Comic Jumper: The Adventures of Captain Smiley is the third Xbox LIVE Arcade offering from developer Twisted Pixel. Placing you in the role of hero Captain Smiley, Comic Jumper’s side scrolling platform action will see you jumping from comic to comic, in a bid to gain the fame required to re-launch your comic book career.

Our tale begins shortly before the cancellation of The Adventures of Captain Smiley, with a mixture of views from the real world and the comic book universe that Smiley inhabits. Aided by Star, his not-so-faithful sidekick/chest emblem, Captain Smiley attempts to foil a bank robbery. His lacklustre performance during his “opening issue” results in the comic’s termination, effectively ending Smiley’s career before it’s even begun.

Taking pity on Captain Smiley’s situation, Twisted Pixel strike up a deal with the fallen hero and develop a way for him to travel between various comic book series’. Using this comic jumping technology, Captain Smiley can help various heroes from other titles, while trying to boost his image and regain his fans; with the ultimate end goal being a return to his own rebooted comic book title.

Presented over eleven missions, Comic Jumper’s story unfolds via four distinct comic book worlds. While these missions must be completed in order, the player is free to revisit them at any time. Money earned undertaking these missions can be used to purchase upgrades for Captain Smiley, as well as unlock a vast array of bonus content.

Comic Jumper’s gameplay differs from what you’d expect, switching on-the-fly between side scrolling beat-em-up, platformer, and a full on 2D/3D “bullet hell” shooter. It’s a little jarring at first, and something you don’t really expect, but for some strange reason it works perfectly. However, the constant switching of game styles can initially lead to a lot of in-game deaths. Thankfully unlimited lives fend off the frustration, while your brain adjusts and adapts to the fast & frantic gameplay that will test the mettle of even the most hardcore gamer.

It’s clear from the moment you boot up Comic Jumper, that a lot of blood, sweat, and tears have been poured into creating it. Surpassing the lovely visuals of their previous title, ‘Splosion Man, Twisted Pixel have once again given the player a universe that they’ll love to explore.

However it’s Comic Jumper’s twisted sense of humour that will draw you in the most. While many comic book scenarios parody various classic movies and the comic styles they’re based on, it has some of the most hilarious lines of dialogue ever to be heard in a game. Whether it’s Paper Lad’s awkward questions, Star’s infatuation with villain Brad, or just the general banter between the characters, you’re guaranteed to have a wicked grin on your face while playing.

In a similar fashion, the musical score is also injected with humour. While some of it can be heard outside of missions, you’ll be sure to find yourself wishing the frantic action would stop, just so you can take a break and listen.

Comic Jumper: The Adventures of Captain Smiley is a highly enjoyable, and deeply engaging, XBLA title from start to finish. With over 250 unlockable extras, including gamerpics, a premium theme, and levels for ‘Splosion Man, Comic Jumper will keep you coming back for more. It’s plain to see that Twisted Pixel’s sights are firmly set high, as they have once again delivered a title that oozes quality, while setting the bar higher for every XBLA game that follows.

9/10

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