Jazz Jackrabbit 2: The Secret Files

Jazz Jackrabbit 2: The Secret Files is an enhanced edition of the second part of the platform game popular among younger players, showing the adventures of the intrepid rabbit Jazz. The game premiered in Europe and North America in 1998, while it arrived on the Polish market in the first half of 1999. The game was again developed by the duo from Project Two Interactive - Arjan Brussee and Cliff Bleszinski. Currently, Jazz Jackrabbit 2 is available as a collector's edition on GOG.com. It includes Jazz Jackrabbit 2: The Secret Files and the Christmas add-on Jazz Jackrabbit 2: The Christmas Chronicles, released in 1998.

Plot

This game continues the story known from the first installment of the series. The title character intends to get married to his longtime girlfriend, Princess Eva Earlong, but these plans are thwarted by his eternal enemy, Devan Shell, who steals the engagement ring with a precious diamond. To make matters worse, Eva's hostile mother throws Jazz and his brother, Spaz, into the dungeon. However, the rabbits manage to break out of prison and together they set out in pursuit of the wicked turtle. Their goal is not only to recover the precious diamond, but also to punish Devan for his transgressions.

Game mechanics

As in the first part of the series, the main idea of the game is to fight various opponents, collect items and unlock successive levels of gameplay. This time, however, the developers offer us the opportunity to choose the character over which we will take control. In the standard version we can control both Jazz and his brother Spaz (the expansion The Secret Files also allows us to play another character - a bunny named Lori). These characters can not only jump from platform to platform or use firearms, but also glide through the air, swim, destroy objects with impressive jumps and kicks, and perform all sorts of nifty stunts. Consistently collecting items also provides them with additional temporary bonuses.

The title again offers us a number of varied gameplans with unique enemies. In addition to standard enemies, at the end of some levels we also encounter stronger bosses, for the neutralization of which we have to use much more ammunition. Our character still has a certain number of lives (however, we can increase their number by carefully searching the locations and discovering hidden platforms), but in this part there is no time limit to complete each level.

Game modes

This title can be played both alone and in a larger group. Deciding to play together with friends, we can choose from several types of gameplay. There is both a co-op mode, in which players go through standard levels together. The game also offers us the opportunity to face each other in races (Race, Treasure Hunt), team skirmishes (Capture the Flag) or everyone-on-everyone battles (Battle).

Technical aspects

Graphically, Jazz Jackrabbit 2 is an improved version of the first part of the series. The game features two-dimensional graphics, and its action is shown in side-scroll view.

Last updated on August 14, 2015