Jusant Review (Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 & PC)

In my mind, there isn’t a single thing that Don’t Nod could do to convince me that its incapable of forging a hearty story-driven adventure complete with all the trimmings and tropes of an award-winning IP. Case in point, Life Is Strange was, without doubt, one of the best sleeper hits of 2015, as was Tell Me Why, and not to mention 2023’s Harmony: Fall of Reverie. And so, just as soon as I heard that the French studio was back at the helm for yet another dip into its ever-growing casket of curiosities, I couldn’t help but wonder, what on earth could it be, if not a well-overdue follow-up to Life Is Strange: True Colors? Well, as it turned out, it was none other than Jusant, a climbing-obsessed adventure that had somehow managed to incorporate the love of vertigo with a web of mythical creatures and generational lore.

For me, picking up an orb in Don’t Nod’s untamable pouch of products is a lot like loading up on lucky dips at a candy store — you never really know what it is you’re going to get. And as luck would have it, the exact same rule applied when I eventually found myself fumbling for a new whirlwind adventure across the land, ocean, and sky. That’s Jusant, in a nutshell: a cozy escalation experience in which you, the avid climber, are invited to explore and master.

Having spent a good four hours with Don’t Nod’s latest venture and its vast collection of summits, I can just about bring myself to chalk up a few final thoughts on the sky-high experience. Care to join me on the ascent? Then let’s knock in a few pitons and get to work.

Hope You Like Heights

Let’s acknowledge the elephant in the room: Jusant — it’s primarily a climbing simulation game, and thus, an opportunity for those who’re pretty much hell-bent on embarking on a sky-high expedition into the clouds. As such, budding climbers and aviation enthusiasts are, once again, invited to have their fill at the metaphorical candy store atop the highest summit of a mysterious world—a location in which old memories are evidently commonplace, and a shared culture of a previous civilization echoes through each and every piton and anchor.

In a similar fashion to a lot of other contextless adventure games, such as Journey or Abzu, Jusant begins with little more than a silent protagonist, a distant summit engulfed in fog and intrigue, and a long, long pathway leading to the apex. Your goal, although not explained to you at any point, is to make the gradual ascent to the top, and unlock fragments of lore and artifacts from a long-forgotten world along the way. And to acquire such knowledge, one must rummage through a series of old documents, letters, and other memorabilia — all of which have been scattered across countless layers leading towards the summit of the mountain. Simple enough, right? Well, yeah, if there was a stone ladder coursing you from one place to the next — which there most definitely is not.

Don’t Look Down

Progressing in Jusant is relatively straightforward: you find an anchor point on a particular platform, and you alternate between hands to gradually ascend, all while maintains stamina and strength with each passing maneuver. Thankfully, said stamina gauge isn’t all that difficult to maintain, as the game offers an easy-to-grasp (pun intended) rest feature that essentially allows you to shake out your clenched fists and regain control over the obstacle at hand. It’s also forgiving enough that, even if you happen to fall during your climb, then you’ll automatically swing from your ropes no lower than a few meters. That is, of course, providing you made the effort to attach a piton to the wall and not, you know, at the foot of the mountain in question. I learned that lesson the hard way.

The good news is, tasks in Jusant rarely ever stretch beyond the likes of searching for new ladders or climbing points. And even then, you just so happen to have a companion to guide you, regardless—an amphibian-like creature who not only has the power to highlight new routes for you to explore, but also reawaken ancient plants that you can essentially climb and use to reach your next vantage point. So again, there’s hardly any reason to fret over the journey itself; this is not an unforgiving game in which every molehill is made out to be a mountain, so to speak.

All in all, the ascent only takes just under four hours to complete, which is good, because it doesn’t aim to overstay its welcome and flesh out its narrative with unwanted jargon or cookie cutter moments. Simply put, it’s a relatively short hike, albeit one that’s tremendously steep and laden with enough lore and hidden secrets to keep you from ascending too quickly.

Lost in Lore

Aside from the fact that, gameplay-wise, Jusant isn’t all that difficult to grasp, the biggest selling point of the game is its ability to tell a story—a node that, although missable, can shed light on an exciting new culture and the events that took shape prior to your arrival at the foot of the mountain. Needless to say that, as far as mysteries travel, the memories of those who came before are some of the most fascinating tales I’ve ever had the pleasure of unravelling. Sure they’re voiceless and often shrouded in even more questions than answers, but for the most part, I found that, the higher I went, the more I came to realize the truth, and how my eyes were slowly being opened to a whole other dimension.

Without forking out too many spoilers, you take on the role of a young climber—a backpack-sporting hero who takes it upon herself to brave the immeasurable dangers of a mountainous terrain that’s without water or civilization. With the aforementioned companion—a cutesy creature known as a “Ballast”—you must work to ascend the towers and return life to its every nook and cranny, all while working to uncover the answers surrounding the daily lives of those who lives there before. Turns out, a great event occurred some time ago—a world-sweeping calamity that left the lands dehydrated and without the nutrients needed to thrive. As a result of this, its inhabitants soon made the last-ditch effort to leave their word behind, and in the hands of a young backpacker with a heart of gold and a mission to breathe life back into the soil.

As Calm as the Waves

In addition to the lore and elementary mechanics, Jusant is also accompanied by a calming and almost dream-like score—a soundtrack that operates on a similar wavelength as an oceanic experience. Simply put, it’s relaxing, thoughtful, and beyond therapeutic—three core nodes that go hand-in-hand with what can only be described as a mesmerizing endeavor through the history of a broken world.

Of course, without any dialogue, it does mean the sound effects tend to carry the message above all else. And honestly, as much of a challenge as that might be for most full-fledged indie games, Jusant manages to capture it all incredibly well, which makes the overall experience even more memorable and rewarding. Kudos to Don’t Nod for that.

Verdict

Given the fact that 2023 has been the vessel for more than enough all-powerful games and experiences, it comes as a slight surprise to see that, even two months short of year’s end, there is still so, so much left in the tank. And while October may have been the biggest month for new releases, I can safely that, even in the shadow of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and Assassin’s Creed Mirage, Jusant still manages to stand on its own two feet and outweigh the odds of finding stable ground.

Don’t Nod fan or not, it’s easy to recommend Jusant for anyone who’s looking to delve into a relatively short but effortlessly entertaining and insightful story-driven adventure. Once again, the team behind Life Is Strange has single-handedly managed to encapsulate a thought-provoking tale that, while fairly light on the gameplay elements, has a heart that beats thrice as strong as those that came before it. And honestly, I couldn’t be happier to know that, with all odds against it, it was really Jusant that went on to win my favor this year.

To set the record straight, I have indeed embarked on countless spiritual journeys over the past several months, so to say I’m somewhat familiar with blueprint that Jusant holds dear would only be an understatement. That said, long after I nailed my final piton into the chalk-smothered cliff face, I still found myself remembering each and every foothold I had used to reach the summit. Granted, not a lot of games can accomplish that — so to me, Jusant deserves all the praise in the world.