There’s one trope in science fiction that I still don’t know how I feel 30 years later. The introduction of “Future Slang” is intended to make everyone sound more tech-savvy or hipster for the times. One of his games that makes heavy use of this trope is Jack Move. It’s a bite-sized RPG developed by So Romantic and published by HypeTrain Digital, who released it on PC earlier this month. My take on sci-fi slang may not have changed, but Jack Move managed to impress me in several ways. Despite one or two blunders, this Cyber Brawling his package has a lot to offer.
In Jack Move you play as Noah, a vigilante hacker who works the streets of Bright Town. Along with her partner, fellow hacker Ryder, she spends her time tinkering with the transcendent corporate Monomind. In the world of Jack Move, long ago, Earth was hit by a massive solar flare that destroyed all electronic devices in the world, causing an event known as The Dark. Government, leading to some dissatisfaction. When Noah’s estranged father is kidnapped by the Monominds, Noah must investigate why, while also trying to save his father from the unclean hands of the Corporation.
Gameplay in Jack Move is pretty much normal fare for an RPG, allowing you to freely roam the map, talk to NPCs, and sometimes undertake side quests. In certain areas, battles are the result of random encounters, and a meter appears at the top right of the screen to tell you how close you are to the next battle. One of Jack Move’s best features is the ability to adjust encounter rates in both directions. If you want to explore more easily, you can lower or lower the encounter rate. Challenging or just looking for a grind. During combat, a sort of rock-paper-scissors system is activated between Wetware, Electroware, and Cyberware attacks. Most enemies are vulnerable to one of these types of software based on the type of software they use in their attack. increase. The amount of RAM you have can be upgraded in the shop throughout the game.You can also equip hardware that grants passive buffs and effects.
You can actually use turns to change your build if you need software that isn’t currently equipped during combat. This forces the player to strategize on the type of attack, but without the possibility of a stumble making the fight irreversible. with a bad build. Dealing and receiving damage builds up a Jack Move bar, which allows you to use Super Attacks when it’s full. The strength of this attack is determined by your performance in a short rhythm game-like challenge that requires you to press three directional inputs. I didn’t find one of these to be difficult, especially when the same sequence was set every time I used it for each Jack his move. Software and Jack Moves level up as you use them in combat, up to a maximum level of 4.
Jack Move has a lot to offer, but it’s not without some drawbacks. Some may be frustrated by the incredibly short length of the game. Especially for RPG, the runtime is about 6 hours. For me personally, this helped deliver a tighter experience than otherwise, without the mechanics and story being too welcoming. Usually the dialog repeats or appears in the wrong place. The game also crashed him twice during my playthrough. Luckily the game autosaves so often that crashes don’t cause you to lose progress, but it’s still always disappointing when the game crashes. It turns out that it does, but at least it leads to a short, very satisfying and cool final boss sequence.
Overall, Jack Move is likely to be one of my favorite games of the year, and I wish there were more bite-sized RPGs like this one. The game’s pixel art is visually pleasing, and this is only enhanced by the fantastic soundtrack that accompanies it. Bright Town comes to life, and NPCs have their own side-history stories that occur as the main his story progresses. I encourage you to talk to every NPC at every opportunity to learn about a woman dating a mafia runner, her two hacker sisters who are clearly on the hook, and more. another level. If you enjoy cyberpunk aesthetics and want to spend a weekend with a short RPG, Jack Move is the place to have a good time.