Juju
- December 10, 2014
- Flying Wild Hog
Believe it or not, traditional platformers are kind of a rarity on the Xbox 360. Majority of what's available in the genre is either puzzle oriented or an artistic experience concerned with delivering some sort of evocative impact… but not Juju. While Juju blatantly borrows from the best in the biz, it's impressive how high the quality is in this indie adventure. By no means is it perfect or revolutionary, but what's here is highly enjoyable, easily recommendable, and darn good-looking. Because the entire game can be played in two-player co-op, and because there are difficulty options welcoming of all skill levels, Juju is a great purchase for kids and families that like to play together. It's one of the season's biggest downloadable surprises.
"Juju is a delightful platformer game, offering both single-player and local multi-player experiences. As Juju the panda and his companion Peyo, players embark on a journey to save Juju's father and the world, collecting mystic keys, magic ambers, and battling humongous bosses. The Deluxe Edition includes a digital artbook and original soundtrack."
Reviews
- Charming and colorful visuals with a delightful soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience.
- Great for family play, featuring local co-op that allows younger players to enjoy the game without the fear of dying.
- Simple mechanics and gradual difficulty make it accessible for children and casual gamers, while still providing enjoyable gameplay for adults.
- Bonus levels can be repetitive and lack variety, which may lead to boredom over time.
- The game may feel too easy or simplistic for experienced platformer fans, lacking the challenge found in other titles.
- Some players may find the camera control inconsistent, leading to frustrating moments during gameplay.
- music17 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many players praising the soundtrack as enjoyable and fitting for the cute visuals and platforming gameplay. While some noted that the music can become repetitive, it remains pleasant and does not detract from the overall experience. Overall, the soundtrack is described as a highlight, enhancing the game's charming atmosphere.
“The soundtrack is like butter for the ears, if butter would be nice in the ears.”
“The music is lovely and fits well with the game.”
“This is a fun platformer, with entertaining elements, great environments, good music, and fun design.”
“Music-wise, it could do better.”
“Seems it's the only thing on YouTube OST-wise.”
“From the special stages, the music, sounds, and even the areas you visit.”
- gameplay12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its simplicity and well-implemented mechanics, allowing players to clear stages and find hidden items in beautifully designed levels with distinct themes. The cooperative mode is particularly highlighted for its accessibility and forgiving nature, although some players noted inconsistencies in difficulty and occasional design oversights in co-op scenarios. Overall, the game offers varied challenges and enjoyable dynamics, making it a pleasure to play despite minor areas for improvement.
“Its simplicity won't be for everyone, as the core gameplay involves clearing a stage with as many crystals as possible (like Rayman Origins and Legends) as well as finding the hidden items throughout the stage.”
“The levels are all very beautifully designed, with varying, distinct, and colorful themes, cleverly overshadowing the fact that the gameplay itself is rather basic - which is not meant in a diminishing way at all; all of it feels very well implemented and well put together.”
“It has a great co-op mode, whose functionality effortlessly outshines that of other entries in the genre, with an easy drop-in and drop-out mechanic that is very forgiving to a player who might rely on their counterpart to solve one of the more challenging stages, literally putting them in a bubble to be dragged along until they feel comfortable to join in again.”
“The only real con I found to be kind of off-putting is Juju's rather inconsistent difficulty, with some of the later levels and bosses being somewhat easy compared to their predecessors. Some parts of the game feel like they were developed with co-op as an afterthought, especially in the bonus levels with the autoscrolling mechanic, which can lead to one player setting the tone while the other follows in a bubble due to a slight misstep or the sometimes wonky camera.”
“Its simplicity won't be for everyone, as the core gameplay involves clearing a stage with as many crystals as possible (like Rayman Origins and Legends) as well as finding hidden items throughout the stage.”
“The levels are all very beautifully designed, with varying, distinct, and colorful themes, cleverly overshadowing the fact that the gameplay itself is rather basic. This is not meant in a diminishing way at all; it all feels very well implemented and well put together.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are widely praised for their vibrant colors and adorable visuals, creating a delightful and charming atmosphere reminiscent of classic titles like Donkey Kong Country. Players appreciate the combination of cute graphics and engaging music, which enhance the overall casual and enjoyable experience, especially in co-op mode.
“The graphics are absolutely beautiful, full of vibrant colors.”
“The game has lovely cute visuals and the overall music is nice.”
“Despite it bringing nothing extraordinary new or challenging to the table, it manages to combine a delightful setting and cute graphics with all the existing tropes of the genre in a very satisfying and casual friendly way - especially if you play in co-op.”
- story4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The story centers on Juju and his companion Peyo as they embark on a quest to rescue Juju's father, Jambee, from an evil bat, following a disturbing occult ritual. Players can experience the narrative through a single-player or local co-op mode, enhancing the adventure with cooperative gameplay.
“The story mode offers an engaging narrative experience, whether playing solo or in local co-op.”
“This game follows the story of Juju and Peyo, who witness Juju's father engaged in some kind of occult ritual.”
“Help Juju and his fellowship Peyo in their quest to save Juju's father Jambee and fight the evil bat.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game offers strong replayability through various additional modes, such as time-trial, allowing players to revisit each level. Additionally, the option to play alongside a friend enhances the experience, encouraging multiple playthroughs.
“Furthermore, there are several additional modes like time trial that you can replay for each level, adding a layer of replayability to the game.”
“Replayability is high; you could easily sit with a friend and have them play alongside you after you've finished it by yourself.”
“Replayability is lacking; once you finish the game, there's little incentive to go back.”
“The game feels linear, and after completing it, I found no reason to replay any of the levels.”
“While there are additional modes, they don't significantly enhance the overall replay value.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and unchallenging, particularly for those over the age of 10, making the pursuit of collecting all crystals feel more like a chore than an engaging challenge.
“If you dare, you can try to get all the crystals, but it can be really tedious.”
“Unfortunately, if you're older than 10, it's boring, unchallenging, and tedious.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users report that the game exhibits a high level of stability, with minimal glitches or bugs encountered during gameplay. Overall, players appreciate the smooth performance and reliability of the game.
Critic Reviews
Juju Review
Believe it or not, traditional platformers are kind of a rarity on the Xbox 360. Majority of what's available in the genre is either puzzle oriented or an artistic experience concerned with delivering some sort of evocative impact… but not Juju. While Juju blatantly borrows from the best in the biz, it's impressive how high the quality is in this indie adventure. By no means is it perfect or revolutionary, but what's here is highly enjoyable, easily recommendable, and darn good-looking. Because the entire game can be played in two-player co-op, and because there are difficulty options welcoming of all skill levels, Juju is a great purchase for kids and families that like to play together. It's one of the season's biggest downloadable surprises.
80%Juju Review
69%