#Jotun valhalla edition switch review full

They don’t look particularly special when used but help stop fights becoming monotonous axe swings. Abilities are what you would expect: a healing spell, speed boost, stronger attacks etc. A standout section for me was one of the levels in the Hagalaz storm section where you have to hit gems that bridge lightning in an attempt to copy constellations.Īs well as finding the runes there are also abilities and health upgrades to find throughout the game, none of which are compulsory but will really help you on your quest for honour.

I never found these sections particularly difficult, there is a rudimentary map that can help you find what you need and I never died to anything other than a boss.

#Jotun valhalla edition switch review full

Within these levels you’re either making your way through hazardous areas full of poison or fighting off dwarves. There’s no jump button so the exploring sections are more about making your way through maze like areas, usually hunting for switching or choosing the correct path. To reach a boss you must first find the two ruins in their sub-levels. Each of the five areas are split into two levels that help break up the boss fights. There are five Jotun’s in the game (plus a special boss at the end), each of which are elemental giants which is reflected in the land they inhabit and their abilities: Jera for nature, Fe for cave, Isa for winter, Hagalaz for storm and Kaunan for fire. The rest of the story, primarily Thora’s past, is revealed through dialogue as you collect runes and travel through Niflheim. You awaken in Niflheim, the Norse version of purgatory, and must defeat Jotun’s, giant Norse elementals, to prove yourself to the God’s and enter Valhalla. In Jotun you play as Thora, a Viking warrior who dies an inglorious death at the beginning of the game by falling into the sea. This Switch release is a port of the Valhalla Edition which came out a year after the original, other than that the only differences for this version are ‘remastered’ graphics and optimisation for handheld mode. When Jotun by Thunder Lotus Games originally came out in 2015, after a successful kickstarter campaign, this genre was just starting to see a revival with the likes of Titan Souls and Cuphead. One of the most popular and genre defining examples is Shadow of the Colossus, which is a mix of exploration, puzzles and boss battling. There is a growing sub-category of games where you nearly all of the game is made up of only fighting bosses.