A Juggler's Tale

 Switch
Metascore
69

Mixed or average reviews - based on 6 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 6
  3. Negative: 1 out of 6
  1. NintendoWorldReport
    Sep 30, 2021
    85
    Overall A Juggler’s Tale is a very neat experience with fantastic aesthetic presentation, a fantastic medieval style soundtrack, and a heartwarming but simple story to tell. The only real issue I experienced were some readability problems when it came to figuring out what certain puzzles expected of me, but I was always able to figure it out on my own in the end. A playthrough goes quickly, only lasting around two to three hours, so it doesn’t overstay its welcome nor does it feel too brief. If you enjoy a good puzzle platformer, A Juggler’s Tale is a worthy addition to your collection, no strings required.
  2. Checkpoint Gaming
    Oct 19, 2021
    80
    A Juggler’s Tale isn’t a long game, it will only take you a few hours to complete. However, its length is refreshing in a time where we are surrounded by massive open-world games that can leave us exhausted just by looking at their playtime. Abby is a joy to play as, and though she doesn’t say a word and is sometimes taunted by the narrator, her story resonates through the way she survives and thrives in a world that wants to keep her grounded and tied up. The way that you can literally feel the weight in her strings adds a layer of empathy for the protagonist and makes you realise how strong-willed she really is. Though she is small in stature and doesn’t look like she’d be strong, this puppet’s tale will make you realise that strength comes in all sizes, even in the shape of a little marionette whose only real talent is juggling.
  3. Pure Nintendo
    Oct 8, 2021
    70
    A Juggler’s Tale is a polished title, delivering a smooth gameplay flow that’s over too quickly for its launch price. Anyone can appreciate the visual presentation and voiced story. Meanwhile, enthusiasts will enjoy the blend of puzzles (albeit easy ones) and action. It’s a unique game in many ways and one that leaves an impression. But, it also leaves you wanting more. I hope to cheer on Abby in a sequel, one whose price better matches its length.
  5. Jeuxvideo.com
    Dec 31, 2021
    65
    Without showing any great singularity, A Juggler's Tale stands out with a beautiful atmosphere, a few nicely sketched sets and a handful of well-thought-out puzzles. But the lack of comfort felt during the crossing lacks an experience that is a bit too short and generic to really score. With better handling and some additional originalities, the game could have been a real success. Pity.
  6. Nintendo Life
    Oct 10, 2021
    60
    At just two - three hours in length, A Juggler’s Tale is a lean experience with little fat on the bones (though may still be a tad on the short side for some). Nevertheless, it’s a shame that the developer leant on the same type of puzzle for much of the game, as it makes certain areas feel repetitive as a result. If you’re a fan of games like Limbo and Inside, this is a nice alternative; just don’t go expecting a game of the same calibre or quality.
  7. Gamer Escape
    Oct 6, 2021
    40
    A Juggler’s Tale tried to do a lot for a two-hour game, and while that’s not always a bad thing, I wish it had instead just focused on one thing and perfected it rather than throwing so much at me and having none of it land. I also came across a glitch where one of the cutscenes kept causing everything on my screen to freeze. I was eventually able to move past it but this particular issue, coupled with the terrible lighting and clunky controls, made playing through this game feel like a chore.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 7 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 7
  3. Negative: 2 out of 7
  1. frederik1478
    May 9, 2023
    4
    I try to enjoy the game but it was just not for me the gameplay is slow and mostly about atmosphere and maybe you can vibe to it, but I couldI try to enjoy the game but it was just not for me the gameplay is slow and mostly about atmosphere and maybe you can vibe to it, but I could not and the main narrator voice was just annoying… Full Review »
  2. SuperkenGaming
    Sep 30, 2021
    7
    A juggler’s Tale
    Cute and creepy
    a jugglers tale is an hr and a half long puzzle platformer, very simple environmental puzzle platformer,    A juggler’s Tale
    Cute and creepy
    a jugglers tale is an hr and a half long puzzle platformer, very simple environmental puzzle platformer, trust me I get it, Im over puzzle platformers too, but A Juggler’s tale is extremely casual.. her eyou play as a puppet, there is a narroator narrating every move, the game is absolutely beautiful at times, but you start off by escaping the circus, youre tired of juggling and dealing with a bear every day… you flee, and the circus is on the hunt… so you have to sneak past guards, and around obstacles as much like unravel for example, you have to deal with your puppet strings not allowing you to just simple climb under stuff… puzzle wise like I said earlier its very casual, youll most just be grabbing, pulling, and throwing.. for example one puzzle section has you delivering a flame through a rain storm, one will have you trying to use a cart to sneak past guards, ,very similar to the likes of a little nightamres game.. and I really enjoyed this game.. though it does have its moments of annoyance.. the game tries its best with visual language, wraping a red string around things you can grab, but sometimes tis isn’t always the case, or the item is just so small, that oyu don’t think of grabbing it such as the moment you see on screen here.. this moment also annoyed me and broke the immersion because while trying to figure this puzzle out, as I would try to out smart and menuver the enemy, it would just snap and grab me, restarting the puzzle.. taking me out of the game and into the real world reminding me hey youre playing a video game and this isn’t how you beat this part.. and an annoying running section that youll have to try over and over until you get lucky, I really have no idea what I did different any of the times playing this one, its just one time the game let me move on, the others I got caught.. no faster route.. nothing, just got lucky being a fraction of a second faster..
    A Juggler’s Tale is creepy, not as creepy as little nightmares but theres a splash of spook here just in time for October
    I give A Juggler’s Tale
    a 7/10    … Full Review »
  3. NindieSpotlight
    Dec 17, 2021
    8
    With its marionette characters and associated string-based challenges, rhyming narration, and a healthy dose of charm A Juggler’s Tale isWith its marionette characters and associated string-based challenges, rhyming narration, and a healthy dose of charm A Juggler’s Tale is certainly unique. Playing out as a sort of puzzle adventure you’ll continue to be presented with scenarios where you’ll need to work out how to survive or escape from what’s usually some calamitous set of circumstances. As you could expect from moment to moment the results can thus vary, and at times if you’ve missed some visual cue you may find yourself feeling a bit stuck, though thankfully the answer is always somewhere nearby at least. There are times where the controls can feel a bit on the dodge side, sometimes resulting in failure even when you know what you want to do, but for the most part you do get accustomed to some of the quirks and learn to work with them. While the adventure only lasts a few hours it is at least memorable, in particular because of the narrator who makes everything you’ve done feel just a bit more grand.

    https://www.nindiespotlight.com/2021/09/mini-reviews-september-30th-edition.html    … Full Review »
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