John the Pirate

Why We Picked John the Pirate

John the Pirate is built from lining up a shot before firing, a few checkpoints and a map small enough to remember. The screen is readable at a glance, so you can plan the next jump while finishing this one. Nothing here is padded, including the ending, which arrives exactly on time. It earns the slot by being finishable in a sitting without feeling small while you are in it. By the numbers: 288 plays, 3.8 out of 5 from 4 ratings, and 165 of 183 on the adventure shelf.

How to Play

Three things decide whether a run here goes well:

• The angle is set before you fire, so the first second is the important one.
• The exit is marked by the level design rather than by a marker, so read the screen before the map.
• Move in short bursts so you can stop where the level needs it.

Editor’s Note

There is nothing to install and nothing to keep, which suits the length. Little on these pages tracks progress between visits, so each level is approached from its own beginning.

Written by the UGFJD editorial team for this page. The publisher’s own description follows below, unedited.