This ain’t no Titanic you lily livered land lubbers!
Avast ye scurvy dogs, are ye interested in some swash buckling pirate action, deep meaningful cleavage, and a great story line to boot? Arrrr! Then, swab the decks and load up your hard drive with Redjack – Revenge of the Brethren. If ye like the pirate life and an arse-kicking fantasy adventure, then you’ll like this. From learning how to fight and becoming a pirate, to solving the mystery of Redjack, you will take on a whole new self in your rise from lowly cabinboy to full-fledged piratehood.
Redjack – Revenge of the Brethren, has some of the best character interaction and believable dialogue for a game of this genre. The accents and personalities fit the pirates perfectly. Each of the interactive characters can be spoken to in various ways, ranging from friendly to hostile, each triggering a different outcome. If ye want the character’s blood to boil, phrases like “Dead men tell no tales, you bastard” are the ticket. Or if brown nosing is more your forte, such remarks as “Can we just be friends?” or “Can I buy you an ale?” are at your ass-kissing disposal, but might lead to a sword in your gullet.
Redjack’s plot is nicely worked in with its gameplay. You are Nicholas Dove, a man living in a difficult time. In the beginning of the game, your mission is to learn to become a pirate. You don’t just wake up some bloody morning and decide you wish to become the terror of the seven seas. The game makers do a wonderful and realistic job of weaving numerous puzzles into the game, which lead you down your destined path. For instance, you must learn the art of war play by first finding a sword, and then getting a mug of ale to pay a burly pirate, named Lyle in exchange for his teaching you how to fight. So, rather than being given an instruction booklet by the game makers on how to fight, they get the characters to teach you through interaction. Failure to pass each level of instruction results in Lyle’s sarcastic wit saying how much you suck, adding to the game’s appeal and humor. Once you pass the tests, you can join the crew and try to stay alive during your adventures on the high seas. (Shiver me timbers – Ed.)
Unfortunately, the fighting sequences
are lacking because you are restricted to whom you’re supposed to fight and
when you’re supposed to fight them. The game simply changes into a fight mode
when it is time for that event. In order to fight, you have two modes: gunplay
or swordplay. You have to use the mouse for both aiming your gun and fencing.
I’m not going to tell all there is to know about this, or I will spoil your
fun with Lyle.
The graphics and textures are very realistic. The music sets the scenes well and creates an epic feel. I also liked the fact that when the characters spoke there mouth movements matched their words. This game also has some spectacular, well-detailed cut scenes.
The only things about Redjack that is annoying are the movement and the aforementioned fighting sequences. Although you can view your world at 360 degrees, you lack a true 3D, go-anywhere interaction. Like many adventure games, you are only able to go in specific directions designated by the mouse cursor. Don’t let this discourage you, however, because the path allows for a lot of territory to cover. It just doesn’t let you go into all the buildings, or walk through all the jungle.
Although Redjack is a very linear game by design, its most redeeming quality is its rich and interesting story line, complimented by its fabulous character interaction. It is similar in gameplay to the X-Files Game, but with a better pace and more things to do, thus keeping your interest longer. If you like a fantasy adventure, good story telling, and swarthy pirates, this game is for you. If you disagree with me, I’ll tie ye to the yardarm and give ye ten lashes with the cat o’ nine tails.
