| Introduction
You might not have heard of him but Jazz Jackrabbit
is hardly a new comer to video games. Although this
is his first outing on the GBA, the gun totting rabbit
has actually been entertaining audiences for over five
years now and has appeared on both the PC and Mac. Considering
the huge number of platform games already available
on the GBA, it'll be interesting to see if Jazz Jackrabbit
has what it takes to stand out from the crowd.
GamePlay
Since Jazz Jackrabbit is a platform game, the object
initially appears to be to simply jump from one area
to another, shooting enemies and picking up bonuses.
Spending a little time with the game though reveals
that there is more to Jazz than first meets the eye
and exploring will reveal many hidden secrets and extra
weapons.
The game also features a great multiplayer option
with a restricted version of the tournament available
using a single copy of the game. There are two different
modes on offer, the standard 'Deathmatch' and the more
strategy based 'Capture the Flag', although only the
former is available with a single copy of the game.
Obviously, I don't need to point out to anyone
lucky enough to own a link cable just how much fun this
is. If you haven't got one yet, remember any game featuring
a multiplayer option from only one copy of the game
is an ideal opportunity to invest in one.
The developers have also included one of those lovely
battery back ups, so recording your progress is simplicity
itself.
Controls
Whilst Jazz is generally responsive, it's still an
old school platform game with just the basic running,
jumping and shooting types of moves. Although it's charming,
it's definitely no 'Prince of Persia', so don't expect
Jazz to perform anything advanced like wall scaling
or ledge hanging although he does have the ability to
'helicopter' in mid air for about five seconds, thus
allowing you to discover otherwise unreachable platforms.
All in all, the simple controls does complement the
simple gameplay, which eschews any kind of problem solving
for mindless running, jumping and shooting action.
Graphics
The game starts off with a rather impressive hand
drawn intro, which sets up the story nicely and like
most things in the game, manages to retain a certain
charm rather than appearing dated. The levels are vibrant
with color and contain an impressive amount of detail
despite the GBA's tiny screen.
The animations are also excellent, with Jazz in particular
moving around the levels with great ease even when charged
with some seemingly impossible leaps. Overall, the whole
game works exceptionally well on the GBA thanks to the
extended palette, which makes me wonder why the developers
waited so long to port a title that was obviously made
to appear on the GBA format.
Sound & Music
The developers have wisely called upon the services
of industry leaders Shin'en for the audio in Jazz Jackrabbit.
Whilst the music won't be to everyone's taste, it is
of incredibly high quality. It does, unfortunately,
suffer from the age-old problem of repetition. As
for the sound effects, they are the usual collection
of Tex Avery type noises that accompany almost every
onscreen happening, although some did appear a bit odd
to us. Overall, it's not at all bad although with a
name like Shin'en attached, something more impressive
was expected.
Final Comments
Jazz Jackrabbit is a really a classic platform game
in the 'purest' sense, one without the flash and pomp
of the other more modern platform games available on
the GBA. Don't let that put you off though because what
Epic Games have produced is a very playable and very
accessible 'old school' romp. Obviously, it won't appeal
to everyone, but if simplicity and addictive gameplay is
what you crave, then Jazz Jackrabbit could be just what
you're looking for.
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