The Splosion Man and The Maw developer, Twisted Pixel Games, debuted Comic Jumper gameplay for the first time today at the SXSW ScreenBurn Arcade. Michael Wilford demoed a preview build of their new game.

Comic Jumper is a 2.5D side-scrolling-action-platformer for XBLA. The level Wilford played was set in a very comic book-styled city. Using the Left-Trigger, Wilford jumped from rooftops to balconies across the sides of buildings. Wilford guided the game’s yellow-sphere-headed protagonist across the level while shooting his guns in all 360 degrees with the right joystick while holding RT. He was battling robotic women called BradBots who attacked him from the sides, crashed through windows, and shot from above with jet packs. At one point Wilford jumped and monkey bared across some overhanging pipes. The rapid fire shooting in all directions and platforming reminded me a lot of Earthworm Jim. The game seems very fast paced as Wilford never stopped running.

Twisted Pixel CEO Michael Wilford demos Comic Jumper.

Comic Jumper looks to be a very cinematic experience. Many times during the level, the camera would zoom into the action to catch action sequences — like the aforementioned BradBot Crashing through a window. At one point the protagonist managed to jump onto a BradBot and surf on the robot down an inclined roof of a building. Wilford had to shoot down jetpack BradBots before crashing into an apartment complex. At that point, the camera shifted to behind the protagonist as he crashed through apartment walls. Wilford was hitting on screen buttons to make it through this Quick Time Event involving punching apartment tenants.

Story segments are presented with animated, game-rendered scenes inside comic book frames. Dialog unsurprisingly keeps that Twisted Pixel humor. The level’s boss turns out to be Brad, a body builder in a helicopter. He mentions that this was eating into his treadmill time and bid Comic Jumper “hasta mannana” before the fight began.

According to Wilford two control schemes are available for players. In addition to the dual stick style he used in the demo, a more traditional platforming control scheme using X to shoot and A to jump is available. Also, melee fighting segments using X and A to attack will be featured.

Even in its early build, Comic Jumper looks like it’ll be a fun experience with plenty of varied gameplay segments and a sense of humor.