Contract J.A.C.K

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Contract J.A.C.K
Just Another Contract Killer.
Protagonist(s): John Jack
Genre(s): First-person shooter
Platform(s): Microsoft Windows
Release Date: NA: November 11, 2003
EU: November 21, 2003
Engine: Lithtech Jupiter
Developer(s): Monolith Productions
Publisher(s): Vivendi Universal Games[1]
Series: No One Lives Forever
Predecessor: The Operative: No One Lives Forever (Chronologically)
Successor: No One Lives Forever 2: A Spy in H.A.R.M.'s Way (Chronologically)


Contract J.A.C.K. is a 2003 first-person shooter video game and the prequel to No One Lives Forever 2: A Spy in H.A.R.M.'s Way. It was developed by Monolith Productions and published by Vivendi Universal Games and its subsidiary Sierra Entertainment. J.A.C.K. ("Just Another Contract Killer") is set in the time frame between the events of the original The Operative: No One Lives Forever and its sequel, No One Lives Forever 2.

Plot

The game follows John Jack, a professional killer recruited by H.A.R.M., a criminal organization central to the No One Lives Forever series. Contract J.A.C.K. is set between No One Lives Forever and No One Lives Forever 2. The game does not involve UNITY, the organization for which Cate Archer works and that opposed H.A.R.M. in the other two games. Rather, J.A.C.K. pits H.A.R.M. against a rival criminal organization, Danger Danger.

Why It's An Contract Killer (In a Good Way)

  1. The story takes place before NOLF 2, which is interesting, it also explains how Dimitrij Volkov got in the wheelchair after the skiing incident.
  2. Playing as a hired hitman working for the evil organization from the previous games H.A.R.M, working for the main villain from the previous games "Dmitrij Volkov" is an interesting concept and it was well executed.
  3. Il Pazzo is a great and threatening villain.
  4. Despite being mostly a mission pack, it's a huge improvement over the previous game, including features that were forgotten from the first game such as: The return of the Space Station level, having more weapons, being able to punch again, having a total of two vehicle sections (which is also the best as it now has weapons that can be used such as rockets and machine guns).
    • The weak 9mm pistol from the previous game has been replaced with a more powerful Desert Eagle, the 9mm pistol can also be accessible by using cheat codes.
  5. The graphics are still interesting to look at since it uses the same engine as the previous game: Jupiter Engine.
  6. Despite having no humorous scenes like the previous games, there are still a handful of funny dialogues, mostly notable from: Il Pazzo and Dr Harij.
  7. The weapons are more fun to use, thanks to their more powerful sounds.
  8. This game removed annoying features that the previous game had such as, searching bodies for ammo and a pointless upgrade system.
  9. The soundtrack is still nice to listen to as it uses the same soundtrack from NOLF 2 while also including three more new tracks.
  10. The levels are interesting and cool to explore such as: The Russian base from the previous game, the aforementioned Space Station and Florence.
  11. The gunplay is even more satisfying.
  12. There are secrets to find throughout the game in a similar vain to Blood 1 (Another monolith game).
  13. The game pays respectful tribute to the previous games such as: Cameos from Cate Archer (the protagonist from NOLF 1 and 2) first appearing in the beginning of Chapter 3 and wanted posters from NOLF 2 appearing at the near-final level, there are also mentions of the NOLF 1 events such as the destroyed H.A.R.M Space Station being rebuilt into a new one, only to be destroyed again, this time by Jack himself.
  14. This game is far more easier to run on modern systems.
  15. It's overall an huge redemption from the previous game.

Bad Qualities

  1. Since it's a mission pack, the game is very short lasting only 10 levels.
  2. The protagonist John Jack, may be viewed as a one-dimensional and dull protagonist as he barely has any dialogues.
  3. Sadly you don't play as the well-beloved protagonist Cate Archer this time, luckily there are a few cameos throughout the game.
  4. Sadly, despite the huge improvements the game has, it wasn't very well received.
  5. Just like NOLF2, there is no replay value.
  6. As mentioned before, the humorous scenes from the previous games is non existing.

Reception

TBA

Trivia

TBA

Videos

TBA

Comments

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  1. Released under the Sierra Entertainment brand.