Jazzpunk
- February 7, 2014
- Necrophone Games
- 3h median play time
Get on SteamJazzpunk is a single-player, comedy action game with a focus on exploration and humor. Players uncover an ingenious and hilarious story in a beautifully designed world, interacting with NPCs and playing mini-games like mini-golf and Duck Hunt with toast. Despite some bugs, the game boasts phenomenal mechanics and a spectacular soundtrack, making for a highly emotional experience.
Mac OS
PC
Playstation 4
Windows
Linux
PlayStation
Reviews
- humor1,668 mentions
- 99 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The humor in "Jazzpunk" is widely praised for its absurdity, surrealism, and clever references, often drawing comparisons to the style of Adult Swim shows. Players appreciate the game's rapid-fire jokes, quirky dialogue, and interactive elements that reward exploration with unexpected comedic moments. However, the humor can be hit-or-miss depending on personal taste, with some finding it juvenile or overly random, and many note the game's short length as a drawback despite its comedic charm.
“Jazzpunk is such a hilariously ridiculous game, it always seems to have a twist and turn around it.”
“The humor is great, especially if you enjoy the bizarre stuff.”
“Jazzpunk is a hilarious little game that is filled to the brim with personality, humor, and enough wtf moments to make even the most seasoned adventure gamer blush.”
“It's just not funny or interesting or thought provoking.”
“The actual game is walking around open environments and talking to people, but many of them are unfunny and uninteresting.”
“The graphics and the overall tone of the game could have made for a good 60s-spy-thriller parody, but instead it's just a garble of mostly unfunny jokes and an incoherent plot.”
- story584 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story of *Jazzpunk* is a whimsical and absurd parody of classic spy narratives, featuring the player as Polyblank, a secret agent tasked with a series of bizarre missions that often take a backseat to the game's humor and exploration. While the main plot is relatively short and straightforward, lasting around two hours, the real charm lies in the numerous side quests, Easter eggs, and comedic interactions scattered throughout the vibrant environments, encouraging players to explore and engage with the quirky world. Overall, the narrative is light-hearted and nonsensical, prioritizing humor over depth, making it a unique experience that thrives on its absurdity rather than a cohesive storyline.
“Set in a wildly imaginative world, it takes players on a whimsical journey filled with quirky characters and bizarre missions.”
“Jazzpunk is a comedy spy thriller with jokes and gags scattered all over the place, and rewards players that wander outside the story.”
“The story is absurd, yes, but everything is very well connected, everything makes sense in this ridiculous world.”
“The jokes land like a lead balloon, and the storyline is as thin as a cigarette paper.”
“The story isn't coherent enough to be intriguing, and not silly enough (or wrongly paced?) to be fun in a Monty Python way.”
“The main plot revolves around your missions for a shady agency that feeds you lots of drugs, but the main story is actually kind of secondary to all the strange side-activities you can partake in to earn the achievements.”
- gameplay300 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Jazzpunk is characterized by its simplicity and brevity, often described as a "walking simulator" with minimal mechanics focused on exploration and humor rather than traditional gaming challenges. Players can expect around 2-4 hours of gameplay filled with absurdist humor, quirky interactions, and various mini-games, but many reviews note a lack of depth and replayability, making it more of a comedic experience than a robust game. While the humor and unique style are praised, the overall gameplay is seen as underwhelming, leading to mixed feelings about its value relative to its price.
“The game brilliantly blurs the lines between traditional gameplay and pure comedic art, ensuring that every moment is unpredictable and delightfully absurd.”
“Jazzpunk is a great choice for anyone seeking unconventional and humorous gameplay.”
“Although the gameplay might seem simple to many, the humour and little secrets really keep this game dynamic.”
“The gameplay mechanics fail to provide any sense of immersion, and the product quickly descends into a mundane and trivial 'click-and-collect' exploration game after a mere thirty minutes of playing.”
“There's not much to do in terms of gameplay, either-- it feels like a 'dick around' simulator with elements of point-and-click adventure, but it gets abandoned in the last two hours of gameplay.”
“The gameplay doesn't really matter since it's only a prop to hang jokes on, but since the jokes themselves are weak, the game has nothing to fall back on.”
- graphics285 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of *Jazzpunk* are characterized by a unique, simplistic, and vibrant art style that blends retro-futuristic aesthetics with absurd humor, creating a visually engaging experience. While not technically advanced, the game's charming visuals and quirky design contribute significantly to its comedic atmosphere, making it a standout in the indie game scene. Overall, players appreciate the distinctive art direction, which enhances the game's surreal and humorous narrative, despite some noting that the graphics could benefit from additional polish.
“The game's art style is incredibly distinctive, with a retro-futuristic aesthetic that is both nostalgic and surreal.”
“The graphics and design are original and stylized, which adds to the overall feel of the game.”
“The visuals are low-poly, yet so clear and bright and goofy, they reminded me of the Jet Set Radio-esque Dreamcast era visuals.”
“If you’re looking for something groundbreaking or with extreme graphics, keep looking.”
“One quick glance over any screenshot from the game will tell you everything you need to know about Jazzpunk's graphics; there are no surprises and no breathtaking moments in the scenery, it all looks bland and basic which makes sense since the game was developed using the Unity engine, which isn't known for its breathtaking graphics, but rather accessibility for smaller developers.”
“The gameplay takes a back seat for the most part and the visuals, while stylized, are rather understated.”
- music159 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its jazzy, retro-inspired soundtrack that complements the absurd humor and vibrant visuals. However, some players find the repetitive and abrasive nature of certain tracks grating, detracting from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, the unique sound design and clever use of music to enhance the game's atmosphere are frequently highlighted as standout features.
“The soundtrack is top-notch, featuring a mix of jazz, swing, and lounge music that perfectly complements the game's world and atmosphere.”
“The humorous musical accompaniment creates a great atmosphere.”
“Jazzpunk is exactly the kind of game I enjoy: simple gameplay, nonsensical plot, ridiculous situations, trippy art style, out of control soundtrack, and sharp humor.”
“I can see that it was intentional that way to contribute to the atmosphere, but the first level was nerve-wracking to get through by virtue of the repetitive, obnoxious background music.”
“The issue I have with the soundtrack is that if you asked me to hum a piece of the OST to you or even recognize it from an identity parade of other pieces, I probably couldn’t do it.”
“Every single song in the soundtrack feels more like brain-scratching white noise than it does music, to the point that it can almost feel weirdly overwhelming.”
- replayability98 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 28 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is criticized for its limited replayability, with many players noting that once the content is fully explored, there is little incentive to play again due to the linear nature of the story and the predictability of the humor. While some players mention the potential for replaying to achieve 100% completion or to experience missed jokes, the consensus is that the short playtime (around 2-4 hours) and lack of significant new content on subsequent playthroughs diminish its overall replay value. Many recommend waiting for a sale given the high price relative to the short gameplay experience.
“Yes, it is a bit short, but it has great replay value.”
“There is so much content, references, and little interactive things throughout the whole game that the replayability is pretty high.”
“While it is short, it's still replayable and will be just as fun, if not more fun than the first time you played it.”
“This is the main reason behind the game’s lack of replayability; if you have discovered something on a level, then play it again, it will always be the same.”
“Sadly after you complete it, it has no replay value.”
“The game was over in less than 3 hours, and that's with exploring every area as much as possible, talking to all NPCs, doing side missions, getting lost a few times, etc. it doesn't seem like this game would have much if any replayability.”
- atmosphere37 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of Jazzpunk is widely praised for its unique blend of humor, surrealism, and retro-futuristic aesthetics, creating an engaging and immersive experience. The game's quirky art style, catchy soundtrack, and attention to detail contribute to a captivating environment that draws players in, despite some mixed feelings about specific elements like background music. Overall, the combination of comedic elements and a vibrant atmosphere makes Jazzpunk a standout title that resonates with players.
“Jazzpunk will completely captivate you with its incredibly weird and funny atmosphere.”
“The soundtrack is also top-notch, featuring a mix of jazz, swing, and lounge music that perfectly complements the game's world and atmosphere.”
“The style and atmosphere that this game has is absolutely breathtaking and has been one of my favorite games for years now.”
“I can see that it was intentional that way to contribute to the atmosphere, but the first level was nerve-wracking to get through by virtue of the repetitive, obnoxious background music.”
“The atmosphere is weird.”
“The humour of the first level didn't really work for me, but as it progressed there were frequent laugh-out-loud moments, and the atmosphere started to reel me in.”
- stability19 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 89 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with some players reporting smooth performance on certain systems, while others experience frequent freezes and glitches that can disrupt gameplay. Many users note that while minor bugs exist, they are generally not game-breaking; however, significant issues like freezing during critical moments have been highlighted. Overall, the game is described as somewhat buggy, with stability issues that detract from the experience, particularly in certain levels and during specific actions.
“Well written and runs great on Linux Mint.”
“Hilarious and absurd, and best of all, it runs great on my old laptop.”
“Only way to play is to turn v-sync on and use a controller, and even still it freezes consistently.”
“Game freezes entire computer during one of the necessary parts of the first mission...can't alt tab...task manager...nothing.”
“Further held back by a mountain of glitches and unsatisfying controls, I cannot recommend this game.”
- emotional14 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional responses to the game vary widely, with some players experiencing deep laughter and joy, while others felt heartbroken or empty after playing. While one reviewer described it as a humorous and whimsical experience that evoked feelings of wonder, another found it to be an emotional trainwreck that left them in tears. Overall, the game elicits a mix of laughter, nostalgia, and profound emotional impact, though some players also reported feeling physically unwell due to its graphics and gameplay.
“One of the two games that have made me cry.”
“This game was an extremely emotional trainwreck and it made me cry for hours on end.”
“The style was absolutely heartbreaking and it hurt me so when it had finished... this game left me empty inside wanting more, as it dragged me through otherworldly pleasure of amazing beauty, such heartwarming feelings.”
- optimization10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The optimization of Jazzpunk has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant performance issues, describing it as poorly optimized regardless of hardware capabilities. Conversely, others report solid framerate and satisfactory performance, even on older systems, highlighting a disparity in user experiences. Overall, while the humor is appreciated, the game's optimization remains a notable concern for many players.
“The performance is beautiful and the jokes are really funny!”
“The game’s framerate was rock-solid, and I was extremely impressed by the performance in general (I even managed to livestream it from my 6-year-old laptop).”
“[b]performance[/b] 9/10”
“My computer can run very demanding games but not this one; it has nothing to do with hardware, it's just the most poorly optimized game in history.”
“Didn't like the jokes; game optimization is non-existent.”
“As an added bonus, if you watch someone else play it, you likely won't have to suffer through the complete lack of optimization.”
- grinding10 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and often frustrating, with many describing it as a slog filled with repetitive mini-games and fetch quests. While there are moments of humor and some enjoyable segments, the majority of the grinding is seen as annoying, leading to a mixed reception regarding its overall engagement.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Tedious, not funny.”
“There are a few segments which are unique and fun to play, but the vast majority just comes off as annoying and tedious.”
“We all know that achievement games are sometimes tedious and boring.”
- character development5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is noted to be lacking depth and progression, leading some players to lose interest over time. While the stylized character designs and overall aesthetics are praised, the absence of meaningful character growth diminishes the game's long-term engagement.
“I kind of liked the heavily stylized character designs.”
“Story and character development are well executed.”
“If you love silly games and interesting character design, I recommend buying or playing this game if you have some extra money in your pocket and a few hours to spare.”
“It's like one of those games that's intensely interesting for a short while, but sooner or later you realize that you might not bother finishing it because a) there doesn't seem to be much of a real challenge and b) there's not any real concept of character development or depth.”
