Pumpkin Jack 2020
Log Status
Completed
Playing
Backlog
Wishlist
Rating
Time Played
--
Days in Journal
1 day
Last played
October 4, 2023
Platforms Played
Well, if it isn't saucy Jack.
It's Spooky Month, the best month of the year which I can recommend you play this game because any other month would be why would you do that this is a Halloween game what are you doing? The one thing I can't recommend is getting it at its full price of $30 which is way too much for it. At $18 it'd be a great deal but the price isn't the game itself I'm going off topic here. I got it on the Humble Bundle so I made out okay.
As far as the visuals go, the game looks really good! The artstyle is perfect, and the cutscenes between levels and their illustrations, as well as the character illustrations really fit that cartoony Halloween vibe. The levels will also sometimes become disorienting by moving the camera around in certain situations which really works in the game's favor and adds feelings of tension when it's used. Visually, the game excells.
The music relies on the typical Thermin=Spooky thing and the soundtrack isn't knocking any socks off but has a few good ones like the final boss theme and first boss theme. The voice acting in the between level cutscenes is really good, and I wish Jack had one of two fully voiced lines rather than just the HUP HUH when he jumps. The story is straightforward which is fine when writing isn't the main attraction. Humor is mostly passable but when you have to resort to "it's a plot contrivance just do it" you kinda lose me.
The main attraction on display is the Gameplay, which is also where the game kinda falls apart. It's one of those action games where you don't gain anything from doing the action beyond sometimes an optional collectable, so if you can avoid it you're better off just doing that. The weapons you get at the end of each level do change up the combat, but once you find a certain weapon you're probably not gonna bother with the ones you get after it since that one can just be spammed. You'll know which one it is when you start using it.
The platforming end is just okay as well. You have a double jump but you can't do any cool tricks, not really worth talking about. You can't change direction after a jump outside of using your double jump so keep that in mind. What is worth talking about is the level gimmicks that bring some variety to the game, which each level has usually two that get used twice in it, which some work and some don't except they're fairly long each time, so if you didn't like pushing carts the first time oh boy I hope you're ready for it again! There are also sections where Jack removes his head for a puzzle, but I wish it had its own platforming levels because the head's movement speed plus its downwards momentum when attacking it in the air are far funner to move around as than normal Jack. Unfortunately it's just used for Memory or Simon Says or pick the right shape and is a low part of the game.
This game is serviceable exclusively as a small Halloween treat (if you can get it for cheap). Otherwise the game can be more of a trick than a treat. Happy 26 days till Halloween!
It's Spooky Month, the best month of the year which I can recommend you play this game because any other month would be why would you do that this is a Halloween game what are you doing? The one thing I can't recommend is getting it at its full price of $30 which is way too much for it. At $18 it'd be a great deal but the price isn't the game itself I'm going off topic here. I got it on the Humble Bundle so I made out okay.
As far as the visuals go, the game looks really good! The artstyle is perfect, and the cutscenes between levels and their illustrations, as well as the character illustrations really fit that cartoony Halloween vibe. The levels will also sometimes become disorienting by moving the camera around in certain situations which really works in the game's favor and adds feelings of tension when it's used. Visually, the game excells.
The music relies on the typical Thermin=Spooky thing and the soundtrack isn't knocking any socks off but has a few good ones like the final boss theme and first boss theme. The voice acting in the between level cutscenes is really good, and I wish Jack had one of two fully voiced lines rather than just the HUP HUH when he jumps. The story is straightforward which is fine when writing isn't the main attraction. Humor is mostly passable but when you have to resort to "it's a plot contrivance just do it" you kinda lose me.
The main attraction on display is the Gameplay, which is also where the game kinda falls apart. It's one of those action games where you don't gain anything from doing the action beyond sometimes an optional collectable, so if you can avoid it you're better off just doing that. The weapons you get at the end of each level do change up the combat, but once you find a certain weapon you're probably not gonna bother with the ones you get after it since that one can just be spammed. You'll know which one it is when you start using it.
The platforming end is just okay as well. You have a double jump but you can't do any cool tricks, not really worth talking about. You can't change direction after a jump outside of using your double jump so keep that in mind. What is worth talking about is the level gimmicks that bring some variety to the game, which each level has usually two that get used twice in it, which some work and some don't except they're fairly long each time, so if you didn't like pushing carts the first time oh boy I hope you're ready for it again! There are also sections where Jack removes his head for a puzzle, but I wish it had its own platforming levels because the head's movement speed plus its downwards momentum when attacking it in the air are far funner to move around as than normal Jack. Unfortunately it's just used for Memory or Simon Says or pick the right shape and is a low part of the game.
This game is serviceable exclusively as a small Halloween treat (if you can get it for cheap). Otherwise the game can be more of a trick than a treat. Happy 26 days till Halloween!