Windows

Jolly Rover

Jolly Rover may not do much to shake up the traditional adventure game formula, but with its solid gameplay, hilarious writing, and gorgeous visuals, it's really hard to complain. It's a fun and charming adventure and thanks to its helpful hint features, it's also a game that will appeal to just about anyone, landlubber or not.

As I say, the plot admirably mimics the derring-do and shenanigans of a long-lost Monkey Island title, which is no mean feat for any game developer. In addition to the usual conversation and inventory puzzles, there's a book of voodoo recipes you'll have to master as well as the occasional stand-alone logic conundrum. You're almost sure to find your own favorite canine breed among the largish cast, though I can't promise whether they'll be on the side of the good guys or not.

Choc full of extras and set in the sunny Caribbean, join Gaius James Rover as he sets sail, bound for adventure, loot, voodoo, trouble and romance. It is a fun-filled adventure, packed full of piratey goodness and wonderful humour, and the charming art style and beautiful backgrounds are complimented by a great soundtrack and top voice acting. The only downside to this game is that it just isn't long enough and will have you begging for a sequel before you can say "fetch".

I also really enjoyed the pacing of the game. There always seems to be something new to do when you’ve finished a puzzle, and I was never really wandering around aimlessly. The writing helps a lot in keeping you glued to the story as well, and I almost finished the game in one go, clocking in at just a little over four hours. Yes, the game is short, but that’s not necessarily bad. Unfortunately the ending is very abrupt, and that’s the only major criticism I have on Jolly Rover. Perhaps its makers have saved some great ideas for a sequel? That would be nice, because it’s a jolly little game, despite its being cut short at the end.

Итак, резюмируем. Приятная, не очень сложная для опытных квестеров, но могущая озадачить новичков, качественная игра с интересными решениями в виде систем коллекционирования и достижений, а также спорным (по мне) решением в виде системы "толстых" подсказок. Твёрдой четвёрки, то есть 80 из 100, и вашего внимания (даже несмотря на высокую базовую цену в 19.95$) заслуживает.

BAJO I don't think this game breaks any new ground but it's just such a nice short and sweet experience. So often point and click adventures can be incredibly frustrating if they don't have an engaging story or characters, but I was finding myself really amused and having a good amount of fun with this, I'm giving it an eight.

Die Geschichte des mutigen Gaius James Rover hat mich stark an die Monkey Island Serie erinnert, in der es ebenfalls um Piraten, die Karibik, Voodoo und Schätze geht. Im Gegensatz zu den Abenteuern von Guybrush Threepwood, spielen in "Jolly Rover" Hunde die Haupt- und Nebenrollen. Die 2D-Grafik bietet eine bunte und lustige Comic-Atmosphäre, die von einer abwechslungsreichen und stimmungsvollen Hintergrundmusik unterstützt wird. Leider hat man auf Animationen der Hintergründe verzichtet, die dem Charakter des Spiels sicherlich noch mehr Ausdruck verliehen hätten. Auch Soundeffekte sind rar gesät. Die Story zu "Jolly Rover" ist abwechslungsreich und spannend und wurde mit schönen Rätseln und Aufgaben verfeinert, die zwar nicht allzu schwer, jedoch genau nach dem Geschmack eines Adventurefans sind. Für Anfänger wurde ein detailliertes Hilfesystem eingebaut, welches sich hinter einem lustigen Papagei versteckt.

As we stated at the beginning of this review, Jolly Rover feels like a love letter to the Monkey Island fans of old. It’s a lovingly crafted, charming and often times hilarious adventure that certainly strikes a similar chord that Monkey Island did, and is easy to pick up and lose yourself in for a few hours. Not only this, but it’s rather cheap to pick up on Steam, so if you’re in the mood for some solid adventure gaming fun, or are a massive fan of the genre itself, then grab yourself a copy of Jolly Rover and have a Jolly good time.

My initial reaction to the game was a little guarded, first impressions were that we were dealing with a cheap Monkey Island rip-off, but over the course of the title it becomes apparent there is a significant amount of homage in its copying. And it is hard to fault the unashamedly utilisation of classic game inspiration when it is so much fun to play more of the source materials ilk.

Mit Jolly Rover ist Brawsome ein gelungener Einstieg ins Comic-Adventure-Genre geglückt. Eine nette Grafik und hervorragende Soundkulisse bieten mehr als nur eine gute technische Basis. Die Spielzeit ist mit 4-6 Stunden zwar nicht sehr lang, allerdings laden einige versteckte Boni zu erneutem Durchspielen ein. Die Rätsel sind bis auf einige Ausnahmen zwar nicht unbedingt originell, abwechslungsreich und spaßig sind sie aber auf jeden Fall. Besonders Einsteiger werden aufgrund des Schwierigkeitsgrades und des Bedienkomforts schnell Erfolge erzielen, Fortgeschrittenen und Profis dürften aber die richtigen Herausforderungen fehlen. Etwas enttäuschend sind dagegen Story, Humor und Charaktere, denen Spannung, Wortwitz und Tiefe fehlen.

With the witty banter, humorous storyline, and excellent cast of characters, Jolly Rover manages to create an identity of its own.

Yes, the game could be seen as “Monkey Island with dogs”, but it succeeds in creating that same kind of humor and is funny enough to make you laugh out loud in some places. What helps the writing succeed is the voice acting, which across the board is very well done.

HEX Yeah I also thought it was a really warm game and quite charming, you're not going to be incredibly challenged by the gameplay or the story but there are some nice moments, 7.5 from me.

Overall, it’s an okay game. It won’t steer the hardcore adventures away from the likes of the Broken Sword games, but it’s ideal for children from about nine upwards. The puzzles are easy enough for them to explore and the content, although the game mentions drinking rum or smoking a pipe, isn’t too harmful for young eyes and ears. A nice game from the old days of Sierra or Lucas Arts stables.

During my six-plus hours of playing through Jolly Rover, I ultimately found no huge drawbacks to this pirate… that is, pirate dog adventure. The story of a pirate and voodoo hijinks on the high seas doesn’t break any new ground, and some may find the gameplay a little too shallow, a bit too easy. But the humor is strong, with a dash of pathos for depth: unfulfilled clown dreams, voodoo priests clamoring for your soul, cannibals that want to eat or marry you, what more can you ask for? The developer clearly put a lot of thought into user-friendly accessibility as well, and overall I found this game to be thoroughly enjoyable, and I’m hoping we see further adventures of the dashing dachshund Gaius James Rover.

Overall, Jolly Rover is a solid adventure but lacks the extra layer of polish to make it truly shine. As an indie production, this game is undoubtedly impressive. However, many adventure game fans may feel slightly underwhelmed due to a prevailing sense of déjà vu. Nonetheless, it is an easy recommendation for gamers who find the idea of a canine cast of pirates appealing—in that sense, Jolly Rover is a game that manages to remain somewhat enjoyably unique despite its flaws.