Night Jackal: Blood Debt

I'm in the process of playing through all DOSman games. This is my 5th one. I actually don't know if this counts as a DOSman game, as it was developed by Nothing Rhymes with Entertainment and published by DOSman. In some aspects, it is similar to a type game from that publisher (retro-style FPS, control scheme is the same). In many ways, it is very different from the ones I've played thus far though. For one, the music is much better. I'll admit, I'm not someone who searches areas to collect trophies for achievements, but I did on this one, just to hear the little "Night Jackal!" bit. The theme song is super fun as well and fits the game. The story is also more complex. I mean, it has a legitimate story, unlike games developed by DOSman. There's also a pretty wide variety of environment. None are ground breaking (sewers, city scenes, freight yards), but it gives it nice variety. The art style is also different, definitely going for a pixel-art comic book feel, which (I think) it does pretty well. I really only had a couple faults with the game: * Bosses are just bullet sponges with no health bar. They are all relatively easy to beat, but since they are easy and can take a LOT of damage, they can get almost boring after a bit. * There's an overabundance of "oh hey, surprise, I'm right around that corner or behind you" enemies. Unlike games developed by DOSman only, there is a certain amount of memorization that comes with avoiding/killing these guys before they get you. All of that said, it is only $3 and it provides a lot of fun gaming for that money. It's short, but doesn't feel like it is overly brief or overstaying its welcome. I would definitely recommend it!

Night Jackaaaal! His game’s not very good… But he broods on rooftops anyway, just like a hero should! With a budget half-expired and his graphics kinda crude, He’ll save the city somehow—when he’s not stuck in a loading loop. Night Jackaaaal! Master of the mildly okay! He strikes fear in evildoers… or at least makes them walk away. With combat that feels floaty and controls that sometimes freeze, He’ll stop the forces of darkness—assuming he can jump past these trees. Night Jackaaaal! Protector of the frame-rate drop! He’ll chase the villain bravely… until the camera does a belly-flop. His cape clips through his body, his dialogue is flat, But hey, he’s doing his best—don’t be too harsh on the guy for that! Night Jackaaaal! Anthem of the Almost-Great! A hero of potential… who just needed one more update. So sing it loud and proudly, from rooftops made of bugs: He’s Night Jackal—our hero! Now somebody patch his HUD.

This is the first time I give a DOSMan game a thumbs down. For bad map design, excessive number of enemies, and bizarre gun design. Since it's an FPS, I naturally dashed towards the doors, only to find I needed to speak to a particular NPC first to gain access and proceed in order. Then I had to navigate a maze of crates to find a climbing tool to reach higher places. After finding it I assumed I should venture into new higher areas, but it turned out I just had to backtrack all the way to the main hall, with crowded enemies but no proper weapon. I finally picked up a gun in the main hall: a submachine gun with 2 clips. As if that weren't weird enough, it fires like a shotgun. At that point I decided not to continue. [u] [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43342176-Why-Not-Games/#browse] My curator page[/url][/u]

Basically Batman Doom with nudity, profanity and violence.

Basically batman Doom. Not amazing by any means but decent and very cheap. For some reason the game starts in 720p and has no setting to change resolution so you have to change it in the config file. Also it does not have quick saves but manual saves.

Night Jackal: Blood Debt is a tightly scoped, personality-driven first-person shooter that leans hard into retro sensibilities while wrapping them in a stylized, comic-book revenge narrative. Developed by Nothing Rhymes With Entertainment and published by DOSMan Games, the game positions itself as a love letter to classic boomer shooters, prioritizing speed, clarity, and punchy encounters over sprawling systems or cinematic excess. From the opening moments, it establishes a confident tone: gritty, exaggerated, and unapologetically focused on delivering fast, satisfying action. The narrative frames the experience through the lens of a masked vigilante driven by loss and vengeance, unfolding in a way that feels more like flipping through the pages of a dark pulp comic than watching a traditional game story play out. Story beats are conveyed through stylized visuals and brief interludes that give context without interrupting momentum. This approach keeps the emphasis squarely on gameplay while still giving the world a distinct identity, making the journey feel purposeful rather than abstract. The tone strikes a balance between serious revenge drama and heightened comic-book flair, giving the game a flavor that separates it from more generic retro shooters. Gameplay is built around constant motion and deliberate aggression. Levels are linear but thoughtfully constructed, encouraging players to keep moving, clear rooms efficiently, and stay aware of enemy placement rather than hunkering down. There’s no reliance on cover or regenerating health, so survival depends on strafing, positioning, and knowing when to push forward versus when to pull back. Enemy encounters are frequent and direct, creating a rhythm where brief moments of exploration and discovery are punctuated by sudden bursts of combat that demand quick reactions. Combat itself feels clean and purposeful, with weapons designed to be immediately readable and effective rather than overly complex. Each firefight emphasizes accuracy and situational awareness, rewarding players who can manage multiple threats at once without losing momentum. The game occasionally introduces light environmental interactions and pacing shifts, which help break up the action without distracting from its core identity. These elements don’t radically alter the formula, but they do add texture and keep the experience from becoming monotonous over its runtime. Visually, Night Jackal: Blood Debt embraces a retro aesthetic that favors bold shapes, strong contrast, and stylized environments over realism. The comic-inspired presentation gives the world a distinctive look, reinforcing the vigilante theme and making levels feel like exaggerated crime-scene battlegrounds rather than grounded locations. This visual clarity is especially effective during combat, where enemy silhouettes, projectiles, and pickups remain easy to read even when the screen fills with action. The audio design complements this well, with impactful weapon sounds and energetic music that push the pace forward and reinforce the game’s intensity. The game’s compact scope is both a strength and a limitation. It’s designed to be consumed in focused sessions, delivering a concentrated burst of action rather than a lengthy campaign. This makes it ideal for players who appreciate tight, replayable experiences, especially those who enjoy hunting for secrets and achievements hidden off the main path. At the same time, players looking for extensive progression systems, deep customization, or a long-form narrative may find the experience brief. The game clearly prioritizes density and style over sheer volume. Ultimately, Night Jackal: Blood Debt succeeds by knowing exactly what it wants to be. It doesn’t try to modernize the boomer shooter formula beyond recognition, nor does it dilute its identity with unnecessary systems. Instead, it delivers a focused, energetic FPS experience with a strong aesthetic hook and a clear respect for its inspirations. For fans of retro shooters who enjoy fast combat, comic-book flair, and compact but memorable campaigns, it offers a sharp and satisfying vigilante romp that leaves a strong impression without overstaying its welcome. Rating: 7/10

Really enjoyed this simple extremely retro shooter. Surprisingly good original music, interesting dream sequence battles, challenging boss fights and even multiple endings! just for a few dollars. The first gun and grapple hook are abit annoying but i would say that is an element of early 90s games, not being super polished, having some less than perfect mechanics that require you as the player to adapt around them. i finished this in offline mode so the playtime is not accurately reflected but it took me about 3h 45min. I managed 11/15 Achievements.

[h1]仮面の騎士となり悪を討て！往年のWADをリスペクトした小粒アメコミ風FPS[/h1] [b]往年の人気作『バットマン・ドゥーム』に強い影響を受けた、クライムファイターを操作する短編。[/b] 『BATMAN DOOM』はアメコミの金字塔バットマン(正確には『KnightFall』とティム・バートン版バットマンの混合だ)を基にして1999年に公開されたファンメイドのDOOM用トータルコンバージョンWADであり、その適度な原作再現から高い評価を受けている。 今から遊ぶと流石にアレな出来ではあるのだが、おなじみのジョーカーやベインといったスーパーヴィランから知る人ぞ知る「ジャイアント・ペニー」まで原作ファンを唸らせる小ネタが満載。もちろん日本じゃ知られていないが、初期のDOOMコミュニティを語る上では外せない一本だ。 そういうわけで本作の主人公「ナイト・ジャッカル」にはお約束の要素が満載。彼には莫大な資産があり、屋敷があり、悲しき過去があり、ダサいスーツがあり、いろんなガジェットがあり、変なヴィランがいる。つまりはおおむねブルース・ウェインみたいな存在を操作していくことになる。 残念ながらいつものDOSMAN GAMES作品と同じく本作も2時間程度で終わる短編FPSとなっており、大量のスーパーヴィランと対峙していくような展開ではない。物語もゴッサムシティを駆け巡るというよりは下水道や廃ビルなどをうろつく場面が続き、全体的に内容は暗めだ。 展開がぱっとしない反面、脚本部分はかなり力の入った内容。 一見すると典型的なクライムファイターのように見える主人公だが、その心の裏にある深い傷が彼の精神をむしばんでいる。活動を続けていくうちに幻視、幻聴、妄想、それらが暴走していき… 本家バットマンには不可能そうなどぎつい展開も用意されており、単なる模倣に収まろうとしていないところはチャレンジ精神が感じられてかなり嬉しくなる。 また、最終的なエンディングはマルチ方式となっており、プレイヤーの選択により2つに分岐する。ここらへんもビターな感じがあってかなりよい。 武器の使い勝手がどれもそんなによろしくない、会話が長すぎてゲームテンポが悪い、マップが狭く立体感がなくて楽しくない、そもそも主人公に感情移入しづらいなど、一作目ということで粗い部分もそれなりにあるが、墜ちていくクライムファイターというメインの要素はしっかりと描けている一作。 あんまりいないと思うけど「バットマンドゥーム」をやったことあるよ！という日本人なら触って満足できるかもしれない。

Wow this could turn into a multiple game series with the amount of lore here. Recommend the dual set with the arcade Night Jackal in it.

This is a "you get what you pay for" type of game. I can't really recommend it as a retro fps because the sprites are heavily pixelated and everything else isn't that, nor can I for the gameplay since it's your standard throwback fps faire, plus a disappointing grappling hook, and I can't even recommend it as a budget title since there are plenty of games on Steam close to this price bracket that are far better.