I feel like it’s been a good minute since we had a solid FPS action game. Yeah, DOOM: The Dark Ages released in May of this year, but since then nothing of note has caught my eye. That is until I was told to try out developer PARASIGHT’s next early access game, DAVY X JONES. I won’t say I’m a die-hard pirate fan or know everything about the real Davy Jones, but I do know he’s one of the more infamous pirates in history, and a game centered on him sounded interesting. After watching some gameplay trailers, my curiosity turned into a genuine desire to play. After spending a few hours with it, I realized this game has a ton of potential. Should you join Davy on his quest for revenge, or should you let his body rot in the locker he’s apparently still in? I’ll tell you now in our early access review of DAVY X JONES!

Gameplay

DAVY X JONES has players assuming the role of…not exactly who you might think. Yes, you start as the infamous Davy Jones, betrayed by his crew and killed by Blackbeard. He’s not a hero you feel bad for—if anything, he deserved the betrayal. Upon his death, he ends up in a water-like underworld until suddenly, his body is revived. The twist? Jones’ body and head become separate beings, and together they fight off hordes of the damned to seek revenge. This is where the gameplay hooks you.

DAVY X JONES plays like a modern FPS adventure with heavy DOOM vibes. As Jones, you wield legendary pirate weapons: a powerful flintlock capable of blasting cannonball shots, and a strange sword imbued with anime-like powers. These aren’t just weapons—they’re freedom. Combat is fast, stylish, and absurdly fun.

No two battles feel the same. Want to slice enemies with combos and juggle them in mid-air? You can. Prefer blasting from a distance with AOE cannon shots? That’s possible too. Mixing styles creates havoc, and the executions are simple but satisfying. Later-game abilities make you feel like an unstoppable headless beast on the battlefield.

You’ll also find treasures that unlock new skills through a straightforward but effective skill tree. Treasures are randomized, adding replayability. Enemies can be surprisingly smart, forcing you to strategize or risk permanent death. Where things slowed down for me was in exploration. While Davy can be used as a grapple hook—and exploration does reward you with treasures—I often found myself just wanting to reach the next fight.

Graphics

DAVY X JONES nails its dark sea and underworld aesthetic. From the design of our undead pirate to the eerie enemies you encounter, the visuals carry the tone perfectly. I especially loved the set pieces scattered throughout the adventure. The in-game cutscenes were also strong, though I wasn’t as impressed by the cartoonish-style cutscenes—it felt like a tonal shift. Regardless, on various settings from Low to Epic, the game looked great. My PC ran it comfortably on High, and it was visually impressive throughout.

Sound

The voice acting is surprisingly strong. Jones’ headless body only groans his name, but the banter between him and Davy is hilarious. The soundtrack is equally stellar—epic sea-themed tracks and pulse-pounding combat music make each battle feel like life or death. The sound design and voice talent deserve a lot of credit, and PARASIGHT clearly invested in creating an immersive audio experience.

Story

Here’s where DAVY X JONES didn’t grab me as much. I’ve never been the biggest fan of purely pirate-themed stories. Yes, I loved Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag, but that blended pirate lore with larger franchise themes. DAVY X JONES plays around with underworld legends and pirate mythology, and the writing is clever. Still, I personally didn’t feel compelled by the lore or the revenge narrative. The story isn’t bad—it’s well-delivered—but it just didn’t hook me compared to the gameplay.

Overall Impression

DAVY X JONES surprised me with how much fun it is. The gameplay is fast-paced, stylish, and offers tons of combat variety. Whether juggling enemies in melee, blasting them with cannonballs, or chaining combos with your sword, the game constantly entertains. The FPS mechanics feel AAA in quality, and exploration offers worthwhile rewards through treasures and upgrades.

Where the game stumbles is in story appeal and occasional performance hiccups. Enemies also sometimes feel hollow, lacking weight when struck. Still, these are minor compared to the sheer joy of combat. For an early access title, DAVY X JONES shows immense promise.

Conclusion

Despite being in early access, DAVY X JONES feels like a game destined to make waves (pun intended) when it fully releases. It needs some technical polish, but the foundation is strong: excellent combat, a killer soundtrack, and visuals that stand out. Will it become the next DOOM killer? I’m not sure yet, but it’s definitely a game worth keeping on your radar.

ーAaron