Jumpin’ Jack Flash
I played Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy for the first time in 2020, and I have zero regrets about that decision. I almost certainly would’ve clicked with it even more in 2001 (I just had a GameCube at the time), but things didn’t work out that way. The remastered PS4 version holds up really well.
If you’re ever hoping for a 3D platformer in the vein of Jak and Daxter with a bonus dash of MediEvil, consider keeping tabs on Pumpkin Jack. It looks straightforward in the best way. There’s a dodge roll, basic combo attacks, and assists from companions like a crow – nothing too fancy or over-designed.
You can also pop off your head and crawl around the cheerfully spooky place. I badly want to do that.
Pumpkin Jack is launching at the end of 2020 on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. If you’re curious enough to try a demo, surprisingly, there is one! It’s playable on Steam right now.
I can already picture droning on and on about this game with Chris and Brett in the room until Brett has no choice but to snap. “Who the hell is Pumpkin Jack?! You’ve been talking about him all day long.”
Whatever you do, don’t tell him. He might read this, but at some point – months from now – he’ll forget.