![]() The gorgeous hand-drawn animation truly brings every stage to life, and the soundtrack and sound design ensure each level is an atmospheric escape into a new land. The different stages feature a wide variety of different mechanics that prepare the player for the trying challenge of taking down each Jotun. Save the first region, the Forest realm, Jotunheim, each realm is broken into two stages and is completed by uncovering runes, at least one per level, which then gain the player access to the realm’s Jotun in the outerworld, Ginnungagap. The game takes the form of a steady-paced action/exploration adventure through the realms. Many developers could stand to take a page out of Thunder Lotus’ notebook. The result is a satisfying portrait of the tale’s fierce female protagonist who, rather than coming off over-sexualized or drawn pencil-thin, is strikingly human. As the player carves their way through the Forest, Cave, Winter, Storm, and Fire realms, the backstory of Thora is gradually revealed, a narrative perhaps more effective and enticing than the game’s main narrative, and certainly more evocative coming from Thora herself in her native tongue. Her life well spent in glorious combat doesn’t go unnoticed, and when Thora finds herself in the primordial void world of Ginnungagap, she’s given a second chance to impress the gods and fight her way to Valhalla by defeating the monstrous, giant elementals, the Jotun. Named after the thunder god himself, Thora is a sturdy Viking warrior who’s regrettably killed at sea, eliminating her chance to reach the warrior after-realm of Valhalla. The result is a gorgeous, engaging, deliberate, and even educational adventure through the realms in the hopes of reaching Valhalla. Instead, Jotun: Valhalla Edition is a tale that immerses itself deeply within Norse mythology, told proudly and reverently, replete with hand-drawn animation and a striking, fully orchestrated soundtrack to match. There are no Marvel superheroes present, nor are the references to mythology as limited as, say, the name of the protagonist’s motorcycle, like Cloud’s bike, Fenrir, in Final Fantasy VII. If Thunder Lotus had constructed more of these encounters, or simply filled the gaps between with something a little more exciting, the result would have been far greater.As prevalent as elements of Norse mythology are in pop culture, few games take direct inspiration from the tales of old quite like Jotun. It’s taxing, but feels like a pure distillation of the game – a highlight reel, if you will. Jotun may only last a handful of hours, but could have done with more character progression beyond a tiny grimoire of spells and an elongated life bar.įor those who connect with the game’s combat, Jotun’s Valhalla Edition has an ultra hard rush mode in tow, pitting you against an amped up roster of giants. Although each has its own use, they don’t exactly open the door to a bevy of tactical options. While Loki’s gift summons a decoy, the other three grant a burst of health, improved movement speed, and attack power. The only upgrades players receive during their adventure are four magic abilities, each with a finite though replenishable stock. ![]() With a basic two-hit combo, heavy attack, and dodge roll, she’s serviceable yet lacks versatility. Sure, your enemies will occasionally land a cheap hit, but for the most part it’s a fair fight.Īlthough an accomplished warrior, Thora doesn’t hold a candle to Kratos. However, the hallmark of a class boss battle is being able to detect a certain flow, dancing to the rhythm and waiting for just the right moment to strike. Needless to say, Jotun is far from a cakewalk. Jotun valhalla edition apple locations full#Whichever god you decide to take on, they’ll make full use of the arena, spawning lesser enemies while blocking certains routes and pelting you with projectiles. Their frightful appearance is matched only by their hulking stature and brutal attack patterns. The bosses aren’t strong enough to mask its shortcomings yet do a fantastic job of reeling you in. As such, all but a few levels in Jotun feel lifeless, like padding shoved between the game’s far better boss fights. Seeking shelter from a sudden blizzards helps add some flavour, but does little for the gameplay. They help to change up the pace, sure, though Thunder Lotus leans on them way too hard, in a way that doesn’t feel all that fun. ![]() From hammer-lobbing dwarves and snowstorms to poisonous swamps and giants lava, each hazard aligns with an overriding theme. Naturally, there are all kinds of pesky obstacles in your way. Although potted with the occasional distraction, levels are fairly straightforward – all you need to do is find a rune stone and be on your merry way. ![]() It won’t take long to find your bearings, however. ![]()
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