REVIEW

Adventure Time Finn & Jake Investigations Review

by Rob Pritchard, November 23rd, 2015

For anyone who has been watching Cartoon Network in the past six years, you will inevitably have heard of the Adventure Time series starring Jake the dog and his adoptive brother Finn the human. After starring in several games across various genres, developers Vicious Cycle Software have made Finn & Jake Investigations, a graphic adventure game starring various characters from Pendleton Ward’s fictional universe.

Living in the land of Ooo, Finn and Jake regularly encounter various friends and enemies such as the Ice King, Marceline the Vampire Queen and Princess Bubblegum. In Finn & Jake Investigations, the two main characters discover an old ticker tape style machine, which has the uncanny ability to receive requests for help from the citizens of Ooo. After learning that their parents were originally detectives, both Finn and Jake decide to heed the requests of the machine and solve each problem as it arises.

Each of the five cases in Finn & Jake Investigations are completely independent of each other, although they do share a common theme, as stated by the game’s narrator. As an added bonus, the opportunity to guess what the theme consists of is provided at the end, if you should choose to do so. Although the quest stars both Finn and Jake, you only control the former throughout the adventure, although it is possible to use Jake’s shape shifting abilities to solve puzzles that require extra height or an extended reach. The bread and butter of the gameplay is that of a textbook adventure game, but it is distinctly closer to the fast moving gameplay of The Odd Gentlemen’s Kings Quest reboot, rather than the sometimes slower pace of Telltale Game’s stories of intrigue.

Outside of the branching conversations, it is possible to interact with the land of Ooo using the items you find along your way, and occasional combinations of item and Jake’s super powers. Instead of being drawn in a 2D style like the Adventure Time series, Finn & Jake Investigations uses cartoon style 3D models that share a lot of similarities with the original works. These graphics work very well for the game, and are especially clear on the latest generation consoles. Long time fans will be pleased to hear that the dialog windows for the game feature avatar pictures that are true to the series. Many different locations in the World of Ooo are visited, such as the Candy Kingdom and the Tree House where Finn and Jake live. Each one is colourful and vibrant, and filled with everything you would expect if you are a fan of the cartoon, but if you are expecting to be able to jump between locations at will, you will be disappointed as you are stuck in the current set of areas until you have completed all the tasks you have been set.

While most of the puzzles are unique and fairly easy to solve, there are a few occasions where logic goes out of the window, and you are forced to use combinations of every object in order to proceed onward. While the gamers who are lateral thinkers will be able to come up with a solution, it is slightly inexcusable to have a game designed with children in mind to expect them to imagine a feasible solution out of nowhere. For example, in the scene where you have to get an empty bottle from some loose scaffolding, it is highly likely that Jake could reach the object, but he refuses to touch it. Instead, you are forced to rely on a side character, whose questionable morals lead you to solving the puzzle, but you are forced to find another bottle as it will not be fit for the purpose required.

The adventuring formula is given an extra zest with the addition of melee combat which does not rely on quick time events. Finn can use a small variety of moves to vanquish the enemies he encounters, and when he has gained enough energy, it is possible to tag in Jake to use one of four special moves to eliminate opponents more efficiently. This is a refreshing change to the sometimes monotonous walk-and-click action we have come to expect, but sadly two of the special moves do not offer the added boost to attack power you might expect, so you will more often than not use the Jake Suit and the Jake Spin moves ad nauseum, which feels rather limiting given the small range of special moves available.

Every character that returns from the cartoon series is voiced by their original actor, which is a relief because it is hard to picture anyone but John DiMaggio voicing Jake, or Tom Kenny voicing the criminally naive Ice King. The soundtrack is equally stellar, with the original theme song making a well-deserved appearance, and the several compositions which accompany Finn and Jake on their journey feel like they have borrowed directly from the show.

Overall, Adventure Time: Finn & Jake Investigations is a competent graphic adventure game. The melee combat definitely adds something to the experience, as well as a set of interesting, if sometimes confusing puzzles mixed into the narrative driven gameplay. Like any adaption of an established brand, you will need to know the series lore to get most of the references, but for any Adventure Time fan or adventure game enthusiasts alike, this is definitely a purchase to be considered.

If you are interested in Adventure Time, or are looking for a new graphic adventure to complete, then Finn & Jake Investigations is a good way to discover more about the Land of Ooo.