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- [Ethan] Hi, it's Ethan Gach,
senior writer at kotaku.com,

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and I've never had as much
fun climbing in a video game

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as I've had with Jusant.

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Please, pardon my French.

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But it's an atmospheric puzzle
platformer from Don't Nod

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that has you step into the
shoes of an unnamed person

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as they scale a massive
tower out near the ocean.

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Aided by a magic water
pet that can awaken nature

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to reveal new paths across the rock face,

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Jusant is a beautiful meditative adventure

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that makes you feel the
thrill, terror, and frustration

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of climbing in simple but clever ways.

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Most games have you
climb by holding a button

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and nudging the thumbs stick

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in the direction you want to go.

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In Jusant, each arm is mapped

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to the respective right
and left trigger buttons.

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You climb by grabbing onto stuff
and holding on with one arm

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before moving on with the next.

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It adds just enough friction
to make you feel engaged

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without turning traversal
into a slog or puzzle.

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Jusant's climbing is about
bringing you into its world,

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so you can take its quiet
beauty and relaxing solitude

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in at your leisure.

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To move forward,

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you have to constantly alternate
finishing each movement

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before going in with the next,

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making sure you don't get
tangled up by rushing too fast

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or running out of stamina.

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You always have a rope harness keeping you

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from falling to your death,
so the challenge instead comes

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from being graceful and judicious,

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so that you can explore
and reach new heights

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without falling back
to where you came from.

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There are a handful of pitons
you can use between each climb

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to create your own checkpoints
where you can take a break

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and regain your stamina
before the next ascent,

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or add some slack to the
rope to swing back and forth

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across large gaps.

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Jusant's environments also keep
adding in small new wrinkles

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to keep climbing fresh.

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Plants you can activate
with your watery sidekick

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will grow vines that
carry you to new sections.

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Little hermit crab-like
creatures scurrying

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from one ledge to another
serve as moving grip points

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to help you get where you're going.

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But my favorite thing in Jusant
are the breath-holding leaps

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when you try to grab onto
something just out of reach.

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Your nameless wanderer

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can try to run up the side of the tower

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to get some extra verticality

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before making a last ditch desperate jump.

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The game is full of spots

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where it seems like you might be able

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to make the jump ahead of you,

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but the spot you're trying to get to

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is just a little out of reach.

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It adds just enough tension

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to make Jusant feel all the more rewarding

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once you finally reach its conclusion.

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But like everything else in the game,

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climbing is more about the
journey than the destination,

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and Jusant is one that
I won't soon forget.

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Make sure to check out
Don't Nods latest adventure

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if you haven't already.

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Or if you've already played Jusant,

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give us your take in the comments below.

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And be sure to check out kotaku.com

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for more gaming coverage.

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(upbeat music)