Jet Kave Adventure (Xbox One) Review
Release Date: January 14, 2021 (Xbox, previously on Switch and PC since September 17, 2019)
Publisher/Developer: 7Levels
Platform: Xbox One (Series S|X) (reviewed), PC, Nintendo Switch
Price: $14.99 X1, currently $19.99 retail on Switch (though discounted to $13.39 as of this writing)
Jet Kave Adventure tells the tale of Kave, previously a leader of a tribe of cavemen unceremoniously booted from the clan. As he is being excommunicated, a space alien crash-lands and determines the only source of energy able to get him back into space is the nearby volcano. Unfortunately, using the volcano as such will result in the extinction of Kave’s tribe. Kave goes to investigate, and ends up inadvertently having a space-age jet pack materialize on his back. It’s apparently so easy a caveman could use it, as soon enough Kave is jetting through the sky in an attempt to stop the alien from destroying his home.
After an extremely short narrative tale, most all of Jet Kave Adventure’s story is told through heiroglyphic-style thought and speech bubbles. The tutorials are drawn on the wall as cave paintings, and basic “ughs” and “grunts” are accompanied by bubbles with pictures in them. This makes Jet Kave Adventure very accessible even to the youngest player, or to someone with language difficulties. Gameplay reminds me of Donkey Kong Country, namely Diddy Kong, if the jetpack got an upgrade. Kave can jump, propel himself off of walls, and hover to get a little bit further or higher. Kave also can do burst dashes to knock down obstacles, pound through enemies, or use a hang glider to fly through the air. Other than the dash attack, Kave can hit things and baddies with a slingshot or a club.
The game is very accessible, as Kave can take three hits before he dies, and also stash food for a health refill. You get food just about out of any enemy you face as well as just lying around. Your health refills at every checkpoint, which is plentiful. If you are having difficulty, there is an in-game shop that lets you buy more hit points, food stashes, or bigger jet pack tanks.
Most all enemies boil down to “see the pattern, avoid the attack.” A lot of them go down in a single hit, to where you can pretty much keep swinging/shooting through a level and take them down as you run. Bosses have a traditional Mega-Man style of “watch the predictable pattern and exploit the weakness.” Wait till they’re dizzy for whatever reason and whack them with your club. Some light platforming and puzzles wrap up the rest of the traditional levels.
The game comes into it’s own when you focus on the jetpack for particular levels or bosses. Kave has to run from something, a dinosaur, alien robot, et cetera, and usually has a reason why his jet pack has more oomph, like batteries scattered through the level. Not only do you have to complete the course, but something is barreling down on you and you have no choice but to keep moving. Other unique levels add things like a giant hang glider that you boost with your jet pack, deciding when to expend fuel and when to just coast. These levels kind of flash me back to the Sega Genesis and Aladdin’s magic carpet levels crossed with Donkey Kong’s mine cart levels.
Jet Kave Adventure is a unique mix, given that it’s designed for simplicity but can also provide a challenge. You can just “beat the game”, given the infinite lives and hearty checkpoints, but master platformers will appreciate the additional challenges: finding hidden statues and secret areas, doing “pacifist runs”, hitting a record time, or defeating the level without damage, all of which are tallied on a saved leaderboard. It’s the kind of game you can poke around with and have fun with your kid, but then come back later and max out your skill. The game isn’t the next AAA blockbuster, but that flexibility definitely makes me want to try it out, even if I don’t appear to be the target demographic. While not the next amazing game everyone has to rush out and buy, Jet Kave Adventure is a fun game with a unique and well-balanced mix of “fun for the whole family” and “hardcore challenge” that can please just about any gamer.
Pros:
-Really appreciate the kid-friendly atmosphere with some subtle challenges for those hunting some.
-Well animated enemies and fun use of Kave’s abilities
-Jet pack focused levels are frantic and fun
Cons:
-Paper thin plot done in-game engine
-Predictable bosses, simplistic fighting