Howdy Jacob
- December 16, 2020
- calamityjive
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io StoreHowdy Jacob is a dystopian-themed hidden object game featuring full-motion video puppetry. As showrunner Chandler, you must train a new actor for the state's popular propaganda show, Laughsail, while managing the egos and exhaustion of your puppet co-stars. The game combines nostalgic childhood fun with a darker narrative, challenging you to maintain the show's quality amidst difficult circumstances.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features charming art and unique puppetry that enhances the overall experience.
- The writing is witty and filled with humor, making the gameplay enjoyable and engaging.
- Despite its short length, the game offers a quirky and entertaining world that players want to explore further.
- The gameplay is quite simple and can feel repetitive, with hidden object puzzles lacking depth.
- The game is very short, leaving players wanting more content and a more developed storyline.
- Some aspects of the game, such as the cutscenes and overall execution, feel unpolished and could benefit from further refinement.
- story20 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The game's story is a mixed bag, featuring a dystopian theme that explores dark and complex ideas through a whimsical puppet aesthetic. While some players appreciate the unique storytelling approach and the art design, others criticize the narrative for being disjointed and poorly integrated with the gameplay. Overall, the potential for a compelling story is evident, but its execution leaves much to be desired.
“I recommend this game because of the story and that the game itself is just well put together.”
“And that story, while shared with colorful puppets and awesome backdrops, discusses government and relevancy as we age.”
“Looks cute at first glance, the story beneath is a little more sinister regarding the Laughsail television show you are casting a new Jacob for.”
“On top of that, the game has a weird story delivered through a wall of text at the beginning that doesn't make any sense, isn't interesting to read, and doesn't mix well with the hidden object game at all.”
“But the story is really bad and awkward.”
“Looks cute at first glance, but the story beneath is a little more sinister regarding the Laughsail television show you are casting a new Jacob for.”
- humor13 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever writing, engaging puppet dialogue, and quirky world-building jokes that blend charm with darker themes. Players appreciate the unexpected hilarity and the depth of the humor, which often invites contemplation about serious topics, making it both entertaining and thought-provoking. However, some reviews note that while the humor can be hit or miss, the overall experience remains enjoyable, especially when shared with friends.
“I was not expecting it to be as lol funny as it was, so that was a welcomed surprise.”
“Quite fun puppet voices/dialogue, and the amount of reading-between-the-lines like, world building jokes (both from the puppets and from the object descriptions) were funny, charming and quirky in the best kind of way!”
“Majors kudos must be given to the writing as well; you'll want to take your time and read every description, they're packed with lore and humor.”
- music13 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for being pleasant, relaxing, and atmospheric, enhancing the overall experience with its beautiful melodies. Many players express a desire to obtain the soundtrack, particularly highlighting standout tracks that they enjoy listening to repeatedly. The combination of the music and art creates an engaging and immersive world, although some find the accompanying characters less appealing.
“Music is very nice and relaxing, and the art is also good with a consistent style.”
“Sometimes I would stay in a level for an extra minute or so just to listen to the soundtrack more.”
“Between the beautifully illustrated backgrounds and the music, you'll be drawn into a bizarre and fun world.”
“Separate toggles for sound and music, no volume sliders.”
“The final location's song was amazing and I really need the mp3 for that so I can listen to it on repeat.”
“Art and music were great, puppets damned annoying.”
- gameplay10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The gameplay consists of a series of hidden object puzzles set in visually appealing, colorful scenes, with a total playtime of around an hour. While the mechanics are simple, players found the puzzles engaging and the overall experience enjoyable, particularly due to the creative world and artistic design. However, the gameplay may not appeal to everyone, especially those who are not fans of the hidden object genre.
“The level design is pretty, their artist is talented, and I enjoyed the actual gameplay that was there.”
“The entire gameplay revolves around finding objects in a dozen or so colorful scenes, with live action segments with puppets to introduce and end each scene.”
“The gameplay explanation is pretty simple: it's an hour-long hidden object game with some very colorful, vaguely surreal scenes.”
“The entire gameplay revolves around finding objects in a dozen or so colorful scenes, with live action segments featuring puppets to introduce and end each scene.”
“Anyways, it took me like 30 minutes to finish the gameplay with the videos in between; I left it running on one level to do some housework, so it didn't really take an hour to complete.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are praised for their beautiful surreal art style, with users highlighting the superb and exquisite artwork that enhances the overall visual experience. The combination of striking visuals and complementary music contributes to a captivating atmosphere.
“But all in all, it is a very simple hidden object game yet with a beautiful surreal art style.”
“The artwork is superb.”
“The artwork is exquisite and eye-catching.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a unique blend of cute and eerie elements, enhanced by detailed illustrations and a harmonious combination of art and music. The distinct personalities of the characters contribute to an intriguing ambiance that captivates players.
“The characters have unique personalities, and the art and music work well together to create a captivating atmosphere.”
“Each of the illustrations has its own atmosphere, and they're all brimming with detail. I liked that it's cute but eerie; the puppets have an adorable intrigue that's hard to pin down.”
“The characters have some unique personalities, and the art and music work well together to create a more immersive atmosphere.”
“Each of the illustrations has its own atmosphere, and they're all brimming with detail. I liked that it's cute but eerie; the puppets all have an adorable intrigue that's hard to pin down.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users report issues with the stability of the caption toggle, noting that it fails to display captions during cutscenes and requires reactivation at the start of level 1. This suggests a need for improvements in the game's functionality regarding accessibility features.
“There's a buggy toggle for captions; turning it on only showed them in the menu, not during cutscenes. I had to turn them on again during level 1.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly impossible to progress without losing progress.”
“I experienced constant frame drops and stuttering, which ruined the overall gameplay experience.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that the game's optimization is generally well-received, with users noting smooth performance and efficient resource management, although the reviewer discloses a potential conflict of interest due to their involvement in the video capture and performance team.
