JETT: The Far Shore + Given Time
- October 5, 2021
- Pine Scented
- 10h median play time
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Get on PS Store"JETT: The Far Shore + Given Time" is a single-player science fiction adventure game that takes players on a journey through five captivating acts, filled with exploration, action, companionship, and existential dread. The game boasts a unique environment, unusual rituals, and a fictional language, with an original score by Scntfc and additional sound by A Shell In The Pit and Priscilla Snow. The "Given Time" expansion is included for free with the game, which was released on Steam in early 2023.
PC
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- JETT offers a unique and atmospheric experience, blending sci-fi elements with a strong artistic vision and immersive world-building.
- The sound design and music are exceptional, enhancing the overall emotional impact and engagement with the game's narrative.
- The second campaign, 'Given Time', allows for more exploration and freedom, providing a satisfying gameplay experience that contrasts with the more guided first campaign.
- The controls can be clunky and difficult to master, leading to frustration during gameplay, especially in the first campaign.
- The dialogue, delivered in a fictional language, can be overwhelming as players must read subtitles while managing gameplay, which detracts from immersion.
- The pacing is often slow, with lengthy tutorials and excessive exposition that can hinder the overall enjoyment of the game.
- gameplay62 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Jett" is characterized by a mix of intriguing mechanics and frustrating controls, particularly in the first campaign, where the high-concept design often clashes with the execution. While the second part, "Given Time," offers a more free-roaming experience that allows players to explore and master the mechanics at their own pace, it sacrifices some character interactions for gameplay depth. Overall, players appreciate the atmospheric world and narrative, but many feel that the gameplay could benefit from more intuitive controls and less railroading.
“Given time is a more free-roaming experience - you'll travel alone and will face several challenges and puzzles, some of which will force you to master some of the movement mechanics.”
“It's night and day; the very simple and sandboxy gameplay loop lets you enjoy and fully explore the magical world you are in.”
“The atmosphere is top-notch and the music and the gameplay are both amazing.”
“Great artistic vision, poor gameplay.”
“The mixing of hard-to-learn game mechanics and hard-to-follow lore makes for a sometimes frustrating experience, especially since these happen in tandem (but only in part one).”
“The gameplay is clunky and the controls (Xbox One controller) are finicky, but totally worth playing for a sci-fi story that eschews the usual western colonial perspective and allows itself to be strange.”
- story62 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story of *Far Shore* is a deeply authored, immersive experience centered around a group of human scouts seeking a new home on an alien planet after their own world is destroyed. Players navigate a linear narrative filled with cryptic lore and character interactions, particularly through the perspective of Mei, a mystic whose role is shrouded in mystery. While the first chapter emphasizes a fast-paced, story-driven approach, the second chapter, "Given Time," shifts to a more open-world format that sacrifices some narrative depth for exploration and gameplay variety, ultimately providing a unique sci-fi experience that challenges conventional storytelling.
“The story follows a group of human scouts who travel to another planet looking for a place to restart humanity as their homeworld has been destroyed.”
“The story and overall world were extremely compelling -- they carried me through the far shore in parts where the gameplay dragged.”
“The gameplay is clunky and the controls are finicky, but totally worth playing for a sci-fi story that eschews the usual western colonial perspective and allows itself to be strange.”
“The story and world lore is cryptic, hidden through esoteric readings of the tsagas (a prophecy) by characters who are very dogmatic.”
“Given time is more open, relaxed and play-oriented so you get more ‘game’; more discovery, more exploration and experimentation, more puzzling out solutions, but at the expense of the story beats that gave The Far Shore its breakneck rhythm.”
“The only way to escape the tube is to mash the spacebar, but if you're like me and want to experience the story quickly, it's not quite worth it.”
- atmosphere26 mentions
- 77 % positive mentions
- 23 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its mesmerizing world, strong art direction, and incredible music, creating a sense of wonder and hope. Reviewers highlight the unique, peaceful, and story-driven environment influenced by Soviet and steppe culture, making it particularly appealing to fans of atmospheric and indie games. Despite some gameplay frustrations and technical issues, the overall ambiance and emotional engagement are considered top-notch, enhancing the gaming experience.
“The atmosphere is top-notch and the music and the gameplay are both amazing.”
“Starting with an intro that hooked me immediately, I was presented with a strong art direction and a mesmerizing atmosphere filled with wonder, curiosity, determination, and, surprisingly, hope.”
“This game has an incredible atmosphere.”
- music22 mentions
- 73 % positive mentions
- 23 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game is described as dreamy and atmospheric, significantly enhancing the overall experience, particularly in the second campaign. While the soundtrack is calming and ambient, some reviewers noted it lacks excitement, yet it remains captivating and complements the game's incredible world. Overall, the music and sound design are praised for their quality, making the game a worthwhile experience for fans of music-focused, atmospheric indie titles.
“The music is often dreamy, the voice actors are wonderful, and the singing is otherworldly.”
“The atmosphere is top-notch and the music and the gameplay are both amazing.”
“Beautiful game with a fitting soundtrack so far; buy this if you're looking for something like Journey but in space, with some interactivity.”
“However, the overall theme and energy of the OST is not very exciting and much more calm and ambient, but still pretty good.”
- emotional8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game evokes a rich tapestry of emotions, including adventure, homesickness, and awe, as players explore its stunning alien landscapes and engage with its atmospheric music. While some found the dialogue excessive, others appreciated it for enhancing their connection to the narrative and characters, contributing to an overall experience that is both beautiful and emotionally resonant, despite some frustrations.
“The game made me feel a sense of adventure, homesickness, belonging, duty, sorrow for loved ones, a wonder and awe over alien landscapes and creatures.”
“[i]jett: the far shore + given time[/i] is a flawed flower -- utterly beautiful and emotionally moving, but unfortunately not without its frustrations.”
“Nonetheless, I was mesmerized by the amazing world, the atmosphere, the incredible music, and how awe-inspiring traversing the world made me feel, so I decided to play given time.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics in Jett are characterized by a unique and stylized art style that features beautiful skyscapes and an intriguing blend of alien language and iconography. While some players note that the game can feel clunky, the overall visual experience is described as delightful and unlike any other.
“The alien language, the iconography, and the stylized elements of the visuals combine into a delightful melange that's unlike anything I've ever played before.”
“Art style: very pretty world, beautiful skyscapes.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game has undergone significant optimizations for its PC release, ensuring smooth performance and addressing previous issues. Users appreciate the improvements made since its initial launch, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.
“I waited, and it finally came to Steam this year along with the second half of the game I didn't know was missing. Given time, there have been many optimizations to ensure it runs well on the PC platform.”
“The game has numerous optimization issues that make it frustrating to play, even on high-end hardware.”
“Despite the updates, the optimization still feels lacking, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering.”
“I was disappointed with the performance; the game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate, which detracts from the overall experience.”
