennessima volta no ... quindi chissà) .
  9. Istio
    May 13, 2022
    7
    good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good
  10. hoviadko123
    Oct 19, 2022
    6
    I really like art style in this game. Bosses looks cool.
    But areas, where you search for runes to unlock next boss feel pretty empty and lifeless. As for combat, it's very very slow and clunky, which is very annoying especially in later boss fights.
    This game is worth to buy only if it's on sale.

Awards & Rankings

75
#75 Best PC Game of 2015
12
#12 Most Shared PC Game of 2015

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 28 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 28
  3. Negative: 0 out of 28
  1. Meristation
    Oct 26, 2016
    80
    Awesome visuals and simple but effective combat mechanics for a game that impresses with its gigantic bosses.
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  2. Game Debate
    Oct 16, 2016
    75
    Ultimately, there's nothing in Jotun that would have even been hailed as original if you'd seen it in Mickey Mouse: Castle of Illusion, but fun is timeless.
    Read full review
  3. Eurogamer Italy
    Jan 27, 2016
    80
    Jotun is a little indie gem: the combat system is very simple yet rewarding, the visuals are inspired and the fascinating narrative finds its place naturally within the gameplay.
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