Jazz Jackrabbit 2 Online

Starting Comments
Hey boss.

I’ve already seen this level some time ago… I think back when I was 10 ten years old, on the original Epic level list I mean back in the summer. This level wowed me back then for it’s hugeness (239 × 80). But it doesn’t very much matter if I liked it THEN, it matters wether or not I like it NOW.

Gameplay: Lovely
The level has a rather solid feel to it, while in reality it is really platformy. Several (large) platforms connect to eachother through springs, vines and height-differences that automatically make you leap on the other. The level is quite large and symmetrical, with the exception of the ammo and PU placement (more on that later).

The level plays in three stories, so to speak. The lower part of the level is where the bases are located and where most of the PUs can be obtained. The middle section of the level is mainly there to force players to go up or down, and the upper part of the level provides all the carrots that are to be found in the level.

On the lower level, one can obtain the Bouncer PU, in my opinion the strongest weapon in this map. That is because of the location of the bases. To put this weapon to the best, however, one would need the Freezer gun as well, which can be found (PU inclusive) near the base as well. The bases are located on a floating platform with around it (yes, you guessed it!) PITS! Since the floating platform is a bit lower, one can easily run into the pits after getting a flag. Also, it’s quite easy to defend the base, since a few Bouncers can make the player jump-flinch, as Jazz and Spaz always do, which will drop them in the pits. If you want to be even more sure, stand behind (and thus slightly above) the base and have Freezers at the ready… Spam bouncers and as soon as you hit something, press enter to spam Freezers. Well, if he didn’t fall down NOW, you’re bad at this game. Be ashamed.

Now that you’ve saved your flag, it’s time to grab a hold of the other team’s flag. Luckily the level is very large and has tons of ammo, so you can spread your chances of being caught and killed. If you take the lower route, you’ll find tons of PU’s which can aid you in your quest for the flag. Also, (if you can find it) you can use the ‘special-iced’ route (hint hint, nudge nudge) which will take you to any base or to the full NRG on the spot.

Atmosphere: orjazzm
The level uses a really old tileset, the JJ1 Diamondus tileset. Luckily for Rag (and for us), NOKA was nice enough to make an awesome tileset conversion for us all to use. The level looks awesomely clean and worked out. Starlit Summit gives honour to it’s name by giving us a very nice background and, of course, STARS. WAIT THIS ISN’T MARIO, AAH… Okay…

The level is filled to the brink with eyecandy, ranging from rock formation to simply trees placed in the right spot. Also, while everything looks quite solid, the level is actually more open than you think. This is mainly because of the nice detailing Rag has dealt here with his Shining Paragon of Mousely Correctness. [/overstatement]

Not to forget, the music adds a calm touch to the already calm background and makes you wish real life looked like this inside the United States too.

Eventing: Very neat
Starlit Summit is filled to the brink with ammo and PUs. Now I don’t immediately wanna say I think that’s a bad thing, especially since this is designed for, as you say, a 7vs7… but some things just seem over- or underpowered.

For instance, you can easily get maxed out FastFire in this level, while there is a Blaster PU (making blaster a bit overpowered) and a Bouncer PU with LOTS of bouncy ammo all around. Blaster PU is obviously overpowered for it’s unlimited ammo and the fact that it almost shoots the farthest of all weapons. Next to that is the Bouncer PU, which actually shoots the farthest. Furthermore, most of the players are gonna take the low route, which puts them in a classical Star Wars situation. High > Low. Why? Bouncers can overrun the entire lower section within seconds because of the Fast Fires.

Besides that, there’s also something I found odd about the centre of the map. There are two blue springs there, but they seem to be generated by some sort of MCE event. Why?

Yet one thing that bugs me a little bit… Blue team kind of has an advantage of being able to get to the Bouncy PU first… but that’s just my opinion.

As for the rest of the level, it is absolutely brilliantly engineered. From the frozen spring passageway to the ‘basejump’, every details seems to have been tested and tested again to make sure everything worked properly. Which makes you mister awesome for today.

Overall Awesome
A very good level with overall original and innovative ideas. Too bad 7vs7’s don’t happen that often, otherwise I’d play this all the time. I give this level a 9.1, which is an [Awesome / Perfect]. I hope you liked reading this terribly awfully stupidly long review.

Download Recommentdation
HELL YES

Further Comments
This is my longest review yet. I did my best for you. :3