Jay and Silent Bob: Chronic Blunt Punch Review – A Blunt Hit with a Dull Edge

Jay and Silent Bob: Chronic Blunt Punch

From the mid-’90s to the early 2000s, Kevin Smith helped make nerd culture cool, creating films that wore their obsessions on their sleeve. Young people around the globe connected with his sharp dialogue, relatable stories, and progressive representation. While he may no longer be at his peak, his characters still resonate, especially with those nostalgic for the era. Jay and Silent Bob: Chronic Blunt Punch is a celebration of the View Askewniverse, packed with references and laced with its signature humour. But will this side-scrolling beat ’em up be the perfect hit from the bong?

Strange happenings are plaguing the streets of New Jersey. With only one way of solving the situation, stoners Jay and Silent Bob hit iconic locations to kick the crap out of anything that moves. While there isn’t much of a story, Smith’s humour oozes out of every orifice. Although on the nose and at times a little grating, there are lots of giggles within which will transport you back to your youth.

High on Life

Jay and Silent Bob: Chronic Blunt Punch is a traditional side-scrolling beat ’em up, carrying many of the staples of the genre. You have a light and heavy attack, which you can chain to create combos that include special strikes. These include Blanka-style rolling attacks, Zangief-inspired spinning lariats, and even whipping out a bong to cave your opponent’s head in. There’s a surprising level of depth as you can link combos together and even unleash a launch attack to perform an air combo.

While pummeling your enemies, a meter builds that allows you to use an assist. Initiating this allows one of many fan-favourite characters to enter the fray and unleash a special move. Whether it’s Buddy Christ bestowing a health boost or Randall sending on a stampede, each assist builds on the love of Kevin Smith films, in addition to supporting you in battle. Another meter builds, allowing you to perform a super. When half full, this allows Jay to execute a Berserker Barrage-style attack, darting across the screen. If you initiate this when full, then they turn into their alter ego, Blunt Man or Chronic, to cause havoc.

As well as a fierce attack, you also need a strong defence. You can dash to avoid damage and also use your block when overwhelmed. Even with these options, there are times when you can get stuck in a loop, unable to avoid strikes. If you do lose your health, in single player, you’ll switch to the other character and be given the chance to revive. When playing co-op, you must revive, as death results in restarting the entire level.

Pass It to the Left

Speaking of which, while single-player runs smoothly without issue, I encountered several problems when playing with a friend. During transitions between areas, a glitch occurred multiple times, at one point making co-op unplayable. Although it didn’t happen every time in two-player sessions, it still hindered the overall experience.

Enemies vary, possessing humorous traits that capture the identity of Smith’s world. From zombie-like kids glued to their phones to turd monsters, there are plenty of visual gags to keep the game entertaining. This is enhanced through the stunning animation and art direction, which replicates that of a 90s cartoon. Each character looks great, capturing their personality and traits. Not only does this enhance the comedy, but it also elevates the gameplay, as movement from one strike to the next looks great.

Although Jay and Silent Bob play the same, there are small differences that make them both enjoyable to control. Jay is a little faster, whereas Silent Bob is slower but stronger. Their moves also differ, adding more variety to each character. With the ability to switch between them when playing single-player, it’s fun to try both out, even if your preferences are with a certain one.

Not Quite a Knockout

Levels are conventional without enough variety to make them stand out. Although the backdrops are nice, referencing many films, the gameplay is standard. Apart from odd environmental hazards, there’s not much else, which makes the game feel dated compared to modern iterations in the genre. Culminating these are boss fights. These ridiculous and over-the-top encounters are fun, even if they are a little repetitive. Most include multiple stages with characters growing in strength as the fight progresses. While memorable in terms of design, the battles are conventional and lack the originality that imbues many modern entries in the genre.

Jay and Silent Bob: Chronic Blunt Punch is a fun homage to the world of Kevin Smith. Packed with jokes that capture the spirit of the stoner duo, it blends elements of the View Askewniverse into an enjoyable beat ’em up. With its surprisingly deep combat, the game keeps you engaged throughout its short runtime. Even though bugs and the conventional level design prevent it from feeling essential, fans of Smith will still find plenty to love.

***PlayStation 5 code provided by the publisher for review***