Jazz Jackrabbit 2
Encyclopedia
Jazz Jackrabbit 2 is a platform game
produced by Epic MegaGames, now known as Epic Games
. It was released in 1998 for PC
s running Windows
, and later for Macintosh
computers. It is the sequel to Jazz Jackrabbit
.
Jazz has to chase Devan Shell through time, in order to retrieve the ring with which he planned to wed Eva. Jazz's brother, Spaz, and in later versions Jazz's sister Lori, are introduced as playable characters. The game features multiplayer
options, including the ability to play over a LAN
or the Internet
.
Spaz originally appeared (as a background object) in the previous Jazz installment Holiday Hare '95. Jazz and Spaz have different death animations. Jazz simply falls on his side, dazed. Spaz burps and explodes, leaving only his boots. They each have a unique special move of their own, and Spaz has also a second jump as opposed to Jazz' propeller ears.
called Jazz Creation Station, allowing players to create their own levels. often shortened to JCS. JCS is not available for Mac users.
game. It featured three single-player levels and two multiplayer levels.
edition was released in 1998 for the PC
, but only in North America
. Unlike the previous holiday editions, this game is commercial rather than shareware. It includes three single-player levels as well as a new boss and additional multiplayer levels.
edition was released in 1999 for the PC
, but only in Europe
. This game introduces Jazz's sister Lori as another playable character. When Lori dies, her face is immolated and she falls over. It also adds an extra episode to the original Jazz Jackrabbit 2, called "The Secret Files". This episode consists of three different zones, each one with three levels. New tiles are also added to The Secret Files, most of them from the first Jazz Jackrabbit.
game to promote The Secret Files. It is identical to the standard shareware version, but it includes the ability to play as Lori, as well as two new single-player levels in addition to the standard shareware version's levels.
edition is an enhanced version of Holiday Hare '98, featuring Lori as a playable character. It was going to be released in 1999 for the PC
, across Europe. However, the publisher, Project 2, went bankrupt before the release date. It was eventually released in Poland
in 2000. A limited European release followed shortly after. This version is based on the engine of The Secret Files.
Platform game
A platform game is a video game characterized by requiring the player to jump to and from suspended platforms or over obstacles . It must be possible to control these jumps and to fall from platforms or miss jumps...
produced by Epic MegaGames, now known as Epic Games
Epic Games
Epic Games, Inc., also known as Epic and formerly Epic MegaGames, is an American video game development company based in Cary, North Carolina. Its most recent success has been the Gears of War series of games, although it is also known for its Unreal Engine technology. It is the parent company of...
. It was released in 1998 for PC
IBM PC compatible
IBM PC compatible computers are those generally similar to the original IBM PC, XT, and AT. Such computers used to be referred to as PC clones, or IBM clones since they almost exactly duplicated all the significant features of the PC architecture, facilitated by various manufacturers' ability to...
s running Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
, and later for Macintosh
Macintosh
The Macintosh , or Mac, is a series of several lines of personal computers designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. The first Macintosh was introduced by Apple's then-chairman Steve Jobs on January 24, 1984; it was the first commercially successful personal computer to feature a mouse and a...
computers. It is the sequel to Jazz Jackrabbit
Jazz Jackrabbit (computer game)
Jazz Jackrabbit is a platform game developed and published by Epic MegaGames. It was released in 1994 for PCs operating DOS, with subsequent Macintosh and Microsoft Windows releases in 1995 and 1996....
.
Jazz has to chase Devan Shell through time, in order to retrieve the ring with which he planned to wed Eva. Jazz's brother, Spaz, and in later versions Jazz's sister Lori, are introduced as playable characters. The game features multiplayer
Multiplayer game
A multiplayer video game is one which more than one person can play in the same game environment at the same time. Unlike most other games, computer and video games are often single-player activities that put the player against preprogrammed challenges and/or AI-controlled opponents, which often...
options, including the ability to play over a LAN
Local area network
A local area network is a computer network that interconnects computers in a limited area such as a home, school, computer laboratory, or office building...
or the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
.
Spaz originally appeared (as a background object) in the previous Jazz installment Holiday Hare '95. Jazz and Spaz have different death animations. Jazz simply falls on his side, dazed. Spaz burps and explodes, leaving only his boots. They each have a unique special move of their own, and Spaz has also a second jump as opposed to Jazz' propeller ears.
Characters
Jazz Jackrabbit 2 has two playable characters, Jazz and Spaz; a third character, Lori, was added in Jazz Jackrabbit 2: The Secret Files, and The Christmas Chronicles.Jazz Creation Station
Jazz Jackrabbit 2 has a bundled level editorLevel editor
A level editor is a software tool used to design levels, maps, campaigns, etc and virtual worlds for a video game. In some cases the creator of a video game releases an official level editor for a game, but other times the community of fans step in to fill the void...
called Jazz Creation Station, allowing players to create their own levels. often shortened to JCS. JCS is not available for Mac users.
Jazz Jackrabbit 2: Shareware Edition
Released in 1998, this is a promotional sharewareShareware
The term shareware is a proprietary software that is provided to users without payment on a trial basis and is often limited by any combination of functionality, availability, or convenience. Shareware is often offered as a download from an Internet website or as a compact disc included with a...
game. It featured three single-player levels and two multiplayer levels.
Jazz Jackrabbit 2: Holiday Hare '98
This ChristmasChristmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
edition was released in 1998 for the PC
IBM PC compatible
IBM PC compatible computers are those generally similar to the original IBM PC, XT, and AT. Such computers used to be referred to as PC clones, or IBM clones since they almost exactly duplicated all the significant features of the PC architecture, facilitated by various manufacturers' ability to...
, but only in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. Unlike the previous holiday editions, this game is commercial rather than shareware. It includes three single-player levels as well as a new boss and additional multiplayer levels.
Jazz Jackrabbit 2: The Secret Files
This EasterEaster
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
edition was released in 1999 for the PC
IBM PC compatible
IBM PC compatible computers are those generally similar to the original IBM PC, XT, and AT. Such computers used to be referred to as PC clones, or IBM clones since they almost exactly duplicated all the significant features of the PC architecture, facilitated by various manufacturers' ability to...
, but only in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. This game introduces Jazz's sister Lori as another playable character. When Lori dies, her face is immolated and she falls over. It also adds an extra episode to the original Jazz Jackrabbit 2, called "The Secret Files". This episode consists of three different zones, each one with three levels. New tiles are also added to The Secret Files, most of them from the first Jazz Jackrabbit.
Jazz Jackrabbit 2: The Secret Files Shareware Edition
Released in 1999, this is a sharewareShareware
The term shareware is a proprietary software that is provided to users without payment on a trial basis and is often limited by any combination of functionality, availability, or convenience. Shareware is often offered as a download from an Internet website or as a compact disc included with a...
game to promote The Secret Files. It is identical to the standard shareware version, but it includes the ability to play as Lori, as well as two new single-player levels in addition to the standard shareware version's levels.
Jazz Jackrabbit 2: The Christmas Chronicles
This ChristmasChristmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
edition is an enhanced version of Holiday Hare '98, featuring Lori as a playable character. It was going to be released in 1999 for the PC
IBM PC compatible
IBM PC compatible computers are those generally similar to the original IBM PC, XT, and AT. Such computers used to be referred to as PC clones, or IBM clones since they almost exactly duplicated all the significant features of the PC architecture, facilitated by various manufacturers' ability to...
, across Europe. However, the publisher, Project 2, went bankrupt before the release date. It was eventually released in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
in 2000. A limited European release followed shortly after. This version is based on the engine of The Secret Files.
External links
- JazzJackrabbit.com archived, a list of archived versions of the official website