Jazz Jackrabbit 2 Online

Wow. This is a pretty good CTF level. First thing I’d like to say is that there is lots of space, and the bases are far enough apart. Didn’t really like the inclusion of seekers, but I don’t think it damaged it too much. Excellent eyecandy, which made the level look very lush and similar to a greenhouse. Only odd thing were the floating things in the background. I’d say about… 8/10. Really good, definitely worth a download.

Level appearance:

Tileset usage: 7.0

The use of the Carrotus Fix Evening tileset was decent in some ways and a little jarring in others. I feel the tileset was used better than the standard Carrotus tileset was used for the official JJ2 levels simply because there was far better variation in the ground of each platform. On the other hand, there may be a little too much deviation between tiles, as there are certainly several locations in the level where adjacent tiles have questionable compatibility. One thing I liked, however, is the fact that the weeds coming out between the rocks actually helps cover up several of these tile compatibility issues, making the overall result much more pleasing to the eye.

The tile incompatibilities do not pose a significant problem when actually moving quickly through the level, however, as the screen scrolling makes this difficult to see. I suggest looking at older levels like Carrotus Squash to improve your use of Carrotus tilesets. That battle level had few tile clashes in the ground. However, the size of each platform was also smaller on average, making tile compatibility significantly easier for that level.

Overall graphical appearance: 8.0

The background is full of carrots, vines, and waterfalls, while the foreground is used mainly for the smaller vines and brush that hang off the visible side of the platforms. I like the fact that the foreground is not used to cover the player in any area. I also like how non-scrolling mountains were used in the “distant” background off to the right hand side and waterfalls were used on the left hand side somewhere in a similar fashion.

The varying widths of the closer waterfalls also lends the level’s landforms a sense of depth, as it appears that water falls off the side of the landforms far away and much closer. While there is a lot of depth in the background, the foreground appears to be much flatter, with no water flowing out from the front. You might be able to do this in a lower corner of the level so it does not obstruct any other important part of the level while still appearing logical. Overall, I like the fact that the level’s physical symmetry does not carry over into visual symmetry.

Level design:

Level navigation: Very easy

Flow: 9.0

This level’s greatest strength is its excellent flow. The springs were well placed, and most areas of the level where springs are used have enough distance between the player’s head and the areas’ ceilings, and most items are placed at ground level or in the paths of springs to allow reloading to occur at fast speeds. I question the use of the two warp points in the level. While they do not move the player far enough across the level to become part of the primary method of travel, I think many players might hesitate to use them most of the time because the warp targets are close to the center of the level, which makes the center of the level a very dangerous place for most players. This is actually a good idea because using the most straightforward path in a CTF level should also be very risky. While there is nothing new about the flow of this level, there is also nothing fundamentally wrong with it.

Gameplay: 8.5

At first, I questioned the base placement in this level. Both are in the lower corners of the level, which often leads to players neglecting the upper area of the level, as all the action is concentrated at the bottom. At the very least, however, there is a large difference in the type, power, and quantity of weapons you can get between the bottom and top of the level. At the very top, there are also powerups, which highlights this difference. You can certainly improve this idea even further by removing the seeker ammo from the bottom of the level. Players should have to go out of their way to acquire the ammo that makes the open areas toward the bottom of the level dangerous.

Another aspect I liked about this level was the existence of both highly open areas and relatively narrow areas close to one another as alternate paths to each flag base. This results in the narrow area being much better for those that possess bullet bouncers, while the open area is much better for those that prefer to use RF missiles. Both become dangerous paths when players are able to assess the situation and use the proper weapon. Similarly, there area areas with several branches (specifically toward the bottom) where seekers are very good to use, while RF missiles will instead hit the walls and ceilings and bouncers are generally less effective than seekers, but more effective than RF missiles. These design choices are very good to keep in mind when creating a level that emphasizes simple flow.

Overall Concept: 8.2

Unknown Garden is a solid CTF level with excellent flow and decent design decisions in its graphical presentation and structure. While there are no new concepts to be seen in this level, it is a good example of a CTF level having both bases placed at the bottom of the level while still encouraging players to navigate the rest of the level to acquire more strategic and powerful weapons to roast the flag carrier. The optimal match in this kind of level would probably be a 2 on 2.

Good job.

~ Derby

I wanted to review each level separately, but my review itself would just get chaotic. All the levels just look the same.

Eyecandy

The eyecandy in these is chaotic and reslly not up to the standards set up by certain people. Everything here is scattered randomly, like the author was in a rush or something. Another important thing is that the author himself didn’t show any thinking from his own. Each time we play these levels we get a strong feeling of deja vu, there’s nothing original and everything can be seen in other levels. The backgrounds aren’t too special here too, and by saying backgrounds I mean backgrounds, not “layer 8’s”, because some people here really get excited as they see layer 8 textured.

Gameplay

The layouts here are a massacre on their own, except level 3 which was just evidently ripped off mr. Bird’s “A Victorian Urban”, which I should take points off but won’t. As for the other two, I can’t even tell if they’re open or cramped, because that depends on the place we’re in. There’s a huge open area which turns into enclosed tunnels. The levels here are very platformy, which doesn’t really mean we can jump from one platform to another because they’re very long and thin, which almost makes me say they look like the = sign.

As for ammo and other stuff, there’s just way too much of it for such a small level on the (average) 110×80 scale. All the food here could be finely put in a, say, 150×100 level. Besides, it’s just placed really chaotically (quite a lot of the chaos thorought the pack don’t you think?)

• Pluses?

• Chaotic

Overall
This, as an overall, is a pack of chaos. If you like chaotic gameplay and eyecandy (which isn’t really the best thing) download this.

…What the heck? Ratings of 9 and 10?! People, think more carefully before you give such high ratings. Anyway, my review!

EYECANDY

This was certainly one of the more positive aspects of this pack. Caves of Mystery has particually pleasing eyecandy by the excessive use of bones/staglitites/lava etc. While it may be quite repetitive in several places, combined with a nice atmosphere it kinda works. I don’t really like the Gargoyles in the walls though, and the caves are mostly squared off, something I wouldn’t except in a hot, natural enviroment like this. I dislike how annoyingly yellow Village at the beach is, but it has a pleasant music choice to give this level a calm atmosphere. In Sunny day in town, there are many places where stuff designated for layer 4 has been placed on layer 5, which is can become very irritating at times, especically the way its used here. I’m also not a big fan of the fade colour, either.

GAMEPLAY

Well yeah, the gameplay takes a wrong curve in these levels. The flow in them is very sloppy in places, and they have some questionable platform/spring placement. The ammo placement is fairly decent sometimes, but in Village at the beach I am pretty sure there is too much food. One of the most annoying things in this pack is how closed in they are. While cramped levels aren’t really a bad thing, in some levels such as Caves of Mystery there is barely any room to move about. The carrot in top left corner reminds me of xlmsubt, too. >P The layout in Sunny Day in Town is very similar to Birdie’s Victorian Urban, perhaps a little too similar in places.

Pros

• The eyecandy in these levels was decent

Cons

• Needs a lot of work, gameplay wise
• Too much food
• Needs more originality

Don’t be decived by Ischa’s and sonicnathan 1’s high ratings, and don’t think I’m being harsh on you, I’m just trying to be helpful; like any good reviewer. While I can’t deny that these are your best levels so far, these still could be a lot better. So here’s a 7.

Rating Battle From Freedom

To start:
Three ‘overniced’ battle-levels, each with a very good Eyecandy, good placed goodies and a very good gameplay.

Eyecandy: (20 pts)
There are three levels and in each level is the Eyecandy so nice…
It is impossible to create a better Eyecandy than this. A nice colored sky, water- or lavafalls, trees and skyscrapers are a perfect decoration for the three levels. And there are little details in all of them. So twenty points!
Result: 20 pts

Gameplay: (20 pts)
The levels are very large. And that is very nice. Moreover it is impossible to go astray and that is always a big advantage, also for beginning JJ2-players. So also twenty points for this part.
Result: 20 pts

Ammo placement: (20 pts)
Ammo is good placed. You have placed lots of ammo into these levels. My opinion is that you need that. It could be very consume when you confront or chase your antagonist. So also twenty points for the Ammo placement.
Result: 20 pts

Carrot placement: (5 pts)
There are carrots placed, which could be necessary when you are badly injured. In each level (except level 3) are two carrots hidden. Good considered to only put carrots in level 1 and 2, because if you are badly injured in the third level and you want to take a carrot, you can’t find one. So when a rabbit search a carrot (without success) the antagonist will probable chase him, so that will be very exciting.
Result: 5 pts

Conclusion:
These levels are so good, that it is not necessary to make a calculating for your figure. If THIS is not the best Battle-level from all over the world, I’m an idiot.

Total points: 65
Maximum number of points: 65
Calculating: 65/65*9+1=*10,0*
Mark: 10,0
Download recommendation:

[Unsupported rating (10) removal. I’m sorry. You’ve obviously done your best on the review and it’s much more well-written than some of your older ones. You’ve done a good job of explaining some of the concepts and ways you liked this level. But you give barely any reason as to why you rate everything 10 points. Ammo placement is not just about the amount of ammo you place in a level, but about how strategically it is placed and if it creates interesting gameplay concepts. The same goes for carrot placement, and gameplay. That the level is large and you don’t get stuck in one part is not a proper reason for rating something 10. Is the gameplay original? Does it make people play strategically? Is the level easy to navigate? “No dead ends” is not enough for a gameplay rating.

Size should probably not even be rated, as giving ratings is about how well the level works, not which kind of size you yourself like.

You say this level is perfect. One thing you can do to improve is realize that nothing is perfect. If you think a level is perfect and find yourself wishing to give a perfect rating, a light bulb should go up above your head, since thinking a level is perfect usually means you’re missing something.

At this point, I don’t know what to do with your reviews. What the difference between your reviews and other people’s is, is that they play competitively, and thus have a much more balanced view of how well a level works. You find joy in most levels, and don’t notice things the more seasoned players do. That’s not a problem, it’s probably a gift to focus like that and to have fun regardless of minute details. But it’s not a good basis for writing detailed reviews. You write interesting reviews, and apart from that I think this review is against our standards, I liked reading it. from a global point view, I found this review more positive to read than negative. I would recommend that you at least stay reviewing, but maybe give comments instead of reviews unless you’re really confident you give a balanced, detailed view (again, “enough ammo” just doesn’t cut it). – FQuist]

Purplejazz, what I dont understand is you Betatested the level and then give it a harsh raiting. Why didnt you tell this stuff to Triple J in the first place? He could of imporved the points you said where bad. Next time actully help Triple J so that he can improve those points.

@Pj7, tell him to change them and reupload it;P

Green Paradise is a medium/large Battle level using my Jungle Paradise Tileset conversion. TripleJ seems to like using my conversions which no one else used or liked. Now for the review:

This level has the same, overused EC as in most Jungle levels. There are a lot of EC things in this set, and TripleJ has only used a few things. The background is kind of original though, but thats only because of the additions in this conversion :|. I don’t like the Purple fade colour for the Textured Backgound much, use a light colour next time. There are some more Diamond trees at the bottom of the level on layers 1 and 2, and they move way too fast, and they kind of clutter up the place. There are loads of the same leaf clusters (reminds me of the bushes from Diam B levels) placed on layer 3 all over the level. They seem to be randomly placed without any thought. Next time use a larger vareity of EC. But I must say, it still looks nice while playing it.

The Gameplay is quite a dissapointment :(. The flow was rather sloppy. There a lot of places that need one way events, like all that wooden stuff. This is one of the main causes of the bad flow, since I go under a wooden platform with a dead end, I try to jump out but there’s No One Way event so I have to just turn around, which spoils the flow by a lot. a lot of springs through you into celings and walls, and there are some more dead ends like in 82,24. There should be a one way event on the ground above it, which would make the flow much better. This level requires a lot of Jumping to get around.

The ammo placement was average too. A lot of ammo is the simple, boring 4 ammo squares. Make some more intressting shapes next time. Also don’t use Ice in battle, it is just pointless. For a level this size there should be more ammo. Another problem this level has is there is only 1 carrot in the whole level. There should be more carrots in a level this size, or that carrot could be replaced by a full energy carrot. There is also a coin warp that costs 20 coins which gives you an RF PU. There aren’t very many coins in this level, so it takes a long time to get it.

I think the EC is a bit repetitive but it still manages to look nice, but the Gameplay and Placement could use a lot of improvements. One important thing through is that this level is a lot better than your last one. If you follow the advice in this review and spend a bit more time, you’ll make great levels. I’m going to rate this 7.1.

Download: Maybe.
Host: Perhaps once.

Next time you might want to put some tilesets in so people don’t have to spend hours finding what tileset matches the level.To make the level sound better, you could also put some music in it.Just my opinion.

~Hitch