Pumpkin Jack
Release Date: October 23, 2020
Action, TPP, 3D platformers, humorous, indie games, action adventure, singleplayer
OpenCritic
Three-dimensional action platformer, inspired by MediEvil and Jak & Daxter series. In Pumpkin Jack we play the title character, whose task is to stop the sorcerer defending the Boredom Kingdom.
Pumpkin Jack is a three-dimensional action platformer inspired by the classics from the genre, especially Jak & Daxter and MediEvil series. The game is the result of a collaboration between Headup Games and an independent developer, Nicolas Meyssonnier.
Plot
Pumpkin Jack takes us on a journey to the Boredom Kingdom, a fantastic land whose inhabitants have so far lived together in harmony... and boredom. The Devil, who had enough of eternal peace, decided to put an end to it once and for all and cast a curse on these lands, bringing to them all sorts of monsters. People did not look idle and called for the help of a powerful sorcerer. However, the devil had another ace up his sleeve - the spirit of Jack, or Pumpkin Lord, he called him, hit the very centre of the war between the forces of good and evil. His task is to destroy the sorcerer before he can restore the old order and boredom to the kingdom.
Mechanics
In Pumpkin Jack, the action is shown from a third person perspective (TPP). The game was divided into seven stages, designed in the style of Halloween; the list includes a gloomy cemetery and a dark forest. By walking through them, we avoid numerous traps, jump on platforms and look for secrets, and face hordes of enemies, led by powerful bosses. The gameplay is varied by environmental puzzles, the solving of which often requires taking control over Jack's head detached from the rest of his body. It is worth adding that the hero does not travel alone - he is accompanied by, among others, an owl acting as a guide, as well as a crow, which helps him in the fight.
In dynamic battles, Jack has to make quick dodges and launch rapid counter-attacks. The hero can fight both in close combat, attacking enemies with white weapons (and to make impressive combos), and at a distance, using a shotgun. As he progresses, the protagonist unlocks new weapons and special abilities that give him an advantage over the defenders of boredom.
Technical aspects
Pumpkin Jack is powered by Unreal Engine technology. The game has pleasant to the eye graphics maintained in a dark but colourful style. The atmosphere inspired by Halloween is also created by adequate music.
Videos and Screens
[1:43] Pumpkin Jack launch trailer
[1:19] Pumpkin Jack trailer #1
Push Square: 7 / 10 by Robert Ramsey
Pumpkin Jack isn't going to blow your mind here in 2021, but if you're on the market for a few hours of Halloween fun, you can't really go wrong. A game that knows exactly what it wants to be, and delivers with confidence.
Daily Mirror: 3 / 5 by Eugene Sowah
Pumpkin Jack is a pleasant surprise just in time for Halloween, the overall design is amazing considering it comes from a single developer. The six levels offer enough variety and challenge as to not get repetitive and as this will take about 5-6 hours to complete on the first run players will come back to get all the hidden items for extra skins. However, the gameplay feels slightly dated, visually the quality really drops in handheld mode if playing on the Switch and the camera needs to be a bit more reactive especially as the platforming requires precision at a fast pace.
ZTGD: 9.5 / 10 by Anthony Mann
Pumpkin Jack is a great looking game, a great playing game, and a well written game. It should not be skipped in the slightest. The Halloween aesthetic may seem out of season now, but don’t let it fool you, this game is enjoyable at any time; the minions of hell rising up to destroy humanity truly is a timeless tale. The end credits show the development and love Nicolas poured into this game, and all of that can be found in the final product. I really hope this isn’t the last we see of Jack.
Pumpkin Jack Summary
Platforms:
PC / Windows October 23, 2020
PlayStation 5 October 27, 2021
Xbox Series X/S October 27, 2021
Switch October 23, 2020
PlayStation 4 February 24, 2021
Xbox One October 23, 2020
Developer: Evil Raptor / Nicolas Meyssonnier
Publisher: Headup Games
Age restrictions: 12+
Pumpkin Jack System Requirements
PC / Windows
Minimum: Intel Core i5-3330 3.0 GHz / AMD FX-8300 3.3 GHz, 4 GB RAM, graphic card 2 GB GeForce GTX 760 / Radeon R9 270 or better, 5 GB HDD, Windows 7
Recommended: Intel Core i5-4690 3.5 GHz / AMD Ryzen 3 1300X 3.5 GHz, 6 GB RAM, graphic card 4 GB GeForce GTX 1050 Ti / Radeon RX 560 or better, 5 GB HDD, Windows 10