A game that feels more like a filler episode.
However, the very elements that made the NOLF games so memorable (stealth, skills, gadgets) all seem to have been left by the wayside in favour of a straightforward run and gun experience. The humour is somewhat lacking as well.
With no Cate Archer in sight the whole game feels slightly askew, although the story does provide a little extended background information regarding events that appeared in No One Lives Forever 2. It really feels as if this game was meant to be a part of NOLF 2, but the developer did not want to introduce a new protagonist as part of that game, so kept back certain elements to make this shorter and more concise action game.
While it was only intended to be a budget-priced game, it still feels somewhat lacking due to the omission of key gameplay elements from the NOLF series. To be fair, though, Contract J.A.C.K. does exhibit a high level of polish when compared to many other budget titles. The levels are well designed, and there is a decent selection of weapons that all offer the right amount of punch. Enemy AI is good enough to offer a challenge, although not outstanding.
The single player campaign is painfully short and linear, taking only around 5 hours to complete. The multiplayer side of the game was basic but fun for a while due to the solid selection of weapons and some good level design. Interest soon waned, however, and now there no longer seem to be any servers to play on.
Due to the nature of the Lithtech engine, the graphics are good, and the sound is well done. I can't say that I encountered any noticeable bugs either. However, due to the short, linear and run and gun nature of the single player campaign it seems very basic and has very little replay value. I gave it a tilt because I had a lot of fun with the multiplayer while it lasted, so in the end felt I got my money's worth. Without the multiplayer, though, this game would only really appeal to die-hard fans of the NOLF series for a little more immersion in that game universe, and find out some background information regarding something that happened in NOLF2.