If you are a gamer of a certain age, you’ll remember the glorious NES and Mega Drive franchises of Double Dragon and Streets of Rage. Now I’m well aware that we have had modern iterations for current consoles. But I’m referring to the amazing pixelated side-scrolling games from Techno Japan and Sega. The premise of both was simple, the violence gratuitous, and they were easy to lose hours to. Now you may think, “why are you discussing Double Dragon and Streets of Rage?” Because Jay and Silent Bob: Mall Brawl has been heavily influenced by these classic 8-Bit titles.
Developed and published by Interabang Entertainment, this a side-scrolling beat ’em up title. Keeping old-school gaming at the heart of its premise, there is little that complicates its approach. You take the role of either Jay or Silent Bob as you make your way through the mall. In theory, this shouldn’t be problematic. In reality, every goon blocks your path as you try to escape.
Jay and Silent Bob: Mall Brawl replicates 90s vibes.
From the opening cutscene, I knew I was going to be transported back to the days of the NES and the Mega Drive. With its garish looks, simple backdrops, and wonderful pixelated sprites, this captured my childhood instantly. But as an adult, I could enjoy the subtle elements of comedy that have been hidden amongst all the noise. The sexual innuendos of shop names and achievement titles will make you chuckle throughout. There are plenty to mention, but I suggest focusing on the carpet store!
The gameplay revolves around the classic side-scrolling beat ’em up action. That is except for one moment of shopping cart madness. This fast-paced racing section was unusual, came out of the blue, and was a welcome break from the constant fighting. It was, however, frustrating as hell! Following the same pattern throughout it was more a test of memory and reactions than anything else. It was by far the toughest portion of the game and will make you groan in annoyance.
Nine stages, many bosses, and two difficulty settings.
When you break it down, Jay and Silent Bob: Mall Brawl is a short game to play. Nine levels comprise many boss fights, an array of enemies and much wanton destruction. Both Jay and Silent Bob are playable characters, and you can take this on solo or couch co-op with a friend. If you are like me, you’ll be on your own changing between characters on the fly as each gets knocked down. If your character gets killed, and they will, you simply wait a few moments and they’ll spawn back to life. This added a small layer of tactical nuance to the gameplay as patience was a must if you wished not to restart each level.
On your journey through the mall, you explore arcades, food areas, kitchens and more. You’ll also get to experience the classic lift fights that all Streets of Rage fans love. As you move through each area, you encounter many foes; ninjas, chefs, pretzel monsters, the Easter Bunny, and so forth. It was entertaining and bloody stupid, but that’s why I loved it.
Mega Drive and NES graphics on a large screen, why not, eh?
Seeing the vivid colours and bright text flash up on a large screen never gets old. Jay and Silent Bob: Mall Brawl has captured this aesthetic perfectly, while still offering enough polish to make it palatable for a modern audience. The animations are smooth, but still have that retro stutter that we all love. The backdrops are all similar but have enough variety and detail to prevent us from getting bored. In short, it won’t wow you with realism, but it’s a trip down memory lane that’s great to experience.
The same can be said for the 8-Bit synthesised sound that accompanies you throughout. Loud, crass, and absolutely marvellous. It is 80s and 90s gaming personified and everything you want to hear from an old-school inspired title.
In Jay and Silent Bob: Mall Brawl attack is the only form of defence.
Now, this is one area that I think needs improvement. The basic controls were easy to pick up. That’s fantastic, as you can jump straight into the action. Sadly though, this simplicity comes at a cost! With no block action, there is little finesse in what you do. Yes, you can dodge, but in the harder mode, and later stages, a defensive style is a must. This was an oversight, and for future games to the franchise, it would be nice to see this implemented.
With solo and couch co-op gameplay, and two difficulty settings, there is plenty to keep you playing. Each playthrough takes little time to complete keeping the action fun every time you revisit it. If you are a completionist, you’ll need to be a perfectionist! A tough list asks that you complete both modes without dying once. I think I’ll give that a miss.
Jay and Silent Bob: Mall Brawl is a great albeit short blast from the past.
You can’t help but fall for the old-school charm in Jay and Silent Bob: Mall Brawl. With its comedy elements, classic foes, and variety of levels, it outweighs the small drawback from the lack of defence. I enjoyed my time with this and recommend you buy it here! Make your way through the mall, avoid the goons, and love the 80s and 90s vibe.
