Being a huge fan of Jay and Silent Bob's Mall Brawl, I jumped at the chance to play the upcoming Jay and Silent Bob: Chronic Blunt Punch. I saw it at PAX West, and after getting my hands on it, I was blown away. The art, comedy, and mechanics all blend together seamlessly.
The first thing I have to mention is the art. I was already a huge fan of the NES-style artwork in Jay and Silent Bob's Mall Brawl, but the artwork in Chronic Blunt Punch feels like a living, breathing cartoon. They perfectly captured each character's design, and it’s absolutely gorgeous. The art truly pops right off the screen.
Speaking of capturing things perfectly, they’ve absolutely nailed the tone of Jay and Silent Bob, staying true to the spirit of the movies. If you're a fan of Clerks, you'll instantly recognize many of the locations and familiar faces throughout the game. I loved that they brought back characters from Clerks, making it a fantastic nostalgic journey back to the movies I truly adore. The demo at PAX West only featured the first level, so I'm hopeful that the game will reference other characters from the Jay and Silent Bob movies as well.
As far as gameplay goes, the game is smooth. It features both two-player co-op mode or single-player mode. I didn’t have anyone to try co-op with, so I played in single-player, but it felt fantastic. I could seamlessly switch between Jay and Silent Bob, much like in Mall Brawl. Each character has their own special moves that charge as you fill up a meter, plus there's a tag team move they can perform together. It felt incredibly satisfying, and I can’t wait to experience it with a friend in co-op mode.
At the end of the demo, there was a boss battle, and it didn’t disappoint. I faced off against a massive hockey player who dominated the screen. It felt like a nostalgic throwback to the classic beat-'em-ups, with the boss having specific attack patterns that I needed to learn to defeat him. I managed to take him down by the end of the demo, and it left me wanting to play more.
There are plenty of beat-'em-ups either out now or on the way, like Toxic Crusaders, the new Karate Kid game, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles games—all of which are fantastic. But Jay and Silent Bob: Chronic Blunt Punch sets itself apart and truly deserves your attention. Make sure you grab it when it releases.