Jazz Jackrabbit 2 Online

Bloodbunny’s Lair, Happy Semiconductor CTF AND Diamondus Warzone got in here, so I refuse to review any of them.

(Written after the re-upload was doanloaded)

Overall, I think this years pack is good. I have a few objections I’d like to share, though I’m not likely to be playing it.

It’s not so much that the levels I’m going to point out are bad, so I hope none of the authors think badly about it. :P I didn’t like the One where you jump from island to island and if you miss you fall to get warped. I also didn’t like Knighmare Castle due to it being so easy. It’s kind of like Stupid CTF, but no where near as fun (or as small). I also didn’t like JAIL being included. I like the level, and in the day I hosted it a ton, but I think it’s been a bit overplayed. :P

Other than those: Good picks.

YaY i like most of the levels.
and WHY did you have to put JAIL in it omg that lvl is …..

ab5ctf12 got tileset not found o.0

(Acronym edit. -Trafton)[This review has been edited by Trafton AT]

…
NOW you’re concerned about lag and stuff.

Weee, these are teh greatest levels ever. But if you’re so concerned about download lag, maybe you shouldn’t make big levels with lots of eyecandy. Just a thought…

They didn’t make the levels. They used them. And you should always have enough eyecandy. Always. The more, the better (in most cases.)

There goes my last minute effort to make the pack myself. All I had to make was the stupid little text file that goes with it. I did change a few levels in the pack, but it might not really matter. I think I’ll go bang myself in the head with a heavy object for wasting all that time which could have been better spent.

(and i wasted more time just writing this up. bleh.)

And in other news, I had no idea of how many classic levels to keep. Me personally, I would have had five or less since some of them seem to be getting overplayed, but go figure. Also, I didn’t pick/suggest every level in the pack. In the end, something about someone else’s opinion got in the way so I don’t know and enjoy the levels. And last (but not least), is Security Breach v2. Version 2? I see many disappointed players in the near future. Security Breach just isn’t as fun without the jail. BTW, it uses j1Battleships.j2t.

Wow, the 5th bash. Anyways, I’ll just review the chosen CTF levels for fun, (Which I will most likely do for the battle pack as well).

Here goes:

Level 1: Zatox Station67
By:CelL
Well, Im not surprised that this level has been chosen. The tileset use and eyecandy is quite remarkable here, makes it seem realistic. The layout and ammo is quite strongly made as well, a solid choice for this pack.

Angelic Warfare
By: CelL and RagE
This level is also one of my favorites. I like the way it was designed, and the way CelL and RagE used the heaven tileset. I also expected this level to be in the pack.

BloodBunny’s Layer:
By: Bloodbunny
Well, I think this level has been in every bash so far, despite its very overplayed. Though I played this many times, I still quite like the layout. Its very roomy and easy to travel around. Though it sometimes gets irritating if you fall down while jumping on platforms, this level is good for running around in and dueling etc.

Martian Megatropolis:
By:UrJazzCC
Hmm…This level is also well made, though I didn’t like the dead ends where the powerups were. I liked some components used in this level and thought of them as quite interesting. This level is also quite underplayed so adding it to AB5 would do good and add it some popularity.

SPACE ISLAND LEVEL WITH ISLANDS:
By: EvilMike
This is an unusual type of CTF level, but that makes it fun to play. I like the triggering systems used here and all that, and I basically like the idea. Though I hadn’t a clue that this level would of been included in the bash, Im quite glad it was.

Celestial Wargrounds:
By: Enigma, I think…
Hmm…another heaven level. Some things I liked about this was the carrot placement and the floatups for easier gameplay. The level was wellmade and was also fun to play.

This level is Untitled
By: EvilMike
Another level by EvilMike. The layout here is good, somethings I didn’t like about the placement was the clump of stuff around the blaster powerup. I don’t think so much fastfires in one place was necessary. The level itself was also well made.

One Silver Penny:
By: CelL
Another great pick by BlurredD, the level not only looks great but plays well as well. I think I’ve said enough about this level in my review about it, so I haven’t much else to say.

High Volume CTF:
BY: FiresworD
Im not surprised this level got chosen. It has a very good balance, and designed nicely. The ammo was placed nicely as well.

Arabian Highlands:
By:Super Saiyan
Wow, I had no idea that this level would be chosen, but like for many others, Im glad it did. The level design was good here, I like the tileset use as well. An interesting, but good choice by BlurredD.

Knightmare Castle:
By: I have no clue whatsoever.
The first thing I noticed was the interesting eyecandy, great use of BlurredD’s castle remake. The layout was pretty good as well. I can’t say I’ve played this level before, so I dont know by whom it is.

Swinging Jazz:
By: BloodBunny
Hmmm..Im glad this level had been edited so the sides arent open, this way the chance of a flag bug happening is very dim. The layout is ok, but I think this level, like some others in the pack, is severely overhosted.

Happy Castle CTF: (aka JAIL)
By: Stripe, Bobby, Quist.
Hmm…JAIL has been included. Though it is an ok level, I think its been overhosted to much. I don’t mind it in the pack, but I wished for some less popular levels, so that those levels can have their share of popularity as well. The level is good though.

Happy Semi-Conductor CTF:
By: Stripe
I quite expected this level to be in the pack. It has an interesting design and fun to play. Though it is overused, I still think it should be in the pack because its one of the best CTF Levels.

Darker Science
By: Shadow[GpW]
This level has also been included in some bashes before it, and the level is also well done.

SmogCTF
By:EvilMike
Another unexpected level. The layout in this level I found ok, except I haven’t a clue how to get the RF powerup(without checking JCS at least)

Security Breach V2:
By: BlurredD
I have always loved to play SB(security Breach for you clueless people), mainly because of its great balance and layout. BlurredD has inlcluded his non jail version, which is good, since jail sucks for duels =P Anyways, SB isone of my all time favorites and im glad BlurredD included it in the pack.

Diamondus Warzone:
By: Epic
AAHHH no, not this fiendish level. Its probably the most overhosted and overplayed CTF level ever!!!Its also included in probably every CTF bash btw.

Dirty Laundry:
By: Bloodbunny
I also knew this level would get included. I don’t have much to say about it, except its also overhosted. Anyway’s, its still nice to have it in the CTF pack though.

Claustro Mania
By:Shadow[GpW]
I quite like this level as well, good use of the mez tileset , interesting layout etc. Though I feel the suckers are a bit slow and there’s too much of them. Other than that, not a problem.

ShockWawe
By:Shadow[GpW]
A tubelectric level which I’ve played often, but not often have I seen it hosted. Its interestingly designed and well made. Its a great level and Im glad it made it into the pack.

Fiersome Flaggin’:
By: Disguisey Wisey the wise guy in a disguise (Disguise)
This level is also interesting, though I do not like the dead ends or all those fastfires in one place easy to get.Other than that, its a pretty good level.

Well, some interesting levels included here, others are overhosted though. Anyways, happpy AB5 Bash everyone!

[This review has been edited by Blackraptor]

yeah ALL of them were good except the half that didnt have music and got me stuk in the top-left corner
i think ya gota put a JAZZ START in there!!

[Official response: The levels themselves are used for multiplayer…and in multiplayer, a Jazz start messes up CTF because it is team-based. Music was not included because it is both very hard to get ahold of and also would increase the file size greatly. -Trafton][This review has been edited by Trafton AT]

I looked it over and, it may just be some kinda bug on my part or someting, but is Zatox Station67 by CelL supposed to have two blue bases and no red bases?

[Official response: Good eye. I’m not exactly sure why, but when played in single player, Zaitox DOES, in fact, have two blue bases. In multiplayer, however, it is perfectly fine, so no harm there. -Trafton][This review has been edited by Trafton AT]

Blackraptor, Knightmare Castle is by me. I forgot to put a sign in in this version :).

i was gonna say that, but i was to lazy to delete my old review until today. >=P

anyway, kC rox.

argh

winzip says it isnt a valid zip file. so i’ll go lag the servers by downloading.

Okay, I will review this with help from my own reviews on single levels, and I will write a few sentences about the levels I didn’t review so prepare for a long review.
Level 1: Zaitox Station 67 by CelL.
Gameplay: Good/Very Good. It’s not perfect. The spring placement was very good. But when you fall down at a base, you need to go back up. You can get stuck somewhere. There are many sucker tubes, and that makes the gameplay even better. Also, the balance is as good as it must be.
Eye candy: Very Good. I loved it. There were lots of stuff in layer 4 and 3. It was really one of the best eye candy I ever saw. There were also lots of brown and mud tiles. I liked that.
Pickup placement: Good/Very Good. There was not really many ammo, and the place of the bouncers was questionable(the bouncers near the bases). It’s better for Jazz, I think. There are 3 PU’s. Seeker, Bouncer and Toaster. The most ammo in one group was 9 gun9. There was also a Full Energy(of course). It’s good placed, but I think that it’s closer to the blue base. There is also a +1 carrot at the centre of the level. The Toaster Power-Up was closer to the red base, I guess.
Level 2: Angelic Warfare by CelL and RagE.
This is a nice level, the level has good trigger use, and a nice ammo placement. Great eye candy and gameplay. One of the best levels in the pack.
Level 3: BloodBunny’s Lair by BloodBunny.
Gameplay: the gameplay in this level is awesome. It’s the best gameplay ever. The layout in this level is kinda good, although the level is open. The flow in the level is very good. The spring placement is very good and there are warps which prevent you from jumping. There is some Spaz biasing here. You can get the left carrot with Spaz, and if you fall off, you acn get up again. Jazz has to copter and that’s a biasing. There are many platforms and you can get on them without jumping.
Conclusion gameplay: the best gameplay ever. Very nice flow, level is quite open. Some Spaz biasing, but a very good spring placement.
Eye candy: the eye candy in this level is nothing really special. There is not too many, but there are some secrets here and there. The tileset is used good enough. The tileset is under-used too, and it’s also hard to use it good. The lava in this level is made translucent, but sometimes, you don’t see the translucency. This is a bug, but that’s the game’s fault.. Layer 3 has alot of stuff, and that’s the reason why the eye candy is not bad or very good.
Pickup placement: the pickup placement in this level really rox. The ammo placement is very good, it’s good spread throughout the level. There are 3 power-ups, bouncy, seeker and gun9. The seeker power-up is placed at the left side, and you can get it with TNT, bouncies or gun9. This really rux. The bouncy PU is placed probably closer to the left base, and the gun9 pu is placed at the right side(and base). There are 2 full energy, you can shoot one down and it’s more close to the left base. The other carrot is at the right side, and cannot be shot down. There are coins in this level and tehre is a coin warp that leads you to the base. Left is left base, right is right base.
Originality: This level is very original. That coin idea was very good. The tileset was used original too. The tileset is under-used. The music is just standard, but it fits this level. The level’s name is original too. I will just say that this level is the most original possible. That means 8.5 points.
Level 4: Martian Megatropolis by URJazz[si]
Gameplay: Good/Very Good. It was very good. There was good spring placement but that horizontal springs were annoying. You don’t have to jump alot that’s very good. There are dead ends, that’s the only bad.
Eye candy: Very good. The eye candy was also very good. There were lots of things in layer 3 and 5, and the other layers were used good too.
Pickup placement: Good/Very good. It was almost very good, but I liked to use one type of ammo less, that would be good. The other ammo was good, because it was on the platform and not above. The full NRG was in the middle, thats good.
Level 5: SPACE ISLAND LEVEL WITH ISLANDS by EvilMike.
Gameplay: This r0x. That idea of the level was so original, and the layout was very original too. The level has not too many camp places. The size of the level may be quite strange, but I like it. This level doesn’t even need alot of springs. The gameplay is already very good(even without springs). The level seems quite big, and I like that too.
Conclusion gameplay: Pros: Everything.
Cons: Nothing.
Eye candy/Tileset use: Good/Very Good. Nothing really special here, but it’s quite good imo. I think the tileset is used well, and I kinda like it. There isn’t too many, but some places had nice eye candy. Others didn’t have, and that’s probably why the eye candy isn’t perfect or very good.
Conclusion eye candy/tileset use: Pros: The tileset is used well, and there are some places with nice eye candy. Cons: There could be more eye candy in some places.
Pickup placement: Very Good. I love the placement here. There is alot of ammo and there is enough in every place. There is a full energy placed in the middle of the level. There are fly carrots, which prevent you from falling I think. They’re also used for the fun I guess. And the originality. There are 3 Power-Ups, A Seeker, Toaster and Bouncy PU. The Bouncy PU is placed at the left-top of the level. There is less bouncy ammo there then Toaster ammo at the right side(with the PU too). The groups of ammo are mostly placed 5 × 2 or 6 × 2 or 7 × 2 × 3 ammo. There is also ammo on that small platforms, which you can get without jumping. The Seeker PU is placed in the centre of that two PU, where are 5 platforms. And the Seeker PU is placed on the 3rd platform of them.
Conclusion Pickup placement: Pros: Everything what needs to be good.
Cons: Nothing.
Originality: Good/Very Good. Yes, this level is very original. I give the complete 8.5 points for it. First: The excellent layout. Second: That interesting use of islands. Third: The placement of that fly carrots. Fourth: The tileset that’s used. And fifth: The music in the level.
Fun Factor: This level is very fun to play. The bases are easy to defend, but not too easy to kill the opponent after one hit. The RF PU would be nice here, but it doesn’t matter. You can kill he opponent with a RF or Bouncer than too. The full energy is placed on the ground, which prevent it from falling.
Conclusion fun factor: A very fun level.
Level 6: Celestial Wargrounds by Enigma.
This level is nice, there could be more ammo, but the eye candy is nice. The other placement rocked, and the gameplay was nice too.
Level 7: This level is Untitled by EvilMike.
This is a nice level, the ammo placement is intelligent. The eye candy is good, because the tileset is rather limiting. The gameplay here is good too.
Level 8: One Silver Penny by CelL.
Gameplay: Good/Very Good. Well, I can say this is a nice gameplay, but could be better, though. I will explain. First, there is a nice spring placement. Second, there are one ways in some places. Third, there is a copter in the level which makes the level Lori-unfriendly. But who cares, it’s mostly a 1.23 level and not hosted alot too. Fourth, there are some warps in some places. Fifth, the layout and flow are nice. Sixth, there are some tubes in some places. Seventh, there are some float ups too. And eighth, the level is not too big, but that doesnt matter much.
Conclusion: Nice gameplay, but not perfect.
Eye Candy/Tileset use: Very Good. Yes, this is again a very nice eye candy in a level by CelL. There is very nice eye candy in layer 4(sprite layer). There is a nice background. The tileset use is very good, too. There is a foreground, and that are trees. There is also something in layer 3, and it looks nice too. Even layer 5 had something, I saw too.
Conclusion eye candy: Very nice.
Pickup placement: Good/Very Good And here it is, the evil part of the level. I will explain why. First off, there is a very good ammo placement. Second is, there is one silver coin(penny) that’s why the name is One Silver Penny. There are 2 Power-Ups. One Seeker PU in the middle, with a Toaster PU at the right side. The Toaster PU is probably closer to the Red Base, but I dunno if it’s really true. Why is there a Silver Coin here? Well, there is a bonus of one coin and when you inserted the coin, you will be at the Full Energy. That’s quite evil, but it’s original. The other evil is, there is not another carrot in the level.
Conclusion: Nice placement.
Originality: Good/Very Good. Like I said, the idea to put a full energy in a warp where you need a coin for is very original. The music used is bonus2.j2b, and that music isn’t used alot for diamondus. Most times people that use a diamondus tileset always put Diamond.j2b as music. But I am glad to see that this time it isn’t the default music.
Conclusion: An original level.
Level 9: High Volume CTF by FireSworD.
Gameplay: Good/Very Good. I like it, spring placement is very good, only the level is quite small, if it was that big with this gameplay, it was very good.
Eye candy: Very Good. I loved it. This is how you need to use this tileset. I don’t care about that it’s overused.
Pickup placement: Good/Very Good. The ammo placement is really good, but you must get up again to get the ammo at some places. There are more levels which have that. The amount of ammo was very good. The carrot placement was also good.
Level 10: Arabian Highlands by Super Saiyan.
A level I don’t know too good, but I saw the interesting eye candy and good placement. Gameplay is good enough.
Level 11: Knightmare Castle by Unhit.
Gameplay: This level has good gameplay. The CTF bases were good placed in a small level. The springs were good, enz. Nothing bad about this.
Eye candy: Eye candy is very good. There are lots of dark places and all layers were used. That’s very good.
Pickup placement: Ammo placement was very nice. Not many ammo for a small level, great. The full energy was good placed on a small platform in the middle of the level. At each side of the level was a power-up, and the selection of RF and bouncies were good chosen.
Level 12: Swingin’Jazz by BloodBunny.
Another BloodBunny level. This level is worse than the other 2 by him in this pack, but it’s still good. The eye candy is nice, with a good placement and gameplay.
Level 13: Happy Castle CTF by stripe, FQuist and DizZy.
This level has alot of triggers, and I like that. Everything is good enough.
Level 14: Happy semiconductor CTF by stripe.
One of my favourites. This level has a very nice and strange layout, great eye candy and a nice placement.
Level 15: Darker Science by Shadow[GpW]
This level has again everything needed, no complaints.
Level 16: SmogCTF by EvilMike.
Another EvilMike level, this level uses the Wasteland tileset very nice. There is alot of good eye candy, nice placement and the gameplay is nice too. The rf powerup placement may be evil.
Level 17: Security Breach v2 by BlurredD.
This is one of my top 10, and I like it. I don’t know why this level isn’t on j2o, but it should be. Everything is nice.
Level 18: Diamondus Warzone by Epic and jeh(fixed it).
Argh. I don’t like this level. It’s too platformy and has a bad base and ammo placement. More than 1 seeker pu would be nice. The eye candy is good enough, but that’s all.
Level 19: Dirty Laundry by BloodBunny.
This is a nice level, with a great eye candy and placement. Gameplay is also nice.
Level 20: Claustro Mania by Shadow[GpW].
This is a level that uses Mez01, and I think that the way it’s used is very good. The gameplay is nice, but not perfect. The eye candy is very nice, like all levels in the pack. The placement is alright.
Level 21: ShockWave by Shadow[GpW].
This is another Tube electric level, and it’s very big. Again, everything that needs to be nice in a CTF level.
Level 22: Fiersome Flaggin’ by Disguise.
This is another level I don’t know too good, but it looks kinda nice, and has a good eye candy, placement and gameplay.
Well, it’s not too hard to give a long review for a pack like this, especially when you reviewed all levels somewhere. Some levels are not single on j2o, but anyway, bad that this pack may not be rated. I would say: awesome pack.
DarkSonic of XSÐ, CC and -XLM was here.
[This review has been edited by Da man]