Tapping the Y button will quickly swing your axe for some light damage, and holding down the X button will allow you to charge a more powerful heavy attack that not only deals damage but can also move or destroy certain objects. While the game does provide you a map both in-game and on the Wii U game pad, you have to mentally keep track of where you’re going because the map lacks a real-time marker for Thora, and sometimes it can be frustrating to find your way when you are lost because of this.Ĭombat consists of swinging your mighty axe at your foes in true Viking fashion. Overall the stages do a nice job of guiding you to your goal, while also encouraging exploration.
In addition to collectibles, there are areas for you to find where the camera will pull back to show you more of the surrounding area (and some nice artwork to boot), and Thora will sometimes treat you to some of the Nordic Mythos as you play through the stages. Exploring each stage thoroughly is in your best interest as well, as Thora can find statues of Norse gods that will grant her magic, and apples from the mythical tree, Ithun, which will extend her life energy. The levels themselves are interesting, with lush forests, Dwarven ruins, and a constellation filled sky among some of the places you’ll visit. Gameplay has you guiding Thora through nine stages as you attempt to collect a rune within each stage that will earn you the right to challenge a Jotun. Pair the hand drawn graphics with some atmospheric tunes and nice voice acting, and Jotun does a great job of putting you in the mood to slay some titanic beasts. Oftentimes, I had to fight the urge to stop playing so I could watch the tiny details in each Jotun’s animation. While it may be hard to tell with some of the smaller enemies, the downright massive Jotun really show off the fluid animation, and this makes the bosses and enemies feel more organic with their movements. It’s a simple story, but one that is done well as you continue to learn more about the events leading up to Thora’s demise as you progress through the game.Įasily the most impressive part of Jotun is the hand drawn animations for Thora and all the enemies she encounters on her quest. Tasked with defeating four Norse elementals known as Jotun, fighting her way through all her foes is the only way Thora can make it into Valhalla, the Norse equivalent of paradise. The story of Jotun focuses on the Viking Thora, as she awakens in the afterlife and discovers she has been given a second chance to win the favor of the gods after her inglorious death at sea had displeased them. With gorgeous visuals and challenging gameplay, Jotun delighted my senses as I fought to impress the gods and earn my way into Valhalla. So when getting ready to play Jotun, a game that draws from Norse mythology created by Indie Studio, Thunder Lotus, my expectations were high. When it comes to storytelling in video games, inspiration from real world mythology is a soft spot of mine.
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