LumbearJack - Two Minute Review!

Free from Epic Games between August 1st and August 8th 2024

Title: LumbearJack

Summary: Jack is a humble bear with a simple dream: to return nature to its former glory with the help of his trusty axe and his animal friends. Slice and dice through machinery, slap some sense into wasteful humans, and work with wacky woodland critters to thwart the sinister plans of up-and-coming industrial giant Evil Works.

Release Date: June 2022

Rating: Rated E +10 for Everyone +10

Developer: FinalBoss Games
Publisher: Armor Games

Platforms: Switch, Series S/X, PC, Xbox One

Genres: Action Adventure


Review:


Lumbearjack ("Lum-Bear-jack") is a relaxing adventure game where you play as a bear with an axe, whose mission is to return nature to its former glory. The gameplay involves literally slapping sense into humans, and chopping up any signs of human civilization. The game's wholesome kid-friendly vibe and simple mechanics makes it easy to pick-up-and-play, offering a stress free experience. Slowly transforming each level back into a green space feels well implemented and satisfying, giving players a constant sense of accomplishment and progression.



The game consists of 20 levels, each lasting about five minutes. The objective in every level is to simply destroy an evil companies equipment by hitting it with your axe, with some levels adding the mechanic of collecting enough rubbish to upgrade your axe before you can destroy the larger items. While there are occasional very simple puzzles using world elements, the variety in gameplay is very limited. There are golf and tennis mechanics, but they are very basic and don't add much diversity.


There is no death or time limits, leading to a cosy low-intensity atmosphere. However, the lack of any real difficulty will be a turn off for many players. The main challenge lies in finding all the rubbish hidden within a level, but this is generally not essential to advancing the story. The simplicity means that the game offers little in terms of replayability or lasting challenge.



At roughly 90 minutes in length, Lumbearjack is short but sweet, and packed with charm and personality. The game doesn't delve too deeply into its environmental message, maintaining a light-hearted tone without becoming overly judgmental. While it serves well as a relaxing diversion, the lack of challenge and depth will ultimately make it a charming but forgettable experience for most players.