Jack for games protagonist of the year
Before we get stuck in, here’s the sitch.
This isn’t a full review, but I also can’t see my thoughts changing.
Let’s embrace Chaos.
And it’s home to one Jack Garland, a chiselled bro who’d really like to kill Chaos.
He reiterates thisa lot, often grunting his displeasure when his ‘friends’ talk about anything else.
“Lots of bats in here,” says Ash, as bats fly around.
“I think I was here… once,” says Neon, to a resounding silence.
I’m convinced this is because their parallel universe is actually a fabrication swimming in Jack’s mind.
I picture Jack - who’s bigger than everyone else in his year playing pretend with his classmates.
He’s the hero calling the shots as they mime sword swings before the bell rings.
Oh, he isn’t involved?
Then Jack doesn’t care.
His thirst for Chaos is undeniably hilarious, but it overrides any semblance of a meaningful story.
It’s ironic that Jack’s sole desire to kill Chaos ends up killing your own desire to play.
Your aim is to batter these enemies, move between checkpoints, and beat the final boss.
The game takes FF’s Job system and ports it wonderfully into a Soulslike template.
Jobs are the equivalent of classes here, each complete with their own combos and skill trees.
The MMA fighter-esque Pugilist is a favourite Job of mine, as it feels distinctly Jack.
You just pound skeletons and Tonberries to a pulp with roundhouse kicks and fist-flurries.
No need for dainty swords or lances when you’ve got your knuckles.
The flow of combat feels quick and snappy, with Team Ninja’s signature combo-laden flashiness.
Whether you think about the buttons you’re smashing or mindlessly hammer away, you’ll look cool.
Some Jobs work better against certain enemies, but it’s largely personal preference that prevails.
Almost all the fun lies in the punches you swing, as there’s nothing else driving you forwards.
It’s certainly not the story, or the promise of a new level and it’s gimmick.
Eventually, the repetition drags, which robs the loot you’re hoovering up of its wow-factor too.
