Just in time for Halloween, Headup Games, a German video game publisher, has announced the release of Pumpkin Jack, a 3D platformer from developer Nicolas Meyssonnier, for PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch on October 23.
Headup, best known for the Bridge Constructor series of games developed by ClockStone, has left behind physics-based simulation to dive right into an epic adventure of good vs. evil. Players will take on the role of Jack, aka the Mythical Pumpkin Lord, who has been beckoned by the Devil to battle an army of beasts sent forth by a mighty wizard summoned by the inhabitants of the cheekily named Boredom Kingdom to defend their land.
The game, which features a dynamic cartoon setting, inspired by the classic PS2 graphic style, is chockful of vivid landscapes, vibrant atmospheres and high-quality lighting effects. As players master the art of combo attacks, dodging, and timing, they can unlock weapons, solve puzzles and create paths to reach new levels and face increasingly complex challenges.
Reminiscent of Sony Interactive’s MediEvil, the action-adventure hack and slash series, and Naughty Dog’s Jak & Daxter, the story-based platformer franchise, Pumpkin Jack arms players with scythes and guns for close contact combat. On his journey, Jack is not alone though. He is accompanied by a puffed-up owl and a snarky crow who will help him with long-range attacks.
Built using Unreal Engine 4 by Meyssonier, a French 3D artist, the game promises five to eight hours of gameplay, which is perfect for this year's socially distanced All Hallow's Eve. Pumpkin Jack will join a number of other horror games that will be released before Halloween, including Remothered: Broken Porcelain, Amnesia: Rebirth, and The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope.
Meyssonnier began developing Pumpkin Jack in 2016 while studying at university. He says he was inspired by old PlayStation platformers from his childhood, like Ratchet & Clank and Jak & Daxter, as well as, “dark and spooky atmospheres” like the ones in MediEvil, to create his own game.
Source: Rely On Horror