Intro
Jazz Jackrabbit is a video game series, counting two full games with two expansions each. It features a green hare, called Jazz, who is an intergalactic soldier and he has to fight his nemesis, Devan Shell, numerous times throughout each game. It’s a side-scrolling platform game that was developed by Epic Megagames.
This page is dedicated to the second game in the series, Jazz Jackrabbit 2 which was the game I probably played the most during my childhood. The game has amazing level designs, music and the main characters have a special place in my heart. I never owned a console as a kid, sadly I missed out on most famous platformers, like Mario and Sonic, so for me, as a PC player, this was THE GAME. I played it even at my dad’s office, when he had to watch over me at work. The game features two playable characters, Jazz, and his brother, Spaz, who was always my go-to choice as I’ve found his special moves much cooler. I have amazing memories thanks to this game and as a way to preserve them I will share everything you have to know here. I am intending to capture the essence of the ‘98 version of the game, which is the version I owned. This version did not include The Secret Files or The Christmas Chronicles, so information will be limited about these additions of the game.
Story
At the end of the first Jazz Jackrabbit game, Jazz stops Devan Shell from taking over his home planet, Carottus and saves his lover, Princess Eva Earlong. They are about to get married, when the evil turtle shows up again, crashes their wedding and steals Eva’s 12-carrot diamond wedding ring. The rabbit Queen, being humiliated by these events, throws Jazz into the palace's dungeon. This is where the game starts, and Jazz, along with his brother, Spaz, has to escape the dungeons to catch Devan, who used the stolen diamond to build a time machine and on its way to erase rabbits from history.
Jazz Jackrabbit is an anthropomorphic green rabbit. His name suggests he is actually a hare, but hare and rabbit are used in the games mutually. He lives on the planet Carrotus and he is the main character of the Jazz Jackrabbit games. According to the Jazz Jackrabbit Wiki his favourite food is carrot pizza and his favourite book is Watership Down. He always wears a red bandana and a backpack, and carries his signature gun, the LFG-2000. Fun fact, Jazz got his name after one of the developer’s dogs.
Jazz has two special abilities, one is the Uppercut, where Jazz can rise into the air about 60% higher than when using a normal standing jump. It can be used to destroy blocks and any common enemy Jazz makes contact with. The other ability, called Helicopter Ears, allows Jazz to slowly glide over wide open spaces. This maneuver ends when he touches the ground, being damaged does not affect the sequence.
Spaz Jackrabbit is the younger, hyperactive brother of Jazz. He has red fur and wears blue wristbands and boots. Spaz was first seen in the Holiday Hare special edition of the first Jazz Jackrabbit game in the background. Later he became a playable character in Jazz Jackrabbit 2, giving him a much bigger role when Eva asks him to free Jazz from his prison and help him pursue Devan Shell. Spaz was created when Nick Stadler named a poorly executed drawing of Jazz ,,Spaz Slackrabbit”.
Spaz’s special ability is the Double Jump, which allows him to reach higher areas in the game by executing a jump in mid-air and the Side Kick, which can be used to destroy blocks and non-boss enemies in an instant. It also deals great damage to bosses.
Gameplay
To complete the story the player has to clear 4 stages, containing 3 levels each, where almost every level ends with a boss fight. The Shareware Demo is an extra addition which was released to promote the game. It features three single-player levels and two multiplayer ones.
The Home Cooked Levels is a special episode that serves as a hub for fan-made levels. It allows for a quick access from the game's main menu directly without the need for modding or external tools.
Most of the stage covers are references to other media. Check them out by hovering over the images below! ;)
The first couple levels start off easier, as tutorial levels and as the game progresses the bosses become harder to beat. During the course of the game the player has to collect ammunition of different types from a flamethrower to firing plasma bolts. There are certain items and power-ups that will help the player get through the levels, like power-ups for extra lives, diamonds, carrots for boosting the health bar, and food which if enough is collected causes a sugar rush. This makes Jazz and Spaz invincible for a short period of time. On some levels players might come across birds, called Hip Hops in cages. Once they are freed they will follow the player along and will automatically fire at enemies. This only lasts until the player gets his first hit, then the bird will fly away.
There is a party mode, where on a split screen multiple players can play the story mode together or battle, race or participate in treasure hunts and flag capturing games against each other. There are other ways to play multiplayer with others, which I personally never did, so if you want to find out more I can recommend you to check this page out!
Highlights
Using the hoverboard on this level was such a sweet treat.
This cat appears on the Psychedelia level in two different poses, where he acts as an environmental object. He disappears from time to time, and when he becomes visible he can be used as a platform or hook. He’s based on Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland.
This boss was the hardest to beat as a kid. Also for the most part of the beach levels you have to swim under water.
The ghost enemies on this level were soooo annoying. These levels were definitely my least favourite ones.
To me the levels taking place in hell have the most creative level designs. They are my personal favourites.
In the Frog Stomp level, which is part of the Shareware Demo, a witch will turn Jazz into a frog and can only become his old self if Eva kisses him.
Fun Facts
In Fortnite the poster of the first Jazz Jackrabbit game can be found inside one of the buildings. There is also a recent addition of arcade machines in the game, where one has a Jazz Jackrabbit theme, reusing old menu sprites of the main playable characters.
Jazz Jackrabbit 2 has a bundled level editor called Jazz Creation Station, allowing players to create levels on their own.
Jazz Jackrabbit 2: The Secret Files is an updated re-release of the original game which was only available in Europe at the time. It features a new episode with new levels, a new playable character Lori, a yellow bunny who is the sister of Jazz and Spaz, and new tilesets for the Jazz Creation Station.
Lori was originally meant to be Spaz’s girlfriend. A prototype of her can be seen at the end of Jazz Jackrabbit 2 at Jazz’s wedding. But they wanted to make her a playable character, so she got a redesign. Lori’s movesets are a combination of Jazz and Spaz’s. She can use the Helicopter Ear and do a spinning kick similar to Spaz’s Side Kick move. The latter allows her to hit multiple enemies.
A third Jazz Jackrabbit game was in development for PC and PlayStation 2. It would have been the first 3D game in the series. Sadly, Epic Games couldn’t find a publisher so they eventually cancelled the game mid-production. Spaz and Lori were supposed to return in this game, but the leaked alpha version only featured Jazz as a playable character.
