Like any red-blooded millennial, I have a deep and almost embarrassing affinity for Nightmare Before Christmas. Not thousands of dollars deep into Hot Topic merch level of interest, but maybe a few hundred. In college I was that guy who wore a Jack Skellington beanie a little too often. Even when the weather didn’t permit I was there with that hat. Nostalgia’s a powerful drug and I like black. If you’re cringing right now, know I am too. Like I often say, mistakes were made.
And clearly more were made. Pumpkin Jack remains in my limitless pile of unplayed games.
Here’s the connect. The game’s own description says:
Pumpkin Jack is a spooky scary 3D platformer in which you embody Jack, the Mythical Pumpkin Lord!
The trailer even features the hero flying in a sleigh reminiscent of our favorite immortal gift-giver!
Pumpkin Jack checks more nostalgic millennial boxes, too. Also from the game’s description:
Pumpkin Jack invents its own unique cartoon universe inspired by the classic PS2 graphic style.
And it capably does. I’m getting Sly Cooper, Jax and Daxter, early Ratchet and Clank, and even Vexx (remember that one?), and of course Medieval vibes. But, you know, updated with modern graphics bells and whistles.
We need these types of games. What’s old is new again. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it. Etc.
Some of us older gamers need throwbacks for those days and nights when we want to remember without rose colored glasses. People too young to have experienced the older titles when they came out need these reimagining’s. We don’t always need to aggressively move forward with bold new ideas. Sometimes taking what we already know and updating it is good enough. And from what I gather of the user and critic reviews, developer Nicolas Meyssonnier delivered. Kudos to Headup Publishing for eyeing this gem.
It’s almost Halloween. So I’m going to binge this one. Why don’t you join me and let me know what you think in Discord.
Get the game here!
-RCGinger