JETT: The Far Shore + Given Time

About

"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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

JETT: The Far Shore + Given Time screenshot

71%

Audience ScoreBased on 45 reviews

gameplay11 positive mentions

stability3 negative mentions

JETT offers a unique and atmospheric experience, blending sci-fi elements with a strong artistic vision and immersive world-building.
The second part of the game, 'Given Time', allows for more exploration and freedom, enhancing the overall gameplay experience compared to the more linear first part.
The sound design and music are exceptional, contributing significantly to the game's emotional depth and atmosphere.

The controls of the ship are clunky and unresponsive, making navigation frustrating, especially during critical gameplay moments.
The dialogue is delivered in a fictional language with subtitles, which can be overwhelming and distracting while trying to pilot the ship and follow the story.
The game suffers from technical issues, including visual glitches and bugs that can disrupt gameplay and immersion.

gameplay
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
59%
9%
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding the controls clunky and unresponsive, leading to frustration in understanding objectives and mechanics. While some appreciate the rich atmosphere and intriguing world-building, they note that the gameplay often feels overshadowed by convoluted mechanics and a lack of clear guidance. However, as players become more familiar with the controls, the experience can become enjoyable, particularly in the more free-roaming segments that allow for exploration and puzzle-solving.
- “The main gameplay involves piloting Jett—aircraft that bounce and weave upon and over the terrain beneath them.”
- “It's night and day; the very simple and sandbox-like gameplay loop lets you enjoy and fully explore the magical world you are in.”
- “Where the Far Shore provided the game's best intrigue and story moments, Given Time provides the best gameplay experience in a way that makes this package feel very complete.”
- “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.”
- “The mixing of hard-to-learn game mechanics and hard-to-follow lore make for a sometimes frustrating experience, especially since these happen in tandem (but only in part one).”
- “Since NPCs talk in a made-up language with subtitles and most dialogue takes place during gameplay, it's easy to get annoyed or miss a dialogue or an objective.”
story
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
59%
9%
The game's story is a compelling blend of sci-fi elements and immersive world-building, following a group of human scouts on a mission to restart humanity on a new planet. While the first part, "The Far Shore," offers a linear, story-driven experience rich in atmosphere and character interactions, the second part, "Given Time," shifts to a more open-world format that prioritizes exploration and gameplay over narrative depth. Overall, players appreciate the unique storytelling approach, though some find the pacing and control mechanics frustrating at times.
- “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 main campaign is more story-driven, maybe a bit too afraid to let the player explore at their own pace, however in given time you are given all the time you wish to enjoy the free-roaming nature of the map.”
atmosphere
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
73%
13%
13%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its mesmerizing world, strong art direction, and evocative music, creating a sense of wonder and curiosity. While some players noted frustrations with controls that hindered their ability to fully immerse themselves in the environment, the unique storytelling and cultural influences contribute to a compelling experience that many recommend, especially for fans of atmospheric and indie games. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered top-notch, enhancing the emotional depth and engagement of the gameplay.
- “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.”
- “Unique atmospheric peaceful story-driven game with Soviet/steppe culture being a strong visual influence.”
- “Whilst blazing across vast oceans and drinking in the solemn atmosphere and the haunting nature of the mission I was on was exhilarating and interesting, I never felt like I had the time as the player to do so in a satisfying way due to the controls.”
- “But what the far shore does so well is setting up the people, the stakes, the world, the atmosphere, and also that 'hand-holding' to me always felt like I was part of the team, that I had a job to do, it actually added a lot and, without spoiling it, made me a bit more at peace with the original campaign's anti-climactic ending because it really was about doing a job...”
music
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
73%
18%
9%
The music in the game is described as dreamy and atmospheric, significantly enhancing the overall experience, particularly in the second campaign. While some reviewers noted that the soundtrack leans towards a calm and ambient style, they still found it captivating and fitting for the game's world. Overall, the music is praised for its quality and ability to evoke nostalgia, making it a standout feature for fans of atmospheric indie games.
- “The music is often dreamy, the voice actors are wonderful, and the singing is otherworldly.”
- “Music and ambiance play a big role in your playing experience, especially in the second campaign.”
- “The atmosphere is top-notch and the music and the gameplay are both amazing.”
- “However, the overall theme and energy of the OST is not very exciting and feels much more calm and ambient, though it is still pretty good.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game evokes a rich tapestry of emotions, including adventure, homesickness, and awe, while immersing players in its stunning world and atmosphere. Despite some frustrations, many players find the emotional depth and engaging dialogue enhance their connection to the narrative and characters. Overall, it is described as a beautifully moving experience that resonates deeply with players.
- “The game made me feel a sense of adventure, homesickness, belonging, duty, sorrow for loved ones, and a wonder and awe over alien landscapes and creatures.”
- “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.”
- “[jett: the far shore + given time] is a flawed flower -- utterly beautiful and emotionally moving, but unfortunately not without its frustrations.”
graphics
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The graphics of the game are highly praised for their fantastic presentation and unique art style, featuring beautiful skyscapes and a delightful blend of alien language and stylized visuals. Despite some clunky moments, the overall aesthetic creates an engaging and distinctive experience.
- “Its presentation and visuals are fantastic.”
- “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.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game launched with significant visual glitches that rendered it unplayable for many users, indicating serious stability issues at release.
- “It released on Friday with major visual glitches, making the game unplayable.”
- “The game crashes frequently, disrupting the overall experience.”
- “I encountered numerous bugs that caused the game to freeze, making it frustrating to play.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The game has received significant optimizations since its initial release, ensuring it runs smoothly on the PC platform, particularly with the recent update that included the second half of the game.
- “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.”
- “But I waited, and it came to Steam finally this year along with the second half of the game I didn't know was missing. Given time, as well as many optimizations, it should run well on the PC platform.”