Jumping Flash

Variants

Also released in the Plastic Ridged Long Box.

Plastic Ridged Long Box

Misprints

• There are no known misprints.

Review

This game illustrates why I love the original PlayStation above anything else Sony ever put out; creativity. In a current world where realism is strived for and imagination is left at the T.V. remote, it’s refreshing to see a game just go, “Screw it, we’re having robotic rabbits.”

 Jumping Flash was one of those early releases that just had fun with the technology available at the time. Forget speed, lighting effects, video compression, and just let the player see what a 3D environment can be from a higher perspective. Your main hero Robbit is a squeaky voiced, triple jumping robotic rabbit that just needs to get 4 Jet Packs in a stage before he can move on. To do that, you’ll need to accurately triple jump your way around various stages, all with specific themes. From indoor volcano levels, to a tribute to Through the Looking Glass, each stage is a creative tour to force with enough vibrant colors to make even Rainbow Brite blush.

Controls are pretty accurate, and the game’s not really that hard. In fact, a seasoned gamer could probably beat this in day, maybe even half a day. But the journey isn’t the completion, but the exploration. There are hundreds of power-ups Robbit can collect in threes to use, including fireworks, Acorn bombs, and other festive weapons. Otherwise he can both pounce and shoot the adorably cute opposition.

In the days of beating Normandy to death, companies going license hungry, and too many new genres being flooded in their first life cycle, it’s nice to know every once in a while you can hang out with a bunny and still have a few good laughs. Might as well jump…

Final Score: 8 – Great

A prime example of why the early days of PlayStation set the stage for their eventual dominance in the gaming industry. A game that desperately needs a remaster or next-gen sequel.

Screenshots

• There are no screenshots for this game yet.

Videos

Trivia

• Jumping Flash’s oddball character Muu became a somewhat celebrity of sorts. They even had their own PocketStation game.
• Bernie Stolar of Sega infamy is listed in the special thanks.
• Robbit’s not that patient. If you stand still too long in-game, or hang on the Continue screen without saying anything, he’ll keep shouting, “Come on!”
• If you’re having trouble with a boss, do what comes naturally for a rabbit; jump on the boss’s head! If you can keep your pattern, you can literally bounce on the opponent and just shoot them from above.
• One of the stages is based off of the novel Through the Looking Glass, complete with chess pieces and giant pocket watch.
• There is a robot boss constructed out of giant cubes that transforms into various iterations, including a floating mine and a giant starfish. He seems almost like a tribute combination of the Genesis titleGunstar Heroes  two robot bosses.
• On the final stage before the boss, you’re actually in outer space, above the clouds. If you look up, you’ll see star patterns.
• The final confrontation takes place in an arena that’s a tad similar to the final stage in Battle Arena Toshinden.
• Once you beat the game, ‘Extra’ worlds are unlocked that remix the original stages. With the proper sequences, you can also unlock a way to jump up to 6 times in height!
• Voice actor Brian Bowles has quite a video game track record.