Joon Shining Review (Steam)

by Jim Smale · Published March 1, 2023 · Updated March 1, 2023

For our Joon Shining Review, join us as we attempt to master the elements. Explore mystical worlds. Harness ancient powers. Joon Shining is an enchanted golf-like platformer with a fantasy twist. Use magic to bend physics, influence environments, and make impossible shots, as you puzzle your way through a strange & mythic multiverse.

Joon Shining Review Pros:

Nice graphics.
6.99GB Download size.
Steam achievements.
Full controller support.
Two difficulties – Easy and serene and I need a challenge.
Two modes – normal and tourist. (tourist has no scoring)
In-game cutscenes with comic book-style speech mark popping up.
Puzzle golf gameplay.
You have powers that allow you to do things like stopping the ball in mid-air or adding more speed to the ball.
Each hole has a par stroke count.
End of hole breakdown showing how many hits and timely completion.
Shots are taken with the left stick and you can see the trajectory and aim the arrow.
No need to worry about power shots or timing your swings.
Rings will grant temporary magic spells or abilities but you can actually cancel them if needed.
Earn Gold, Silver, or Bronze on a hole.
You can use magic to manipulate and move objects within the course.
Fast loading times.
Handy course reset button.
The main character and general vibe feel like NiGHTS.
Almost calming soundtrack.
Satisfying thump when the ball goes in.
Over time they add in more complex courses with platforming, bubbles, fans shooting air, and more.
World course select screen.
Can replay each course and hole.
You have 3 hearts and lose one after you hit obstacles like thorn bushes.
Hidden Collectibles.

Joon Shining Review Cons:

The menus are navigated via the left stick acting as a cursor and it’s less than ideal.
The camera is fixed on an angle and you can slightly rotate it but it’s not great.
So hard to see the hole, especially on holes where the goal is so far away.
Needless scenery gets in the way of your playing.
You repeat so many holes as you need multiple runs just to find out what’s in front of you or what something does.
The only graphics setting is resolution.
Cannot rebind controls.
No online leaderboards.
Can never be sure what is and isn’t an obstacle.
You cannot change anything for the controller like an inverted axis.
Doesn’t have Colourblind support.
Hard to see the white guiding arrows and you cannot change the color.
Controls take some getting used to.
You don’t get any cups/medals for playing on easy or any other mode but default.

Joon Shining:

Official website.

Developer: Orchid of Redemption

Publisher: Lamplight Forest: About

Store Links –

Steam

8/10
Graphics - 8/10
7/10
Sound - 7/10
7/10
Accessibility - 7/10
8/10
Length - 8/10
7/10
Fun Factor - 7/10

7.4/10

Summary

Joon Shining is a hybrid of Golf and platforming with an emphasis on puzzle-solving. You have powers that allow you to speed up and slow down the ball regardless of whether its airborne or on the ground, you need to put the ball in the hole to win. Each world is a tournament with a set amount of holes. The game is fun to play once you get to grips with the controls and the constant need to replay levels as the game does a poor job of helping the player understand what does what and whether is that an obstacle. Joon Shining has the horrible trait of putting a lot of scenery clutter around and with that, your view is obscured and in fact, is more obscured when you try to use the not-helpful at-all camera control. I honestly found Joon Shining to be satisfying and infuriating in equal measure. The idea is solid, the execution just needs a few tweaks.