Jack Holmes: Master of Puppets
- April 26, 2024
- @TonyDevGame
- 4h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Jack Holmes: Master of Puppets" is a horror-action game where Jack, a reluctant member of a family business, takes on his first case involving sinister puppets and animatronics. Traverse through various disturbing settings, manage resources, and engage in combat against an array of threatening enemies and bosses. Survival requires quick thinking and strategic use of weapons while uncovering the mystery behind the nightmarish beings.
PC
Playstation 5
Windows
PlayStation
Reviews
- The game features a captivating atmosphere and unique environments, particularly the amusement park, which is filled with detail and creativity.
- Despite some flaws, the game offers a refreshing blend of humor and horror, making it a fun experience for players who enjoy quirky indie titles.
- The developer's dedication is evident, as they have crafted a game with a lot of heart, showcasing impressive design and engaging gameplay elements.
- The game suffers from pacing issues and unclear objectives, which can lead to frustration and aimless wandering for players.
- Combat mechanics feel clunky and unrefined, with inconsistent damage and sluggish movement that detracts from the overall experience.
- There are significant performance issues, particularly in outdoor areas, which can lead to frame rate drops and hinder gameplay.
- story13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The story is described as campy yet engaging, featuring elements of horror and unique scenarios, such as a child’s toy coming to life and encounters with village creatures. While the graphics and atmosphere are praised, many reviewers feel the plot lacks depth and clarity, leading to frustration with story progression and objectives. Overall, the game is recommended for survival horror fans, but it is suggested that the narrative could benefit from further development and clearer storytelling elements.
“The graphics are fantastic and the storyline is very good.”
“Overall, I recommend the game because it's a unique horror game, but I think the game could use a lot of improvements to make it flow better and have objectives be more clear, and items be more obvious, especially quest items.”
“This game is for any fans of survival horror in general; it has awesome atmosphere and storytelling.”
“I wish the story would be fleshed out more though, but again it is at least worth a play if interested in body horror gore. Also, play the prologue to get a better understanding of the lore.”
“I could explain the premise, but honestly, the plot here is barely existent.”
“This took the immersion away from me, and I do think the story has potential. I just didn't make it that far due to my growing frustration.”
- atmosphere11 mentions
- 73 % positive mentions
- 9 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "Jack Holmes: Master of Puppets" is widely praised for its immersive horror elements, detailed environments, and a unique blend of creepy and humorous moments. Reviewers highlight the game's striking graphics, meticulous design, and strong thematic presence, making it a standout experience for fans of survival horror. Despite some shortcomings, the overall ambiance and attention to detail contribute to its reputation as an atmospheric masterpiece.
“Graphically it is very good and the atmosphere is simply wonderful and one of the strongest points of the game, and the park... omg the park you can see the love put into the recreation and especially in the rideable attractions, which are amazing without exception, especially if you are a fan of it.”
“While the English voice acting falls short, the meticulously designed enemies and attention to detail create an atmospheric masterpiece.”
“This game is for any fans of survival horror in general; it has awesome atmosphere and storytelling.”
“However, this game 100% has its own style and atmosphere, which is why I purchased it.”
“First-person survival horror game made by a single developer that has its shortcomings, but overall it gives you a very good feeling of gameplay and is very enjoyable. At a very competitive price and visually striking, my favorite parts are the animal village and Bubu's funhouse, especially this one, as it has a very creepy atmosphere!”
- graphics9 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 11 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are generally praised for their quality and atmospheric design, showcasing a significant amount of effort in crafting unique environments and attractions. However, some users noted performance issues, including FPS drops on medium settings, and expressed a desire for additional graphical options like DLSS. Overall, while the visuals contribute positively to the experience, optimization remains a concern.
“Graphics is not used as a main crutch for delivery and it is inherently noticeable that the developer put in a lot of programming, placement, and time to uniquely craft an experience.”
“Graphically it is very good and the atmosphere is simply wonderful and one of the strongest points of the game, and the park.. omg the park you can see the love put into the recreation and especially in the rideable attractions, which are amazing without exception, especially if you are a fan of it.”
“This is one hell of a horror experience and will go down as one of my favorites. If you love spooky games with great lighting, graphics, and carnival fun then this is a must play!”
“Before I forget, the game's performance isn't really optimized, so expect huge FPS drops even on medium graphics.”
“Artwork found throughout the game is made with AI, proving the developer isn't truthful.”
“Graphics are not used as a main crutch for delivery, and it is inherently noticeable that the developer put in a lot of programming, placement, and time to uniquely craft an experience.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players criticizing the shooting mechanics for being inconsistent and unpolished, leading to frustrating combat experiences. However, others appreciate the unique minigames and the overall atmosphere, noting that despite its shortcomings, the game offers an enjoyable experience at a competitive price. The blend of first-person shooting and survival horror elements creates a tense environment, though improvements in mechanics like dodging could enhance the experience further.
“The gameplay is not polished, and maybe sometimes just unfair, but that roughness works in its favor, feeling that any moment could be the last.”
“First-person survival horror game made by a single developer that has its shortcomings, but overall it gives you a very good feeling of gameplay and is very enjoyable, at a very competitive price and visually striking.”
“The gameplay is below what I'd consider to be acceptable for a paid title. The guns feel terrible, damage is inconsistent; it might take 2 headshots to kill an enemy or 5 headshots and another 5 body shots. The reticle is not actually lined up with where the projectiles go, which is very noticeable at long distances, and enemies are just generally too fast, making the combat feel like a series of clunky shooting while enemies punch you and then heal.”
“The gameplay is not polished, and sometimes it feels just unfair, but that roughness works in its favor, creating a sense that any moment could be the last.”
“The gameplay is neat as an FPS, with original minigames being a very important part of the story to follow.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is notably poor, with significant frame rate drops occurring even on medium graphics settings, particularly in outdoor areas like the park and during specific events such as the fair. Players should anticipate performance issues that detract from the overall experience.
“Before I forget, the game's performance isn't really optimized, so expect huge FPS drops even on medium graphics.”
“Performance can tank significantly when you get to the fair.”
“The performance optimization is pretty bad, especially in the outdoor areas of the game, mainly the actual park areas.”
- music2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, though some players find it occasionally mismatched with the gameplay, leading to moments of confusion regarding its appropriateness. Expectations set by the trailer's energetic soundtrack may have contributed to a desire for a faster-paced experience with more frequent enemy encounters.
“The music is good, though it can feel slightly unfitting at times; there were moments when I stopped and thought, 'Wait, why does this have a beat to it?'”
“The trailer featured some hype music that set my expectations for a faster-paced game with more instances of small enemy hordes.”
“I'm not sure where my expectations went wrong, but the trailer with hype music made me think this would be a slightly faster-paced game with more instances of small enemy hordes.”
“The music feels repetitive and doesn't match the intensity of the gameplay, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“I expected a dynamic soundtrack that would enhance the experience, but instead, it feels flat and uninspired.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in Jack Holmes is praised for its successful blend with survival horror elements, offering a refreshing contrast to the typical focus on fear found in most indie horror titles. This unique approach not only enhances the gameplay experience but also adds depth to the narrative.
“Most indie horror titles focus purely on fear, but Jack Holmes dares to blend humor and heart with its survival horror elements—and it works brilliantly.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the protagonist endearing and wholesome, appreciating his quirky and innocent observations that add a charming emotional depth to the game.
“The protagonist is strangely cute and wholesome with his quirky observations.”
“The game evokes a deep sense of nostalgia and connection to the characters.”
“I felt a rollercoaster of emotions throughout the story, from joy to heartbreak.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be challenging and sometimes tedious, particularly due to the distance between save points, which can exacerbate the difficulty of certain challenges. However, some users acknowledge that their own skill level may contribute to this perception.
“The grinding in this game feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“I found myself spending hours on tasks that felt more like a chore than fun gameplay.”
“The experience is marred by the excessive grinding required to progress, which can be frustrating.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is criticized for its janky combat mechanics, frequent bugs during boss fights, and a tendency to leave players feeling lost, suggesting a need for patience and tolerance for technical issues.
“Only play this if you are willing to put up with janky combat, buggy boss fights, and getting lost for a bit.”
