![]() ![]() This bolsters the comparisons to Shadow of the Colossus, where the loneliness of what Thora has to do makes the sheer distance between each new obstacle feel like a greater journey. The game isn’t swarming with enemies, except for one particular stage that sends a veritable legion of dwarves your way. They’re also often rather desolate places, dark locales that no mortal has tread upon in ages. Grand, breathtaking vistas are the norm in Jotun, and they often serve as a wicked distraction from the dangers mere inches away. They are deceptively linear, laid out in such a way that gives the impression of vast, stunning tableaus in places dwarfed in size by your typical Diablo III dungeon. Jotun’s six stages, which can be tackled in any order, are impeccably designed. Primarily, timing, cunning, and luck will get Thora to Valhalla.įor most of the game, that cunning involves mastery of the environment. Thora can find massive shrines to the Gods in each stage, and by praying there, she earns new magical powers specific to each one-Thor allows her to use Mjolnir for a short time, Frigg allows her to heal at will, Loki creates a decoy that eventually explodes after a time-but all six of the powers have limited uses, and none are what you would call a guaranteed solution to any sticky situation. You have a light attack with Thora’s axe, a hard-hitting heavy attack with a major delay, and a dodge. Gameplay is 16-bit levels of simple, and yes, that is a compliment. Even if the gameplay wasn’t as good as it was, being able to help Thora achieve glory would be more than worth the effort. Each new piece of her story would be worth it on its own, revealing years of underestimation, neglect, and later, a sibling jealousy that turns tragic. We learn between stages where Thora’s determination comes from in a fantastic, steely narration performed in Icelandic. Otherwise, all she has is an iron axe and an iron will. Along the way, the gods assist her, granting her new power when she finds their shrines and pays her respects. Because passage to Valhalla is only granted to those who fall in battle, Thora is given the chance to earn her way into the golden halls by finding and killing the Jotun, the Titans of Norse mythology. Jotun tells the tale of Thora, a Viking shield maiden who falls from her boat during a voyage and drowns. It’s a wonderfully wild, vibrant bedtime story told with fire and verve, even when the game is at its most stark and lonely. ![]() In execution, Jotun is a perfect storybook, a game that seems ripped from the imagination of a Viking child being told tales of warriors of old facing down their gods. Now imagine all of that hand-drawn in a style somewhere between Dragon’s Lair and Princess Mononoke, and you’ve got Jotun.īoiling the game down to its disparate parts does the game a mild disservice, though. Sprinkle in a little bit of Dark Souls’ difficulty and a malevolent sense of challenge, and you’re closer to hitting the bullseye. Completing this puzzle of the falcon will reveal a path to a statue of Thor.Imagine the bleakness of the man versus giant creatures gameplay of Shadow of the Colossus as a definitively Nordic tale, and you have a general idea of what Jotun is. ![]() There is an optional constellation puzzle located after the third puzzle by Mimir's Well. The Northern Sky - Thor's Hammer (Upgrade) Vethrfolnir's Roost - Frigg's Healing (Upgrade)Īt the very top of the tree, after passing the eagle's nest, do not collect the rune on the left, and instead continue right to find a shrine to Frigg. Take the path right next to it and keep traveling north until you reach a path leading to the shrine to Freya. When traveling northeast along the islands, look for a third island to find a dragon statue just beyond. When you are on the large icy expanse of the lake, travel East from the main lake to find the shrine along the walls bordering the lake. Find an open entrance for a mine with no mine cart blocking the path, and take it to find the shrine to Loki. Once inside the mines of the forge, look for a region just after the first wave of dwarves. Make your way to the central root and take the elevator to find it on the right side. This shrine is found while sliding down the roots. The Roots of Yggdrasil - Heimdall's Shield You'll find this shrine near the top of the level, with either of the two branching paths leading up to the North. God Shrine Locations The Barrow Mound - Frigg's Healing ![]()
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