Jack o'Lantern

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Jack o'Lantern is a 2022 isometric beat-em-up developed by and published by Fantendo, starring the titular character as previously featured in the failed Agate franchise, of which this can be considered a reboot. Fast paced and frantic, the game takes place on the streets of Ares City, as Jack investigates a mysterious new superpower-granting drug that has entered the market. Inspired mechanically by Hades, Castle Crashers and the various superhero-centric arcade beat-em ups, and narratively by Batman, Worm, Project Cape and various other superhero properties, Jack o'Lantern aims to deliver an easy to pick up and play experience with fast, visceral gameplay and a meaningful story told through the medium. It was released in June 2022 to wide critical acclaim, considered one of the year's best indie titles, available on PC, Nintendo Switch and Nymbus.
Players take the role of Jack (also known as the Jack o'Lantern), an amnesiac anti-hero fighting crime on the streets of Ares City. Armed with pyrokinetic powers, Jack woke sixty days prior to the start of the game with nothing in their mind but a passion for mischief and a desire for justice, forging themself a suit and joining the crimefighting game. Despite a number of small busts and foiled gang crimes, Jack still holds no standing with the local Guild of Heroes branch, and has largely resigned themselves to stopping petty robberies and tussling with gangsters. However, when the city's top heroes mysteriously vanish and a new, dangerous drug known as Boost makes it's way onto the market, Jack finds themself punching above their pay grade in a battle that could very well decide the fate of the city itself.
Jack is a fast-paced, nimble fighter, who is able to dash around the stage and switch between three types of weapons. Their primary weapon is use of their short ranged brass knuckle fighting style, which can be swapped out as the game progresses for similar "melee weapons"; and can be used at will. On a short cooldown is a long-ranged pyrokinetic technique, which can once more be swapped out for other techniques as Jack learns them. The third weapon, the auxillary, is one of Jack's various gadgets, and can only be used a certain number of times per level. Jack unlocks more and more options for these throughout the game, and can invest resources to upgrade them. Some of the weapon upgrades are based off fellow Fantendo properties, as a nod to the environment of games that made Jack o' Lantern possible.
==Gameplay==
As previously stated, Jack o'Lantern is a high speed beat-em-up, set in isometric 3D space. It takes a fast pace, with most levels able to be progressed through in only about five minutes, depending on how thorough the player is, though this length is increased in some contexts (for example, the tenth and twentieth 'days' of each world), and is designed to be easy to pick up and play. The game's levels are linear, and divided into six 'districts' of Ares City, which are, as follows:
* Slugrest
* Ares City Sewers
* Herohock Heights
* Winter Funderland
* City Central
* Up N Up Tower
The game is designed for replayability and speedrunning once an initial run has been complete, with a number of secrets and skips hidden throughout the levels for more invested players to discover. These include various weapon options, copious amounts of the game's primary currency (BUX), or other collectibles available over the course of the game. The game can be replayed within the current file on Normal Mode or Demon Mode, taking advantage of Jack's upgraded weaponry at either the game's normal difficulty or a much more dangerous and tricky difficulty, as well as the player having the capacity to create new files to play from scratch, on Normal Mode - or, if they've completed the game before, Demon Mode.
Throughout Jack's journey, they'll face a vast variety of foes with variable attacks. Generally, foes all make attacks which are distinctly dodgeable - a good player can play smart and avoid taking damage all together, with signals for all attacks and an rhythm present for the player to immerse themself into. However, especially as things progress in the story and thus in difficulty, enemies will become harder to avoid and more numerous, with players likely to take more damage and hitless runs becoming more and more skilltesting, though still possible. Unique among this are boss characters, of which a number exist throughout the game, which generally are harder to kill and harder to dodge, but tend to be fought solo or almost solo to compensate for this (with the sole exception of Endless Mode, where bosses are often fought alongside other enemies or alongside each other in later stages.)
Sometimes, to take down their foes, Jack will be matched with a partner character controlled by the AI - this depends on the level and more info can be found in later sections. However, the game also has a two player mode which can be engaged in for the normal levels or the Endless Mode, with difficulty scaling accordingly. The second player takes the role of Snow Angel, who has a similar but distinct moveset to Jack and their own alternatives for all available upgrades, who replaces any other partners Jack would have throughout the game. While not the main focus of the balancing, the multiplayer mode is still considered an important facet of the game by the devs.
===Collectibles===
Name 	Function
BUX 	BUX are the game's primary currency, found throughout the world. They can be spent during each day's investigation phase, with Jack able to purchase weapon upgrades, spare power-ups to use, general upgrades for Jack's stats, and more.
Boost Tubes 	Boost Tubes are small vials of the drug that starts the game story, and can be consumed by Jack during a level to increase their strength and speed, but provide dire drawbacks that leave Jack highly vulnerable and at risk, making them tricky to utilise correctly.
Hero Bobbleheads	Hero Bobbleheads are collectibles scattered throughout the world, of which one can be equipped at once, which develop the world of Jack o'Lantern and provide a passive bonus to Jack.
Pumpkin Patches 	Pumpkin Patches are hidden shrines throughout the world, which can be used to provide Jack a permananet buff once per run through of the game, with a reward present for visiting each one in a single run.
===Weapon Options===
Subject 	Evaluation
Brass Knuckles 	The Brass Knuckles are the starter primary weapon available to Jack. A pair of reinforced fists built into Jack's suit, these leverage their extensive martial arts training and skill, dealing heavy damage at high speeds but at a short range. The Brass Knuckles may be the starting weapon, but later upgrade tiers give them increased range and the ability to light ablaze, spreading the two strongest status effects in the game, which makes them very viable at higher levels of play.
Sparkslasher 	Awarded as a prize for defeating Brickmaster on Slugrest Day 5, the Sparkslasher is a slow but high-power blade forged from extraterrestrial steel, which generally attacks in the form of slow moving combos that send out small shockwaves. The Sparkslasher is a solid early game option against slower foes and big crowds, enabling solid crowd control, but quickly tapers off in viability, especially due to it's generally underwhelming upgrade tiers, which don't provide meaningful advantage over other weapons.
Flame Lash 	The Flame Lash is the starter secondary weapon available to Jack. A pyrokinetic technique they've taught themself, it consists of a crescent-shaped wave of fire sent speeding in one direction, piercing through one enemy as it goes. The Flame Lash is a reasonable early game reach tool, allowing Jack to reach hard-to-hit opponents, and at higher upgrade tiers it gains a lot of pierce, making it a perfect fit for high enemy count levels, but becomes mostly obselete outside of those scenarios later in the game.
Inferno Beam 	
Pumpkin Bombs 	The Pumpkin Bombs are the starter axuiliary weapon available to Jack. Short-range throwable bombs that can be detonated through a secondary use of the auxiliary button, exploding in a small area and dealing huge damage to any enemies caught within, but have a finite amount per level. Pumpkin Bombs are a solid early option, and have a very high skill ceiling that allow for some of the fastest kills in the game, but require a lot of skill in the game to pull it off.
Dreadnought Traps	
===Levels===
In Jack o'Lantern, levels are conducted in an interesting fashion. Each world has a number of "days", unique levels which can be explored as part of Jack's investigation. The player only needs to complete ten of each world's twenty days to unlock the next, meaning only sixty total are needed to compltete the game, but all must be completed for the true ending of the game. The later days grow more difficult, with a higher number of collectibles, providing rewards for players willing to play more and tackle more difficult chanllenges. When the player commences the final showdown, it will vary based off how many levels they completed prior and thus how much of the game's core plot has Jack explored.
In total, there are one hundred and twenty-two levels in the game - the tutorial level, twenty 'days' each in six worlds, and the final showdown with the game's main antagonist. A minimum of sixty-two need to be completed to beat the game.
Each day consists of two stages - the investigation stage, and the vigilantism stage. 
In the first stage, Jack can interact with various characters who are either currently residing in one of the available 'hub areas', develop their relationships, practice in the game's Endless Mode or refight bosses, review information the player has gathered, purchase weapon upgrades, and more. This is a small part of the gameplay, but an important facet of the story and a primary vector through which the game's primary characters are explored.
In the vigilantism stage, the meat of levels take place - Jack fights goons, gangsters and other foes, investigates the Boost drug on a hands on level, and progresses directly through the storyline. This is where they discover collectibles, engage in the game's combat systems, and generally makes up the majority of the gameplay.
==Plot==
===Setting===
Jack o'Lantern is set on the planet of Primordia, a human colony established under the protection of the Orion Trade Federation. Largely low-lying, Primordia is a small waterworld that, in many ways, resembles Earth. Despite connections to the greater galactic community, Primordia is largely isolationist, with contact with alien species and technology reasonably rare. The colony is only about fifty years old, but has already become well-entrenched into the planet.
A huge facet of Primordian society is the Guild of Heroes - an planet-wide organisation that monitors and supports costumed crimefighters in order to take down dangerous criminals, both of which are remarkably common on Primordia. The guild has branches in nearly every major city, and is considered a hallmark of the superhero community.
More specifically, the game takes place in the metropolitan area of Ares City, a crime-ridden behemoth of a city which is much too large for even it's own heroes to successfully handle. Once a bastion of progress and hailed as the economic capital of Primordia, a mere thirty years later the city has crumbled into itself, a hollow mockery of the bustling city it once was. Seedy companies, organised crime and caped criminals all battle for dominance over the city's eighteen distinct suburbs, each hoping to stake their claim over parts of Ares.
====Slugrest====
Slugrest is far from the beating heart of Ares City. A crime-ridden, poverty-stricken suburb, those in Slugrest who are not involved in the extensive criminal underworld quickly fall victim to it in some way. Many of the gang members and small time criminals in Slugrest are fairly innocent independently - a need for protection and money can make people do a lot of things they'd otherwise condemn - and Jack will often find themself faced with the choice to apprehend these individuals or not. This dilemma is accentuated by the highly corrupt police force that defines Slugrest, with a huge majority of cops not on the payroll of the government, but in the pocket of one of the suburb's two big gangs.
The first of these is Ichor Gang - an broader organisation with roots as deep as the city council, which is led locally by Erica Ichora. They are known for being ruthless in a number of regards, but the average gang member is no worse than any other petty criminal. Instead, it's the heavy involvement in the drug trade and sadism pervading the upper ranks that make the Ichor Gang so horrid. They say if there's a deal going down in Slugrest, the Ichor Gang is involved somehow, and the Boost drugs are no exception. Plus, there are rumours going around that Ichor Gang's citywide leader - Miss Ichor - is planning on consolidating her power, something that can't be good for the people of Slugrest.
Ichor Gang's biggest opponents are the Crowned. A local gang, the Crowned skyrocketed to power after seizing the territory of the formerly prolific supervillain Oozelord, and are known for generally being kinder on the locals. That doesn't make them morally pure by any means though - sitting at the top of their hierarchy are the notably sadistic Elizabetta Twins. The Crowned generally operate in arms dealing and similar enterprises, skirting the line of the law as opposed to investing as strongly into the police force as the Ichor Gang do. Competition between the two organisations is fierce and bloody - something terrible for everyone caught in the crossfire.
====Ares City Sewers====
====Herohock Heights====
====Winter Funderland====
====City Central====
====Up N Up Tower====
===Cast===
Jack o'Lantern features a wide cast of characters, ranging from costumed crimefighters and criminals to exasperated government agents and malicious corporate entities. While a majority of them appear primarily as supporting characters in select levels, or even just as bobbleheads that serve to develop the game's world, each character has a lot of thought put into how they interact with both the main character and with the rest of the world. 
Subject 	Basic Information	Further Data
Jack O'Lantern	
*Real Name: Unknown
*Known Aliases: Jack O'Lantern, Jacqueline Redd
*Guild Status: Unregistered Metahuman
*Pronouns: They/them
*Age: Unknown
*Abilities: Pyrokinesis	Sixty days prior to the start of the game, Jack woke up in a dumpster, with no recollection of who they were or how they got there, only a torn nametag labelled Jack. Equipped with strange pyrokinetic abilities and a burning desire to do justice, the amnesiac stitched themselves together a suit and assembled an array of gadgets they shouldn't have known how to build, and went out into the shady Slugrest district, prepared to fight crime. Unfortunately, they got their ass kicked, and only survived due to the intervention of the vigilante Snow Angel, who brough back home and got them on the payroll of Pythia, her mysterious benefactor, and the two became close friends. Now, armed with an array of gadgets and a proper supersuit, Jack fights petty crime and plays pranks on the streets of Slugrest, petitioning for membership into the Guild of Heroes in the process.
Snow Angel	
*Real Name: Kizzy Thunder
*Known Aliases: Snow Angel
*Guild Status: B-Grade Hero
*Pronouns: She/her
*Age: 19
*Abilities: Super strength	Kizzy Thunder was born in the less maintained parts of Ares City, where villains prowl and not a hero lies in sight. After the death of her parents and many harsh nights on the streets, she accepted a job on the payroll of Oozelord, a local villain, only to be betrayed and used as a test subject in one of the Oozelord's many experiments. However, when Kizzy was dunked in alien goop and gained super strength, they didn't turn these newfound powers to evil like so many others. Instead, she helped the ACPD take down the criminal, catching the eye and patronage of the strange Pythia. Equipped with a suit to channel her abilities and new cryo weaponry, Kizzy successfully joined the Guild as a B-Grader and began operating as the Snow Angel, eventually taking in the amnesiac Jack and becoming good friends and partners with the pyrokinetic.
 	 	
===Plot Summary===
The game opens onto the streets of Slugrest, one of Ares City's eighteen suburbs, where the costumed crimefighter known as the Jack o'Lantern is beating up some gangsters after a failed robbery. This serves as the game's combat tutorial, introducing the player to the basic mechanics of the combat system, dashing, and the three weapons Jack has access to. After pummelling the thugs and cuffing them for the ACPD, Jack is confronted by one of their buddies, who downs a strange pill. What seems originally like a normal looking gang member starts hitting harder and faster, and Jack only barely prevails over them, confiscating the pills in the process - a small, green-tinted bottle labelled "BOOST".
Jack returns to the apartment they share with fellow (actually legal) vigilante, Snow Angel (aka Kizzy Thunder), and they discuss the results of the mission and the strange pills that the gang member used against Jack. It devolves into a fight, which devolves into a fade to black. The next day, they come to a compromise - Kizzy will meet with an agent of the duo's enigmatic patron, Pythia, while Jack will head back out onto Slugrest's streets to look for any potential dealers.
From there, it opens up into the game's first world, Slugrest, which is divided into twenty 'days'.
====Slugrest====
On Day One, Jack begins their proper investigation into the Boost drug, tracking down a known dealer's house. They break into the warehouse, taking down a number of gangsters, but with no sign of the green pills. However, after successfully apprehending the dealer and her security, Jack seizes her burner phone, and discovers information concerning a big deal intended to take place five days from now.
On Day Two, Kizzy reports back from last night's meeting with Pythia, who has sent the duo three locations in the district where Boost drugs have been detected. Pythia has also granted Jack access to their arms network, in which they can spend BUX, Ares City's currency, to purchase a variety of weapons. Kizzy will offer to embark with Jack on any of the following busts, which the player can optionally choose. Over the next three days, Jack can choose to do (potentially with Kizzy) these missions in any order, each of which will take the entire vigilantism section of the day. These levels are fairly introductory, with Jack pushing back against several Boost-powered gangs and introducing the player to basic combat dynamics. It is intended to be the full introduction to the game, with players ideally achieving some basic weapon upgrades and becoming comfortable working within the bounds of the combat.
The first mission is the Portside Bust, which sees Jack facing down against a group of organised criminals working out of a warehouse, and protected by corrupt cops. This introduces the player to Ares City's deeply corrupt police force, who will actively pursue Jack if they have the opportunity to, and can cause larger issues later down the line. These criminals are all operating on Boost, but provide no tangible leaks to a supplier.
The second mission is the Brick Bandit Bust, which features Jack against a group of Boost-powered lackeys robbing a gas station. These are a member of the Brick Bandits, a gang closely affiliated with the costumed criminal Brickmaster, and have effectively taken over the gas station in pursuit of an unknown goal. The player can choose how they approach this nonlinear level - either going in guns blazing or taking a less direct route through the level to sneak in and take out the leader of the gangsters.
The third mission is the Champion Challenge, which sees Jack investigating an underground fighting ring rumored to be using Boost. This level also provides the player with a choice - the ring is illegal, and participating in the Boost drug trade, but is also providing a tangible output for many people and isn't directly harming anyone. Jack must engage in combat either way, as a fight turns dirty when a group from the notorious Ichor Gang attempt to take over, but they can choose whether or not to apprehend the rest of the establishment. This will affect character's attitudes towards them in later levels and contexts.
Day Five sees Jack confronting their first costumed criminal in the vigilantism phase, the Brickmaster. A man with the ability to assume the physiology of a brick wall, this criminal stages a heist on the Slugrest General Bank alongside a group of Boost powered flunkies.
Day Six
Days Seven, Eight and Nine
Day Ten
====Ares City Sewers====
====Herohock Heights====
====Winter Funderland====
====City Central====
====Up N Up Tower====
==Enemies==
===Level Bosses===
==Reception==
==Trivia==
*The original concept of the Boost drug was originated by SharkLord.
*This is the third attempt at a game starring the titular character, following the ill-liked Agate and the cancelled Umbra Corps.
*Tables on this page based on "Smooth Moods" by Stella
Category:Action Games
Category:Beat 'em Up Games
Category:Piper's Box
Category:2022 Games
Category:Superhero Games
Category:Jack o' Lantern Franchise
Category:PC Games
Category:Nymbus Games
Category:Nintendo Switch Games