A Juggler's Tale Reviews
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 very short, but worth playing once. It has decent visuals, clever puzzles, and the story is original. There are even a few moments where the game reaches greatness, and almost goes beyond expectations; before it swiftly lands back on its feet. The game just does not go far enough with its concept, and will leave gamers feeling hungry.
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 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.
If it all proves too much, at least many of the vistas and scenes will soothe your mood with lovely visuals — especially as the sun sets. They don't quite look photo-realistic; there's a dash of flair and care that makes for a very pretty little title. It won't set the world on fire, but A Juggler's Tale has a pleasing aura that may resonate with folk who know what they're getting themselves in for.
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
A Juggler’s Tale is a beautiful narrative-driven puzzle platformer that doesn’t overstay its welcome. While its gameplay can be a bit unpolished at times, the environments, storytelling, and visuals carry it through and deliver a memorable tale.
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.
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 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 charming puzzle platformer which makes great use of its puppet show concept but falls short in longevity.
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
A Juggler's Tale drops the ball some with its design, but puts on a worthwhile show due to its presentation and story.
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
A small production, visually intriguing and with some interesting gameplay ideas. Maybe a little too short, leave with an appetite in your mouth in the hope of having more gameplay. However, it remains an experience to try.
Review in Italian | 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.
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 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
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 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