"Top 10 Neglected Levels on J2O"

PT32, 2011

Okay, so the basics are pretty simple. The Top Ten is a list of levels, music, tools, editors or other assorted uploads to J2O that you, the listwriter, feel have been overlooked, cast in the wrong light or have gone without enough praise. It ranks from 1 to 10, with 1 being an obscenely ignored level, and 10 being a level that just needs a little push to bring it to notoriety. If people take this idea seriously, it will be a very effective list, because it provides badly needed exposure to packs that truly deserve more (or different) attention than they got.

Rules are simple:

1. The Unbreakable Rule: "This is not an ATTACK list. It is an ADVOCATE list." Nothing should be on here that the list maker is going to drag through the mud, lambast, insult, or otherwise bash. Please. Admins, if you find someone's list violating this rule, don't hesitate to make an example of them.

I should also clarify that constructive criticism and offensive remarks are NOT the same thing. I would prefer as little negativity as possible, but I acknowledge that sometimes certain things can and should be pointed out. Use your own discretion, but keep in mind that what you have to say must be balanced equally with how you say it. If it sounds derisive, it probably is.

2. "One personal upload allowed." Please limit yourself, the author of your list, to one custom upload on the list. If you feel you have a pack that slipped through the cracks, advertise it here. But don't monopolize the Top Ten to suit your own interests. The point of this list is not to promote your own stuff, it's to promote someone else's.

Going even further than that, I would suggest (This is only a suggestion) that you not put yourself at, say, number one on the list. It will only make people think that you're a self-absorbed publicity hog. And I'm sure that's not what you want.

3. "No Public Advertising." Don't put a level on this list to promote a gang, band, social group, hot-button political issue, or stuff like that. In certain cases (Like with clans, such as XLM, OLC, LMAT, etc.), this may be acceptable, but I'm primarily referring to biasing the list by putting all your friends and their friends on. Don't sell list spots. This is not a good-ol'-boys club.

4. "Follow J2O's upload rules." An upload that breaks J2O's rules (See J2O's Upload Rules) has no place on your list, nor does it deserve a microsecond of publicity. Don't make it worse.

Oh, and no obscenity, please. Believe it or not, little kids actually DO read this stuff. That may not bother you, but it does me.

Here's a link to the Upload Rules.

http://www.jazz2online.com/node.php?title=ReviewRules

5. "Be fair." Don't put something on your list that doesn't deserve to be there. Like illegal stuff. Or something that has twenty million reviews. It already has more than enough credit.

On the converse, don't ignore candidates for the list just because you don't like the uploader, or anything like that. Basically, no prejudice or cold-shouldering. That's just plain mean.

6. "Dig a little." Don't be afraid to scrounge around to find forgotten uploads. The last thing the list should cover is exclusively recent stuff. Mix it up a little. Find some stuff from long ago, some from yesterday, and some from today. There's a ton of perfectly good packs from as far back as ten years, so go hunt them down!

7. The Special Case Rule: "If it's important, list it!" If for any reason an upload has brought monumental change to J2O, yet is not commonly used, you are allowed to (reasonably) stretch any of these rules EXCEPT Rule Number One. If you discern that something is out there that could greatly alter the way things are, then spotlight it. It doesn't matter how much publicity it has: If it's not being used, remedy the situation.

This is a very sticky and complicated rule, so in general, I would strongly suggest you just leave it alone. I only mentioned it just in case it would ultimately prove important.


I think that about covers everything. Go list away!


My list:

1-"TSF to 1.23 J2L Convertor" by zapS

http://www.jazz2online.com/downloads...-j2l-converter

An incredible tool that simply cannot get enough credit. Allows you to take a TSF (1.24) level, which is incompatible with the standard Jazz (1.23) editor and engine technology, and convert the TSF level so that it can run with 1.23 Jazz 2.

And yes, I know it already has sixty gazillion reviews, which breaks Rule Number 5. The reason I put it on here is because, despite the fact that it has an almost perfect rating, is raved about by everyone AND has over 500 downloads, a great many levels in recent times are made for TSF only. This could be almost entirely avoided by using zapS's tool, and I hope to greatly diminish the number of 1.23-hostile uploads out there by bringing this to common knowledge.

This is an example of the proper use of Rule Number 7.

2-"Ambient Sound List" by Lark

http://www.jazz2online.com/downloads...nt-sound-list/

Another amazingly awesome upload that's been grossly neglected. ASL is a complete (I do believe) listing of all one hundred twenty-something ambient sounds, providing great ease when you're looking for the perfect sound effect to enhance the mood of a stage. I found this upload very helpful when searching for 'bog' sounds for my Moonbeam Moore level.

3-"Winter Mountains" by Silver S.

http://www.jazz2online.com/downloads...ter-mountains/

Quaint, but quite well done. WM is the same battle level in two different settings, with different musics each time. There's a ton of room to run around in, and you can duck down into the surprisingly not-chilly water at the bottom of the level to hide from enemies.

4-"One Starry Night" by PT32

http://www.jazz2online.com/downloads...-starry-night/

My first upload to J2O after nine months of internet silence. OSN is a clean, well-executed singleplayer pack nicely blending elements from Jazz 1 Holidaius and Jazz 2 Holidaius. Includes custom music.

5-"MHCTF" by VeggieMan

http://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/676/mhctf/

An interesting concept, Man Hunt CTF is a good level with considerable structure, well-placed events and smooth gameplay. The attempt at a custom gamemode is a clever creative touch.

6-"Angelic Warfare" by CelL and RagE

http://www.jazz2online.com/downloads...gelic-warfare/

Using the revered Agama's Heaven tileset, RagE's level with CelL is a classic Jazz2 stage. Medium size, evenly distributed events and great gameplay. A successful level.

7-"Infernasium" by Cmdr Dats

http://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/250/infernasium/

While it may use a standard Jazz2 tileset (and with it, standard eyecandy), Infernasium is nonetheless an engaging level with lots of potential and opportunities for fond multiplayer memories.

8-"Diamond Mines" by Venom

http://www.jazz2online.com/downloads...diamond-mines/

Also a standardized eyecandy/tileset level, Diamond Mines is a decent battle level, with coin warps and lots of events. Very expansive. Pretty fun to play. I enjoyed it.

9-"An Impossible Mission 3: Red Rain" by Stijn


http://www.jazz2online.com/downloads...on-3-red-rain/

Cited by Stijn himself in his upload description as "the last level he's making", AIM3 is a solid level. Not as spectacular as some of the others on this list, it falters a little in the visual appeal category but still delivers on gameplay. Quality upload.

10-"Rock Haven" by Cmdr Dats

http://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/5946/rock-haven/

My final pick for this list. It does linger a little on the bland side (There's only so much you can do with a Rock tileset), but is still a great battle level. Lots of room to run around, plenty of guns to shoot people with, easy enough to get around in. I liked it. Good level.

Links would be be good. Remember y'all can use the bbcode notation [download=3742]text[/download] if you're not familiar with HTML or are worried that the J2O download URLs will get changed someday and your links will consequently break.

Anyway this thread is awesome! The admin-sponsored list can always be found here, but it's updated only rarely and has somewhat different criteria. If enough people post here with good ideas, maybe the two could be combined somehow.

Yeah...I just hope people take notice. It's taken off pretty slowly so far.

Cool, I check out this forum and find a useful thread. Since I've dug up my jj2 again and have been playing a lot this past week I thought i'd chip in, Theres quite a lot of underplayed/neglected quality uploads on j2o imo and i'm tired of being like the only person who used to review them. Anyways, this list has no particular order I just quickly browsed j2o til i found 10 uploads to maybe help get this thread goin.

In the spirit of what you said in your first post - I am not going to post anything just because I feel it is overrated or disagree with the rating but stuff I geniunely liked and thought was neglected.


* http://www.jazz2online.com/downloads...tric-boogaloo/ (OLC'S Jazz 1 ctf pack #2). Ok this is still pretty recent but one quick review and one N/A review is pretty underwhelming. I was actually tempted to review it myself but I cant rate it since I am part of OLC, even tho I didn't chip in to making this. Whatever.

* http://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/6739/lost-ages/ Had to throw in at least one of my uploads, and it's gotta be this. I've only received one good review for it from Newspaz (thanks!) and it feels like it's been on the front page for forever. I have just enough time between work and real life occupations to actually release an updated version of this, along with a fairly detailed list of modifications to be made, but it won't bother if nobody cares enough to give feedback on it, which would be unfortunate (since it really could use an update) but fine by me.

* http://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/6367/dream-stage/ I remember seeing this in a bash sometime long ago, and thought it was a pretty cool, well-themed level. It has several reviews but all of them are pretty brief.

* http://www.jazz2online.com/downloads...ment-fortress/ This is a really old tournament style level by Ragnarok yet to date i'm the only one who reviewed it.

* http://www.jazz2online.com/downloads...een-hare-down/ I remember this as being part of a pack that me and lark never finished. Anyways, it's a really fun level from what I recall playing it and could use some attention (even though I think Satans review for it is pretty thorough).

* http://www.jazz2online.com/downloads...re-ctf-levels/ The only upload on this list I havent actually played, I just find it strange that a ctf pack thats been pretty well praised has no one to bother writing up an actual review for it.

* http://www.jazz2online.com/downloads...impressions-a/ Also a pretty recent upload, I had seen a few of these levels online and it looks like a lot of work has been put into this pack. Shame it only has 2 quick reviews to show for it.

* http://www.jazz2online.com/downloads...p?levelID=6597 Again something good that only I reviewed. This time it is a nice battle level with a particular that looks good. I've seen this hosted a couple of times so it's kinda surprising the only reason it got full review was from a review exchange.

* http://www.jazz2online.com/downloads...p?levelID=4688 this + the rayman conversion is pretty awesome. dunno why i havent used it yet


* http://www.jazz2online.com/downloads...p?levelID=4224 a cool tileset i got to betatest that i've seen a few fairly decent levels made out of it, that of course im the only one to post a full review for. gg

There was actually a LOT more stuff I stumbled onto, that looked pretty good/gotten some very quick positive feedback, that I excluded from the list because I havent played it (and dont have time to). Generally I didnt include stuff I havent played cause it would be unfair to do so by just the rating. Also, I didnt bother searching after I found 10 files that match the criterea cuz I didnt want to waste too much time on this, but undoubtedly this list could have been a lot longer....

Yeah there are loads of levels/packs I looked over but of them these are the ones that stood out the most that I think really need mentioning and more playing, be it in pubs or JDC or serious games... Bare in mind I only really put MP stuff over because it's generally where more of my interests lie =P.

10) Device (http://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/5174/device/) - Not much to say, good level, kinda old level now I guess, hasn't been played nearly as much as it should have, it even looks cool.

9) Impressions A (http://www.jazz2online.com/downloads...impressions-a/) - Recently uploaded, quite a good pack with lots of cool levels. Dunno what else to say except I would like to see this more when I occasionally go online. ;P - More notably the reviews are lacking. *HINT HINT*

8) GaLaXiuS (http://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/1695/galaxius/) - REALLY old one here, but words cannot express how much I like this level and how little attention it gets. Then again, it's old. ;P

7) Substracted Space (http://www.jazz2online.com/downloads...tracted-space/) - Big pack, loads of cool concepts in the levels that haven't really seen the light of day enough still.

6) Stalactite Laboratory (http://www.jazz2online.com/downloads...ite-labratory/) - Fun level, stumbled across it in a JDC event and have been looking for it for a while. Didn't get nearly enough praise for how good it is IMO.

5) Dubbed Marine (http://www.jazz2online.com/downloads...dubbed-marine/) - Great level by good ol' Crimi, most people I spoke to said it was fun, probably didn't like it as much as I did but I still think that this deserves more attention. Try it in a serious game some time.

4) Memories 3 (http://www.jazz2online.com/downloads...3-imagination/) - Yeah this pack got all the reviews and high ratings, but what gets me is how little it's played, probably as with most of this list. We should all play it, if I don't go spam it at an event at some point...

3) Virtuosity (http://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/6607/virtuosity/) - This is one of the few levels that actually feels completely professionally done, very few complaints, and yet still I fail to see why it isn't as noticed as it should be. Only one review, and probably I'll add to it later...

2) Toxin Twister (http://www.jazz2online.com/downloads...toxin-twister/) - Yeah, one of the ones on the list that has been seen in competitive play and less serious play moreso than a lot of the others, but isn't noted for how clean the level is and how different it may be to other levels out there. It provides great fun and interesting areas to fight in so I kinda had to mention this. And besides, Master cooba would have me shot if I didn't, (especially if I didn't refer to him as master first).

1) Frontier Falls (http://www.jazz2online.com/downloads...rontier-falls/) - And finally, this level. We've probably all seen it, we all know it, but does anyone realise how good the level actually is? I think its arguably the best CTF level out there, and it's even a contest winner of that duel thing. I'd love to see this played seriously and I'd happily accept a duel or any form of serious game here. Even if the level has gotten quite a bit of praise for how recent it is, it should get more.

I coulda said other levels but these ones stuck out to me the most.

That is all.

Rag@ Just played Frontier Falls. You're totally right, it should be played WAY more often.

Hehe, glad you agree. ^^

Originally Posted by Ragnarok

5) Dubbed Marine (http://www.jazz2online.com/downloads...dubbed-marine/) - Great level by good ol' Crimi, most people I spoke to said it was fun, probably didn't like it as much as I did but I still think that this deserves more attention. Try it in a serious game some time.

Yay, I am forgotten because I'm on this list, but you remembered me which makes me... unforgotten?

How can one forget sir?

http://www.jazz2online.com/downloads...impressions-a/

It's really a shame that this pack hasn't really been given much attention, despite being a featured upload. It contains arguably some of DS' greatest levels yet.

@PurpleJazz:

Haven't tried DS's level yet, but will when I get a chance. Good pick!

http://www.jazz2online.com/downloads...n-lava-planet/

Now this is something truly underground. The reason for the pack's lack of publicity is due to the fact the author is completely obscure, and this also happens to be the first (and only) upload by this user. The pack is far from perfect and has a few flaws here and there, but damn it, it deserves some love. It's truly a diamond in the rough; if you can look past the faults you'll find yourself an underappriciated, creative and fun pack. It's not mindblowing, but it's worth checking out.

http://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/4502/pitfall/

That (and One up) are strangely almost completely lacking reviews while some of blur's other uploads (which are just as good) have around 20.

@Blacky

Really?