Jazz Jackrabbit 2 Longplay (PC) [60 FPS]
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Developed by Epic MegaGames/Orange Games and published by Project Two Interactive in 1998
For today's video, I decided to play and review Jazz Jackrabbit 2, a side-scrolling platform game featuring a green, anthropomorphic rabbit who carries a gun, shoots first and ask questions later.
For those unfamiliar with character, Jazz Jackrabbit first appeared on our screens in 1994 in a Shareware release from Epic MegaGames (yes, those guys that made the Unreal engine and original Gears of War trilogy). The game was a colourful and fast-paced (if somewhat unremarkable) platform/shooter), one that I certainly never expected to receive a sequel.
To my surprise, the game received a sequel almost four years later in the form of Jazz Jackrabbit 2. Back in 1998, the thought of releasing a 2D side-scrolling platform game seemed pretty archaic, especially when considering that the 3D revolution first sparked by the PlayStation, PC and N64 platforms had been well underway for several years by this point.
Fast forward to the present day, we find ourselves in a strange position where retro-themed games and pixel-art design are back in fashion and finding a new audience amongst new and veteran gamers alike. It is in this climate that I decided to return to the game and see whether it was as fun as I remembered, and whether it is worth recommending.
Having completed his adventures in the first game, Jazz is due to marry his girlfriend, Eva Earlong, when disaster strikes. Jazz's arch-nemesis, the dastardly turtle, Devan Shell, turns up and steals the wedding ring, presumably in revenge for the defeat he suffered at the hands of Jazz in the first game. Devan Shell makes off in a time machine and it's up to Jazz and his brother, Spaz, to hunt down Devan and retrieve the ring.
Before the game begins, players must choose whether to play as Jazz or Spaz. Whilst the choice is largely cosmetic, the characters do have different moves that can influence the paths that players take through some of the levels.
The objective of the game is make it through each of the game's levels to the exit whilst killing baddies and earning points along the way.
A large arsenal of weapons is at your disposal for the purpose of dispatching the game's various foes and bosses. New guns are introduced throughout the course of the game and many can be upgraded in some way (should you be able to find them...).
On the subject of hidden treasures, the game is an absolute boon for those of you who love uncovering secret areas and hidden bonuses. Although it's easy enough to reach the end of the level, the real fun is to be had in discovering all of the secret areas. From false walls, to hidden teleporters, treasure hunters will lap the game right up. Of especial interest are the silver and golden coins to be found floating in each of the levels. Collect enough of these and the level's resident trader bunny will transport you to a room full of bonus items.
Despite being nearly 20 years old, the game's visuals hold up remarkably well. All of the game's sprites are beautifully drawn and animated (Nick Stadler and Dean Dodrill), and the the background artwork and tilesets look great. The game's engine harnessed the power available of PCs at the time to deliver some attractive volumetric and ambient lighting effects that add depth to the game's playfields (although this is unavailable when using hardware acceleration).
Even better than the graphics, though, is the game's music, courtesy of Alexander Brandon. From the Gregorian chants of Medieval Kineval, to the melodic calypso of Beach Bunny Bingo, the soundtrack remains one of my favourites of all time. The secret to a great tune is that you can hum along with it, and all of them are insanely catchy (at least in my opinion).
One thing to note is that the game can be somewhat tricky in getting it to run on modern PCs. The game was written back in the days of Windows 98 and things have moved on immeasurably since then. Fans over at https://www.jazz2online.com/jcf/showthread.php?t=19489 have compiled a community patch that resolves a lot of bugs in the game and makes it playable on modern machines (I had to use the patch to play the game).
In addition to the single player story, the game also includes a number of competitive 'versus' modes that were surprisingly fun to play. Whilst the player-base would probably be single figures by now, there are modern tools available online that allow you to play the game online even today, which might be worth a look.
Having completed the game, it's still as fun to play as it was back in '98. With top visuals, awesome sound and a difficulty curve that feels spot on, this is definitely a game you want to check out.
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