Jack Bros.

For the fusion spell in Persona 3, see Jack Brothers.

Jack Bros.
ジャック・ブラザースの迷路でヒーホー!Hee-Ho in the Jack Brothers' Maze!
Developer(s)	Atlus
Publisher(s)	Atlus (JP) Atlus Software (NA)
Genre	Top-down Shooter
Platform(s)	Virtual Boy Nintendo Switch
Release	Virtual Boy Japan September 25, 1995 United States of America October 1995 Nintendo Switch WWWorldwide May 13, 2026

Jack Bros. is an action game in the Megami Tensei franchise. It was developed and published by Atlus for the Virtual Boy, and would be released in 1995 in both Japan and North America, making it the first Megami Tensei game to be released in North America.

Blurb

The portal between Earth and another mysterious dimension has opened, and the intrepid Jack Brothers have come through for an adventure in our world. Having lost track of time, they now have only one hour to return to their home or be banished forever. Help them battle hoards of loathsome enemies through six electrifying 3-D levels, each with many floors to explore and conquer. This is one phenomenal adventure you can't afford to miss!

Synopsis

On the night of Halloween every year, Fairy Race Demons are free to visit the human world. However, if the Fairy does not return to the Demon World before midnight, they may never return again. The protagonist (either Jack Frost, Jack-o'-Lantern (localized as Jack Lantern), Jack the Ripper (localized as Jack Skelton), or Pixie depending on the character selected by the player) finds themself roaming the human world a tad longer than they usually do. It is now up to them to rush home before the gate back to the Demon World closes. Aiding them is a kind Pixie, who guides them through each maze-like portion of the path back to the Demon World (unless playing as Pixie herself.).

Each character sees through a similar, yet different ending as they are able to return home safely. As Jack Frost, him and Pixie race for the portal, wherein they are met with two Fairies and the Princess, the former of whom scold Jack Frost for being so late, worrying them. They decide to punish Jack Frost, only for him to jump over them into the portal. The Princess thanks Pixie for watching over Jack Frost, wherein she says she has gotten used to the yearly event. As Jack-o'-Lantern, he and Pixie race for the portal, and Jack is stopped by the two Fairies as Pixie enters the portal; they ask Jack-o'-Lantern if he has seen the Princess, to which he replies no. The Princess then comes out of the portal to their surprise. Jack-o'-Lantern notices her voice is familiar, but she dismisses it, leaving Jack-o'-Lantern to ponder the situation. As Jack the Ripper, he and Pixie race for the portal and quickly enter, leaving Cyclops, Goblin, Lich, and Cu Chulainn to rage at their failure, wherein Beelzebub, atop Backbeard, reassures them that next year will be the one where they win, declaring "Down with the Jack Brothers!".

Gameplay

Jack Bros. has four playable characters: Jack Frost, Jack-o'-Lantern, Jack the Ripper, and the Hard Mode-exclusive Pixie. Each character has their own strengths and weaknesses, particularly with range and power; Jack Frost excels at rapid fire, Jack-o'-Lantern has a screen wipe for a special attack, Jack the Ripper attacks with a knife, and Pixie uses a single strong shot. The player attacks using the face buttons, and it is possible to move and aim separately with the two directional pads.

The manual gives stats for Jack Frost, Jack-o'-Lantern, and Jack the Ripper as follows:

Stat	Jack Frost	Jack-o'-Lantern	Jack the Ripper
Rapid Fire	5	3	2
Attack Power	1	2	5
Agility	2	2	3

The game consists of six areas, with multiple floors to each of them, totalling 60 floors overall. Floors mostly consist of defeating enemies and solving puzzles. This can range from a straight line to the finish with Slimes to collecting keys and avoiding Paradice. Rather than traditional health mechanics, likely to play into the Virtual Boy's short playtime requirements, each area has a time limit for completion. When hit by an enemy, the player can lose anywhere from 5 to 20 seconds; to make up for this, there are time pickups, secret time bonuses, and Poltergeists with 50 second bonuses scattered throughout levels. On the final floor of each area, there is a boss to defeat, from Lamia to Beelzebub. To optimally defeat a boss, it is encouraged to collect time pickups as efficiently as possible.

A Hard Mode can be unlocked with the code → → → → → → ← ← ← → → → → → → on the left control pad on the title screen. Beating this mode will give the player the password to play as Pixie. The password for her Level 1 is 4649, and must be confirmed by holding L + R + Select + A on the final input.

Version Differences

Rereleased on the Nintendo Switch as a part of the Virtual Boy – Nintendo Classics for Switch Online users. The emulator software used has several quality of life features, such as a rewind function, remappable controls, and the ability to change the colors.

Development

Jack Bros. has remnants of a Debug Mode, which can be enabled by inputting the combination ↑ ← ↓ →, or disabled with ↑ → ↓ ←, while the game is paused. Should it work, it will enable a full map view. Other remnants of the Debug Mode exist, including an invincibility option, floor select, and coordinates display, but cannot be enabled without the use of patches.

In the Japanese version, a Sound Test is available via inputting ↑ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ on the title screen. A function exists in the US version, but because it relies on the language being Japanese, it does nothing. If enabled through hacking, it reveals untranslated entries. Additionally, the Japanese version can be changed to English through inputting Hold L + R + ←, then Start while highlighting Start or Password. The US release also has this, though because it is trying to set the game to English again, it does nothing.

Passwords

Jack Bros. has two categories of password; those which are button combinations on the title screen, and 4-character number entries you can input on the Password screen. The following compiles them.

Direction combinations

The following are various combinations required to access various functions in the game. Some are debugging features. Where directional inputs are shown, the assumption is made that the player uses the left D-Pad.

Button Combination	Situation	Function	Notes
→ → → → → → ← ← ← → → → → → →	Title screen	Enable Hard Mode	Given to the player after clearing the game.
Hold L + R + ←, then Start	Title screen	Japanese → English switch	Effectively Japan only. Exists in the English version but tries to switch English to English, rendering it moot.
↑ ← ↓ →	Gameplay paused	Enable Full Map View mode
↑ → ↓ ←	Gameplay paused	Disable Full Map View mode
↑ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓	Title screen	Sound Test	Japan only. Navigate with the left D-Pad. ↑/↓ to scroll, A to play, B to pause. If viewed in the US release through hacking, it reveals untranslated text. Track listings can be found at The Cutting Room Floor.
→ → → → → → → ← → → → → → → →	Title screen	Floor Select	Requires Debug patch to enable.
↑ → ↓ ← ↑ → ↓ ← ↑ → ↓ ←	Title screen	Invincibility Menu	Requires Debug patch to enable. Written in Romaji. Muteki=Invincibility on, ataru=Invincibility off.
← + Select	Gameplay	Coordinates Display	Requires Debug patch to enable.

Password menu

Because Pixie was designed for Hard Mode, no passwords for her to be used in Normal mode exist. Additionally, on the final input for Pixie, L + R + Select + A must be used.

Area	Jack Frost		Jack-o'-Lantern		Jack the Ripper		Pixie
	Normal	Hard	Normal	Hard	Normal	Hard	Hard
Forest of Fairies
Grim Reaper's Cavern	3267	2980	4965	3910	0246	9730	1118
Temple of Nightmare	8453	0854	5923	3570	2745	0385	1708
Dragon's Belly	1309	2448	0919	2293	9537	4169	1227
Mecha Fortress	7285	5331	2827	1396	3598	6228	1917
Crystal Palace	6378	5783	6313	3939	0531	0893	5963

Nomenclature

Names in Other Languages

Language	Name	Meaning
English	Jack Bros.
Japanese	ジャック・ブラザースの迷路でヒーホー! Jakku Burazāsu no Meiro de Hīhō!	Hee-Ho in the Jack Brothers' Maze!

Gallery

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	Reason: Japanese title screen

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  Japanese back cover
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  North American cover
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  North American back cover
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  North American logo
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  Splash screen with Atlus logo pattern
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  North American Title screen
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  Jack Frost
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  Jack Ripper
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  Pixie
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  Jack Lantern
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  Sprite of Jack Frost
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  Sprite of Jack-o'-Lantern
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  Sprite of Jack the Ripper
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  Character select sprite of Jack Frost
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  Character select sprite of Jack-o'-Lantern
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  Character select of sprite Jack the Ripper
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  Credits sprite of Jack Frost
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  Credits sprite of Jack-o'-Lantern
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  Credits sprite of Jack the Ripper
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  Credits sprite of Pixie
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  Credit art of Jack Frost, Jack-o'-Lantern, Jack the Ripper, and Pixie.
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  Credits sprite of the bosses Beelzebub, Backbeard, Lamia, Wyvern, Vampire, and Loa.
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  Credits sprite of the enemies Slime, Goblin, Nekomata, Elf, Cu Chulainn, Lich, Cyclops, Itzamna, Poltergeist, and Angel.