A Juggler's Tale Reviews
Other than length I have very few real criticisms of A Jugglers Tale; Kaleidoscube have knocked it out of the park. What they’ve made is a very tight experience which is both harsh and beautiful, I just wish there was more of it.
Not free of flaws, A Juggler's Tale manages, over time, to reach the sensitivity of the most hardened among us. The themes addressed are common to all children who have become adults today and are an irremediably reminder of how fragile the human condition is.
Review in French | Read full review
It is amazing how the gaming industry has taken the simple concept of going from left to right on a screen and created so many wonderful games from it. A Juggler’s Tale is yet one more, combining some tried-and-tested ideas with some new ones thrown in. The resulting experience is an interesting and intriguing game of puppetry and adventure, starring a puppet called Abby.
A Juggler's Tale is an uneven medley of indie platforming tropes and philosophical chin-scratching but a beautiful art direction make it almost worth it.
A Juggler's Tale is short but beautiful, and despite some minor shortcomings can still entertain, even if it's only for a brief period of time.
Review in Persian | Read full review
A Juggler’s Tale is a joy to play from start to finish. Gorgeous visuals, fun gameplay with puzzles that don’t frustrate and a narrative that plays out uniquely through the lens of the storyteller. If you enjoyed games like Limbo, Little Nightmares and others of a similar ilk, this is definitely one to add to your collection.
A Juggler’s Tale isn’t a long game, it will only take you a few hours to complete. However, its length is refreshing in a time where we are surrounded by massive open-world games that can leave us exhausted just by looking at their playtime... this puppet’s tale will make you realise that strength comes in all sizes, even in the shape of a little marionette whose only real talent is juggling.
A Juggler's Tale tries to find its space in the wide spectrum of similar games by impressing the audience with a truly suggestive and inspired aesthetic, a gorgeous front cover for a solid game. In just a couple of hours, it tries to establish a dialogue with the player, pushing it to reflect on serious themes such as freedom and free will, at the same time being aware of the paradoxes embodied by its mechanics. A good debut for kaleidoscube.
Review in Italian | Read full review
At just two - three hours in length, A Juggler’s Tale is a lean experience with little fat on the bones (though may still be a tad on the short side for some). Nevertheless, it’s a shame that the developer leant on the same type of puzzle for much of the game, as it makes certain areas feel repetitive as a result. If you’re a fan of games like Limbo and Inside, this is a nice alternative; just don’t go expecting a game of the same calibre or quality.
A Juggler's Tale is a good, if short, puzzle platformer with an enjoyable narrated story. Bugs do need ironing out even as rare as they are, but if you're a looking for something to occupy you for a couple of hours, A Juggler's Tale is worth giving a go for fans of the genre.
A Juggler's Tale is a polished title, delivering a smooth gameplay flow that's over too quickly for its launch price. Anyone can appreciate the visual presentation and voiced story. Meanwhile, enthusiasts will enjoy the blend of puzzles (albeit easy ones) and action. It's a unique game in many ways and one that leaves an impression. But, it also leaves you wanting more. I hope to cheer on Abby in a sequel, one whose price better matches its length.
A unique game that mixes an original mechanic based on puppet strings with an emotional and very interesting lyrical narrative.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
This is one of those adventures that you can easily complete in a single afternoon, but that will not leave you indifferent. Kaleidoscube has endowed its platforms with personality, this being a similar approach in playability to many other video games. Its main arguments are based on a sufficiently attractive plot and simple gameplay with ingenious puzzles.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
There’s no doubt that A Juggler’s Tale is going to leave you wanting more. Whether you feel that is down to the game being too short, or just that you would love to spend more time in the world will be personal to you. I fall into the latter category. I’m happy that the game is well structured and very well executed. It’s important for an initial impression of a game and a developer to be strong and A Juggler’s Tale is a fantastic first foray into the world of game development. To avoid spoilers I’ve been unable to delve too deep into certain part’s of the game, but just know that there’s more to the story than you may think. You’ll have to go and check it out! With all that being said, A Juggler’s Tale gets the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
A Juggler's Tale takes inspiration from classics like Limbo and INSIDE while adding the concept of puppet strings, resulting not only in never-before-seen gameplay situations but also a memorable, deep and emotional storyline.
Review in Italian | Read full review
A Juggler’s Tale is a short, classic storybook side-scroller that asks players if they’d prefer to let fate choose for them or to choose their own destiny. Featuring delightful mechanics set against a dark fantasy world, A Juggler’s Tale will instantly remind fans of the seventh gen era of classics like LittleBigPlanet or Puppeteer in the best possible way. If a twisted fairytale with unique mechanics, captivating aesthetics, and a fantastic story sounds thrilling, don’t sleep on A Juggler’s Tale.
A Juggler's Tale is enjoyable for what it is, but it doesn't quite reach the particularly memorable nature of similar indie games it so obviously takes inspiration from. There's a great introspective narrative with some brilliant themes regarding personal freedoms and cutting the strings of toxic relationships throughout, but a short runtime and occasionally obtuse puzzles and mechanics leave it feeling a bit more tangled up than it should by the end.
Join string puppet Abby on an adventure, where you'll help her escape to freedom, but it doesn't come that easily. Solve puzzles, overcome enemies, and help Abby to not let her strings - and whatever else the world throws at her - hold her back.
A charming puzzle platformer which makes great use of its puppet show concept but falls short in longevity.
The only real issue I experienced were some readability problems when it came to figuring out what certain puzzles expected of me, but I was always able to figure it out on my own in the end. A playthrough goes quickly, only lasting around two to three hours, so it doesn't overstay its welcome nor does it feel too brief. If you enjoy a good puzzle platformer, A Juggler's Tale is a worthy addition to your collection, no strings required.