Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Another week, another video game to review - and I gotta say, I didn't think it could
get much weirder than Octodad, but once again - video games have proven me wrong. So here
it is - my thoughts on Jazzpunk.
If you've seen or heard anything about Jazzpunk, then you should already have an idea of how
strange this game is. It touts itself as a "comedy adventure", set in an alternate reality
Cold War, where corporate espionage and CyberCrime are predominant themes. That description may
technically be correct, but Jazzpunk is so much more than the sum of its parts. It's
a video game, yes - but above all else, it's a comedy - and one that never sacrifices anything
for the sake of a silly joke.
It's difficult to fully describe Jazzpunk, because of the sheer amount of genres it pulls
from. The main storyline progresses through a series of simple, but engaging puzzles - while
the rest of the game amounts to exploration, composed of bizarre mini-games and pointless
jokes. I say "pointless" in the most literal sense here, as a good majority of the side
activities exist for no other reason than to provide a humorous distraction. There's
no progression system, and no foreseeable consequences for most of the things you do.
Nine times out of ten, your reward is simply a punchline.
And that's okay - because the jokes are what makes Jazzpunk what it is. It's in the game's
DNA. If you don't jive with absurd humor, then you probably won't enjoy the game. But
if you do appreciate it, then you'll be delighted to discover a wacky universe, full of nods
to classic video games and more pop culture references than an episode of Internet Rabbit
Hole.
For as simple as the character and mission design is, it's the world of Jazzpunk that
makes it such an alluring place. The vibrant color palette and 50s era aesthetic are distinct
from almost every other game - and there are plenty of opportunities to explore off the
beaten path. You can shoot pigeons with a degausser, or head to the beach and search
for hidden treasure. You may not always be rewarded for doing these things, but their
sole purpose is for you to enjoy them.
With diligent exploring, the 1-2 hour storyline can easily be extended to 2 or 3. And while
the story is a bit shorter than I would've liked, my biggest complaint is how abruptly
it ends. I suppose that's a testament to just how compelling it is, so if that's the biggest
complaint I have - then I'd say the game's mission... is accomplished.
Jazzpunk gets a 4 out of 5.
Alright, now we're gonna take a quick moment to thank our sponsor, Lumosity.
Lumosity is a brain training service that can enhance your memory and attention with
fun games based on actual neuroscience. You can build custom training programs, and get
stats and summaries to track your progress and see where you need to improve. Over 40
million users have already experienced Lumosity, so go try it for yourself. You can get instant
access and support Rev3Games in the process by signing up at lumosity.com/rev3games.
So there it is, Jazzpunk - one of the weirdest and funniest games I've had the pleasure of
playing. This comes out on Steam today for PC, Mac, and Linux - and if you like weird
*** or silly humor, then definitely give this one a shot. That's it for me - thanks
for watching, and I'll see you next time.