Review - Jack Keane 2 - The Fire Within |
Paul Fiander
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Point and Click adventure games have seen something of a resurgence in recent times. Titles like The Book of Unwritten tales; The Critter Crunch Chronicle have been popular in their own circles but have not really gained a mass audience. Partly this could be because the genre is considered niche to a lot of gamers. The mechanics of the game tend to be rather pedestrian, where fast twitch is more likely to describe a character's name then an actual muscle that is needed to play the game.
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It;s not like our star to be camera shy.
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Planes, Trains and Automobiles Minus the Trains.
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Now Deck 13 along with Nordic games have come along to try to give the gameplay something of a revamp. The game has a number of key features (which are listed below), I’m going to use some of these features to guide this review in the hopes of unraveling what this game brings to the table. To see if the developers were really able to revolutionise the point and click adventure.
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Features:
1) Control your characters directly with WASD, or switch to the classic Point & Click-Style
2) Experience the kind of love triangle we all know from (everyday life) movies
3) Explore your own mind (literally), chase zeppelins by car, and learn a wide array of fight stances to counter your opponents’ frantic moves
4) Created by the developers of adventure hits such as Ankh, Jack Keane and Black Sails
5) State of the art 3D-graphics based on Deck 13’s revolutionary FLEDGE engine
6) The mix of fast-paced action sequences and iconic point & click-gameplay makes Jack Keane 2 - The Fire Within a truly 21st Century adventure
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The WASD control is a nice addition to the game and I found myself jumping between the two control schemes on the fly. This was to find out the accuracy for the purpose of the review, but also because the traversal was made easier at times with the mouse and at other times the keys. The other nice addition is a run mechanic again making your movement around levels a lot quicker. This is done simply by holding down the left mouse button allowing Jack to go into a general trot.
The scenery exploration is the key to any adventure game as you try to find answers in the surroundings. Unfortunately this is where the advancements in controls still leave some things to be desired, as you will find yourself needing to find exact spots to pick up a treasure or climb through a window. The hit boxes so to speak are quite large so its not game breaking but it can still be annoying. |
Hanging off the edge of the world, quite literally.
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An epic vista showing Amanda resting among a herd of elephants.
This leads us nicely into the puzzles (point 3). Most puzzle within games have a logic that you have to become familiar with in order to advance. Jack Keane’s logic is generally not too difficult allowing a nice point of access for most players. There can be a few that will have you pulling your hair out, but at this point it’s best to walk away from the screen and come back later. I got this piece of advice from the Grumpy Gamer himself Mr Ron Gilbert. It has helped me to understand that these are games that you can take your time over and as such has improved my appreciation of the genre. It is definitely worth keeping in mind during this game as a fresh perspective can help you to solve even the most taxing problem.
There are a few tricks that Deck13 have added to the game to make solving the problems a little easier. Firstly the magnifying glass in the top left hand corner helps to identify objects as well as break them down to their constituent parts. This can allow for a bit of Alchemy by mixing and matching parts McGyver style. Secondly is the show up objects button, by pressing it you can see any interactive object on the screen. This almost feels like a cheat but when all else fails it can really help get you out of a sticky situation. It can also be used as a last sweep of an area just to try to cut down on the need to keep returning to areas.
There are a few tricks that Deck13 have added to the game to make solving the problems a little easier. Firstly the magnifying glass in the top left hand corner helps to identify objects as well as break them down to their constituent parts. This can allow for a bit of Alchemy by mixing and matching parts McGyver style. Secondly is the show up objects button, by pressing it you can see any interactive object on the screen. This almost feels like a cheat but when all else fails it can really help get you out of a sticky situation. It can also be used as a last sweep of an area just to try to cut down on the need to keep returning to areas.
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Graphically the game is a treat. The FLEDGE engine really does allow for a great visual experience even on lower settings, the attached screens will give you a clearer picture of the game running on high. Even though visuals are not the be all and end all, being in a nice environment does help to enhance the experience. This is shown off as you traverse the world and the rich environments come to life. I do have issue with some of the dialogue, its mostly whimsical with a nice line of humour but at times you will find Jack or another character uttering the same phrase over and over. In longer games you tend to find that each contact is scaled down in terms of dialogue but at times there really are only one or two phrases that are used. If you compare this to a game like Uncharted where you get multiple lines of dialogue then the games flaws do start to shine through. I do agree that this comparison is unfair but I do hope adventure games start to improve in this area as time goes on. |
The world traversal gives you an opportunity to admire the graphics
The story has a nice swash buckling arc with a few twists and turns. I enjoyed my time in game but i'm not sure if it warrants a second play through.
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Did he really make fun of female drivers?
The last point of the game being a truly 21st century adventure seems an apt way to end this review. In some ways Deck 13 have delivered a forward thinking title, however the hardcore point and click adventurers out there may find the control changes and traversal actually water down the games experience. That leads me to suggest this game may be more suitable for occasional players or those who want to enter the genre with no previous experience. The game may not truly be a 21st century evolution but it may instead be the key to bringing a new generation of players into the genre.
Wrap Up
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The Good - Control Scheme, Visuals, puzzle helpers.
The Bad - Audio, precision needed for solving puzzles. |
Score - 3.5/5 |
Images courtesy of Premier PR and Nordic games.
Game - provided by Premier PR.
Game - provided by Premier PR.
