Completing one last game in 2020, I picked another indie game from the PC pile that I've been meaning to get to for ages. This came out around the same time as Titan Souls did, and they have similar perspectives and gameplay styles, so I often confuse them ^^;. But now after 4 or so hours with it, I've beaten this game too, so I need not confuse them any more XD.
Jotun is the story of Thora, a viking who died a dishonorable death (i.e. not one in combat) when her boat wrecked at sea. Instead of the cold abyss she thinks awaits her, though, she wakes up in a space between worlds. The gods, impressed by her life of struggle, honor, and battle, have seen it fit to give her one more opportunity into Valhalla. If she can impress them by defeating them in battle, she will earn her place in paradise. The story is largely a stylistic thing more than anything else, as we learn a bit about Norse mythology and Thora's past, but it fits the atmosphere really well for what is, at its core, an action game.
Jotun is a fair bit like Titan Souls, in how you're a little character in a Zelda-like perspective who needs to defeat a bunch of big bosses to complete their quest, but past that the similarities are far more scant. In Jotun, your main attacks are your light and heavy attacks you have with your axe, and your main method of dodging is a dodge roll. You can also find magic to be used in charges as you explore around the different circles of the afterlife. That's right, "explore", because this game has exploration elements!
There is an intro level to the game with two relatively easy bosses in it, and then there are 8 more levels (2 per boss) with four bosses between them and then one final boss after that. The bosses are quite tough (even the first ones), and unlike Titan Souls they (and you) have health bars you'll need to deplete as they go through several battle phases. The bosses always felt like a fair challenge, and getting to one was always exciting and fun.
The levels you explore are quite different in their design, and they are often just as much about exploration to find where to go as they are solving puzzles and fighting small mobs. There's a really good diversity between the stages for what obstacles you'll face and what dangers you'll face in each stage. You can approach the 8 levels in any order you want, and can even save all four bosses until you've beaten all 8 levels. Each level has a max health increase and a new spell hidden in it somewhere, so it can be well worth saving those bosses for later if you're having trouble. The levels have mini maps that show your end goal as well as where the new spells is, but they don't show where you are on that map, so trying to judge where you are to try and find your goals as well as the hidden health increase is important to your success.
The worlds are also beautifully crafted in a hand-drawn style. The animations are wonderful as well, and the VA being all in Swedish gives it that extra flare of being taken to another world. The music is good atmospheric tone-setting as well as intense for the boss music. Finding little tidbits around the world just to see how well they're drawn and animated was one of the most fun parts about exploring~.
Verdict: Highly Recommended. Where Titan Souls felt a little lacking in content to justify its price, Jotun's exploration and strong myth-based presentation make it feel like a much more complete package. With strong level and puzzle design and great bosses, this is a fantastic indie game to spend an afternoon/evening with.
Jotun is the story of Thora, a viking who died a dishonorable death (i.e. not one in combat) when her boat wrecked at sea. Instead of the cold abyss she thinks awaits her, though, she wakes up in a space between worlds. The gods, impressed by her life of struggle, honor, and battle, have seen it fit to give her one more opportunity into Valhalla. If she can impress them by defeating them in battle, she will earn her place in paradise. The story is largely a stylistic thing more than anything else, as we learn a bit about Norse mythology and Thora's past, but it fits the atmosphere really well for what is, at its core, an action game.
Jotun is a fair bit like Titan Souls, in how you're a little character in a Zelda-like perspective who needs to defeat a bunch of big bosses to complete their quest, but past that the similarities are far more scant. In Jotun, your main attacks are your light and heavy attacks you have with your axe, and your main method of dodging is a dodge roll. You can also find magic to be used in charges as you explore around the different circles of the afterlife. That's right, "explore", because this game has exploration elements!
There is an intro level to the game with two relatively easy bosses in it, and then there are 8 more levels (2 per boss) with four bosses between them and then one final boss after that. The bosses are quite tough (even the first ones), and unlike Titan Souls they (and you) have health bars you'll need to deplete as they go through several battle phases. The bosses always felt like a fair challenge, and getting to one was always exciting and fun.
The levels you explore are quite different in their design, and they are often just as much about exploration to find where to go as they are solving puzzles and fighting small mobs. There's a really good diversity between the stages for what obstacles you'll face and what dangers you'll face in each stage. You can approach the 8 levels in any order you want, and can even save all four bosses until you've beaten all 8 levels. Each level has a max health increase and a new spell hidden in it somewhere, so it can be well worth saving those bosses for later if you're having trouble. The levels have mini maps that show your end goal as well as where the new spells is, but they don't show where you are on that map, so trying to judge where you are to try and find your goals as well as the hidden health increase is important to your success.
The worlds are also beautifully crafted in a hand-drawn style. The animations are wonderful as well, and the VA being all in Swedish gives it that extra flare of being taken to another world. The music is good atmospheric tone-setting as well as intense for the boss music. Finding little tidbits around the world just to see how well they're drawn and animated was one of the most fun parts about exploring~.
Verdict: Highly Recommended. Where Titan Souls felt a little lacking in content to justify its price, Jotun's exploration and strong myth-based presentation make it feel like a much more complete package. With strong level and puzzle design and great bosses, this is a fantastic indie game to spend an afternoon/evening with.