Pumpkin Jack: The Tale of a Lost Soul, Wizard and the Devil

Perfect for Spooky Season

As an avid Halloween fan, I have always been drawn to jack-o'-lanterns. Something is captivating about the color orange, as seen in a variety of facial expressions carved into pumpkins that glow with a candle, a glow stick, a soul, or any other light source. I have a collection of pumpkin pails, jack-o'-lantern-themed boots and shirts, and a backpack. Yes, it’s that serious. So it’s no shocker that I would be drawn to the game Pumpkin Jack when I was searching for titles to play for the Halloween season.

Pumpkin Jack is a 3D platformer that Nicolas Meyssonnier invoked on October 23rd, 2021, like a spirit with the help of Headup Games. Speaking of spirits, the player takes the role of a pumpkin-headed man named Stingy Jack. He was revived from beyond the grave on Halloween. The devil summoned him to help fight against a wizard seeking to remove the devil’s curse from the Arc En Ciel Kingdom. Jack agreed that, in exchange for his work, he would be forgiven for all his past transgressions. 

Stingy Jack is a tall, thin man who bears a striking resemblance to a scarecrow. His eyes and ghoulish grin are perpetually lit with flames, presumably from the fires of hell. No soldier of the devil can go on a journey empty-handed. A variety of supernatural weapons are offered in the game. The mastery of these weapons allows for seamless execution of various combat moves. This comes in handy as all levels, enemies, and bosses are different. Bosses include a phantom who commands ghosts and attacks with lightning-fast speed, a skeleton-machine hybrid wielding a massive, Thor-like hammer, a witch, a wizard, and even Santa, representing the eclectic range of enemies. His arsenal is both a trick and a treat, including his scythe, magical sword, spear, and even a shovel. Cuz you can’t dig your enemy's grave without one. Duh. 

The game's aesthetics are a fun blend of Halloween and early years of 3D cartoons, with psychedelic colors stirred into a witch’s cauldron. Each level features vibrant colors that just make perfect sense. For example, “The Haunted Mine” features gradient green skies and purple undertones, making the rocks, trees, and ground more playful. It is also home to blue-colored ghosts who are ready to give Jack a fight and a fright. Another example is “The Cursed Swamp,” which is… well, cursed. Ominous fog galore, everything can be a ghost, including bridges. I don’t get the logic, but it works. There are bulbous yellow-orange mushrooms that allow you to jump from level to level, but you must be careful of pink demon bats that projectile vomit like that girl from that one movie. You know the one. 

With monstrous foes and ghoulish lands to explore, Mr.Jack needed companions, so cue in an owl and a crow. Hey, that rhymed! The owl (named Owl) acts as a checkpoint and provides wise counsel (although in a rude manner). The crow not only serves as a companion but also functions as a long-range weapon and tool. No, I’m not kidding. The Crow, simply referred to as "Crow," becomes a missile by breaking down barriers as he rides the haunted coal mine roller coaster and phantom horse. Furthermore, the Crow plays a crucial role in defeating skeletons, ghouls, demon rats, and bats, sending them back to hell with each strike of his sharp beak under Jack's command. I think a weapon bird is pretty rad.

The player experience is engaging and solid overall. The levels are distinct enough to feel like discovering something new each time. I like the customization options, as you can change Stingy Jack’s outfits if you have enough currency known as “crow skulls”. Because everything comes with a price, the mini puzzles you must play to continue to progress the story are also quite fun, but infuriating. There’s also something hilarious about Jack having to use only his head for these puzzles. I mean that literally, as part of the requirement is to lose his body momentarily and rely solely on his head to move around. The puzzles range from memorizing sound patterns, unlocking secret platforms that allow you to find hidden treasures, to navigating a bomb through mazes while risking falling into acid water.

RESULTS

Satisfy your nostalgia: this game is a prime example of early 3D platform vibes with a Horror/Halloween campy twist. It has been compared to MediEvil, and I can see the main character, Sir Daniel Fortesque, joining forces with Stingy Jack to battle powerful wizards and sorcerers across multiple kingdoms. You know what? I need a game with both undead protagonists now. Add Pumpkin Jack to your Steam library and play it during October. To add to the ambiance, consider getting a pet owl or crow. Don’t blame me, though, if the owl starts telling you how awful you are at the game or if the crow starts knocking things over when you’re in distress. I would also call the devil, not a doctor, if your head were to become a pumpkin.

What are some of your favorite nostalgia trips? Share with us in the comments.

Learn more about Pumpkin Jack by visiting the official website.

DEVELOPED BY: Evil Raptor

PUBLISHED BY: Headup, Beep Japan

AVAILABLE ON:

PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One/Series X/S, Nintendo Switch,

DEMO: No

RELEASE DATE: October 23, 2020

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