Jazz Jackrabbit 2 Online

J2O widescreen mode - January 5th 2015

An (experimental, probably bug-riddled) widescreen site mode has been added. You can enable it in your site settings (click “Edit settings” at the top while logged in). More info on the JCF.

JCS Awards 2014 - January 3rd 2015

Source: JCF thread

It’s 2015! A happy new year to you all. The start of a new year, by tradition, goes hand in hand with the community-organized JCS awards: prizes and recognition for those who made the best levels for the Jazz games over the past year.

Sir Ementaler has been so kind as to organize the awards this year. Go read the JCF thread and vote for your favourites!

As a voting aid, you can use our list of all levels uploaded to J2O in 2014.

True origin of Carrotus - December 24th 2014

Source: "Devs Play" on YouTube

Double Fine’s new YouTube series, Devs Play, builds its inaugural episode around the 1994 Lion King game, complete with commentary from one of the developers. At around the half hour mark they get to the Hakuna Matata level, and Louis Castle reveals that it was based on official Disney plates, storyboards, etc. that were initially developed for the original Lion King movie but were cut for story reasons.

Why do we care? Well, it’s a nineties platformer, but more importantly, Hakuna Matata was the inspiration for Carrotus. Before it was thought to have been invented specifically for the Lion King game, but nope, it originated in-house at Disney. (Just like Pride Rock, the inspiration for Damn.)

LGR plays Jazz Jackrabbit Holiday Hare '94 - December 16th 2014

Source: YouTube

We have seen Lazy Game Reviews in the past before with his Jazz Jackrabbit 1 and Jazz Jackrabbit 2 reviews. So naturally LGR would play JJ Holiday Hare ’94 at some day during the Holiday season! Enjoy watching.

Twenty Years of Holiday Hare - December 15th 2014

Source: Epic MegaNews #6

A cool winter setting with ice caves and snow-covered pines.
All of your favorite Christmas tunes played to a rocking electric guitar beat!
Total arcade mayhem as Jazz goes up against ice monkeys, bulldogs, demons, and much more!

Released December 15, 1994, Holiday Hare ’94 took place entirely on a single planet—Holidaius—but with a different palette for each level, a technique that JJ1 hadn’t used before (although JJ2 would run it into the ground). It also used a different set of enemies in each level, with the unfortunate side effect of showing the Now Approaching screen three times more than necessary.

HH94’s festive remix soundtrack and its free distribution have given it some life of its own outside of the Jazz Jackrabbit series, among people throwing together lists of Christmas-themed video games, and it featured the series’ only ingame-sprite-based cutscene (until JJA). Unfortunately, it also brought back the hand enemies from Stonar, but nothing’s perfect…

With Hanukkah to begin in about 24 hours (adjust for time zone), this twentieth anniversary seems as good a time as any to wish you all a Happy Holidays from J2O. And if you don’t have HH94 yet, download it free today!

Twenty Years of Jazz 1 CD - December 2nd 2014

Source: Epic MegaNews #5

_{twenty years and a few days, but the admin tools were broken until now}
November 28, 1994 marked the unveiling of Jazz Jackrabbit CD, with its… well, I’ll let Epic do the enumerating:

Original 6 episodes, plus 3 new episodes!
Original 6 ending animations, plus 3 new ones.
9 new Bonus Stages, for a grand total of 27.
27 new levels, for a grand total of 81 (WOW!)
New BONUS option to play just the 3D bonus stages!

I’m sure there’s room for disagreement, but the CD planets include some of my favorites in the game, particularly Industrius. These later tilesets are more detailed, and the levels have more advanced use of the engine. Does that make the overall looks or layouts better? You tell me.

We’ve got another twenty year mark coming up in just under two weeks, but for now, JJ1CD is the game of the land! Fire up those DOSBoxes, mates.

Deadline extended! - November 17th 2014

Source: JCF thread

You may have been working on an entry to my treasure contest, and thought it’s too late. Well, in fact it’s not quite yet, since I extended the deadline to November the 25th!

The thread is right here, incase you missed it.

I’m also hosting a LRS server soon. It won’t be dedicated, however.

The treasure contest has begun! - October 3rd 2014

Source: JCF thread

And if I get at least 2 quality entires, there will be a 2nd place prize of £12! Infact, It had begun a few days ago, I was just lazy about posting it.

Here’s the thread. The deadline is November the 15th, and a few new rules have been added.

Want to take part in a treasure level making contest? - September 17th 2014

Source: JCF thread

That’s right, a contest for the forgotten official gamemode. And you could win real money! However, this won’t happen without your input.

You can also find more information on this thread here.

The poll will last for two weeks, so get voting!