Jett: The Far Shore has been captivating players with its fantastical world, surreal narrative and frantic gameplay ever since its launch. However, for a lot of players the initial experience of playing Jett: The Far Shore can be a little daunting. From learning a new language to understanding the complex history of a long-lost world, this game can require a lot from a first-time player.
Fortunately, understanding certain things before going in can really assist newcomers to this experimental spacefaring adventure. There's a lot to learn including general gameplay knowledge to specific mechanics that need mastering. Before heading into the dark abyss that is space, knowing these tips and tricks will go a long way.
8 There's Not A Lot Of First-Person Gameplay
While Jett: The Far Shore's gameplay trailer shows off a lot of first-person gameplay, in the actual game it's relatively scarce. The few moments you do get to see the world from protagonist Mei's perspective, you'll find it is mostly restricted. When flying around Jett: The Far Shore's stunning world, you will have to option to land. However, unless you are told to during a main mission, you won't be able to leave their ship.
It's unfortunate, as looking out at stunning vistas from the top of a mountain, or any of the other hidden areas in the game for that matter, is breathtaking.
7 Expect A Lot Of Story
It goes without saying that Jett: The Far Shore is a narrative-heavy single-player adventure game. However, you should be prepared to experience a very heavy and deep narrative throughout your 12 or so hours in the game. The world you leave behind and the one you ultimately uncover are explored in great detail.
While for many players the prospect of a narrative-heavy space adventure game seems exciting, for others understanding the sheer amount of complex lore required to enjoy the overall narrative may be daunting. Jett: The Far Shore doesn't divulge any of this information with clarity either, so expect a lot of cryptic conversations.
6 The Whole Game Is Spoken In A Fictional Language
If Jett: The Far Shore's narrative wasn't confusing enough, it turns out that it is told entirely in a fictional language. It is certainly impressive that the developers came up with a 2000 word dictionary for their language and that the voice actors managed to emote in a language they'd never spoken before. However, it does complicate a few moments in the game.
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Certain set-pieces throughout Jett: The Far Shore require a lot of attention. Attempting to fend off incoming enemies all while completing an objective can be a difficult feat to pull off. What makes it harder is that the other characters are having a conversation all the way through. This means that unless you are capable of simultaneously pulling off impressive flight manoeuvres while reading reams of subtitles, you'll miss out on a lot of story.
5 Be Careful When Boosting
The ship you will spend most of your time in is called the Jett, and it is one of the best spaceships seen in a video game. For the most part, controlling it is a breeze and you will find yourself whizzing across apocalyptic landscapes at breakneck speeds. However, the Jett's booster which allows it to get across the map so quickly is fickle and can easily malfunction.
If you put too much pressure on the booster then you'll find yourself knocked out of the sky and forced to wait until it cools down before continuing on your journey. Making sure to ease up on the booster before it reaches the top is crucial to ensuring that flights aren't interrupted.
4 It Is Meant To Be Played In Portions
Jett: The Far Shore is a lengthy adventure and is therefore not expected to be played in one sitting. However, it is made abundantly clear that it is meant to be played in very specific portions. Before the start of each chapter, the game tells you approximately how long that chapter will be. It can range from 30 minutes to upwards of four hours, so it is up to you whether or not you're willing to sit down for that amount of time.
While there is an autosave feature, there isn't a manual save one. That means anyone who is willing to sit down for four hours needs to be committed. Fortunately, the PlayStation allows players to drop out of a game and keep it open while they do other things. However, should you wish to start up a different game, you'll either have to hope that the game auto-saved recently, or finish the remainder of the chapter.
3 Jett: The Far Shore Gets A Little Weird
Jett: The Far Shore is full of prophecies, techno-babble, mind-bending philosophical discussions and surreal visions. Its world is cold and full of ambiguity as too are its characters, and you may get lost amongst all these confusing elements. Every so often its protagonist, Mei, will experience surreal hallucinations that resemble a horror game more than a sci-fi adventure one.
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While these elements never detract from the game's narrative prowess, they may be disconcerting for certain players who may not be expecting them. It is absolutely something you should be aware of before jumping in.
2 Exploration Isn't Very Open
Jett: The Far Shore isn't a linear game and in fact, there are often times in which you will have the opportunity to venture out and explore. Unfortunately, all of these moments are within main missions because Jett: The Far Shore doesn't have breaks in its main story. If you want to head out and explore everything there is to see, you'll have to do it with NPCs telling you not to.
For the most part, Jett: The Far Shore wants players to progress through its story and not deviate from the chosen trajectory. While it is still perfectly viable to venture out, you shouldn't go into it expecting to be able to do so freely. Unfortunately, this isn't quite No Man's Sky with its limitless worlds and incredible sandbox gameplay.
1 Get Ready To Take A Lot Of Screenshots
For those who love filling their screenshot folders with stunning vistas of alien worlds, Jett: The Far Shore has you covered. No matter where you go there is bound to be something that needs to be screenshotted. Whether it's the monolithic Tor towering in the distance or the impressive Kolos that appear during scripted moments, Jett: The Far Shore has an incredible world that's begging to be a desktop background.
Fortunately, Jett: The Far Shore gives players enough time to soak in their environment and enjoy the beauty on display. Taking a second to snap a quick screenshot is relatively easy, even during the more bombastic set-pieces. Just be sure to have your finger on the button.