Geek Review – Jett: The Far Shore

If you have heard of Superbrothers, then chances are, you would have known of Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP, the big iPad game that surprised many with its melding of art, genres, and technology. Trying to capture that lightning in a bottle once more, Superbrothers have teamed up with Pint Scented Software for Jett: The Far Shore, an action-adventure space odyssey that is impressive on paper, but is also a title that is plagued by gameplay that does not quite match up.

In a world where religion and science both hold significant importance, players are invited into the role of Mei, an anchorite of religion that is pursuing a prophecy of a new life awaiting on a new planet. Throwing off the shackles of present life, Mei takes off on a journey that waves goodbye to a past that has seen its fair share of challenges, and welcomes a future that could signal a new beginning at the source of the mysterious Hymnwave.

However, this new beginning starts showing cracks at the seams the moment you touch down on the foreign planet. 

Jett: The Far Shore is essentially separated into two parts, the first where players explore the world in the eponymous Jett, a hovercraft that helps you cover distances, aid in chronicling the life found on the planet, and building a foundation for future life. Then you have the first-person sections of exploration on foot, progressing the story with dialogue and choices here and there, and dumping more exposition about the travails of faith and science.

The former certainly stands out for the sheer rhythm and peacefulness of it all, allowing for smooth navigation over flat plains and more mountainous terrain. As one would expect, there are bound to be threats, but the game holds firm to its non-combat values, choosing to deal with angry wildlife through more humane methods.

This choice may seem in line with the overall messaging of Jett: The Far Shore, but its execution is more in line with a missing piece of the gameplay puzzle. 

While one may not hurt the animals with sedative gas, it is perhaps more jarring that these creatives, which are highly sensitive to sound, is subjected to the constant noise and vibrations of a space-age craft. It is quite interesting to see how the animals, as well as the larger ecosystem as a whole, respond to these auditory reverberations, that is, when you are not being bombarded by incessant commentary. 

It does not matter whether you are arriving at a new vista for the first time or hanging out with the other pilots, Jett: The Far Shore takes every opportunity to go on long and winding monologues about mechanics, the world, or directions. Enduring these while going about your business is bad enough, but there are also instances where the game demands your attention outright, which can be frustrating.

This struggle is also apparent in how Jett: The Far Shore presents itself visually. On one hand, it can be described as minimalist and striking, on the other, it is simply too dull and unremarkable. 

The game takes a drawn back perspective that helps to show off the scale of what awaits, but inserts the player and the Jett as a minuscule object that can lead to problems with elevation or even figuring out where you are going at any moment. The UI also does little in helping you keep track of other ships or important details out in the world. 

As more time is spent in this foreign world, the unfortunate conclusion is that this is a planet that is put together with familiar parts with small creative tweaks here and there, and filled with objectives that are less than exciting. It is as though the developers focused too much on worldbuilding and ideas, rather than the actual execution of complementary gameplay.

At the end of it all, Jett: The Far Shore is an experiment that is both profound and overly simplistic at times, a mashing together of narrative and gameplay that seem at odds with each other. While hauntingly beautiful at times, this is not exactly the promised land promised to Mei. 

Jett: The Far Shore is available on the PSN Store for $41.90.