Jazz Jackrabbit 2

Jazz Jackrabbit 2 is a platform game produced by Epic MegaGames. It was released in 1998 for PCs running Windows, and later for Macintosh computers. Like the first game, Jazz Jackrabbit, Jazz Jackrabbit 2 is a side-scrolling platform game but features additional multiplayer options, including the ability to play over a LAN or the Internet. On November 30, 2017 it was re-released on GOG.com along with the first game.[6]

Jazz Jackrabbit 2
Developer(s)Epic MegaGames
Publisher(s)Microsoft Windows
Classic Mac OS
  • NA: Logicware
Producer(s)Robert A. Allen
Cliff Bleszinski
Designer(s)Nick Stadler
Cliff Bleszinski
Programmer(s)Arjan Brussee
Artist(s)Nick Stadler
Composer(s)Alexander Brandon
SeriesJazz Jackrabbit
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows, Mac OS
ReleaseWindows
  • EU: May 7, 1998[4]
  • NA: August 12, 1998[5]
  • NA: November 6, 1998 (Holiday Hare '98)
  • JP: January 23, 1999
  • EU: March 15, 1999 (The Secret Files)
  • EU: November 25, 1999 (The Christmas Chronicles)
Mac
  • NA: February 4, 1999
  • EU: 1999
Genre(s)Side-scrolling platform game
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Plot

Jazz chases his nemesis Devan Shell through time, in order to retrieve the ring with which he planned to wed Eva.

Gameplay

Just like its predecessor Jazz Jackrabbit, Jazz Jackrabbit 2 is a 2D side-scroller that incorporates elements of shooting and platforming. The player must venture through a series of levels populated with enemies and environmental hazards that may hinder the player's progress. The goal is to reach the level's exit, usually indicated by an exit sign, whilst overcoming obstacles and hazards through the use of running and jumping as well as removing enemies and obstructions through the use of shooting and stomping.

The player is given a selection of characters to choose from, namely, Jazz, Spaz, and in the subsequent expansions, Lori. Each character has certain traits that are exclusive to them. During the course of the game the player can encounter additional power-ups such as upgrades to their character's health, or the effects and damage of their weapon. Also scattered throughout levels are coins that the player can pick up and use as a currency for when the player encounters the merchant. If the player has collected enough coins throughout the level the merchant will teleport the player to a secret location in the level that is usually filled with power-ups and other goodies for the player to collect.

Multiplayer

Players can participate in multiplayer. The game's Splitscreen mode supports up to 4 players, whereas online can support up to 32. The game also has local TCP/IPX network support. Multiplayer features several game modes, mainly cooperative, deathmatch, capture the Flag.

Development

Jazz Jackrabbit 2 was produced by Epic MegaGames, now known as Epic Games, as the sequel to Jazz Jackrabbit. It was accidentally confirmed on August 24, 1994 by Arjan Brussee.[7] It was released in 1998 for PCs running Windows, and later for Macintosh computers.

Jazz Jackrabbit 2 has a bundled level editor called Jazz Creation Station (JCS), allowing players to create their own levels. The level editor was not included in the Mac versions or shareware editions.

Releases

There were several variants and releases of Jazz Jackrabbit 2.

Jazz Jackrabbit 2 - Shareware Edition

Released on April 10, 1998,[8] this is a promotional shareware game. It featured three single-player levels and two multiplayer levels. It was released to promote the game.

Jazz Jackrabbit 2 - Holiday Hare '98

This Christmas edition was released on November 6, 1998 for the PC in North America. Unlike the previous holiday editions, this game is commercial rather than shareware. It includes three single-player levels as well as a new boss and additional multiplayer levels.

Jazz Jackrabbit 2 - The Secret Files

This Easter edition was released on March 15, 1999 for the PC in Europe (with a subsequent release in Poland by LK Avalon on June 19, 1999 which added Polish language in the options). This game introduces Jazz's sister Lori as another playable character. When Lori dies, her face is immolated and she falls over. 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. The LK Avalon release can be found in the GOG.com re-release.

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 on November 25, 1999 for the PC, across Europe. However, the publisher, Project Two Interactive, went bankrupt before the release date. It was eventually released in Poland by LK Avalon. A limited European release followed shortly after. This version is based on the engine of The Secret Files and can be found in the GOG.com re-release.

Reception

Jazz Jackrabbit 2 received positive reviews. On MobyGames, the Windows version holds an aggregated metascore of 77 of 100.[9] MacAddict's reviewer John Lee praised its fluent gameplay, but criticised the game for not adding anything new to the genre, which he considered "old fashioned".[10] Trevor Covert described the gameplay as "addicting" and praised the graphics.[11]

Next Generation reviewed the PC version of the game, rating it one star out of five, and stated that "Frankly, this as the launch title for G.O.D. makes us slightly apprehensive about the company's chances. It may be easy to get product on shelf when you can call and say, 'We're the guys who did Quake,' but we think it will be a little harder when you're the 'Jazz Jackrabbit people.' An unimpressive first release."[12]

In the United States, Jazz Jackrabbit 2 sold 29,000 copies by October 2001.[13] Despite good reviews, sales were insufficient and resulted some financial loss for Gathering of Developers. As a consequence, the would-be sequel Jazz Jackrabbit 3D was unable to find a publisher, prompting the developers to abandon the project which was less than 50% complete.

gollark: LUA stands for LUaisnotactuallyan Acronym.
gollark: Personal Home Page was the old expansion.
gollark: PHP = Programmers Hate PHP. True* fact.
gollark: PotatOS Otiose Terrible Advanced Technology Or Something
gollark: PHP = PHP Hypertext Preprocessor. We can all aspire to such heights of weird acronymization.

References
  1. "Jumping Jack Rabbit! Gathering of Developers to Publish Epic MegaGames' Jazz Jackrabbit 2". The Daily Carrot. Epic MegaGames. 14 May 1998. Archived from the original on 28 June 1998. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  2. "Gathering of Developers and Epic MegaGames Ship Jazz Jackrabbit 2 Nationwide". The Daily Carrot. Epic MegaGames. 12 August 1998. Archived from the original on 4 November 1999. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  3. "Jazz Jackrabbit 2 Box Shot for PC - GameFAQs". Gamefaqs.gamespot.com. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  4. "The Daily Carrot: Jazz 2 Top Stories". The Daily Carrot. Epic MegaGames. Archived from the original on 28 June 1998. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  5. "The Daily Carrot: Jazz 2 Top Stories". The Daily Carrot. Epic MegaGames. Archived from the original on 6 December 1998. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  6. MIKE MINOTTI (November 30, 2017). "Jazz Jackrabbit hops back to life on GOG". Venturebeat.com.
  7. "Google Groups". Groups.google.com. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  8. "News for April 10, 1998". Online Gaming Review. 10 April 1998. Archived from the original on December 4, 2000. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
    "April 10, 1998: "Epic Megagames has released the shareware version of their side-scrolling action game Jazz Jackrabbit 2."
  9. Jazz Jackrabbit 2 - MobyRank on April 4, 2014
  10. "MacAddict: Jazz Jackrabbit 2". 3 November 2004. Archived from the original on 2004-11-03. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  11. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-10-06. Retrieved 2014-06-01.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. "Finals". Next Generation. No. 45. Imagine Media. September 1998. p. 142.
  13. Keighley, Geoff (October 2001). "READ.ME; G.O.D.'s Fall from Grace". Computer Gaming World (207): 30–32.
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