Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Jackass: The Game drops you into the mischievous world of Knoxville and crew with a simple yet chaotic premise—stepping in as the injured cameraman to film outrageous stunts and collect as much bruised flesh and cash as possible. Each stunt is framed as a mini-mission: springboards off rooftops, hallway hurdles, paintball ambushes and more. Success depends on two intertwined goals—complete the stunt objectives for baseline payouts, or take a heavier beating to score big “injury bonuses.” This risk-versus-reward loop keeps every level balanced on a knife’s edge between reckless mayhem and strategic play.

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Progression takes shape through MTV Story mode, where earning enough money on one “episode” unlocks the next set of stunts and familiar faces. Once you’ve learned the ropes, Challenge mode offers remixed versions of these same stunts with tighter time limits or stricter injury quotas, driving you to wring every last dollar (and ouch!) out of each scenario. Between modes, you’ll toggle among core cast members—Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Ryan Dunn and Chris Pontius—each with slightly different stats affecting speed, injury tolerance and stunt performance.

Wee-Man’s exclusive “Wee-Games” inject extra variety with bite-sized challenges like Roof Top Cart Stop, Poo Shower and Wee Tattoo—perfect for quick fun or multiplayer head-to-head. On PlayStation 2, you can duke it out in Round Robin tournaments for up to four players, while the PSP edition leverages Wi-Fi for impromptu stunt wars. The Bail-Out system also spices up gameplay: instead of completing a stunt perfectly, you can bail early to maximize injuries, translating painful pratfalls directly into bigger payouts.

Graphics

Visually, the PS2 version impresses with more detailed environments brimming with random pedestrians, parked cars and debris to incorporate into your stunt setups. Character models are instantly recognizable—warts and all—while ragdoll physics and particle effects underscore every scraped knee and shattered bone. Textures on asphalt, graffiti-laden walls and makeshift ramps feel authentically rough-and-ready, matching the Jackass aesthetic down to the smallest puddle of paintball goo.

On PSP, the chunky color palette and simplified environments translate decently to the handheld’s screen, though some texture pop-in and choppier frame rates are noticeable during intense stunt sequences. A highlight unique to the portable version is the built-in replay editor, letting you trim clips, add music and export your most spectacular crashes for friends to see. It’s a fun extra that keeps you tinkering with your best (or worst) wipeouts long after you’ve earned enough cash to move on.

Across both platforms, dynamic camera angles attempt to capture the lunacy from the most absurd vantage points—zooming in on a shattered spine or flipping wildly with you as you barrel down a rooftop slope. While occasionally the camera can swing too far or clip into geometry, it overall heightens the sense of controlled chaos. The injury animations—from mild turf burn animations to horrifying broken-neck contortions—lean into slapstick horror, making every wipeout a moment you’ll likely replay multiple times.

Story

Don’t expect a deep narrative when you fire up Jackass: The Game. The plot is little more than an excuse to unleash the crew’s trademark stunts. The core storyline sets the stage: the cameraman is sidelined, production is on hold, and it’s up to you to perform enough dangerous tricks to get filming back on track. It’s a lighthearted premise, but it provides just enough context to string together wildly different set pieces.

Unlockable characters and content serve as the primary “story beats,” rewarding persistence rather than dialogue or cutscenes. Finish early episodes to recruit new cast members, then replay older stunts with fresh faces. Collectible TV show clips and Jackass-Mart props further flesh out the world, giving superfans nods to classic bits like the Dizzy Bat or the Fish Hook Challenge. Though sparse, these unlockables feel like Easter eggs from the show.

If you’re looking for character arcs or emotional depth, look elsewhere—Jackass: The Game thrives on adrenaline, pain and dumb humor, not intricate storytelling. That said, the sparse narrative is perfectly serviceable for a game built around quick-fire stunts: it gets you in, gets you hurting yourself in style, and then sends you on to the next gut-buster without unnecessary exposition.

Overall Experience

From the first faceplant to the hundredth dollar-grab, Jackass: The Game delivers a wild blend of slapstick comedy and competitive stuntcraft. The addictive stunt/injury reward loop keeps the “just one more try” appeal alive well into the late hours. Whether you’re a diehard Jackass devotee or a newcomer curious about televised self-harm, the game’s unhinged variety of challenges ensures there’s always something new to test your pain threshold.

Replayability is strong, thanks to Challenge mode’s fresh twists, multiplayer showdowns and a healthy roster of unlockables—costumes, props, classic TV clips and additional characters. The portable PSP edition shines for on-the-go stunt editing, while the PS2 build feels more robust with its detailed open arenas and pedestrian chaos. Each version has its quirks, but both nail the franchise’s anarchic spirit.

That said, newcomers may find the trial-and-error learning curve frustrating at first, and camera hiccups can occasionally hamper precision. But once you acclimate to the controls and embrace the inevitable faceplants, Jackass: The Game becomes an entertaining crash-fest that rewards creativity in destruction. For fans of the show or anyone hungry for outrageous multiplayer party antics, this is one game worth taking the plunge for—just don’t forget to stretch first.

Retro Replay Score

5.9/10