We’re still a little in awe of JETT: The Far Shore

The hope and pain of space exploration

JETT is the second game from developer Superbrothers, and the first since 2011’s Sword & Sworcery EP. In the nearly decade long time since the first game was released, it’s clear that the team has been working to break into new vantage points and storytelling methods — and vastly changing their aesthetic style.

Where S&S was a 2D pixel-based individual exploration game, JETT focuses on 3D first person line of sight, with the vastness of space providing peril and the hopes and dreams of a people proving to be the guidance. And, the use of 3D spacial audio to push that experience even more should be atmospheric.

Here’s the description straight from the dev team:

• EMBARK on an exploratory single player adventure presented in five captivating acts encompassing monumental moments, laid-back exploration, occasional white-knuckle action, moments of heartfelt companionship, and a helping of existential dread.
• SOAK in an sea of music and 3D sound, with a breathtaking score by Scntfc.
• DEPLOY to the surface of a mythic ocean planet: skimup undiscovered coastlines, inspect indigenous flora and fauna, adapt to new perils, and problem-solve tough obstacles using your jett’s array of scientific tools.
• INVESTIGATE the source of ‘the hymnwave’, an interstellar invitation that propelled a people to look beyond their troubled skies and across the sea of stars, for salvation.
• RENDEZVOUS at ‘Ground Control’ and get to know fellow scouts in relaxed first-person sequences, as the scouts struggle together to “satisfy ‘Jao’s directives’” and acquit themselves with honor.
• ENDURE hardships, evade pursuers and grapple with massive ‘kolos’ creatures by navigating hazards and out-pacing or out-smarting adversaries.
• DELVE DEEPER after the campaign’s culmination to explore a robust mysterious endgame where the open-world immersive sim elements flourish.

There’s a certain nostalgic Eastern space feel to the game’s aesthetic and thematic influence, one that makes for an intriguing backdrop. JETT: The Far Shore takes space in a different direction when it arrives on PS4, PS5 and Epic Games Store at the end of 2020. Woohoo!

[Update: Article was updated to reflect the correct release date of Holiday 2020]