Today, we are going to take a look at the game Jotun: Valhalla Edition. This is a game that I have thought for quite some time looked interesting but somehow I never hit the purchase button, but I am glad that I finally did, and I will tell you why.
The game takes place within Norse mythology. You play as the Viking warrior Thora who died an inglorious death, and must, therefore, prove herself to the Gods, so she can enter Valhalla.
You travel around the different realms in order to solve puzzles, collect apples, and visit the shrines so you can be blessed by the gods. This makes you stronger and it will help you beat the next big challenge that the game throws at you.
The encounters are cartoonish without them being too ridiculous, and they actually reminded me of some of the old-school games from the 90s. The bosses can take a bit of practice to defeat, but once you have learned their moves then it is pretty easy.
My biggest issue with Jotun: Valhalla Edition is that it is too short, and an average gamer can beat it within 4-5 hours, but I still think it is worth buying when it’s on sale. Of course, I could choose to play it again in Valhalla mode, which becomes unlocked once you defeat the last boss, but I choose not to because what I enjoyed was the journey, and that would not be enriched by simply turning up the difficulty.
I wish there were more to explore in the game, and I would like to see a sequel or another game like this where they dig deeper into the lore and create another unique adventure for people who love gaming and Nordic culture.
I also thought that it was great that the game was in Icelandic, with English subtitles, it added an authentic feel to the experience. Although we have to keep in mind that the Vikings did not speak Icelandic, but Old Norse. However, it is Icelandic that is the closest modern language we have today.
There are a few things that did annoy me, for instance, I would have liked to see Thora use historically correct Viking clothing, and come on, what’s up with that double ax, just give her a Dane ax or a spear, it would still have looked cool. There is really no need to exaggerate by having her dragging a giant double ax behind her.
I would recommend this game to anyone who loves Nordic culture, puzzles, storytelling, and challenging bosses. The beautiful artwork and the nice and relaxing music were also a big plus for me.