Jazz Jackrabbit 3
Jazz Jackrabbit 3 (alternatively called Jazz Jackrabbit 3D or simply Jazz3D) was to be the third installment of the popular PC game series, Jazz Jackrabbit. Spear-headed by Dean "Noogy" Dodrill (an animator for Jazz Jackrabbit 2) and coded by World Tree Games, it was developed for the original Unreal Engine technology in 1999. Like many other mascot characters of the late 90s, Jazz would venture into the realm of 3D for the first time.
Despite interest to develop the game, it never was released after Epic MegaGames failed to find a publisher, and it was canceled sometime in May 2000. Since then, the original proof-of-concept alpha has been leaked on to the internet.
Storyline
After the events of Jazz Jackrabbit 2, and Jazz marries Eva Earlong, things begin to settle down. Jazz and Eva start a family, and have kids. One fateful day, Jazz's kids are playing around in an abandoned labratory, only to stumble upon an old portal built by Jazz's nemesis, Devan Shell. They activate it and use it, only to discover it is infact a Time Machine. Once their father, Jazz, learns of what the children have done, he dives through the time portal himself - to find he has been transported to the Future; a future where Devan Shell rules the world with an iron fist, has taken the children hostage, and to top it all off, he's been anticipating Jazz's arrival for many long years. Now Jazz must save his children, free his people, and get back to his own time!
Gameplay
Singleplayer
The game is played as your standard Third-person shooter with platforming and adventure game elements. The camera is firmly locked behind Jazz at all times. You use the Mouse to aim and shoot, while using the Keyboard to move Jazz around the world. Jazz can fire his weapon, or charge a shot similiar to games like Megaman X. The game contains platforming elements, allowing Jazz to hop around levels as he pleases. Additionally, Jazz could purchase new guns (or find them) and combine them with Elemental "Dream Cells" (colored jewels typically dropped by bosses) to create new weapon effects. In the alpha, only Fire and Ice Dream Cells can be aquired, and one gun (besides the standard Blaster) is available (the Gizmo Gun).
Rather than break the game up into levels as in previous games, Jazz Jackrabbit 3 is instead played section-by-section, similiar to Half-Life. At almost any time, Jazz can travel back and forth between "sections" of the game world. Each new area Jazz visits is prefaced by it's name. The areas in the Alpha include:
- Carrotus Village BGM: Hopteego (hopteego.it), Shop (shop.it)
Where Jazz begins the game. Generally designed to fill the player in on the plot (via talking to NPCs), and allow as a resting point where they can purchase weapon upgrades.
- Tutorial/Mines BGM: Learning Curve (tutor.it)
Located at the center of Carrotus Village. Provides the player with a small area for learning how to play Jazz Jackrabbit 3.
- Razz Rocket BGM: Sky Gazer (rocket.it)
One of the most unfinished areas normally accessible in the alpha. Features a huge arena with a rocket ship in the center, which was built by Jazz's cousin, Razz (short for "Razzmatazz", apparently).
- The Canyon BGM: Runabout (canyon.it)
A non-descript Lava-filled canyon area.
- Carrotus Forest BGM: Greenland (forest.it)
A huge forest with massive trees and lots of room to explore, leading up to the entrance of Carrotus Castle
- Carrotus Castle BGM: Haunted Terrero (tek11bak.s3m), Deep Wanderer (basement.it)
Jazz and Eva's former home, now over-run with Devan's minions. Features three elemental versions of normal enemies as stand-in boss characters.
Additionally, a few more (clearly unfinished) levels were bundled with the Alpha that cannot accessed without first enabling the console and loading them manually. Often times these levels are so unfinished that they cannot even be played at all, only viewed through UnrealEd.
It is unknown how many worlds and areas would have been featured in the final game, but it is thought Jazz would travel between different planets (as he did in previous games in the series), possibly using the Razz Rocket.
Unused Songs
These songs have been released by Alexander Brandon, but currently aren't used in the Alpha.
- Castle City (castle.it)
- Basement Boss (basebos.it)
- Fanfare (fanfare.it)
- Jack of Spades (jack.it)
- Sun Song (sunsong.it)
- Green Target (tube.it)
Multiplayer
Utilizing the Unreal Engine's strong network code, Jazz Jackbrabbit 3 continued the tradition of having multiplayer gameplay (first introduced in Jazz Jackrabbit 2). The only mode featured in the Alpha was straight up Battle, and the interface for playing multiplayer was not yet finished.
Production Team
- Programming: Jason Emery, Devon Tackett
- Artwork: Dean Dodrill, Christian Bradley
- 3D Modeling: David Carter, Will Sweat
- Level Design: Dean Dodrill, Jason Emery, Anton Wiegert, John Falgate
- Music: Alexander Brandon
Alpha Origins
It is currently unknown when or how the Unreleased Alpha for Jazz Jackrabbit 3 found its way on to the internet. Both World Tree Games and Dean Dodrill's websites are now defunct, leaving the question of wether or not the Alpha was officially posted or unofficially leaked currently up in the air.
Revival
It was revealed at the end of the 7/29/2005 episode of G4TV.com that Cliff Bleszinski is still very interested in the idea of doing Jazz Jackrabbit 3, and is still actively pitching the concept to publishers [1]. Although Bleszinski would not reveal too many details about the game, he seemed to imply it involved Jazz getting into trouble with the Turtle Mafia, suggesting that his concept for Jazz Jackrabbit 3 is completely different from the version Dean Dodrill was working on in 1999.