Jettomero: Hero of the Universe

Jettomero looks and sounds great, and entertains for a few hours, but it's a little too shallow for us to wholeheartedly recommend. Stomping around as a big, clumsy robot is fun, however, and we enjoy the game's relaxed atmosphere. The lack of content, some control issues, and performance problems hold back Jettomero from meeting its potential, and the result is an experience that's quite throwaway, despite its charms.

I’m stompin’ around, move out of my way

This means an additional two hours of rocketing between worlds, stomping about, and quicktime eventing through giant monsters. If avoiding damage to civilians had some material impact, or if Jettomero was ever in peril, or if the story had any fun bits, or if the boss fights took the form of anything other than QTEs then Jettomero might be worth a look. At best, it's a neat physics toy, watching our giant protector get knocked about by gravity and his tiny wards, but as a game it's lacking in substance to go with all this style.

If you're looking for a different type of indie game on PlayStation 4, then Jettomero certainly fits that. It's short and to the point, a game that you can easily complete in one afternoon as you take on the journey that Jettomero has to go through to find its purpose in this universe.

Even though the premise and gameplay of Jettomero: Hero of the Universe are relatively simple, it makes for a fun adventure that feels different from the current batch of indie releases. It's a game that can be played in short bursts since exploring each planet takes around 5 minutes or so, and each solar system has between 3 to 5 planets. I recommend this release if you want to play a game that feels different while being short and to the point.

Jettomero: Hero of the Universe is a unique videogame experience and one that you will likely either love or hate. It is not a title that will challenge you with compelling play, but it will provide you with the chance to play. It's attempts to be a ‘zen experience' are only half-successful, thanks to some frustrating controls, yet there is an arresting charm to the game that cannot be denied. If you're looking for a videogame to experience alongside your meditative or mindfulness training, then Jettomero is eminently suitable.

Jettomero: Hero of the Universe­ offsets despair with panicky optimism and traps the ensuing fallout inside of a dizzy planet-obliterating robot. It's an alien venue for exploring the range and control of depression, but also one that expresses comfort and warmth along its journey. Resolution, through either perception or reality, casts Jettomero as a sympathetic hero negotiating inescapable desolation.

Jettomero with it's unique graphics, simple yet climatic music and fun but repetitive gameplay deserves a few nods. Its style resembles storyboarding and story is an sarcastic take on 'finding yourself' which makes no sense whatsoever.

Jettomero: Hero of the Universe arrests with its vision of the beauty of stars and planets, as well as the sheer heart of the blank-faced machine you share your journey with.

Charming until the end, Jettomero is a gorgeous, if short, experience. It may be entirely too easy to blow through in an afternoon, but that afternoon will be filled with soothing music and a lovely sense of style.