Jazz Jackrabbit 2 Online

Underworld is more or less the regular Xargon fare. It’s supposed to feel as if it’s underground (the vertical layout helps, granted), but it’s a bit vague and transparent. Okay so there’s a dark background, dim lighting (with the huge crystals being light sources), and the music, but this isn’t the strongest theme out there. Really it feels like a generic Xargon level with some details thrown in, rather than a completely new setting.

Gameplay wise it isn’t anything outstanding either, as it’s pretty small and a little bothersome to navigate. There’s all regular ammo types available here – an odd choice since not all weapons will be effective here (for instance, I can’t really see RFs or Pepper Spray being too useful). Toaster + Fastfire as the only powerup, well, I’m not a huge fan of toaster as a weapon but I figure it can work here. At the bottom there’s two warps that lead back to the top – fair enough. All in all a pretty decent levelThe size suggests that it might be good for duels but I wouldn’t really want to duel here.

Deinspirated Mayhem (a really cringeworthy name, IMO) uses Tubelectric – not a tileset you see often anymore. But even though it’s Tubelectric, which I usually like a bunch, this level lacks some sort of spark (hehe). It’s not as interesting or good looking as the tubelectric classic e-Line Circuits, and that came out seven and a half years ago. It doesn’t look like there’s much mayhem going on, or anything going on – it’s a pretty static landscape of bricks. Bricks, and little else than bricks actually. It makes the level look very purple, almost monochrome in fact. There should have been more wooden/green circuit/black parts to break the monotony.

The layout shows that this level was pretty much uninspired – not that I mind a lot to be honest. It’s bigger and more spacious than Underworld, and also more horizontal. RFs and Bouncers work in this layout fairly well, as will Pepper Spray. There’s three carrots, two of which are placed in semi-evil dead ends – not a problem. I did like how the blaster powerup was placed – it reminded me of some older levels. Not sure if being half-secret is the best spot for the weakest powerup out of the three available, but it’s not a huge deal.

This is probably worth a download. Deinspirated Mayhem is the better of the two levels (ironically), but Underworld is not bad either… and then again neither of them are all that spectacular. They’re decent levels, and much better than Eigus’ older works, but still not quite great.

Eigus is back it seems, at least in the JCS-side of the game. Seeing how much he has changed in level design, made me glad, even surprised me a little bit. These two battle levels are truly a big improvement considering his past uploads. Let me introduce each level to you a bit.

Deinspirated Mayhem is a small-medium sized electro station level using IC’s Tubelec Night-set. The level design is so different from all the new battle levels people have posted. It is sort of oldschool design in the way that the level isn’t extremely spacious, but solid and does not contain “random platforms.” I remember somebody else fairly new but inactive player/creator to have a similar level design, and Eigus has found the same way sorta. At least the gameplay in Wrath’s Virtues was very similar to this one which was just neat.

However, there are some bad sides in the level as well. Firstly, the flow isn’t very wise everywhere. The author didn’t use layer 3 when he should have, since some spots where the floor height changes by only one-few tiles, there is no slope, but useless springs or nothing. As well, more one way should have been used(especially the ledge above the blue springs.)

The eyecandy, although somewhat decent, leaves more to be desired. The floor doesn’t use the edge-tiles at all, but has just the middle-tiles at the edges always, which looks a bit irritating. Although the sprite layer has a bit of activity as in the form of the animated tubelec-lights, the atmosphere is just too calm and “dead” compared to the music especially. Basically the tileset just offers much more than this. Also the more oldschool design comes with some annoying camp spots. I suggest not to duel here. Rather you should try this in a 3vs3 TB for instance, also due to the amount of carrots (3 minor ones.)

Underworld, although way smaller than the other level, is my preferred one here. I haven’t yet seen Xargon used for this kind of a theme. The level has a vertical gameplay, far better flow, and that way plays much faster and better for duels than the other one. Also the level visuality and audio match better here. The atmosphere is dismal, mystic, and well…Underworld’ish. I have no real complaints about the eyecandy here, it is decent enough. Although the level has much more heighth than width, there are only two springs. You have to rely on your jumping-skills more, or use the warp in the bottom that takes you back to your spawn position (no, there are no pits, as you may have thought. The other level has them.) That shouldn’t be a problem here, since there are no annoying heighth changes and the level is easy to move in generally.

Duels here should be interesting indeed, since there is only one major Power Up. That is TOASTer right in the so-called center of the level. What you basically have to do is to keep it yourself. But don’t worry. In case you lose your health and ammo, you can run away and heal yourself easily if you have a better endurance than your opponent. There are 3 minor carrots, as were in the another level as well. That weakens the effect of the Power Up practically. There is also an Electro Blaster Power Up, but as you know, that weapon does always the same damage, so don’t bother trying to roast your opponent with it in the first place. I’m not very sure, since I haven’t yet tried out myself, but I think a game with 3 other people might work out here just as well as duels would. I definitely don’t suggest to play this level with a big party. It can get quite crowded and chaotic.

These levels were a nice surprise from the author. The levels are now closer to high-quality levels than before, and they should work out in serious games even. If the author only had put more focus into details and made the levels slightly bigger, these could be a couple of really great levels. I would probably rate Deinspirated Mayhem a bit below 8, and Underworld an exact 8 separately, but since they are together, I think they deserve a bit more. Download and try! Well done Eigus!

SJ