Jazz² Resurrection
Open-source Jazz Jackrabbit 2 reimplementation
Brought to you by @deathkiller
Overview Release Notes Help Multiplayer

# Frequently Asked Questions

Subsections: API Documentation, Online Multiplayer

Do I need original Jazz Jackrabbit 2 game?

Yes, this project uses assets from the original game. Jazz Jackrabbit 2 game files must be copied directly into the Source directory. Putting it in a subdirectory is not supported. Alternatively, a symbolic link can be used too. Jazz Jackrabbit 2 Collection can be bought from gog.com if you don't have it, see below.

However, it's not required to use these assets. This engine is very flexible/modifiable, so custom assets can be used too.

Which versions of Jazz Jackrabbit 2 game are supported?

Following versions of the original game can be used:

To import all version into Jazz² Resurrection, it is recommended to copy the files to Source in the order mentioned above and replace all files every time. In some The Secret Files releases, there is an extra xmas1.j2l file that shouldn't be there and breaks The Christmas Chronicles. In this case, do not copy it to the folder or replace it with The Christmas Chronicles version. The Secret Files Demo is not supported, only original Shareware Demo is. If you don't own any of these versions, you can buy Jazz Jackrabbit 2 Collection or you can try web version.

If you are not able to install/extract original files from GOG.com installer, you can use innoextract. It is also possible to use it on Android.

Can I use JJ2+ add-on with Jazz² Resurrection?

No. JJ2+ hooks some internal functions of Jazz Jackrabbit 2. Jazz² Resurrection is complete reimplementation and therefore has completely different functions than original Jazz Jackrabbit 2, so it cannot be hooked by JJ2+. However, some JJ2+ features are already implemented in Jazz² Resurrection and compatibility with JJ2+ levels continues to improve.

How to play the game?

Default controls are mapped to keyboard and Xbox One Controller. Other controllers can be used too, the game supports different gamepad labels. Bindings can be remapped in Options for each player separately. In main menu, Space and Enter can be used as confirm button. Alt+Enter can be used to switch fullscreen.

Touch controls are also supported. Touch controls are automatically shown on the first tap on the screen and hidden after a few seconds. The game has following touch buttons:

What can I run Jazz² Resurrection on?

The game supports these platforms:

How to upgrade to newer version of Jazz² Resurrection?

Replacing all files with new ones should be sufficient.

How to enable portable mode in Jazz² Resurrection?

Create (empty) Jazz2.config file in game directory to enable portable mode. Otherwise, config file is saved in following path:

Settings file path can be overriden with /config ‹path› startup parameter. To reset all settings, /reset-config startup parameter can be used. Following additional startup parameter are supported:

Jazz² Resurrection doesn't work! What should I do?

You have to copy original Jazz Jackrabbit 2 files to appropriate location (usually Source directory). Detailed instructions can be found here. Also, make sure the downloaded files are not corrupted. If it still doesn't work, create new issue on GitHub or report it on Discord.

Please include a log with any technical problem or bug report, it can speed up solving of the problem. On Android, it's located in ‹Storage›/­Android/­data/­jazz2.­resurrection/­files/­Jazz2.­log or in Android logcat. On Switch, it's located in sdmc:­/Games/Jazz2/Jazz2.log. On Windows, you have to start the game with parameter /log. Otherwise, it's usually written to standard output (Terminal).

I cannot access ‹Storage›/Android/data/ directory on Android 13.

Because of new security restrictions, it's not possible to access this directory from file managers. You can connect the device to PC in MTP mode, then you can copy files there. Or you can Allow access to external storage in main menu, then you can use these additional paths (the game will search all of them):

Can I use external drive on Xbox?

Yes, just copy Source directory to following path on your external drive: \Games\Jazz² Resurrection\Source\

Also, make sure drive is formatted to NTFS filesystem and ALL APPLICATION PACKAGES group has full read/write access to \Games\Jazz² Resurrection\ directory. exFAT filesystem does not work reliably.

Will Jazz² Resurrection be published on Google Play?

Jazz² Resurrection will not be published on Google Play. This website will be the only place to download the game.

Where is Jazz² Resurrection for iOS?

iOS version of Jazz² Resurrection is not in development. Also, it will never be published on App Store because of Apple's fees and sandboxing. You can use web version which provides an almost native experience and off-line support.

How to load/save game?

The game automatically saves your progress at the end of each level and also on any checkpoint. To load the game, simply select Continue from the main menu or select the last episode. Manual saving is not possible.

What is "Reforged Gameplay"?

It changes physics, some player interactions (e.g., buttstomp, food, pole) and behavior of some objects (e.g., pushable rock/box, barrel, trigger crate) and enemies (e.g., dragon, fish, lizard, turtle shell). If you want the game to be closer to the original, turn off this option. If you want to try something different, turn this option on.

How to enable ledge climbing?

This feature is enabled by default since version 0.6.0. This ability is automatically enabled for Jazz and Spaz. It can't be used with Lori due to missing animations. It can be turned off in Options.

How to enable original menu music?

Disable Reforged Main Menu in Options. Alternatively, delete Source/bonus2.j2b and Source/bonus3.j2b files. It will use original menu music then.

Is source code available?

Yes! This project is hosted on GitHub. It is licensed under the terms of the GNU General Public License v3.0. The game is completely written in C++ language. Further information can be found here.

Can I translate Jazz² Resurrection to … language?

Yes! Translation files are in Content/Translations/ and use standard gettext .mo file format – you can use Poedit. Latest .pot template for new translations can be downloaded here. You can send me .po file with finished translation on Discord or GitHub. Also, it would be better if you let me know about it first, so one language is not translated twice.

Can I contribute to this project?

Yes, but it would be better to contact me first. You can contact me on Discord or GitHub.

Can I play custom levels?

Yes, just copy them to Source directory. Then you have to go to Options > Gameplay > Refresh Cache to see new levels in the list. There might be some compatibility problems, because custom levels are not tested. Please, report these problems, so it can be fixed. Support for the scripting used in some JJ2+ levels is currently under development, so these levels may not work properly.

Will some level editor be available?

Level editor for Jazz² Resurrection is planned currently postponed due to other big features in development. The editor will support instant switching between editing and playing to allow fast prototyping. Some additional features will be available that can't be done in the original JJ2 games. Created levels will not be compatible with the original JJ2 games. Further information can be found here.

Is online multiplayer supported?

There is experimental support for online multiplayer since version 3.3.0 (it was present also in some older versions, but then removed temporarily). It supports cross-platform play between all supported platforms – Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, Switch and Xbox. Further information can be found here.

Is splitscreen multiplayer supported?

Yes, local splitscreen multiplayer is supported since version 2.8.0.

How to enable cheats?

Cheats must be enabled in Options (or the game can be started with /cheats parameter), then you can enter the following cheats into the in-game console:

In-game console was added in version 3.1.0 to prevent accidental use when typing cheat codes directly. It's bound to ` above Tab by default. To unlock all episodes, /cheats-unlock startup parameter can be used. To enable unlimited lives, /cheats-lives startup parameter can be used. All these cheats prevent you from getting a green tick in episode selection and a clean highscore entry.