Dujanah
- September 19, 2017
- J. King-Spooner
- 6h median play time
This journey through a dreamscape of loss and absolution is unique, if a bit uneven at times.
Get on Steam"Dujanah" is a single-player Role Playing game with an interesting plot, featuring stellar graphics and a fabulous soundtrack that will make you laugh and move you emotionally. The game features full color, interactive menu, bosses and enemies, Mode7 effects, and saves your progress with battery-backed memory. Get ready for an excellent, fun-filled ride as you navigate through the extraordinary journey of our young heroine.
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Reviews
- Dujanah features a unique and beautiful claymation art style, complemented by an incredible soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- The game offers a thought-provoking narrative that explores deep themes such as death, grief, and existentialism, often resonating with players on an emotional level.
- It is an experimental piece that successfully blends various mediums and styles, creating a surreal and engaging atmosphere that keeps players intrigued.
- The gameplay can feel tedious and lacks traditional mechanics, often relying on walking and interacting with NPCs rather than providing engaging challenges.
- Some players find the dialogue dense and heavy-handed, with moments that come off as pretentious or overly abstract, making it difficult to connect with the story.
- Technical issues, such as unresponsive controls in mini-games and a lack of audio options, detract from the overall experience and can frustrate players.
- music108 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, described as hauntingly beautiful, diverse, and innovative, often complementing the game's unique claymation art style and emotional narrative. Many reviewers highlight the soundtrack as one of the best they've encountered in recent years, with a mix of genres that enhances the overall atmosphere and storytelling. However, some criticisms exist regarding certain sound effects that can be jarring, but these are generally overshadowed by the overall quality of the music.
“Hauntingly beautiful soundtrack with a gut-wrenching message, alongside an esoteric art style.”
“The music is just outstanding; it complements the atmosphere that the game goes for extremely well.”
“Among many other praises I can give, it seriously has maybe the best and most experimental game soundtrack I've heard in the last decade.”
“Absolutely horrible, worst game ever, the music is even worse, my ears are bleeding, graphics are so terrible that I want to unsee it.”
“The graphics are poor and the soundtrack isn't much better either.”
“No music or interactables; no dialogue.”
- story88 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's story is a polarizing aspect, with some players appreciating its abstract, philosophical themes surrounding loss and existentialism, while others criticize it for being convoluted and lacking coherence. Many highlight the unique visual storytelling and emotional depth, despite the gameplay being minimal and often overshadowed by the narrative's surreal elements. Overall, the experience is described as a blend of beautiful artistry and a melancholic, if not frustrating, narrative journey.
“There is so much wonderful visual storytelling in this little RPG, and while I would normally delight in experiencing a strong visual narrative in film, there's another added layer to it when the player has an active choice in what and how they observe that narrative, that I just admire deeply.”
“The game is deeply philosophical about accepting loss; the story follows a woman named Dujanah whose husband and child go missing, and she goes out to find them.”
“It's a story about a lot of things: death, the Middle East, video games, global warming, motherhood, etc. Unlike a lot of 'weird' games, though, I think Dujanah actually tries to accomplish something meaningful with its bizarre imagery and dialogue.”
“There is barely any focus in regards to the 'story' and the dialogue that the characters have is just some pretentious artsy bullshit that you can read from a blog post of a teenager.”
“Storyline is weak and makes no sense.”
“But soon it turned out there's no apparent point to this game - no real gameplay but also no story.”
- graphics74 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a unique claymation and glitch art style that some players find hauntingly beautiful and creatively ambitious, while others describe it as aggressive and potentially off-putting. The visuals are often praised for their distinctiveness and emotional depth, complementing the game's introspective narrative, though they may not appeal to everyone due to their esoteric nature. Overall, the artistic choices reflect a strong vision, but the execution may be divisive, with some players appreciating the experimental aesthetics and others criticizing them as poor or inaccessible.
“The art style is beautiful, mysterious, and distinct.”
“Madly creative visuals, rampantly inventive expressions, and satirical, yet tremendously poignant writing enshrouds a rare sort of emotional core that its commercial peers can only dream to match.”
“Its visuals are amazing and stylish and fit the game's theme and general tone really well.”
“But also, the hideous seizure-inducing retro aesthetic.”
“Absolutely horrible, worst game ever, the music is even worse, my ears are bleeding, graphics are so terrible that I want to unsee it.”
“The graphics are poor and the soundtrack isn't much better either.”
- emotional52 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a blend of profound and heartfelt moments, often conveyed through introspective dialogue and unique visual storytelling. Players report experiencing a wide range of emotions, from deep sadness to reflective discomfort, enhanced by the game's creative art style and poignant writing. Overall, it is described as an emotionally intense experience that leaves a lasting impact, making it a standout in its genre.
“The music and visual aesthetics combined with these often heartfelt and introspective bits of dialogue from the many NPCs you speak with over the course of this 2-4 hour experience make for something that feels compelling and worth talking about.”
“Dujanah made me feel things.”
“If you want a gut-wrenching, amazingly emotional game that will rip out your soul, mangle it up, and have it punched back into your body, this is the game for you.”
- gameplay48 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The gameplay in this title is primarily focused on exploration and dialogue, resembling an art game rather than traditional mechanics, with players walking around and interacting with unique environments and NPCs. While there are moments of engaging mini-games, the overall experience is described as lacking direction and depth, often feeling tedious and disconnected from a coherent narrative. Despite its gameplay shortcomings, the game's artistic elements and thought-provoking themes may appeal to those seeking a reflective and immersive story experience.
“You won't find typical gameplay outside of the arcade; instead, you will find a surreal, nonsensical, dada-esque story of life, death, and beauty.”
“Apart from the 'arcade segment', the gameplay is mostly about walking around, talking to people, and looking at the world. What sets this game apart from nearly every other walking sim is that the environments, dialogues, and cutscenes are all unique and interesting to watch and listen to.”
“Most of the gameplay involves walking around, exploring, and talking with NPCs. The dialogues can range from mundane to philosophical to humorous, covering topics from parenting to art to death.”
“Gameplay is boring and lacks any real direction.”
“Weird for the sake of weird, heavy-handed simple messages that aren't really that deep (think 'war bad', 'killing bad', and 'revenge bad'), and just annoying tedious gameplay which consists of going to a town, experiencing odd things, and repeating.”
“But soon it turned out there's no apparent point to this game - no real gameplay but also no story.”
- humor46 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a mix of absurd, clever, and sometimes darkly relatable moments, creating a roller coaster of tonal shifts that can be both hilarious and viscerally horrifying. While some players found the humor to be genuinely funny and engaging, others noted that certain attempts at humor fell flat or felt needlessly obscene. Overall, the game is praised for its unique blend of wacky, touching, and surreal comedic elements, often enhanced by imaginative visuals and music.
“How about the absurd, random humor opposed to the genuinely clever jokes sprinkled throughout.”
“This game was a roller coaster of tonal shifts and bizarre, philosophical, sometimes funny yet very relatable things.”
“Just enough weird, touching, and funny moments/dialogues/vignettes set to some great music, all represented with some very imaginative claymation art.”
- atmosphere20 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of Dujanah is widely praised for its unique, artistic presentation and outstanding soundtrack, creating a beautifully strange and surreal experience. While some players find the gameplay mechanics lacking, the game's handcrafted environments and quirky characters contribute to a rich, immersive atmosphere that many recommend for those seeking a casual, artistic journey. Overall, the game is noted for its deliberate design and the heart and soul invested in its atmospheric elements.
“From an artistic perspective, this game is diverse, creative, and honestly beautiful with its presentation. Every part feels deliberate, and the atmosphere of the handcrafted environments is thoroughly unique.”
“The music is just outstanding; it complements the atmosphere that the game goes for extremely well.”
“While the 'story' may not really be anything, the world and atmosphere is one of a kind and is completely abstractly insane.”
“If there's one thing this game puts heart and soul into, it's atmosphere.”
“Very strange, very stylish, and oozes with irony and atmosphere from each seam.”
- grinding10 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 10 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
Reviews highlight that the game's grinding aspect is characterized by tedious gameplay that involves repetitive tasks and slow pacing, which can detract from the overall experience. While the game is praised for its beauty and craftsmanship, many find the abstract nature and heavy-handed messages to be frustrating, leading to a sense of unnecessary prolongation in gameplay.
“Not grindy like you would find in an RPG when leveling up, but more tasks that take more time than they should.”
“The short explanation for being on the fence is that while it is undeniably beautiful and super well crafted - it's all a bit too abstract, difficult at times, and dare I say grindy for the sake of adding time.”
“Weird for the sake of weird, heavy handed simple messages that aren't really that deep (think 'war bad', 'killing bad' and 'revenge bad'), and just annoying tedious gameplay which consists of going to a town, experiencing odd things, and repeating.”
“Not grindy as you would find in an RPG when leveling up, but more things that take more time than they should.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating the immersive environments and the emotional depth conveyed through the protagonist's experiences. The game's ability to create a sense of atmosphere, such as in the death metal club scene, enhances the overall experience, allowing players to connect with the narrative on a deeper level. However, some may find the chaotic elements of the gameplay to be a bit overwhelming or disjointed.
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The stability of the game is criticized for being poor, with numerous bugs and glitches reported by users, leading to a frustrating experience.
“Boring, full of bugs and glitches.”
“Boring, full of bugs and glitches.”
