Comic Jumper: The Adventures of Captain Smiley
A comic book hero jumps genres to save his series.
Comic Jumper: The Adventures of Captain Smiley is an action video game developed by Twisted Pixel Games and published by Microsoft Game Studios. Released for the Xbox 360 via the Xbox Live Arcade Marketplace on October 6, 2010, it is the third original game created by Twisted Pixel following The Maw and 'Splosion Man, all exclusive to Xbox Live Arcade. The game follows Captain Smiley, a poorly received comic book hero who jumps into other comic genres to gain popularity, with his design and weaponry changing to suit each style.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Comic Jumper
- Developer
- Twisted Pixel Games
- Publisher
- Microsoft Game Studios
- Released
- October 6, 2010
- Genre
- Side-scroller, beat 'em up
- Modes
- Single-player
- Engine
- Beard
- Platforms
- Xbox 360
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
In Comic Jumper, players control Captain Smiley, a superhero whose comic series is canceled due to poor sales after a showdown with his nemesis, Brad. With his abrasive sidekick Star, Captain Smiley seeks help from Twisted Pixel to raise funds by making guest appearances in other comic books. The game features five distinct comic styles: Modern (bold colors), Fantasy (subdued colors with watercolor backgrounds), Silver Age (cel-shaded graphics), Manga (black and white), and a final Retro style (also called 'Pulp' or 'Old West' style). In each style, Captain Smiley and Star's designs and weaponry adapt to fit the look.
Reader's Guide
The game's gameplay is a 2.5D action experience combining dual-pistol shooting, platforming, melee combat, on-rails shooting, and quick time events. Players can call on live-action footage of Twisted Pixel employees for a special attack. Cash earned from levels can be spent on upgrades and unlockables, including concept art, interviews, gamerpics, and additional levels for 'Splosion Man. Critics praised the game's humor, noting laugh-out-loud moments and excellent comedic delivery, while comparing its difficulty to 16-bit era games. The game received 'average' reviews on Metacritic, with some criticism of its checkpoint system and death penalty.
Did You Know?
- Comic Jumper was revealed on September 4, 2009 at PAX.
- The game's melee combat was inspired by Final Fight, while gun sequences drew from Contra and Gunstar Heroes.
- Twisted Pixel released the game's soundtrack to the public via their website on November 3, 2010.
- No downloadable content was released for Comic Jumper due to the complexity of its levels.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Comic Jumper: The Adventures of Captain Smiley?
It's a 2.5D action platformer made by Twisted Pixel Games and shipped by Microsoft Game Studios for the Xbox 360. The premise follows Captain Smiley, a comic hero whose series is tanking, as he hops between different comic genres to save it.
Who is Captain Smiley and what's his role in the game?
He's a struggling comic-book protagonist whose publication is on the verge of cancellation, so he's forced to infiltrate other comic styles to drum up readers. His look, moveset, and weapons all shift to match whichever genre he's currently inhabiting.
When and where was Comic Jumper released?
The title hit the Xbox Live Arcade Marketplace on October 6, 2010, and was exclusive to the Xbox 360. It moved more than 40,000 copies during its first month on the service.
How does the genre-jumping mechanic actually work in gameplay?
Rather than one fixed aesthetic, the game cycles through multiple comic-book styles, and every time it does, Captain Smiley's design, attack options, and platforming tools are re-skinned to fit the new genre. This keeps the 2.5D action fresh by constantly reshaping the combat and movement toolkit the player has.
What other games did Twisted Pixel make before Comic Jumper?
Comic Jumper is the studio's third original release, coming after The Maw and 'Splosion Man. All three titles were built exclusively for the Xbox Live Arcade platform.
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