Jumping Flash!

Jumping Flash! (ジャンピングフラッシュ!) is a series of first-person 3D platformer games developed by Exact (later Sugar & Rockets) and MuuMuu Co. Limited for the original PlayStation.

Contents [hide]

1 Overview

2 List of Games

3 Characters

4 Related Illustrations

5 Related Articles

6 External Links

6.1 English

6.2 Japanese

Overview

Jumping Flash! is a series of 3D platformers developed jointly by Exact (who would later be absorbed into Sugar & Rockets) and MuuMuu Co. Limited, and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. The series takes place in a whimsical futuristic setting, focusing on the adventures of the robotic bunny Robbit as he battles the land-grabbing villains Baron Aloha and Captain Kabuki.

The Jumping Flash! games are unique among 3D platformers as they exclusively use a first-person perspective. There is a focus on verticality in the series' levels, where the player can reach immense heights with their ability to triple jump, which in turn shifts the player's view downwards and displays Robbit's shadow, allowing them to better judge their landing. Combat is handled much like a regular FPS, with Robbit able to fire lasers as well as other special weapons themed around fireworks at enemies. Robbit's goal in each stage is to collect four items (Jetpods in the first game, MuuMuus in the second) and then locate the exit pad. There are boss levels at the end of each world in the first and second game.

List of Games

Jumping Flash! (4/28/1995 in Japan, 9/29/1995 in Europe, 11/2/1995 in US)

The first game in the series. The plot revolves around mad scientist Baron Aloha carving out pieces of a planet to serve as holiday villas for himself and his minions. Robbit is sent by Universal City Hall to reclaim the stolen lands and exterminate the Baron's verminous henchmen.

Jumping Flash! 2: Big Trouble in Little Muu (4/26/1996 in Japan, 8/21/1996 in US, 11/1/1996 in Europe)

The sequel to the first game. Taking place not long after the first, Baron Aloha's hideout planet Little Muu is torn apart by the planet collector Captain Kabuki. Aloha calls upon Robbit to save his planet, as well as the MuuMuus who have become trapped in Kabuki's collection.

Pocket MuuMuu (2/4/1999)

A spinoff featuring compatibility with the PocketStation, consisting of 50 minigames and 50 tools that can be downloaded to the user's PocketStation. Players can earn money by playing minigames to build a virtual theme park that Robbit can play around in. This game is a Japan exclusive.

Robbit Mon Dieu (10/14/1999)

Currently the final game in the series. Set 300 years after Jumping Flash! 2, the galaxy is at peace and Robbit has joined Universal City Service in order to help the people of planet Hanauma with various daily tasks. This game features a variety of missions, ranging from collecting items to defeating a certain amount of enemies. This game is a Japan exclusive.

Characters

Robbit (ロビット)

The protagonist and sole player character of the series. He is a robot rabbit built for pest control purposes employed by Universal City Hall, and sent on missions to ensure peace is kept within the galaxy. Robbit possesses incredibly powerful spring legs that give him a potent leaping ability, and can fire twin laser shots. In Robbit Mon Dieu, he is redesigned and his offensive capabilities are scaled back.

Support A.I. (サポートAI)

A series of A.I. robots loaded onto Robbit, taking various forms with distinct personalities. They are functionally useless (aside from Kumagoro, who can show the amount of Jetpods held) but chime in whenever Robbit does something, such as collecting items or taking damage. While the first Jumping Flash! only has Kumagoro, games afterwards feature multiple robots that can be unlocked and used.

Universal City Hall (宇宙市役所)

The governing body of the galaxy, residing on a planet-sized ship. They provide various services to taxpaying citizens, among them being pest control to which they send Robbit to take care of.

Baron Aloha (アロハ男爵)

An ill-tempered mad scientist and aristocrat hailing from the planet Macadamia, and the main antagonist of the first game. His goal is to rule the universe, using his army of strange minions and machines. He has an intense rivalry with Robbit, and wants to get rid of him once and for all.

MuuMuu (ムームー星人)

A species of white, five-legged creatures with palm trees on their heads that serve as the series' mascots. They serve Baron Aloha as his henchmen, though they aren't very motivated and prefer relaxing and drinking at their favorite bar, the Izakaya Oahu. They are flagship characters for the series, alongside the Kiwi (see blow).

Captain Kabuki (カピタン・スズーキ)

A wisecracking planet-sized alien who loves to collect planets by breaking them up and putting them in bottles. He is the antagonist of the first half of the second game, but he becomes a subordinate of Baron Aloha in the Extra Mode story. In Japan, he is named "Capitao Suzuki".

Kiwi (キーウィ)

A green, short and spherical kiwi bird who serves as an incredibly weak recurring enemy. It makes a distinctive chirp that sounds like kiwi. Like the MuuMuus, it too is a mascot character for the series, and has even made cameo appearances in other MuuMuu Co. Limited games, such as Pet in TV and Dig a-Dig Pukka.