Don't Nod, famed developer of the Life is Strange series, is doing something different for its upcoming game. The team is more famous for its graphic adventure games such as the well-received Life is Strange, but also includes Tell Me Why, Twin Mirror, and The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit, to name a few. While the French studio has ventured into non-adventure titles Vampyr and Remember Me, its stellar work on multiple narrative-based video games has garnered them more praise than its other releases.
While the team also recently announced that Harmony: The Fall of Reverie is coming in 2023, that title sticks to Don't Nod's strength, which is a narrative type of adventure. The team looks to be creating new IPs and not just focusing on what works, as it explores its capabilities as a development studio. As Don't Nod gains traction for its exemplary work in the genre, it is somewhat a little surprising to hear that one of its subsequent releases will be from a totally unrelated style of play.
On Don't Nod's YouTube channel, a brand-new trailer for Jusant dropped and has been announced for Fall 2023 on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. The game is touted as an action-puzzle climbing game—a unique take on a rare genre. A demo is currently available on Steam, which should give gamers a small idea of how the title feels. Surprisingly, it was also revealed that it will be available on Xbox Game Pass at release.
Judging from the trailer, it is graphically reminiscent of the modern Legend of Zelda games, particularly Tears of the Kingdom and Breath of the Wild. In fact, one could assume that even Jusant' s climbing mechanic may have been inspired by Breath of the Wild. The short two-minute trailer shows the protagonist scaling a mountain and discovering some ruins and what look like houses while accompanied by a gelatinous creature known as The Ballast. There does not seem to be any implication that enemies will be present, so fans will have to wait for more in-depth information or more gameplay videos.
From Jusant's early look, there is also a slight feel similar to Shadow of the Colossus, albeit in a vertical aspect rather than the more horizontal spread of that game. The somewhat barren environments and some monotonic settings give Jusant a strong feeling of isolation as the player looks to conquer continuous heights and discover different biomes with their unique flora and fauna. Players will be able to traverse heights unlike any and focus on stamina balancing and proper tool usage to conquer the areas. Jusant is looking to be a strong contender for a unique experience focused on climbing with some action-puzzle elements.
Jusant will be available on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5 in Fall 2023.