Jack Keane and the Dokktor's Island

Back in the early nineties, the PC point-and-click genre was at its peak. The genre showcased some fun adventures and great storylines, spawning such beloved classics as Sam & Max: Hit the Road and Day of the Tentacle. However, the pinnacle of the genre for many adventure game fans was the Secret of Monkey Island series. The games’ clever wit and sharp writing made them an instant hit amongst adventure gamers, and while that series has been put out to pasture, that hasn’t stopped 10tacle Studios from readying their latest adventure game, Jack Keane, which plays out like a homage to the classic series.

Jack Keane is an old-school point-and-click style adventure that wears its Monkey Island influence on its sleeve, offering up similar story elements and a brand of humor that was very much inspired by the classic series. The game has some truly funny moments, and should be worth a look for fans of the genre looking for another game to sink their teeth into.

Jack Keane opens with the titular hero being roughed up by some thugs over a matter of money in London. Turns out that he sold his ship three years ago, and the buyer was unhappy (to say the least) and is demanding a refund. Once he’s gotten out of this situation, he must move on to a mission handed down by the Queen herself. This leads to a spiraling of events that lead to him on a quest to help save India’s tea fields from an evil doctor, and then on to further complications.

Jack Keane plays like any number of point-and-click adventure games. You simply use the mouse to select objects of interest in the environment, either to investigate them or pick them up for your inventory, which can then be applied to other objects later on. The game’s mechanics are quite simple, and allow for most casual gamers to get into it pretty easily.

Whereas the point-and-click adventure genre is not usually known for its replay value, Jack Keane hopes to change that with the inclusion of extras. By finding special items like starfish throughout the environment you can unlock extra content that can be accessed in the menu.

The graphics in Jack Keane are on the cartoon side, but look quite good, with well rendered characters and environments. The voice work is also pretty decent, but there are a few weird script elements.

Jack Keane is turning out to be a good entry to the adventure genre with its fun sense of humor and offbeat plot. Adventure fans should keep an eye out for this one to land on the PC early next year.