Jazz Jackrabbit 2

Infobox VG
title= Jazz Jackrabbit 2


caption=
developer= Orange Games, Epic Games
publisher= Gathering of Developers
distributor=
designer=
series=
engine=
version=
released= 1998
genre= Side-scrolling platform game
modes= Single player or Multiplayer
ratings= OFLC: G8+
platforms= Microsoft Windows, Apple Mac OS
media= CD-ROM
requirements=
input= Keyboard

"Jazz Jackrabbit 2" is a platform game produced by Epic MegaGames, now known as Epic Games. It was released in 1998 for PCs running Windows, and later for Macintosh computers. It is the sequel to "Jazz Jackrabbit".

Jazz has to chase Devan Shell through time, in order to retrieve the ring with which he planned to wed Eva. Jazz's brother, Spaz, and in later versions Jazz's sister Lori, are introduced as playable characters. The game features multiplayer options, including the ability to play over a LAN or the internet.

Spaz originally appeared (as a background object) in the previous Jazz installment "Holiday Hare '95". Jazz and Spaz have different death animations. Jazz simply falls on his back, dazed. Spaz burps and explodes, leaving only his boots. They each have a unique special move of their own, and also, Spaz has a second jump as opposed to Jazz' propeller ears.

Episodes

* Formerly A Prince
* Jazz in Time
* Flashback
* Funky Monkeys
* Shareware Demo

References to other games

*The Medivo boss, Bolly, resembles the Eggmobile vehicle used by Dr. Ivo "Eggman" Robotnik in the Sonic the Hedgehog games.
*A sign in Diamondus reads "Spaz ate the Dopefish".
*The episode select screen has references to Doom II, the Back to Future movies, and the music artist Prince.
*The robot "Katana" from One Must Fall 2097 can be seen in the science level background art.

Similarities to other games

"Jazz Jackrabbit 2" is similar to "Sonic the Hedgehog" in the following ways:

*Spring pads which enable the player to jump higher are present in both games- Aesthetically they are almost identical.
*There are situations in both games where two spring pads may be facing each other (This can temporarily trap the player).
*The characters of both games have a ball- shaped jumping animation (In Jazz Jackrabbit 2 the player must jump when running for this animation to occur, but in Sonic the Hedgehog it always occurs when jumping).
*The player can travel along tubes by rolling in a ball- shape in both games. This is done automatically and is not controlled by the player.
*In both games, TVs can be found displaying power-ups on the screen. The power-ups can be claimed by breaking the TV. Both games have shield power-ups in some of the TVs. The same manner of attaining power-ups appears in "Vectorman" and its sequel, "Vectorman 2", which is not unusual, considering Sega published both "Vectorman" and "Sonic the Hedgehog".

"Jazz 2" is also influenced by the Earthworm Jim series. A few similarities include the uncanny similarities of some of the levels' graphics, particularly "Inferno" and "Labrat". "Inferno" is seen as similar to Planet Heck. Jazz's "helicopter ears" and Spaz's gun are also taken directly from the "Earthworm Jim" games.

Jazz Creation Station

This is the game's level editor, often shortened to "JCS". Players can use this to create and play their own levels and share them online, which increases the game's replaying value. Even today, new levels continue to be produced by fans. See the external links section, below. JCS is not available for Mac users.

JCS' original name was MLLE (Multi-Layer Level Editor).

A thorough exploration of JCS reveals several items which were cut from the final game, including shields, powerups and bosses. Some of these items are functional, but most are not. Most interestingly, it includes a difficult boss (named "Bilsy") who does not appear anywhere in game but is fully functional. Bilsy however appears in "Holiday Hare '98".

Other releases

Jazz Jackrabbit 2: Shareware Edition

Released in 1998, this is a promotional shareware game. It featured three single-player levels and two multiplayer levels.

Jazz Jackrabbit 2: Holiday Hare '98

This Christmas edition was released in 1998 for the PC, but only in North America. Unlike the previous holiday editions, this game is commercial rather than shareware. It includes three single-player levels (considered by fans to be quite tough) as well as a new boss and additional multiplayer levels.

Jazz Jackrabbit 2: The Secret Files

This Easter edition was released in 1999 for the PC, but only in Europe. This game introduces Jazz's sister Lori as another playable character. It also adds an extra episode to the original "Jazz Jackrabbit 2", called "The Secret Files". This episode consists of three different zones, each one with three levels. New tiles are also added to "The Secret Files", most of them from the first "Jazz Jackrabbit".

Jazz Jackrabbit 2: The Secret Files Shareware Edition

Released in 1999, this is a shareware game to promote "The Secret Files". It is identical to the standard shareware version, but it includes the ability to play as Lori, as well as two new single-player levels in addition to the standard shareware version's levels.

Jazz Jackrabbit 2: The Christmas Chronicles

This Christmas edition is an enhanced version of "Holiday Hare '98", featuring Lori as a playable character. It was going to be released in 1999 for the PC, across Europe. However the publisher, Project 2, went bankrupt before the release date. It was eventually released in Poland in 2000. A limited European release followed shortly after.This version is based on the engine of TSF.

Linux and Mac Users

Due to no native version being released on Linux and the Mac version lacking features in comparison to the PC version, users of Linux and Mac tend to run the Windows version. Current builds of Wine run Jazz Jackrabbit 2 flawlessy and on the WineDB Jazz 2 has been given "Platinum" for its ability to run flawlessy.

External links

* [http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.jazzjackrabbit.com/ JazzJackrabbit.com archived] , a list of archived versions of the official website (because the actual site has been taken down)
* [http://www.jazz2online.com/ Jazz 2 Online (J2O)] , popular community site
* [http://digiex.net/gip/ Jazz Jackrabbit 2 Games in Progress] , online list of currently running servers.
* [http://www.dutchfurs.com/~haze/blog/static.php?page=jj2 Haze's Hideout JJ2 website]