Now you would think that having been born with a head like a seasick ‘Rocky Dennis’, Apple Jack would be owed something of a break. However life is rarely fair and now poor Jack has lost his dog, in Wales of all places, and it’s your mission to cross the country from Suffolk to find him.
You play the aforementioned Apple Jack, a boy with an apple for a head, who has lost his dog on the snowy peak of Mount Snowdon. The game is level based with each of the 100 levels representing a real town within one of the 5 real counties, the objectives can vary but essentially you are required to clear the levels of all, or a pre-determined number of enemies, and collect the coins that are produced.
The enemies come in a variety of somewhat out-of-place forms – from pandas to washing machines. Killing these wacky antagonists is fairly simple; you jump on an enemy’s head, pick it up and then throw it at another enemy which kills them both. This method of execution has been likened to Super Mario 2 but I assure you aside from this one element the games are nothing alike. Occasionally the game expands on this principle and you are required to match enemies by colour; therefore to kill a blue washing machine you must hit it with a blue washing machine. There is no AI as such and instead the enemies wander back and forth within their designated areas.
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Rather than a typical platform game Apple Jack does away with a linear set-up and, instead of having to make your way from a to b whilst killing or avoiding nasties along the way, you will find yourself within an enclosed level requiring you to eliminate the enemies and conquer various puzzles/obstacles at the same time. The levels are quite nicely put together and allow you freedom to in all directions, there are some interesting physics at times as well with you jumping down a hole at the bottom of the screen only to find yourself falling from the sky elsewhere on the screen.
The game controls well and feels solid, in a good way, considering walking into the enemies results in death. An inaccurate jump would have been murder inducing but the developers have got this one right. The set-up is simple with the analog controlling movement, one button to jump and another to pick up and throw enemies. Jack also has a secret weapon up his sleeve, he is able to crouch into the form of an apple and roll through tight gaps.
Graphically the game is great; the developers have captured a unique look and feel, each county has its own look to set it apart from the others, it really brings the game to life and suits the game style and story. The soundtrack is a great mix of uplifting, folksy, acoustic tunes which perfectly compliment the game and really add to the experience.
Apple Jack is a fantastic first game and genuinely one of the best XBLIGs I’ve played. The game is incredibly fun and quite uplifting at times and it will keep you occupied for hours. I expect great and quirky things from this developer in the future, but for now buy Apple Jack.
Apple Jack costs 80 :MSPoints: and you can download the trial or purchase the full version from the Marketplace.
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