If you can look past the frustrating difficulty, Comic Jumper is full of comedic, action packed fun
Captain Smiley and his rude, loudmouth sidekick "Star," are living it up and fighting evil in his comic series. Unfortunately, one issue in particular fails and the series is immediately canceled. Luckily, Twisted Pixel (yes, they're in the game too) has bought the rights to this series and suggests that if Captain Smiley wants to make his way back to the top, he'll have to guest star in a number of other comic book series and earn some cash. This concept allows Twisted Pixel to play around with fourth wall jokes and play with a comic character in many comedic ways and it works. In fact, most of the jokes that this game delivers are bullseyes. Jokes from Smiley's horrible one liners and self promotion to parodying different comic styles, this game is just as fun to watch and listen as it is to play.
One unique quality of this game are the different art styles that this game possesses. As the title of the game suggests, you'll be jumping from comic to comic and each series has their own look and feel. You'll start off in a modern super hero comic book but you'll be taking on a 1970's fantasy comic (like Conan the Barbarian), a 1960's silver-age super hero comic, and a black and white manga. The visuals for each comic you visit are fantastic and have the feel of each style down to a tee. Even jokes about the cliches and social attitudes of each era are clever too (for instance, Mistress Ropes, the villain of the silver age comic, is a feminist and all her plans revolve around her hatred towards men). Luckily, they don't break the pace and will keep you curious on what the next comic will look like.
In spite of you being a super hero, you don't fight with your fists all that often. Instead, most of the game plays like a sidescrolling shooter like Contra. You have infinite ammo and by using the right thumb stick, you can aim in any direction you choose. This is simple arcade style gameplay but it is made harder when you have to concentrate on avoiding enemies and projectiles thrown your way; whether you be riding in a cart, a unicorn or floating in space.
The game itself is anything but easy. In fact, it's almost frustrating how difficult this game can get. Ignoring the occasional cheap shots enemies throw at you, or overwhelming odds in certain points, there are absolutely no health kits anywhere. If you run low on health, you're on your own and you will more than likely die.....a lot. It can be frustrating at times when you have to do certain sections over again but accomplishing each level at least feels rewarding.
There are also times where the camera will go behind Captain Smiley and the game changes to a more on rails shooter approach. Aim, shoot and dodge projectiles til you pass the section. Besides shooting segments, which is the main point of the game, there are other non shooting sections too. For instance, the beat em up sections. These are few and far between, but it's a basic arcade "beat up all enemies that get in your way," not to mention some quick time events too, but those are even more rare. The best part of the melee sections is if you knock out each baddy without getting hurt, you get a "help me." This is a move that knocks out every enemy on the screen, or more specifically it's when the entire staff of Twisted Pixel helps you out by punching the screen frantically, followed by an epic head butt. This move is very amusing to watch, and it's the only way to refill your health. All of these extra gameplay elements help change the game up a bit and keep it from getting too repetitious.
Depending on your performance, including accuracy, enemies defeated, times died, and more, you earn cash. You can also get more by completing "readership bonuses," these are special tasks in certain sections that gives you bonus money if you accomplish them (like completing sections without dying or getting hit, etc.). With this cash you can purchase concept art, music, and other fun stuff (which also increases how much money you earn in levels) but you can also improve your health, damage, slide duration, fire rate and you can even buy Help Me's. Unfortunately, these power ups don't improve you by much. They may give you a little more health but it's almost unnoticeable.
For a simple arcade game experience, this game does have plenty to offer in its unique visuals, unlockable content, varied gameplay and laugh-out-loud funny dialogue. Twisted Pixel is known for their great sense of humor and style and it really shows here. The game is frustrating at times, very much so, but that is outweighed by how funny and charming the experience is. If you're up to the challenge, I say there's plenty to enjoy about Comic Jumper.