Jett: The Far Shore review: a grand journey to an alien planet

I don’t perform well under pressure. So when my parents and teachers told me that I was my people’s last hope, I was ready to be quite stressed about the next steps. Then, a few hours later, I’m chasing a pink light known as the Brine Wisp over beautiful crystal-clear waters, making donuts over the ocean while playing with this new life form.

Jett: the distant coast rejoices in these contrasts.

We’ve all been to space – I personally love splashing around (and, at times, dying horribly) in games like No Man’s Sky and Hard-space wrecker. But while other games focus on the danger or adventure of interstellar travel, Jett puts all its emphasis on the disturbing, awe-inspiring and utterly alien beauty of it all. Jett: the distant coast is not comforting; sometimes it’s sad and even gloomy. But it is a magnificent trip that is worth the time despite everything, despite a few hiccups.

In Jett, I play the role of Mei, a scout and mystic, and one of the last hopes for the inhabitants of my Soviet-inspired home planet, which is threatened by unknown and impending oblivion. Me and a small group of fellow researchers must follow a “hymn wave” to a new planet and a new future outside of this cursed world. So no pressure.

Image: Superbrothers / Scented pine

Mei pilots a Jett, which is a nimble little craft with a few tools to tip over. I can pull things aboard my ship, turn on the headlights, roll onto my side, or push myself in a vertical arc. This is where the game really sings; as Mei I walk slowly. As a Jett pilot, I spin and rush over the waves with ease. I also have a co-pilot named Isao.

My ship is tough enough to withstand rising tides and the occasional tough flight, yet delicate enough that I have to dodge all incoming blows and watch the strain I put on the engines. I am a scout, not a fighter plane, but I feel like a trained pilot mastering my ship. On the PlayStation 5, I slowly ramp up my ship’s speed and make tight turns using the trigger buttons, and the Jett controls like a dream – a light touch always does the trick.

If I blow my engines right above a specific plant, it could explode and deter hostile beasts chasing me. Some waves of steam cool my engines, which gives me more time to do a few sick laps. The new world is full of useful plants and flora, as well as spooky fauna, and I’m learning everything and using it to my advantage.

Jett is gorgeous, and there are times when I log out and smell the roses of space. Then there are times when the game wants me to slow down and go over things, and these mandatory breaks are a little too structured. Isao also spends much of the start of the game holding my hand at tasks that I could easily handle on my own.

At one point, a storm front coming on the horizon forces me to slow down and explore a small island, and that’s an organic premise for a break from the action. But the fact that there’s literally a timer displayed on the UI makes the effort a little less magical.

The best times are when I got something As the above, but without my co-pilot talking to me or the user interface prompting me to do everything. I like to find the sandbanks and walk along them, or look in the ocean to recover. There is a great tranquility in just watching the Jett advance through the waves, leaping towards an objective. When I move and enjoy the ride, I have a good time.

Image: Superbrothers / Scented pine

But the Jett’s joy is also contrasted with dark images that brought out the moments of light all the more clearly. At one point, Mei and Isao put the Jett to the test, jumping over cargo ships on their home planet. Isao notes that the freighters finished their job building the Jetts, and they are going to be demolished for recovery now. I say goodbye to my family and make my way to the launch pad, and turn around to see a crowd of thousands watching me. I can’t see anyone, but I can hear their voices interweaving in grief and hope.

In addition, it takes a thousand years to reach the other shore, and Mei embarks with Isao knowing that they will never see their family and home again. It’s a powerful narrative that makes the light moments of chasing a brine wisp or discovering a new expanse of land so much sweeter.

Jett: the distant coast is a simple, yet beautiful game, and well worth your time. It can make the space a little scary, without overdoing it, and it strikes a good balance between saccharin and grimdark. The distant coast is a trip I was happy to take, even when the company got a little too talkative.

Jett: the distant coast is due out on October 5 on the Playstation 4, PlayStation 5 and Epic Games Store. The game has been tested on PlayStation 5 via code from Superbrothers and Pine Scented. You can find more information on Polygon’s ethics policy here. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, although Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased through affiliate links.