Jazz Jackrabbit 2 Online

Levels are bland and boring, but the gameplay is quite fun. What’s keeping me interested is the originality, and for that well done.

Okay this level isn’t that bad, but it isn’t that good, and certainly doesn’t deserve the #1 spot for best CTF levels. In a nut shell, the visual aspects are okay, and gameplay can get stuffy and repetitive at times.

What Ktos has made is a very large CTF level using the Odyssey tileset by blur, which is in my opinion, getting overused. Ktos shows some unique eyecandy tricks here, as well as some cool sucker tube entrances.

The level can get hard to learn at times, since it’s so large. There are also some tight spots in the level, but overall, decent job!

Let’s see… what we’ve got here is a medium-sized level by Fawful. He uses the Desolation set by Blur, which gives it an Industrial theme. The name “Chemical Gases” is shown by the atmosphere of the level. You’ll see in the background, Faw uses a brown gaseous color to really give the level the effect he’s really trying to succeed. To finish it off, he uses an fast tempo rap beat, which really gives the level it’s icing on the cake.

The level overall, plays very well, compared to Faw’s past work I’ve seen, which can be hard to learn the layout of. The flow is a little cramped in some places, like the NRG in the center (Might get chaotic in big games?) but overall, is pretty open. There’s a few features in Chemical Gases that I especially like, for instance, the warp (above the NRG) to the bouncy power up, which leaders to some springs, eventually bringing you through the floor, and up to the Ice power up. This level does actually use ice. To get to the toaster power up, you need to freeze the horizontal springs on the outside. You can also you the ice, to freeze someone near the bottom of the level, causing them to go through the warps, and into the pits, giving some strategy as well. Overall, the gameplay in this level connects, and can be quite an easy level to learn, even though there might be some secrets that can take a bit longer to tackle.

The level does truly look great. The background is simple, but effective, using brown/black brick like tiles to show off the levels theme. He also uses the block tiles blue and gray near the bottom of the level, to give it the final industrial look. Let’s get to the foreground. You’ll notice the whole level is outlined with the grey pipes given from the tileset. A little different from other levels I’ve seen using this set, making it original. As well as that, is the fencing tiles he used. You’ll notice in sections, one being around the NRG, he spreads the fencing tiles around, giving them an old relic look, which I do like. The eye-candy in this level actually works. I can see Faw really worked on this, since he’s known to do some pretty random, and chaotic work. It’s not the best, but man did he get it right.

I’ll have to say I was quite impressed with this level, and defiantly deserves an 8.6! A medium level with a great flow, and an awesome theme. Don’t be staggered when what I’ve said isn’t true, this is a definite download!

Fun level, nothing to new. Tubes made the level a lot more interesting, and the tileset gives the level a wintery feeling. Overall not bad, but the campy area (top left) can get a little annoying… sometimes ;)

Very inspirational, incredibly thought out, with a spectacular design. Made by FireSworD, what’s to expect? Nothing least out the ordinary. Love the idea of the Golem theme, matching very well with the tileset usage, and to top it off, the music fits splendidly.

Alright…. after seeing 11 reviews, and a score of 7.8 for a user I’ve never seen upload anything before I had to check it out. Well boy was I disappointed. This level does not deserve the score that it got, and some user’s scored this ridiculously high. Either they where drunk when they graded this, they don’t have a clue what they’re talking about, or they’re insanely basied towards this user. [First review in like, 10 years? :l]

I have to say… for a first level? .. this is pretty decent. To bad I have no sympathy for new creators, and being ‘new’ won’t make your score any greater, or lesser.

The layout is symmetrical, but is very bland. What I mean is, there’s a lot of ‘squared’ off shapes in this level. You made a border vertically and horizontally, basically making a square from point [A] to point [B]. Not only that, but you have a lot of platforms that just get boring, running around after a minute.

..As for gameplay… it could be improved. In on the far ends of the level, the blocks sticking out of the wall get annoying, they aren’t one way, and when you use the springs on the left/right to go up, you hit them and it just gets frustrating. Also at the bottom of the level (left/right sides) there’s some ammo, and then a green spring to lead you up (not making it a dead end) but it just seems cheesy and useless to me.

Eye-candy in this level, is decent, in fact, I think layers 6-7 are better than layer 5… and what’s wrong with that? Layer 5 is used for the more basic add ons to interact with layer 4. And I just wasn’t feeling it.

I would give you some more criticism, but bleed in with the advice I gave you as of now, and come out with another level, that blows me away.

Grade: 5.7 … Download it? Wouldn’t.

~Hitch

Maybe next time you decide to upload a level, have it tested before released online. Just a word of advice ;)

This level has really kept me busy over the past year. Must be one of the most often hosted battle levels I actually host. Music it entertaining, and the layout is fun to play around with. The palette is quite anyyoying but doesn’t bother me to much. I miss you Birdie, come BACK!

[Turn into quick review admins]

[Review changed to quick review. Okay. – Violet CLM]

[Did you somehow manage to miss a checkbox with “Quick Review?” next to it? ~cooba]

I’m to lazy to do a normal review so whatever. Anyway, right now, this is my favorite FR level, not just because he’s birdie, but because of how he made it. It doesn’t get totally cramped if it’s 10+ people, it actually get’s quite exciting. I love the Bouncy Turrent, and the crate which traps the campers near the flag the most. Yeah! Dload now!

[Review changed to quick review. You were juuust there. – cooba]

The creativity in this level just keeps amazing me every time I play it. Every time I play here, I notice something completely new and creative. You could honestly play this level for hours at a time. Would it get boring after a while? The answer is no. I’m just so impressed with Rag’s latest work, and this by far, gets a vote for one of his best all time levels. Maybe not in everyone’s first person view, but for me, this is just superior. The Eyecandy just makes this level flow, and the atmosphere just feels so realistic. The Ideas Rag put into the eyecandy for such a set, are brilliant. If someone was looks for some ideas, eyecandy wise, this would be the level to look at. Another thing I wanted to point out where the tricks and short cuts he put in here, as well as “death zones” such as the vines near the very end of the level. If you fail to cross, you’ll have to start the lap completely over. A trick that he put in here, was the RF jump near the middle of the level. It’s not impossible, but it’s not the easiest to complete, which is perfect for such a simple, but brilliant trick. I give this level 2 thumbs up, and a definite download. Good job Rag.

~Hitch

Now I did look at the level and saw some cool tricks. Sucker tubes and things in that nature. Though it could be improved a lot. Some things to think about. Using layers 5/6/7 gives more appeal to the level. Making players WANT to play it. Not just look at it and say, meh, this is alright. What im talking about is adding forground and backround eyecandy. Now I don’t know if your completly new to this thing or not, but it seems you know the basic and how suckers, warps, warp tragets, and modifers work etc… But Gameplay and Eyecandy could be improved a bit. This is just a heads up when creating other levels. Overall, I’m not giving this a raiting because I think I’ve explained what can be improved. Good luck in your future levels WaterKnight.

I must say this tileset has it all and is very compatible in in many ways. One of the best tilesets i’ve seen since Agama’s tilesets. I hope to use this tileset in one of my future levels and make good work of it. I recommend everyone to download it as it is a must. I’ll rate it a 9.5 as it deserves it.

I just played Birdie in a duel today, using the level MULCH. The flow was nice, so was the tileset. The music made a fast pace game. Overall I like it. Even though it’s small, doesn’t necessarily mean it has to get a low score. Good for 1v1 & 2v2 duels. Score, 7.9..rounded to an 8.

~Hitch

[Rating adjusted to 7.9 ~cooba]

“If there is any way I can improve the level, let me know in the review.”

Don’t make remakes of original battle levels. That means, if you where ever thinking up making a remake up Battle 2,3, capture 1 etc, don’t. Also, don’t steal the ideas of other creators by changing the tileset, like you used in swamps, because it’s already been done before.

Make your own levels.

~Hitch

Sandstone Ruins

Sandstone Ruins, made by Qz for Pj’s battle contest. It uses Evilmikes Temple tileset. Since this tileset is underused and I have only seen one level besides this, I shall do my best. This is a review exchage by the way.

Gameplay: The gameplay in this level. It runs smoothly on the ground, BUT, I must point out the dunes get very annoying, or sand you could call it. The masking is very bad, so it is a chance willing to take using the tileset. Anyway, the level, around position 50,23 you can get stuck very, VERY easily. I would recommend not having a dead end there but that is in my opinion. Overall the level runs smoothly except for the walls, and spot 50,23.(annoying)
7.5/10

Eyecandy: Lets see, in this level the eyecandy isn’t exploding, but it also has more than average. I like how you use the dunes all around the level, in layers 3 perhaps. It makes the level fit, I guess you could say. I also think, in this tileset there isn’t much eyecandy but I must also say that Qz did a very good job using it. All the tiles fit, seems good.
8/10

Ammo/Carrot/Powerup placement: Let’s start off with ammo. The placement of ammo is pretty good, but I am seeing in yours that in the underground part(Left) it gets empty. Also near the bottom right(By the Rf pu) it is also very empty. This can be an issue, having no ammo. And it can slow down the pace of the level. Carrots.. There are 3 +1 carrots, and they are also placed in I guess okay spots, in the corners and on a specific platform, so the carrot has it’s own spots. And the powerups.. The Rf powerup at times can be hard to reach. The bouncy powerup I have no opinions about. As for the toaster, it can get a bit buggy getting up to there but it is placed well.
7.5/10

Positives: Good eyecandy, placement of carrots

Negitives: Tends to be a bad flow

Overall this level is well built and it deserves to be played a few times. As there aren’t many battle like this, I think I will host this often when doing battle.

Score: 7.5/10+8/10+7.5/10+.3=8

~HïTçH

[Edit: Added more ammo, fixed spot 50,23. +.3 added.

Heated Pipelines

It’s been awhile since i’ve reviewed any levels but here goes another >P This level uses the Lavapolis tileset created by Noka. Let’s just start of by saying I have only seen 2 levels using this tileset, so I wouldn’t normally know what a “great” level with this tileset would be. Anyway, the review;

Gameplay: Lets see, the level runs pretty solid throughout the level. At certain points, like where the Rf position if located, that blue spring is unnecessary. You hit the wall if your not going for the Rf, and, well you get the point. At certain times, it seems that all i’m ever experiencing is the springs. You could of used something else, like some lava eyecandy, then put a float up there. You get the idea.
7.5/10

Eyecandy: Eyecandy in this level is done wonderfully. One problem though is that it seems empty at ceratin points, the left side, is experiencing more of the backround tiles, and so is the right but not as much. In the walls you have certain cracks with eyecandys placed in there. There are also some unique ideas used with the eycandy so that is always good to see.
9/10

Ammo/Carrot/Powerup placements: Lets start of with ammo first. First off I see ammo can get pretty empty in some places.What I also see is, there is hardly any Rf ammo, and just the Rf powerup. I also get annoyed with the candies. I would of used, when you go up a spring in the corner, some ammo instead of candy.Powerups…The Rf powerup placement I hate. I’d wish it could maybe be under where the gun9 is placed, then shoot gun9 to get to the Rf. And once again I hate that blue spring. It is just bugged up. As for the bouncy, there is nothing to say. And for the seeker powerup, you’ll have to take a risk on that, since it’s a dead end. Lastly, the carrots, EW! Horrible placements, except for the one in the top right corner. If I where you I would of put one where the gun 9 is. That would suite me.
7.5/10

Positives: Good eyecandy, playable

Negitives: Bad flow and placements of events.

Score: 7.5/10+9/10+7.5/10=8

~HïTçH.8Ð

[Edit] Ds did reupload the level without me knowing untill now. He has fixed some stuff like adding more ammo and less candy.

Sub-terrestrial

A battle level by Pj. This level impressed me very much when Ds first hosted it online. I was quite surpirsed when it had the look of an underground jungle. And I’m giving Pj some bonus points for being creative with the backround and the setting.

Gameplay The gameplay is quite average and it isn’t at it’s best. It could be improved quite alot and some of the springs are hard to get to. I also hate the spring placement for the seek pu. I’d like to make a note, that when you warp at the shield, your not pulled down. So you can just camp there all day and get an extra deley of time for the shield so the sucker tubes don’t help at all.He’s fixed the shield bug, thank god. So +0.5 for that.
7.5/10

Eyecandy The eyecandy in this level is a bit creative so it’s not average. It’s quite good actully. I like the idea of adding extra ec to the trees and putting ec on top of ec on the brancy green stuff. Nice job being creative at the bottom of the level by adding some extra ec stuff. Nice job keeping to that idea >P.
8.5/10

Weapon/carrot placement The weapon placement isn’t much to say about other than it’s pretty even. It can be a bit challenging getting the toaster pu for unexperienced players who haven’t learned the bouncy trick. The carrot placement is fine, and im releaved that you took one of the carrots away. When Ds hosted the level it had 4 carrots.(to much)So im glad you did that.
8.5/10

Score: 7.5+8.5+8.5= 8.2

Download recommendation:

Maybe host it a few times for fun. I can tell though that this will be a common battle level. Not sure why.
Yes.

~HïTçH

What the heck…

7.5?

Look at the masking. This was probley copied from the video game. This does NOT deserver a 7.5.

More like a 5.2 or something in my opinion.

Uhm, this level is way overrated so I shall rate it to give it, it’s right position.

Rabbit Settlement

Now the only reason I’m rating this is becasue the level is way overtaed and does NOT deserve an 8.

Gameplay: Well, the gameplay was, uhm, wierd. The quality of the level was not that good at all, and the level wasnt even. It didn’t have a good flow to it, and it gets confusing at parts.
4.5/10

Eyecandy: Uhm, well I found no bugs what to speak of but there was a huge mistake I found. There was absoulty no eyecandy(backround). You could of atleast added a different color texture to layer 8 but noo. And some parts like the backround didnt seem to fit. It looks like a soild wall but it’s really just backround. Horribly used.
4.5/10

Layout: Uhm, I can’t really say anything here except its strange…
N/A

Weapon/Carrot placement: Well the weapon placement was actully ok. Not really. The only good thing about the level was you actully put the Powerups somewhere instead of just randomly placing them on the ground. Carrot placement. Meh. Horrible.
4.5/10

Overall the level was not that good but it was a start if you’ve never made levels before. It was quite small and it was a useless upload.

Score
4.5/10+4.5/10+4.5/10= 4.5

Even though this leve earned a 6.3 it still deserves a 4.5 or lower. I find a 6.5 and higher a good level but meh. The level isn’t that great. I’d play it for laughs. Thats all, nothing more.

~HïTçH

Oho, being harsh don’t you think. Meh, this really doesn’t even deserve a 4.5, just being nice.