Jack Keane review

Traditional point 'n click that smacks of the Monkey Island series

12DOVE Verdict

Pros

  • +

    Monkey Island Influence

  • +

    Charm and wittiness

  • +

    Not too challenging

Cons

  • -

    Not original

  • -

    Not challenging enough

  • -

    Trial-and-error puzzles

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Wemade a promise to ourselves and to you, dear reader, that we’d never do it. I’d never compare a point-and-clicker to The Secret of Monkey Island, or any other LucasArts adventure.

That would be lazy and obvious games journalism, and in any respect, LucasArts’ early ’90s output was so polished that it only leads to unfavourable comparisons. But then along comes a game like Jack Keane that practically comes with a ‘Wish You Were Here’ postcard of Monkey Island stapled to the box.

Consider the facts: a jittery hero in a flouncy white shirt, a female sidekick who’s tougher than she looks, an obligatory ‘scare a bird off’ puzzle, and an obsession with monkeys. This is a total own-brand version of Monkey Island. We’ve met more innovative sausages than this and if Keane couldn’t be bothered to be original, then why should we, eh? But here’s the caveat: if you don’t judge it against anything else, this is a decent little game.

Jack Keane comes from Deck 13, the German studio responsible for the likeable-ish Ankh adventures, and through research, collaborations with Telltale Games (of Sam & Max fame) and sheer hard graft, they’ve reached the point where they can put together a solid point-and-click game.

More info

GenreAdventure
DescriptionHoratio Alger meets Indiana Jones and many other literary cliches in what's sure to be a slapstick adventure game with a few monkeys thrown in for good measure.
Platform"PC"
US censor rating"Rating Pending"
UK censor rating"12+"
Release date1 January 1970 (US), 1 January 1970 (UK)
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