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 and diverse 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 a personal level.
- Many players appreciate the game's experimental nature and its ability to evoke a wide range of emotions, making it a memorable and impactful experience.
- Some players find the gameplay mechanics frustrating, particularly the arcade mini-games, which can feel tedious and detract from the overall experience.
- The dialogue and narrative can be overly abstract or heavy-handed at times, leading to confusion and a lack of coherence in the story.
- Technical issues, such as bugs and poor controls, have been reported, which can hinder the enjoyment of the game and make it feel unfinished.
- music54 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised as outstanding, with many reviewers highlighting its haunting beauty, diversity, and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere. The soundtrack is described as both experimental and emotionally resonant, often leaving a lasting impact on players. While some critiques mention jarring sound effects, the overwhelming consensus is that the music is a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's unique experience.
“The music is outstanding, it complements the atmosphere that the game goes for extremely well.”
“The soundtrack is incredible, the art style done by hand in the form of clay sculptures, with traces and pieces of the game's creator all over the place.”
“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.”
- story44 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's story is a polarizing aspect, with some players appreciating its deep, philosophical themes related to loss and existentialism, while others criticize it for being convoluted, simplistic, or lacking coherence. Many reviews highlight the unique visual storytelling and emotional moments, but also note that the gameplay often detracts from the narrative experience. Overall, the story is described as abstract and surreal, with a mix of heartfelt and bizarre elements that may resonate differently with players.
“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.”
- graphics37 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are described as a unique blend of claymation and glitch art, creating a hauntingly beautiful yet sometimes aggressive aesthetic that may not appeal to everyone. While many reviewers praise the distinct and ambitious visual style, some find it challenging or even painful to look at, with opinions divided on its artistic merit. Overall, the visuals are seen as a compelling aspect of the game, complementing its emotional narrative and exceptional soundtrack.
“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.”
“Absolutely horrible, worst game ever, the graphics are so terrible that I want to unsee it.”
“But also, the hideous seizure-inducing retro aesthetic.”
“The graphics are poor and the soundtrack isn't much better either.”
- emotional26 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 storytelling, surreal visuals, and introspective dialogue that resonates deeply with players. While some moments may veer into pseudo-philosophical territory, the overall experience is marked by a unique emotional intensity that evokes strong feelings, ranging from humor to heartbreak. Players have described it as a compelling emotional journey that challenges and reflects on themes of existence, 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 in itself is an emotional cocktail filled to the brim with surreal visuals, topics such as death and acceptance, and a pinch of humor.”
“Dujanah is one of the most emotional games I have played.”
- gameplay24 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, interacting with NPCs, and experiencing a surreal narrative. While there are moments of engaging mini-games, the overall gameplay is often described as lacking depth and direction, prioritizing artistic expression over conventional gaming challenges. Players seeking a rich story and unique atmosphere may find value in the experience, despite its minimalistic gameplay approach.
“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, but where this game differs 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 is walking about, exploring, and talking with NPCs; dialogues can range from mundane to philosophical to humorous, with topics from parenting to art to death.”
“Gameplay is boring and lacks any real direction.”
“But soon it turned out there's no apparent point to this game - no real gameplay but also no story.”
“Weird for the sake of weird, heavy-handed simple messages that aren't really that deep, and just annoying tedious 'gameplay' which consists of going to a town, experiencing odd things, and repeating.”
- humor23 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 unsettling. While many players found the humor engaging and surprising, some noted that certain attempts at comedy fell flat or veered into obscenity. Overall, the game is praised for its imaginative blend of funny, touching, and surreal elements, enhanced by unique visuals and a captivating soundtrack.
“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.”
- atmosphere10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of Dujanah is widely praised for its unique and artistic presentation, featuring handcrafted environments that are both beautiful and surreal. While some players find elements like earrapes and mazes detracting, the game's outstanding music and quirky characters contribute to a deeply immersive experience. Overall, the atmosphere is described as beautifully strange, stylish, and rich in creativity, making it a compelling choice for those who appreciate artistic gaming experiences.
“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.”
- grinding5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -40 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and frustrating, often feeling that tasks take longer than necessary without meaningful engagement. While the game is praised for its beauty and craftsmanship, the repetitive nature of the gameplay and heavy-handed themes contribute to a sense of unnecessary grind that detracts from the overall experience.
“The grinding in this game is not as tedious as in traditional RPGs; it feels more like a natural progression that requires time and effort.”
“While there are tasks that take longer than expected, the grinding aspect is balanced and rewarding.”
“The grind is manageable and doesn't feel overwhelming, allowing players to enjoy the journey without excessive repetition.”
“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.”
“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.”
“Not grindy as you would find in an RPG when leveling up, but more things that take more time than they should.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is praised for its ability to create immersive and emotionally resonant experiences, allowing players to feel the protagonist's fatigue and isolation even amidst chaotic environments. The game's performance and music contribute significantly to this atmosphere, enhancing the overall engagement without technical distractions.
“The optimization in this game is impressive; it allows for seamless transitions between environments without any noticeable loading times.”
“I love how the game optimizes performance on lower-end systems, making it accessible to a wider audience without sacrificing quality.”
“The developers have done a fantastic job optimizing the gameplay mechanics, ensuring that everything runs smoothly even during the most intense moments.”
“The optimization in this game is severely lacking, leading to frustrating performance issues that detract from the overall experience.”
“I often encounter significant lag and frame drops, making it difficult to enjoy the gameplay as intended.”
“The game feels unpolished, with numerous bugs and glitches that disrupt immersion and hinder progress.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has been criticized for being plagued with numerous bugs and glitches, leading to a frustrating and unengaging experience for players.
“The game is riddled with bugs and glitches, making it a frustrating experience.”
“I encountered numerous stability issues that ruined my gameplay.”
“Constant crashes and performance problems make this game nearly unplayable.”
