Jazz Jackrabbit 2 Online

(This review is part of a review exchange)

Chaos. While quite a few levels have “chaos” in the gameplay, no other level ever made has perfected the concept of chaos like this level has. It’s a great achievement that FireSworD has created in his secret lair of JCSing.

The theme of course, is what stands out above the rest. Everything in the levels stays true to the theme of chaos; the background and foreground layers move at high speeds to trick your eyes and create confusion and chaos. The smoke rings above the pit created more chaos. Hell, even the placement creates more chaos by having a very large amount of PUs for a level of this size. Everything in this level feels really synced together, including the music, which just like the smoke rings gets progressively more chaotic and powerful as it continues. All of these elements combined come together for a unique experience.

However, while the “chaos” here feels great, does this level actually play great? While the level generally flows well, the smoke rings can get extremely frustating when they get to high quantities. While I believe this could be adjusted to in time, I don’t think this level would be a popular choice to play in because the vast majority of players these days do not like having to cope with new kinds of obstacles. On your first play of the level you will probably fall in the pits quite a few times, but after a while you’ll likely get used to them and then only fall in by accident or by intention of another player. It takes a lot of skill to master this level, which may turn off some people but others may see this as an oppertunity for success against the weaker players in this level. To succeed here, careful play around the smoke ring area and good predicition are required. I feel it’s quite easy to predict players here because of the limiting layout. What I find genious is that despite the large amount of PUs this level still feels really slow paced in duels, however it becomes a fast paced level when a larger amount of people play.

This level is a work of art for me, however most players looking for serious games will probably look else where. However, FS took the liberity of making a Lite version for the little wusses who can’t stand the smoke rings or the dark feel. This still gets my Seal of Approval simply because of how well the theme is executed.

[23:25] <@BlurredD> Interesting fact: part of my fix for preventing the flag bug which caused “[player] captured the flag” spam messages apparently created a side effect where smoke rings can to wrap around a level and rise from the bottom. Oops.

Whoa. Talk about a hangover…

That’s basically what Enter the Chaos by FireSworD is. A controlled hangover. Eyecandy is layered and stretched chaotically. Weapons are grouped in various places. A unique and really fun Chaos symbol formed by a falling Pole event. Darkness, broken occasionally by a brilliant, yet not overpowering flash of light. Erratic music, filled with clashing chords and wierd-sounding samples. Backwards rain.

A Caterpillar event.

In any other level, this combination of factors would result in complete and utter anarchy. In EtC, it’s brilliance at its best.

Every single aspect of FireSworD’s masterpiece contributes handily to an overall impression of disorderly disarray, yet never seems too over-the-top. It’s crazy, but as the old, cliched adage goes, there IS a method to the madness.

EtC is also available in a Lite and Dark variation, which are simply the same level with corresponding light or dark Layer 8 fade colors, plus a few aesthetic differences (like more/less platforms, caterpillar/no caterpillar, etc.).

Do I have any objections to this level? Not many. My biggest problem with Enter the Chaos is with how dark it is. The vines in the wide open central ‘cavern’ were quite hard to see, and it tipped the level more towards ominous and away from chaotic.

It seems, then, that this Enter the Chaos gives…well, chaos…a pretty good name. I like it a lot, and heartily recommend its download.