Pumpkin Jack oozes with ghoulish delight that is a must-play for any fan of Halloween. While there are some nitpick issues I had with the game’s combat, the music, humorous dialogue and beautiful art direction make it hard to find much to dislike about Pumpkin Jack.
Pumpkin Jack is classic 3D platforming defined. With the lovable level design to music that fills you with the Halloween spirit, Pumpkin Jack hits every note perfectly with ghoulish delight. Following the quite literal devilish escapades of Pumpkin Jack, players embark on a comedic adventure that is both creative and a joy to play. While not altogether difficult in comparison with other modern platformers, Pumpkin Jack is everything you’d expect from a well-rounded classic 3D platformer. Collectibles are enjoyable to collect, even if the majority of them are easy to find. The level design isn’t otherworldly in terms of its complexity but offers enough variation throughout the different levels to never feel rotten. Pumpkin Jack himself is a joy to play; a cutesy-creepy character who is just interesting enough to deliver the dialogue, but whose various gameplay mechanics accentuate the character’s overall swagger.
The biggest positive Pumpkin Jack has going for it is its overall tone. Between the orchestral Halloween music swelling and various atmospheric effects, I felt myself being pulled straight into the spirit of Halloween in the middle of February. The music is the biggest standout; being a mix of classical music in a Halloween style and an original mix brings the whole world to life in a way atmospheric effects cannot. That’s not to say that the art style throughout Pumpkin Jack isn’t equally as excellent. Every character and enemy model oozes with ghoulish style. There are a variety of enemies to face throughout Pumpkin Jack’s six worlds, who beautifully match every world they reside in.
Pumpkin Jack throws a different minigame into each level, which range from Wack-a-Mole type games to Mine Cart races
Pumpkin Jack’s level design isn’t necessarily the biggest innovation in modern platformers; it’s mostly linear with a little deviation between levels. However, bringing in the absolute killer style Pumpkin Jack has going for it, all six levels look and feel tonally different enough so that the entire game feels fresh throughout. Specifically, my two favorite levels were The Haunted Mine and The Spooky Cemetery (I’m a sucker for those types of Halloween tropes), as they were some of the more fun and dynamic levels throughout the entire game.
Each level offers the same structure, for better or worse: linear path, some interesting platforming/puzzle solving, small combat, on-rails transport section, linear path, and then ending with the final boss. While this sort of repetitive level design would get dull quick in most platformers, Pumpkin Jack shakes up the formula just enough level to level. While in one level you may be attempting to push carts full of explosives to blow up a gate, in the next you may be chasing after a wicked witch on a flying horse. So while the level design is linear and relatively straightforward to its core, it’s never a chore to get through.
The actual gameplay of Pumpkin Jack is the game’s least shining trait, especially when stacked up against the game’s art, writing, and music. Upon completing each level and defeating the final boss, Pumpkin Jack gains access to a new weapon that players can easily switch between for future levels. There are a few standout weapons, such as a magical sword that has been possessed, but overall the weapons feel mostly clunky. A welcome addition to Pumpkin Jack would have been a combo system in combat, as currently, the game feels very stiff between attacks. Making attacks flow more seamlessly together would really open up Pumpkin Jack’s replayability, other than just relying on seeking out the game’s collectibles.
Pumpkin Jack isn’t a game that revolutionizes 3D platformers, nor does it particularly add anything new to the formula; but the level of charm, humor, and ambiance it offers is just too good to pass up. It’s easily able to make it onto a “Top Halloween Games You Must Play” list if there is one out there, even if it’s not necessarily going to resonate any other time of the year. Combat is the game’s only disappointing downside, but it was hard not to have a ghastly smile on my face playing through it.
