Jack Keane is the latest point and click comic adventure from the studios of Deck13 interrupting their hugely successful Ankh franchise. As hinted by Jan Klose (Creative Director at Deck13 ) in our interview ,the inspiration for Jack Keane stemmed from the likes of Indiana Jones and Monkey Island etc. However that being said , Jack Keane draws all the best elements from its predecessors and leaves the difficulties associated with the old point and clicks buried in time.
The preview code we were sent was a very generous one incorporating seven of the thirteen chapters / levels of the full version (normally preview codes are maybe only one level) so we were able to get a good overall picture of the game.
The interactive cursor indicates action hot spots when you hover over them eg. The cursor will change to a cogwheel to show an object you could use or a ladder to show a location where you could climb etc. The objects you collect are displayed at the top of the screen and it’s a case of right click and drag to where you wish to use them.
The gameworld is rendered in full 3d using vibrant colours really bringing the game to life and underlining the spirit of the game. This is meant to be a fun, enjoyable experience where “ you cannot die, there is never real time pressure, and you can never mess things up completely and revert to a previously saved game.” (as Jan assures us !)
Although the game kicks off in London the main setting is in the Indian Ocean in the heyday of the British Empire. Jack is employed to deliver a secret agent (Montgomery) to Tooth island in the Indian Ocean as there is a tea crisis. The offer comes at a very good time for Jack as he is trying to escape some debt collectors. When they reach tooth island however , Montgomery navigates Jack’s ship onto the rocks, so now he is stranded on this island and Montgomery has squandered Jacks reward. Perhaps this is no coincidence as there is a connection between the family name “Keane” and Tooth island and as the story develops this could be more a voyage of discovery for Jack’s identity and family history.
All of the puzzles I have completed have been inventory based and there is also an unlockable in most of the chapters/levels so far, but I’m afraid you have to complete the game to claim your bonuses ! Over the course of the game you also will be able to play as Amanda and as young Jack.
So Far So Good.
The game has already been released in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and was very well received. Personally I find it a lot of fun – I was even laughing out loud at times and several times have been so engrossed in it the battery in my laptop has run out and I’ve had to restart from the last save. I did come across one minor glitch though – when I entered the jungle I was able to lift some tools out of an invisible tool box ! when I returned to the location a minute later however, the tool box had appeared .
The extensive preview unit gave us a really good insight as to what to expect – a strong storyline , beautiful graphics with excellent voice acting and ambient sounds. Roll on release day !
