13 Days of Halloween – Game Review: Pumpkin Jack (Xbox One)

Inspired by the likes of the classic PS1 game, Medievil in both looks, gameplay elements and humour, Pumpkin Jack does plenty right but also misses the mark on a few occasions. It’s memorable but not always in the right way.

Taking place in the Kingdom of Arc En Ciel, which has been plunged into darkness by the Devil himself. Monsters are roaming free and the Kingdom seems to be doomed. That is until the King sends his champion Wizard to fight back. Forced to find something to counter the Wizard, the Devil then resurrects his own champion, Stingy Jack.

The Pumpkin-headed villain is the role players take on, a sarcastic bully who would like to just kill and destroy. Rather than deal with menial tasks set for him by random characters that pop up in the game.

It’s not complex stuff. Nor does the story have any more depth than what was described above. Make your way across the lands of Arc En Ciel through 6 levels and 6 boss fights. That might not sound like much but each level is split into segments can take upwards of 30 minutes to complete.

The world design and level visuals are lavish and impressively in-keeping with the cartoony horror vibe it is going for. Whereas other elements of the game might fail to keep the mind focused, visually it always wows.

It is constantly fun to explore the world of Pumpkin Jack even if its openness is skin deep. The only reason to head off the beaten path being to find collectibles. Those come in the form of crow skulls and gramophones, the latter can be used to trade to a merchant for new skins.

Just one of the spooky characters you’ll meet and interact with throughout.

Gameplay is a mix of platforming and combat, both elements that are done well enough even if repetitiveness does sink in a bit. With the former, levels often repeat segments. Such as navigating a watery segment while riding an out of control ghost boat, being flown through the air by a gargoyle or racing against a set of knights. While each level has its own unique ‘bit’, you’ll have to do them several times throughout making them feel less unique and clever.

Not only that, but some of them are surprisingly tricky.

Surprising because it’s a spike that comes out of nowhere. Other than some tricky jumps here and there, few will struggle with Pumpkin Jack. Especially with such an abundance of check-points.

Combat is very simple, button mashing your way through enemies up close and personal and using your crow sidekick to attack from distance. It is kept fresh too, by adding new weapons which are gained from defeating the bosses of the games. Weapons such as a scythe, blunderbuss and magical sword. It is a shame that you can’t switch between weapons though. Instead the newly unlocked weapon is the one you’ll be forced to use. A minor complaint but it’s a niggly one.

As is the sensitivity of the camera, something that is far too slow and needs to be whacked up immediately in the settings.

Other then going back to find the remaining collectibles, there’s next to no replay value to Pumpkin Jack. However, there’s a lot that can be tweaked and built upon should we get a sequel in the future. It’s certainly deserving of one as this game is entertaining and charming in many ways.