When I walked over to Headup Games, my expectations were as high as could be. Rigid Force Redux and Outbuddies DX looked and played phenomenally. Colt Canyon satisfied a western/cowboy fantasy that not even Red Dead Redemption II was able to match (it must be the stylish pixel art and roguelike elements that I’m such an incredible sucker for). But nothing could’ve prepared me for Pumpkin Jack, an eerie, dazzling 3D platformer that was almost too good to be true. Beneath its vibrant, cartoonish universe, was a gameplay experience that felt deeply comforting and incredibly nostalgic. It wasn’t long until I realized what I was playing – a spiritual successor to the PlayStation cult classic MediEvil. Maybe it was the macabre yet colorful setting, or just how much Jack’s mannerisms and dreadfully charming animations reminded me of Sir Daniel Fortesque. Whatever the reason, Pumpkin Jack ended up being one of the best games on display at PAX East 2020.
Set in the Boredom Kingdom, you play as Jack, the Pumpkin Overlord – an comical agent of mayhem and destruction, and positively brimming with murderous intent. It seems that Devil himself wasn’t too thrilled about all the cheerful, happy-go-lucky townsfolk that inhabit Boredom Kingdom, so he took it upon himself to unleash a ruinous calamity upon the land known as the Curse of the Eternal Night just to completely mess with everyone’s good time; what a colossal dick. Not particularly eager sit back and take all that hell-spawned turmoil and torture up the rear end, those resourceful humans summoned a champion with the power to put an end to the evil curse and restore tranquility and all-around good times to the Boredom Kingdom. The hero – a mighty wizard – is Jack’s target, and it’s your job to kill him and ensure that evil triumphs over good for a change. As someone who notoriously cheers for the bad guy (shut up, no one asked you), taking on the role of one of Satan’s minions tickled me in all the right places…and maybe even some wrong ones.
Jack is a versatile lord o’ the pumpkin, and moves with the same balance, style, and form one would come to expect from the titans of the 3D platformer genre. Traversing the game’s dramatic settings are made simple and super intuitive as you can jump/double-jump and roll around the Boredom Kingdom with unreal precision. There is no need to reinvent the 3D platformer if all it takes to make it work are tight controls and a camera that is working with you rather than against you. Given how accessible the controls are, newcomers and seasoned platformer players alike will slip into Pumpkin Jack’s delightful world with ease. This is especially true with Pumpkin Jack’s combat mechanics.
The demo on display featured Jack doing his best Shovel Knight impression and arming himself with the trusty gardening tool to dispense with anyone that gets in his way. With the shovel, you are able to whack your enemies until they are very much dead, jump into the air and execute a punishing ground-pound, and even pull off a Legend of Zelda spinning-technique to deal with crowd control. Aside from the shovel, expect to arm yourself with a scythe to fulfill all of your Grim Reaper fantasies, a gun to pump an endless stream of bullets into those who wish to do you harm, and many, many other wonderful toys to make sure that evil wins the day – as it should! But wait – there’s more!
Aside from the blunt implements you have at your disposal to help you bash things in the face, you also have access to a little crow helper friend that can be used to target enemies to attack from afar, or aid in the completion of the game’s many puzzles. Speaking of puzzles, you can ditch your skinsuit and go completely headless, allowing you to crawl through tight spaces or use your flaming noggin to set shit on fire. Whether your walking around and enjoying Jack’s sinfully adorable walking animation, beating the life out of your enemies, or exploring the hard-to-reach nooks and crannies for secrets, the controls feel ultra-responsive and maximize the fun factor. You could tell that Nicolas Meyssonnier, the game’s solo developer (yes, you read that right), really understands the nature of the 3D platformer and it is clear from the moment the take control of the game’s titular character, that a lot of care and attention went into ensuring the mechanics were nothing less than perfect.
Coming to PC, Switch, PS4, Xbox One later this year, Pumpkin Jack is a reminder of what the gaming industry is seriously lacking. Taking its cues from some of the best 3D platformers ever developed, Nicolas Meyssonnier and Headup Games have got something really special on their hands. Jack is so darned likable; I ended up loving this grinning bastard a little bit more than I should’ve, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. The foreboding atmosphere coupled with high-quality lighting and a vibrant palette help create a curious world that invites players to get lost in. To think that this is the work of one developer is inspired and I for one cannot wait for Pumpkin Jack to carve his way into our hearts later this year.
