REVIEW: Pumpkin Jack

Developers create new IPs that are inspired by classic games I love. It all felt instantly familiar from the moment I took control of our gourd-headed antihero in Pumpkin Jack. It was like trying a new version of your favorite comfort food. Everything you loved about the original recipe was preserved, but with a different flavor combination. Pumpkin Jack is everything I loved about the PS2-era 3D platformers I poured hours into as a child, there's just a lot less of it.

The most fascinating thing about Pumpkin Jack was the way I felt an immediate connection to it. Even though I had never moved in the game's world, just by looking at the setting and initial view, it felt as if I knew the game. According to Nicolas Meyssonnier, the developer, I did. He said that Jak and Daxter were his biggest influences and MediEvil was his second. Although I didn't play MediEvil when I was a child, I have played all of the Jak and Daxter games I could find, from the mainline PS2 releases to Daxter’s solo adventure on the PSP. It was obvious to me that Pumpkin Jack's bones were made with games like Jak, Daxter and others who loved 3D platformers.

This is where Pumpkin Jack really shines. The world feels alive and full of atmosphere. The feeling isn't derived from any one aspect of the environment but how they work together as you go on your darkest quest. Pumpkin Jackhits the aesthetic and atmospheric sweet spot with a heavy dose of nostalgia. You can almost forgive that there isn't more to it.

Pumpkin Jack has the nostalgia feeling because of the solid platforming. I loved Jack's floaty sense in the air, which allowed for more precise jumps and tighter turns. Although there were many invisible walls, I felt like I could explore all levels. It is the problem with this layout, however. You quickly learn that there is a way to get through each level. An opening area is created with platforming and puzzles. Next, you will find an on-rails section with platforming or puzzles. Finally, there will be a boss. You will find the basic roadmap with six different spooky paints on it six times.

Although the repetition can be frustrating, it is a good thing. The game doesn't offer much challenge, so the challenge of repeating the same challenge makes it seem a little trivial. You will only find two types of collectables per level. If you take the time to explore each level carefully, you won't miss any. The gramophone collection deserves a mention. It played a brief cutscene of Jack dancing each time it was found. It's a fun little quirk that adds to Pumpkin Jack's charm. It's also worth noting that there were a few glitches in the graphics, such as one that caused all lights to have a green circle around them. However, it wasn't something that could be fixed by closing the game and reopening it again.

Despite its flaws, it can be forgiven for some of the things that aren't so great. It plays like a bowl ice cream. It's videogame comfort food that is quick and easy to make, and it can also be a great afternoon of platforming. It is possible that Pumpkin Jack is self-aware at this length. There are many meta-jokes and self-awareness throughout Pumpkin Jack's story about the game's structures and the arbitrary video games tropes that make their way into every game, especially 3D platformers. It's usually something like, "You have to do three favors for NPCs to open the next area." My favorite NPC merchant who sells real human skins to make Jack different costumes. Although it's funny to joke about padding the runtime, it doesn't win me a lot of comedy points. It is also interesting to note that Pumpkin Jackknows that it cannot sustain anything more than a few hours. It would make a great Halloween game, and not only because it is on-theme, but also because you can play the entire thing in one evening.

Pumpkin Jack's story is another area where you can feel the shallowness. Although it is entertaining, there isn't much to it. The Devil finds it boring to live in a loving and peaceful world and decides to unleash a curse of everlasting darkness on the entire world. The humans aren't too happy about this and accuse a wizard of undoing the evil. Jack is the ultimate trickster who not only fooled the Devil once but was then selected to stop the wizard from dooming humanity. The story explains why you suddenly moved from an abandoned farm in the fields into an abandoned mine. Although I enjoy the narration between levels, it is not enough to make Jack and his quest more relatable.

Pumpkinjack combat doesn't fall far below the shallow tree. It never goes beyond a dodge and attack battle system. Jack's enemy design and weapon design is great fun. However, later weapons don’t feel as powerful as the shovel Jack used to smash skeletons in their heads with. The boss fights are simple enough to just pound them three times. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. The combat is still enjoyable and the bosses are entertaining to fight. It's just one more aspect of Pumpkin Jack that feels deeper than it actually is.

It's obvious that I have been complaining about how shallow this all is. But it's an issue I feel strongly about because I want to play more 3D platformers. It would be great to see a revival of this genre, similar to the rise in indie 2D platformers in recent years, with titles like Cyber Shadow, Celeste and Hollow Knight. I see the potential for Pumpkin Jack to be so much more than what it is. Mario is great, but I don't want to always get my 3D platforming fix through Mario. Pumpkin Jack to me is what my favorite PS2 games could look like, and it's still fun, but it feels more like you are dipping your toes in the water than diving into it.

Pumpkin Jack is sure to bring a smile on your face if you loved Daxter and Jak on your PS2 back then. This game is aimed specifically at this type of player. It's also accessible to new players, and charmed enough to keep you interested in each level. Although it doesn't make any new ground in the genre, it is an excellent entry to the genre. Although it might not be all that I desire, I still hope for a Pumpkin Jack2 that answers all of my prayers.