Jazz Jackrabbit

What is Jazz Jackrabbit ?

Jazz Jackrabbit is a platform game that was developed and published by Epic MegaGames in 1994 for PCs running DOS. The game was later ported to Macintosh and Microsoft Windows in 1995 and 1996, respectively. Jazz Jackrabbit was one of the earliest games to bring the side-scrolling platformer genre, which was popular on gaming consoles, to the PC market. Developed in the Netherlands by Arjan Brussee and Cliff Bleszinski, the game was heavily inspired by the Amiga game Zool and other classic platform games such as Sonic the Hedgehog and Mega Man. Although it did not achieve the same level of popularity as Sonic, Jazz Jackrabbit developed a dedicated fan following due to its fast-paced gameplay, advanced graphics, and notable acid jazz-inspired soundtracks. In 1995, PC Format magazine named Jazz Jackrabbit "Arcade Game of the Year". The success of the original game led to the release of a sequel, Jazz Jackrabbit 2, in 1998, as well as a reboot on the Game Boy Advance in 2002. Moreover, the game's co-creator, Cliff Bleszinski, went on to become a key figure in the development of other blockbuster titles at Epic Games, such as Unreal Tournament and Gears of War. On November 30, 2017, the original Jazz Jackrabbit and its sequel were re-released on GOG.com, making them available for Windows, macOS, and Linux platforms

Highlights

• Side-scrolling platform gameplay adapted from consoles to the PC market
• Inspired by classic platformers like Sonic the Hedgehog and Mega Man
• Fast-paced gameplay and advanced graphics for the time
• Distinctive acid jazz-influenced soundtracks
• Spawned a successful sequel and a later reboot
• Kickstarted the career of co-creator Cliff Bleszinski, who went on to work on major Epic Games titles
• Re-released on GOG.com in 2017 with support for modern operating systems