JEF

About

JEF is a single player casual simulation game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by dodomate and was released on February 28, 2020. It received very positive reviews from players.

"JEF" is a short, surreal 3rd-person indie adventure game where you play as an alien from Karzalinx with amnesia. Your planet has been taken over by a giant evil spa cult, and you must escape through a space-time ganglion to various alien colonies, aiming to reach Earth where aliens are righting human wrongs. The game focuses on experience over mechanics, and takes around 1-2 hours to complete all achievements. Despite its short length, it is resource-heavy.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 101 reviews

graphics4 positive mentions

optimization4 negative mentions

The game features stunning graphics and a surreal, colorful art style that creates a unique and immersive experience.
It offers a thought-provoking narrative that critiques societal absurdities and explores themes of depression and capitalism in a humorous way.
The gameplay includes a variety of mechanics and mini-games, making it more than just a walking simulator, and it provides a short but engaging experience.

The game suffers from poor optimization and performance issues, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences for some players.
Camera controls can be awkward and may cause motion sickness, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.
The narrative can feel disjointed, with messages presented randomly, and some players found the characters and world-building lacking compared to the developer's other titles.

graphics
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
50%
21%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their unique, surreal, and psychedelic art style, creating a visually captivating experience that enhances gameplay. While the visuals are not focused on realism, they are described as "gorgeously weird" and challenging, contributing to the game's distinct identity. However, players should be aware that the game may require a decent computer to run smoothly, even on lower settings.
- “The graphics were smoother than silk on a slip-n-slide, the gameplay so tight it felt like the controller was reading my soul.”
- “The surreal atmosphere paired with thought-provoking artwork makes this game an infinitely fascinating time to be enjoyed that's well worth the price of admission.”
- “The visuals of the game are gorgeously weird and trippy in their own right.”
- “I tried all 3 graphic settings as well and still had the same result.”
- “That said, make sure you're running it on a decent computer, as even on the lowest graphic settings it's been giving my laptop quite a challenge running the game.”
- “Let me rephrase myself in saying the game truly is weird with visuals that constantly confuse you every second of the way and the camera controls are equally 'lopsided' to throw you off in a fun and challenging way where the camera occasionally hits an object and bounces away from what you were trying to achieve.”
gameplay
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
Gameplay reviews are mixed, with some players finding the mechanics simple and enjoyable, while others criticize the camera controls and flight mechanics as frustrating. Despite these issues, many appreciate the variety in gameplay and the short duration of the experience, which helps maintain overall enjoyment. Overall, the gameplay is described as straightforward and fun, with some engaging minigame segments.
- “Phenomenal gameplay.”
- “Even if it was short, it was still amazing as the graphics are flawless, and the gameplay was very fun.”
- “The gameplay is pretty straightforward despite everything else being a seemingly mess of confusion.”
- “The camera movements and controls with mouse and keyboard are sometimes borderline annoying, but fortunately, the time spent in this simulation of oddities is quite short and the game mechanics are very simple, so it remains bearable.”
- “It has one of the worst flight mechanics in any game I have played.”
- “The gameplay is pretty straightforward despite everything else being a seemingly messy confusion.”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players find it to be one of the weaker aspects, they appreciate its surreal and eclectic nature that complements the game's odd visuals and dialogue. Many highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, praising its ability to match the game's whimsical tone and diverse styles, suggesting that it enhances the overall experience. Overall, there is a desire for more innovative compositions in future titles.
- “Soundtrack is killer and the scooter part is great!”
- “The music is one of the weaker parts of the game, but not bad at all. I would love to see the dev make some new interesting songs for his next game, something that fits with the surreal style.”
- “On top of the odd visuals and dialogue, there is an equally surrealistic soundtrack.”
- “It's equally whacky and out of place and strange like the game itself, and it constantly throws you into different music styles and moods.”
story
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
43%
The game's story is described as immersive, entertaining, and surprisingly cohesive, with a surreal quality that enhances the overall experience. While some players appreciate the variety in levels and the depth of the narrative, others suggest that the unconventional storytelling might leave some feeling aimless. Despite minor gameplay issues, the story remains a compelling reason to engage with the game.
- “Very immersive and satisfying storytelling.”
- “Surprisingly cohesive story.”
- “The story is surreal but cohesive and is all tied together in the end.”
- “Surprisingly cohesive story”
- “Overall the controls are a bit janky, but for a game that is predominantly story-driven, it's not a problem. However, the plethora of invisible walls makes some actions, like climbing stairs, a bit of a hassle.”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with many users noting significant performance issues and unpolished elements, particularly for a debut title. While some players managed to achieve playable frame rates, the overall consensus is that the game is poorly optimized, leading to resource drain and occasional visual glitches, which detracts from the experience despite its intriguing content.
- “I also saw performance being an issue for people, and while it didn't run the best, it was still not an issue for me. I got a solid 30-45 frames at medium settings and 20-30 at high.”
- “Yes, there are a few quirks and things that could be optimized, like the game draining resources significantly and occasional visual mishaps. However, all in all, if you want a trippy and weird yet fun experience, Jef is definitely a game for you!”
- “Technically, it is clearly poorly optimized and a bit unpolished, but completely reasonable since it's one of Couillard's first games.”
- “I wanted to continue playing this game so badly, but unfortunately it is very unoptimized.”
- “Yes, there are a few quirks and things that could be optimized, like the game draining resources excessively and occasional visual mishaps showing up.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of "Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy" is characterized by a surreal and thought-provoking environment that enhances the game's unique structure. While some players find the movement mechanics distracting, many appreciate the captivating and immersive quality of the game's artistic elements, making it a worthwhile experience.
- “The surreal atmosphere paired with thought-provoking artwork makes this game an infinitely fascinating experience that's well worth the price of admission.”
- “The annoyances with moving around would end up distracting from the atmosphere, which was what I enjoyed about the game.”
- “The didactic trash menagerie of 'Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy' fed into Cosmo D's atmospheric meandering structure.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players note that the game's pacing can be disrupted by moments of confusion regarding objectives, leading to a frustrating grinding halt in progress.
- “There are also some moments where the momentum of the game comes to a grinding halt as you're wondering what exactly you need to do next (what happened to the map?!).”
- “The constant need to grind for resources feels tedious and detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
- “I found myself spending hours on repetitive tasks just to progress, which made the experience feel more like a chore than fun.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its clever satirization of capitalism and relatable exploration of depression, blending social critique with odd yet effective comedic moments. Players find the humor interesting and appreciate its ability to evoke laughter while addressing deeper themes.
- “I liked how it incorporated the critique of capitalism; it's an obvious satire but effective, and how it explored depression in a relatable and clever way, always oddly funny.”
- “Interesting and has some funny moments.”