Jay and Silent Bob: Mall Brawl
- May 7, 2020
- Spoony Bard Productions
A really nice stop gap title until Chronic Blunt Punch arrives and decent use of an old system. A few fiddly controls, but nothing that can't be forgiven.
Get on Steam"Jay and Silent Bob: Mall Brawl" is a retro-style beat 'em up game featuring iconic characters from the View Askewniverse. Players can choose to play as Jay, Silent Bob, or other characters from the movies as they fight through hordes of enemies in a mall setting. The game offers local co-op play, faithfully recreating the look and feel of classic arcade games.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Playstation 4
Windows
Xbox One
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- The game features detailed 8-bit graphics and a decent variety of bosses, providing a nostalgic experience reminiscent of classic NES beat 'em ups.
- Fans of Kevin Smith's View Askewniverse will appreciate the humor and references throughout the game, making it enjoyable for those familiar with the films.
- The co-op mode adds a fun element to the gameplay, allowing players to strategize and switch between characters for a more engaging experience.
- The gameplay is clunky and simplistic, with limited moves and repetitive combat that can become tedious over time.
- The game is considered overly difficult, with long stages and a lack of difficulty options, leading to frustration for many players.
- Technical issues such as unresponsive controls, lack of customization, and poor performance on PC detract from the overall experience.
- music7 mentions
- 86 % positive mentions
- -29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many users praising its decent quality and nostalgic chiptune soundtrack reminiscent of classic titles like TMNT, Mega Man, and Double Dragon. Players find the music enhances the overall experience, contributing to the fun and engaging atmosphere of the beat 'em-up gameplay.
“Awesome retro soundtrack reminds me of TMNT 1, Mega Man, and Double Dragon.”
“We were also surprised by the great soundtrack.”
“Classic chiptune soundtrack to clobber enemies to.”
“The music feels repetitive and lacks variety, making battles less engaging.”
“The soundtrack is forgettable and doesn't enhance the overall gaming experience.”
“While the chiptune style is nostalgic, it quickly becomes grating and uninspired.”
- graphics6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are characterized by detailed 8-bit retro pixel art that evokes nostalgia, though they are considered clumsy and outdated compared to contemporary standards. While the visuals are fitting for the style and contribute to the overall charm, there are no options for resolution adjustments or customization, leaving players with a fixed low-quality experience.
“Mall Brawl is a solid, if not quite spectacular, Double Dragon clone, with detailed 8-bit graphics, a decent variety of bosses and opponents, and nine levels of outrageous punches.”
“Pros: nostalgia, references, the graphics are good for the style.”
“A choice was made to use obsolete, decades-old retro pixel art as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
“There's no options to change the resolution for the game or customize the graphics settings.”
“There's no way for gamers to try to improve the low-quality graphics.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its trademark potty humor, particularly evident in the mall brawl scene, while the character Adoughbo adds to the comedic elements. Overall, players find the game to be funny, complemented by decent music.
“Mall Brawl features the duo's trademark potty humor.”
“Adoughbo is funny, and the music is decent.”
“Funny.”
- gameplay3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by simplistic arcade brawling reminiscent of Battletoads, but lacks the impactful execution and sound effects. Players will find it relatively easy once they grasp the mechanics, making it essential to read the manual for a better experience.
“Take away Jay and Silent Bob, and you have a game trying to emulate the play style of Battletoads, minus the oomph of the gameplay and sound effects.”
“Gameplay, like all of these kinds of games, involves very simplistic arcade brawling with a limited number of moves.”
“It's not that hard once you understand the mechanics (if you play it, be sure to read the manual).”
- story1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The story includes a mission segment featuring a boss rush, although it is not a standalone playable mode.
“The story feels disjointed and lacks a coherent narrative arc.”
“Character development is shallow, making it hard to connect with anyone.”
“The plot twists are predictable and fail to deliver any real surprises.”
Critic Reviews
Jay and Silent Bob: Mall Brawl Review
Jay and SIlent Bob: Mall Brawl is a strong achievement, a worthy NES throwback and a fun game for Kevin Smith fans and haters alike. Unfortunately it is hamstrung by a stage so bad that it brings down the entire experience and should, quite simply, be patched out entirely or made significantly shorter and easier. Still, persevere through it and you'll find it's sandwiched with joyful 8-bit face-kicking fun with two stoner icons. The whole world's against us dude, I swear to god.
60%Jay and Silent Bob: Mall Brawl (Nintendo Switch)
Kevin Smith built a career on fan service, and Jay and Silent Bob: Mall Brawl is as fan service-y as it gets. On its face, it’s a typical arcade beat-’em-up, but with a shiny View Askew coat of paint. If you’re looking for a solid brawler that harkens to the NES days or you’re an aficionado of Smith’s filmography, it’s easy to recommend this charming title.
80%Snootch to the nootch - Jay and Silent Bob: Mall Brawl review
Jay and Silent Bob: Mall Brawl does a great job recreating the look and feel of an original NES release, but takes its retro inspired roots a bit too far and becomes a game which few but the most dedicated will finish. That said, I did enjoy my time with the game and catching the references to other Kevin Smith movies.
70%
