Jazz Jackrabbit

"Jazz Jackrabbit GBA: New and Outdated"

I am a Jazz Jackrabbit 2 fan. When I first saw the new look, I disliked it, but then grew to accept it, and got the game. Anyway, Jazz is back, with some changes.

Video: 5/10

This really could be better. It's not boring and the colors are very good, but the close in pictures could be textured. I dislike Jazz's new look. It lacks the edge Nick Stadler brought to the original game and Dean ''Noogy'' Dodrill carried over to the second installment in the series. I think they should have kept him the same. I was impressed by the animations being so smooth, though. These graphics are average.

Audio: 7/10

One of the best parts of the Jazz series has been the music, as Robert Allen and Alexander Brandon designed good tunes that would get stuck in your head, as I would often find myself humming the melodies in class. The music in this game is not as good as the previous games. There is a very strong spacey theme, which fits in pretty well. The sound effects were done well and are clear, clean and crisp. There are different sounds for all 6 weapons in the game. The sounds and music is not anything amazing but fits into the game nicely.

Gameplay: 7/10

This game was pretty fun while it lasted. It is a pure shoot-em-up sidescroller with little to no strategy involved. The AI was weak, as they would walk around slowly and give you an opportunity to get rid of them before they shoot. This game could have benefited greatly from some strategy and puzzle elements implemented, but the game seemed rushed for the holiday season, which it was too late for anyway coming out a week or two before Christmas. Basically, you just run, jump, and shoot your way through the levels, collecting money to buy weapons in. The other major problem was that it was too easy and short (as Game Boy games usually are.)

Replay: 2/10

Once, you beat this game, you will not play it anymore. It is simply too short and too easy. There is a multiplayer, but it simply sucks and is just single player only you fire at other players. There are a few hidden multiplayer stages to unlock, but they just come by beating a level and require no added skill. The designers should have spent more time adding to the single player.

Overall (this is not an average): 5/10

This game is not half as good as its counterparts. You might play through it once, as there is just enough amusement to keep you interested during cutscenes.

Reviewer's Score: 5/10, Originally Posted: 06/04/03, Updated 06/04/03