Redjack: Revenge of the Brethren

Redjack: Revenge of the Brethren is an action-adventure video game developed by Cyberflix and released by THQ in 1998.

"Redjack" redirects here. For the fish, see red jack. For the 19th century murderer, see Jack the Ripper.
Redjack: Revenge of the Brethren
Developer(s)Cyberflix
Publisher(s)THQ
Producer(s)Bob Clouse
Programmer(s)Steve Britton
Artist(s)Eric Whited
Steven McBride
Writer(s)Molly Johnson
Bill Appleton
Composer(s)Scott Scheinbaum
Platform(s)Mac OS, Microsoft Windows
Release
Genre(s)Action-adventure game
Mode(s)Single-player

Gameplay

Redjack uses several different engines: the main engine is a rotatory 3D engine, which is used for exploration. When the character enters a fight, the game loads a new screen. There are also different screens for different scenarios, such as concocting volatile drinks, shooting from a cannon on a speeding cart, and puzzles.

Plot

The player assumes the role of a young blond-haired man named Nicholas Dove who inhabits Lizard Point. He is pressured by people that are close to him to make something of himself. Nicholas decides to join a pirate crew in order to make a living. He meets a pirate named Lyle who, after saving him from assassins, tells him that Captain Justice is hiring men because he lost some in an "accident". Captain Justice only hires those that are generally brave enough to form his crew and dares Nicholas to kill a shark. After killing the shark (with poison) and finding a sword and learning to fight from Lyle, Nicholas joins the crew.

After taking the pirate's oath, Nicholas roams the ship and meets Sullivan, who is revealed to be a woman named Anne disguised as a man. When the ship docks at Port Royal, Nicholas is given a watch by Captain Justice. He visits Erzulie who tells him of his future. Nicholas witnesses Captain Justice being murdered by assassins and is blamed for it as he has the captain's watch. After escaping from prison he is captured by Bone and saved later on by Lyle, who maroons him with Sullivan, who was found out.

Nicholas washes ashore onto Redjack Island where he discovers Redjack's corpse. He lights a fire signal and is found by a balloon ship. He is escorted to Blackbeard's fortress and requests an audience. Blackbeard tells Nicholas some of the mythology of the brethren but is knocked unconscious by Bone and his men. Nicholas kills Bone and set sail for Cartagena.

Nicholas enters the city through a secret sewer entrance. He frees his captive friends, Elizabeth and his brother. He enters the Viceroy's room and get captured by a man named Marquez, who is revealed to have betrayed Redjack. After breaking up the reunion of the brethren, Nicholas kills Marquez and rescues Anne before sinking the Spanish fleet and rescuing Blackbeard. The game ends with Nicholas finding treasure at the wreckage of Redjack's ship.

Characters
  • Nicholas Dove - the main character, Nicholas is a pirate charged with the safety of Redjack's daughter and with finding his betrayer.
  • Lyle - a drunken pirate who teaches Nicholas to fight.
  • Anne/Sullivan - Redjack's daughter and a disguised crew member aboard Captain Justice's ship.
  • Redjack - the leader of the brethren.
  • Elizabeth - a possible love interest in the game.
  • Captain Justice - one of the brethren and captain of the ship which sets sail from Lizard Point.
  • Blackbeard - a pirate captain.
  • Marquez - the viceroy and Redjack's betrayer.
  • Bone - a nasty pirate who has a particular dislike for Nicholas.
  • Rockfish - an inventor and former member of the brethren.
  • Cross - a forecaster of things to come.
  • Erzulie - a seer who predicts Nicholas' future and gives him 2 potions.

Development

According to Jack Neely of Metro Pulse, developer CyberFlix had Redjack "on the drawing board for years" in various forms as it developed other games, such as Titanic: Adventure Out of Time.[2] PC Gamer US reported in early 1995 that the game, then called RedJack's Revenge, was being created concurrently with Titanic and was "in the early stages" of development.[3][4] Despite the other pirate-themed games of the period, a writer for the magazine noted that "Cyberflix feels the outlaw spirit and mysterious lives of these roguish individuals just hasn't been given the full attention they deserve." The game was set for release in the fall of 1995.[3] Ultimately, it did not launch until September 22, 1998.[5]

In February 1996, the magazine reported that Red Jack's Revenge had been pushed back to a late-1996 launch alongside Titanic, and was set to be a musical.[6] This version of the game had a lighthearted tone, with songs written by CyberFlix composer Scott Scheinbaum, among others. CyberFlix ultimately reworked the project after its musical version was "laughed out of a focus group", according to artist Jay Nevins. As a result, the team opted instead for a more serious theme, a redesign that delayed Redjack past its earlier ship date.[2]

Reception

The game received average reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[7] Next Generation wrote, "While not as accessible as Titanic, Redjack may just transform steadfast adventure gamers over to the action genre."[18] Macworld's Michael Gowan wrote that Redjack "features a good story line, slightly rough language, and arcadelike swordplay that's a bit too hard to master." He summarized it as an "enjoyable pirate adventure".[17]

Jack Neely of Metro Pulse wrote in October 1999, "RedJack didn't sell nearly as well as hoped; its total sales may have been as little as 10,000 nationwide, hardly 1 percent of Titanic's success."[2]

The Electric Playground nominated the game for their 1998 "Best Adventure Game" award, which ultimately went to Grim Fandango.[22] Shoeless Lyle earned a runner-up position for the publication's "Best New Game Character" prize as well, but lost to Aya Brea of Parasite Eve.[23]

References
  1. IGN staff (September 22, 1998). "News Briefs". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on April 14, 2000. Retrieved December 31, 2020. Pirate adventure game Red Jack [sic]: Revenge of the Brethren is now available in retail stores...
  2. Neely, Jack (October 21, 1999). "Game Over". Metro Pulse. Vol. 9, no. 42. E. W. Scripps Company. pp. 9–12, 22–23, 40.
  3. PC Gamer staff (March 1995). "Under Construction (RedJack's Revenge)". PC Gamer. Vol. 2, no. 3. Imagine Media. p. 33.
  4. PC Gamer staff (March 1995). "Under Construction (R.M.S. Titanic)". PC Gamer. Vol. 2, no. 3. Imagine Media. p. 36.
  5. Hulsey, Joel (September 22, 1998). "RedJack ready to sail". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Strategy Plus, Inc. Archived from the original on February 8, 2005.
  6. McDonald, T. Liam (February 1996). "Multimedia: The Next Generation". PC Gamer. Vol. 3, no. 2. Imagine Media. pp. 74–76, 79–80, 83.
  7. "Redjack: Revenge of the Brethren for PC". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  8. Hoelscher, Kevin (January 23, 2003). "Redjack review". Adventure Gamers. Archived from the original on July 7, 2022. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  9. Savignano, Lisa Karen. "Redjack: Revenge of the Brethren - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  10. Yans, Cindy (December 10, 1998). "Redjack: Revenge of the Brethren". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Strategy Plus, Inc. Archived from the original on February 8, 2005.
  11. Scorpia (March 1999). "Ho, Hum, No Bottle of Rum (Redjack: Revenge of the Brethren Review)" (PDF). Computer Gaming World. No. 176. Ziff Davis. p. 172. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 12, 2023. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  12. Grant, Jules (January 20, 1999). "RedJack: Revenge of the Brethren". The Electric Playground. Greedy Productions Ltd. Archived from the original on July 20, 2002. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  13. Brian B. (December 1998). "Redjack - Revenge of the Brethren Review". GameRevolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on August 22, 2016. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  14. Dulin, Ron (August 27, 1998). "Redjack: Revenge of the Brethren Review [date mislabeled as "May 5, 2000"]". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on January 18, 2005. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  15. Fish, Eliot (October 1998). "Redjack". Hyper. No. 60. Next Media Pty Ltd. p. 73. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  16. Lee, John (September 1998). "RedJack: Revenge of the Brethren". MacADDICT. No. 25. Imagine Media. p. 60. Archived from the original on July 18, 2001. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  17. Gowan, Michael (February 1, 1999). "Name Your Game". Macworld. Mac Publishing. Archived from the original on August 10, 2001. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  18. "Redjack: Revenge of the Brethren". Next Generation. No. 45. Imagine Media. September 1998. p. 142. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  19. Bennett, Dan (September 1998). "Redjack: Revenge of the Brethren". PC Gamer. Vol. 5, no. 9. Imagine Media. Archived from the original on January 18, 2000.
  20. Hill, Steve (November 1998). "Red Jack [sic]: Revenge of the Brethren". PC Zone. No. 69. Dennis Publishing. p. 112. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  21. Kramer, Greg (September 1998). "RedJack: Revenge of the Brethren". MacHome. MacHome. Archived from the original on April 21, 2002.
  22. EP staff (1999). "The Best of 1998: The Blister Award (Best Adventure Game)". The Electric Playground. Greedy Productions Ltd. Archived from the original on August 19, 2000. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  23. EP staff (1999). "The Best of 1998: The Blister Award (Best New Game Character)". The Electric Playground. Greedy Productions Ltd. Archived from the original on August 19, 2000. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
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