Zool 2

Zool 2 first hit the Amiga in 1993, developed by The Warp Factory and published by Gremlin Graphics. This side-scrolling platformer follows the original Zool released a year earlier. The 'World' label on this Atari Jaguar version suggests it's a port or compilation release, bringing the nimble ninja to a new audience on Atari's 64-bit console. While the Jaguar library was small, ports of popular Amiga titles like this one helped fill out the system's lineup for fans of fast-paced platform action. The player controls Zool, a small character who runs, jumps, and attacks through colorful, surreal levels. The core loop involves collecting items, avoiding hazards, and defeating enemies by jumping on them or using projectiles. Power-ups alter Zool's abilities temporarily, and each world ends with a boss fight. The levels scroll horizontally with some vertical elements, typical of the early 90s platformer design that emphasized speed and precise jumps over exploration. Today, Zool 2 on the Jaguar is a curious artifact more than a must-play. It's a competent but not groundbreaking platformer that feels like a direct Amiga conversion. Fans of the Jaguar might appreciate having another exclusive-ish title to try, but the gameplay hasn't aged as gracefully as contemporaries like Sonic or Mario. Still, if you're collecting Jaguar games or curious about how European computer games crossed over to consoles, this one is worth a look.