Review: Davy x Jones

Developer – Parasight

Publisher – Parasight

Platforms – PC (reviewed)

Preview copy given by publisher

Davy x Jones is an action-packed take on the legendary pirate. During one of Davy’s encounters with Blackbeard, he’s betrayed by his crew and killed. Through some magical force, Davy’s head is its own entity while his body is now moving again. Once Davy discovers his body is moving again, he desires revenge against Blackbeard and his former crewmates. Fight your way through the undead to get your revenge but keep an eye out because the undead fight back.

The premise of the game is intriguing and it’s filled with fast-paced combat. Fighting through enemies and exploring the world is fun though it does have an adjustment period. Several gameplay aspects could use more revision and the rough edges are obvious from the beginning. Davy x Jones has solid foundations to become a great game but there are parts that could use some fixing first.

The story takes place in the Locker where Davy Jones finds himself after being killed by Blackbeard. His death was only possible since his crew betrayed him. Davy’s lost his head which has somehow managed to survive separated from his body. One day, Davy runs into his body and learns that it can fight without him. Accompanying his body, Davy plots revenge against Blackbeard and Davy’s former crew.

It’s a fantastically crazy story that doesn’t hold back on the details. The relationship between Davy’s head and body is humorous, feeling more like unlikely allies instead of the same person. This dynamic works because the absurdity of the situation clashes with Davy’s desire for control. As time goes on, the duo start building an understanding of their relationship along with Davy’s goal of vengeance.

Combat is fast-paced and is a good show of Davy’s fighting style. You dual-wield a sword and flintlock pistol, using both to defeat enemies. Davy’s head acts as a hook that pulls enemies towards you or vice versa. More tricks appear as you progress through the game, letting you experience the thrill of being a powerful pirate. Enemies hit hard, giving you an incentive to use Davy’s abilities to the fullest.

Unlike other first-person shooters, Davy x Jones has multiple areas you can explore on your journey. This prevents your adventure from feeling one-dimensional and lets you find new treasures. Some structures assist your navigation and help you uncover treasures, while other places test your agility and reflexes. It’s great to have gameplay variation that goes beyond defeating enemies as it makes the world more immersive.

Davy x Jones does show its rough edges as an Early Access game. Some of the dialogue doesn’t match up with the subtitles and it’s easy to accidentally interrupt Davy when he’s speaking. It’s also not always clear where you should go even if you do have a map. The UI captures the details of combat but there aren’t many options for help if you need it. Sometimes you will lose your way or forget that you have a map until you get a lucky button press.

There are also times during combat where you can pass through enemies or they pass through you. Not every object is breakable but they are often colored similarly. You might even miss the lock on a treasure chest though your attack makes contact. These are minor issues but it is frustrating when treasure chests are harder to open than necessary. With some extra polish, these issues should be fixed easily.

Davy x Jones shows lots of promise with good foundations and an interesting premise. The combat is varied enough to keep you occupied and there’s a big world to explore. It’s not perfect and some issues stand out more than others. Fortunately, there’s still plenty of time to polish the game and deliver a fast-paced experience. If you want a pirate game that pumps your adrenaline and has lots to explore, keep an eye on Davy x Jones.