Review

So, who is Jack? Jack is a small person who is trapped in a dungeon filled with snakes, dancing Egyptians, and even R2D2. More importantly, he is the main character in Industry Entertainment’s latest game, “Jack, or One Hundred Ways to BBQ.”

 
The game incorporates excellent 2D graphics, which are capable of being viewed in either low- or high-res, and, in the case of PDAs with VGA/VIA, in full screen mode. If you are a PC gamer, you are not going to be enthralled by what the PalmOS has to offer- however, the graphics make no representation of being earth-shattering; what they are, however, is effective- there is a high level of detail, and the animations have no “hang” to them. Couple this with the fact that you are playing the game on your PDA, instead of a hulking box of tricks stashed out of the way under a desk, and you cannot fail to be happy!

Jack’s screen, whatever resolution, is split into three areas- score, gameplay, and health / lives. Until you have got the hang of moving around, and not falling into the many fires scattered around the levels, you are more likely to see a drop in the bottom part of the screen than increasing numbers at the top! Running the game in “full screen” (ie. without the VIA) simply stretches everything, making Jack look taller than he would without the VIA- and, if you are playing in landscape mode, you could be forgiven in thinking he had put on a few pounds. In fact, the game actually looks the best when it is viewed in 320*320 resolution- but for the bright blue VIA below it. Whether you choose to play in 320*320, or are able to play in 320*480, you will not be disappointed. Jack moves smoothly, whether he is climbing down ladders, up ropes, or simply falling in a pit of monsters, and the menu screens slide into place.

However nice the graphics are, they are nothing without playability. Landscape mode on the T3 sadly lacks this, as you cannot hold the device, and hit all the necessary buttons at the same time. You can move, or jump, but not both, which is a serious problem. Luckily, it does not affect portrait mode. I should emphasise here that this is not the fault of Industry Entertainments- whilst the button arrangement on the T3 may suit some tasks, and, may be aesthetically more appealing, they do not lend themselves to playing games. It is not possible to use the stylus to control movement- the only time the Touchscreen element comes into play is in selecting music options (discussed below), or to pause the game.

Whilst the graphics may be commended, the same cannot be said of the sound, however. Whilst it is certainly nice to have some form of sound coming from the game, the music was little short of unbearable- once I had turned it off, I ran the mp3 player in the background, leaving the beeps and jingles associated with different actions in the game. Luckily, there are three options- music, music and FX, or just FX. This latter one was certainly my preference. The soundtrack, if you can call it such, sounds like a non-polyphonic mobile phone ringtone, as the melody is simply one note at a time- unfortunately, this does let the whole package down.

Although essentially a game based on moving between different levels, collecting items and avoiding monsters, it cannot be said that it is repetitive- there are a huge variety of backgrounds and icons, changing the visual effect of the game, whilst maintaining its underlying structure. The levels start reasonably easy, as with many games, giving you the chance to get the feel for the keys, and for what is in store. They get progressively more difficult, requiring complex, planned movement to avoid falling into fires, being chased by Vikings, or becoming boxed in by a ghost. Thus, whilst the plot may be a little thin, verging on non-existent, this does not really matter- you are too involved in running, jumping and shooting to worry. Whilst not perhaps in the same class as Warfare Inc, Jack makes no attempt to be groundbreaking- instead, it combines solid 2D graphics with an interesting character set. As it is based on screens as well as levels, it is highly addictive- whilst I was testing it, I kept telling myself “just one more screen”- naturally, I did not actually stop playing until I had exhausted all five lives!

When you are sitting in a chair, replete with turkey on Christmas Day, whilst relatives are all asleep around you, Jack may just be the answer you need. It will while away a few hours (until your battery dies, anyway), and still leave you with something to do when you are commuting to work once the holiday is over. Or, if all else fails, you could always put the music on, and watch as your relatives jump up, wondering whether they are missing an important call.

Pros:
Detailed graphics
Variety of characters
Fast moving
Multiple resolutions without resetting

Cons:
Feeble music
Not able to play landscape on T3 without difficulty

Purchase Information:
The game is available from our Handango store for $14.95. There is also a free trial version.