History VideoGame / JumpingFlash

''Jumping Flash!'' is a series of games for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation and [=PocketStation=]. It follows the adventures of Robbit as he fights various villains with essentially the same plan: [[PlanetLooters steal chunks of planets]] for their personal use.

The first game in the series, ''Jumping Flash!'', was released in 1995 on the UsefulNotes/PlayStation. It chronicles Robbit's mission to take back chunks of Crater Planet from the clutches of elderly scientist Baron Aloha, who is using them to create a personal resort for himself. A sequel on the same system came out in 1996, named ''Jumping Flash! 2: Big Trouble in Little Muu''. Here, the roles have been reversed; Aloha's hideout planet, Little Muu, is under attack from the enormous and effeminate Captain Kabuki, who is plucking away pieces of Little Muu to add to his collection of bottled worlds (and by extension trapping the Baron's [=MuuMuu=] henchmen). Robbit must once again leap into action to save the [=MuuMuus=] and Little Muu itself from Kabuki's chaos.

The ''Jumping Flash!'' series, while currently dormant, has seen digital re-releases through the [=PlayStation=] online storefront, with the most recent being the first game making its way to the UsefulNotes/PlayStation5. Robbit has also been making reoccurring appearances in the [=PlayStation=] Stars loyalty program's series of digital collectibles, along with other characters like Baron Aloha and Captain Kabuki.

** The AI buddies for Normal and Extra mode in the second game are named [[Film/BillAndTed Bill and Ted]].

* {{Feelies}}: Up until ''Robbit Mon Dieu'', stickers (or in the case of ''JF!2'', one big sticker) were included as bonuses in the Japanese editions of the games.

* TokenHuman: Aside from his unseen family [[AllThereInTheManual who are mentioned only supplemental materials]], Baron Aloha is the series' sole human character. In a series where 99% of the cast are either animals, robots, or aliens, it makes him stick out quite a bit.

The gameplay of the ''Jumping Flash!'' series is a FirstPersonShooter that focuses on jumping physics...or maybe it's a PlatformGame in a first-person perspective. Either way, you control a [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot robotic space rabbit]] sent by Universal City Hall to return stolen pieces of planets by collecting all the (carrot shaped) jetpods in each level so that they can fly back to the planet. The sequel keeps this formula the same, but swaps out jetpods with the [=MuuMuus=], the adorable henchmen of Baron Aloha. You start out armed with a simple laser gun, but you can pick up other cool toys that'll really blow away your enemies, like Cherry Bombs or Roman Candles. Also of note are Robbit's rather outstanding jumping capabilities, which allow him to triple jump (which tilts the camera downward so you can see his shadow and plan his landings).

* CompanyCrossReferences: Two of the series' most iconic enemies, Kiwi and Kaeru-san, would have cameos in ''[[Main/VirtualPet Pet in TV]]'', which was developed by the ''Jumping Flash!'' series' co-developer [=MuuMuu=] Co., Ltd.

* DoubleJump: Robbit can ''triple'' jump. Justified, since he has jets.

* TheSpiny: Used constantly to prevent you from landing on platforms.

* CampGay: Captain Kabuki. If his voice didn't tip you off, his skintight wrestling singlet and ruff certainly will.

BearyFriendly: The Kumagoro line of support robots who accompany Robbit on his adventures, providing encouragement and the occasional hint.

* IronicName: "Aloha" is a Hawaiian word that means all sorts of positive things (love, peace, affection, etc.), yet it also happens to be the first name of the series' resident vindictive and ill-tempered mad scientist, though it does match with his fashion sense all things considered.

* MissionPackSequel: ''Jumping Flash 2'' works much like the first one, but ''Robbit Mon Dieu'' requires you to complete different sorts of missions in each act of a level, such as simply getting to the end or destroying all enemies.

* RuinsForRuinsSake: World/Extra 3 of Game 2 consists of ruins and a tower for its first two stages.

** Both Baron Aloha and Captain Kabuki have sequential fights; you'll start with their full bodies, then their head will take a tank form, then the head will start spinning on its own and have a force field/explosion around it. For Kabuki in Extra, a fourth phase where he takes flight is added in between the full body form and the tank form.

* TempleOfDoom: Stages 2 and 3 of World/Extra 2 in Game 1 take place inside a pyramid that Robbit needs to navigate, with the third stage being a boss fight against a giant scorpion in its shrine.

* AllThereInTheManual: The manuals and official guidebooks have quite the trove of knowledge regarding deeper aspects of the series, such as the Baron's life story, the biology of the [=MuuMuu=] species, the names of the boss characters, and so on.

* BatmanCanBreatheInSpace: In ''JF!2'', Baron Aloha and his MuuMuu buddy are no worse for the wear while stranded on a small asteroid in space with no protective gear.

* MacGuffin: For each platforming stage, Robbit must retrieve 4 items with letters that spell "Exit" and then find the Exit spring somewhere in the stage. In the first game, it's booster carrots, and in the second, it's Muu-Muus.
* MascotMook: MuuMuus, the strange palm tree-topped, squid/jellyfish-esque henchmen of Baron Aloha. There’s also the spherical green Kiwis, who became especially prominent after ''Jumping Flash! 2'', so much that their likeness served as the disc art for ''Pocket [=MuuMuu=]'' and are what the main currency of ''Robbit Mon Dieu'' is named after.

1999 saw the release of two more games in the series: ''Pocket [=MuuMuu=]'' and ''Robbit Mon Dieu''. ''Pocket [=MuuMuu=]'' is more or less a MinigameGame, where you can play minigames and earn in-game currency called Mu to download applications to the [=PocketStation=] peripheral (which isn't required to play the game, by the way, as they can also be played in the hub world). ''Robbit Mon Dieu'' is more in the style of the first two ''Jumping Flash!'' games, only this time there's no real villain you must take care of. Instead, you are tasked with helping out various residents of Hananuma Island, and can get cash and other collectibles for various missions. It's currently the last game in the series, and no titles have been released since, though you can grab digital downloads of the first two games through various official services from Sony.

* DualBoss: The bosses of World/Extra 5 in the second game are two homicidal clowns named Aaron and Heron. You fight them both together until half of their health is drained, at which point one of them dies. In the first run, you'll be left with the weaker short-hat clown, but in the Extra version, you get the top-hat military clown who has an arsenal.

* MascotMook: MuuMuus, the strange palm tree-topped, squid/jellyfish-esque henchmen of Baron Aloha. There’s also the spherical green Kiwis, who became especially prominent after Jumping Flash! 2, so much that their likeness served as the disc art for Pocket ''[=MuuMuu=]'' and are what the main currency of ''Robbit Mon Dieu'' is named after.

* AdorableEvilMinions: The [=MuuMuus=].

** The black Robbit in World/Extra 6-2, after taking enough damage, will jump onto a gate at the rim of the stadium arena you are in and release four mini-Robbits that are normal enemies (you can get powerups including a possible invincibility from destroying them). He will do this twice before you defeat him.
** The Shogun Machine of World/Extra 2 in the second game has two floating enemies behind him that breathe fire your way; in the "Big Trouble on Little Muu" episode, they breathe spiral orange flames, but in the Extra episode, it's a sustained stream of white fire.

** The boss of World/Extra 4, Spider Machine, can unleash baby spiders that explode.

* MascotMook: The [=MuuMuus=], weird squid/jellyfish-like creatures with small palm trees on their heads. There's also the Kiwis, which are spherical green birds with spindly legs and long thin beaks.

* SaveTheVillain: The plot of ''Jumping Flash 2: Bit Trouble on Little Muu!" is that Baron Aloha, the villain of the first game, is having his own planet torn up by Captain Kabuki and needs Robbit to save it.

** Flower Machine #5 of World/Extra 3 in Game 2, after losing half his health, will make it rain, which will restore his health; he'll also alter his attacks.

** The AI buddies in the second game are named [[Film/BillAndTed Bill and Ted]].

* VillainsOutShopping: The cutscenes after you clear each world in the first game and the second game's ''Two Faces of Baron Aloha'' mode are of the [=MuuMuu's=] hanging out at a Japanese bar, commenting on Robbit's progress, or just hanging out.

** For a retroactive example, two of the first game's trophies on [=PS4=] and [=PS5=] are called "[[WesternAnimation/ToyStory Falling with Style]]" and [[VideoGame/Persona4 I'll Face Myself]]".

** For a retroactive example, two of the first game's trophies on PS4 and PS5 are called "[[WesternAnimation/ToyStory Falling with Style]]" and [[VideoGame/Persona4 I'll Face Myself]]".

The gameplay of the ''Jumping Flash!'' series is a FirstPersonShooter that focuses on jumping physics...or maybe it's a PlatformGame in a first-person perspective. Either way, you control a [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot robotic space rabbit]] sent by Universal City Hall to return stolen pieces of planets by collecting all the (carrot shaped) jetpods in each level so that they can fly back to the planet. The sequel keeps this formula the same, but swaps out jetpods with the Muu-Muus, the adorable henchmen of Baron Aloha. You start out armed with a simple laser gun, but you can pick up other cool toys that'll really blow away your enemies, like Cherry Bombs or Roman Candles. Also of note are Robbit's rather outstanding jumping capabilities, which allow him to triple jump (which tilts the camera downward so you can see his shadow and plan your landings).

The first game in the series, ''Jumping Flash!'', was released in 1995 on the UsefulNotes/PlayStation. It chronicles Robbit's mission to take back chunks of Crater Planet from the clutches of elderly scientist Baron Aloha, who is using them to create a personal resort for himself. A sequel on the same system came out in 1996, named ''Jumping Flash! 2: Big Trouble in Little Muu''. Here, the roles have been reversed; Aloha's hideout planet, Little Muu, is under attack from the enormous and effeminate Captain Kabuki, who is plucking away pieces of Little Muu to add to his collection of bottled worlds. Robbit must once again leap into action and help his former adversary from an ironic fate.

1999 saw the release of two more games in the series: ''Pocket Muu-Muu'' and ''Robbit Mon Dieu''. ''Pocket Muu-Muu'' is more or less a MinigameGame, where you can play minigames and earn in-game currency called Mu to download applications to the [=PocketStation=] peripheral (which isn't required to play the game, by the way, as they can also be played in the hub world). ''Robbit Mon Dieu'' is more in the style of the first two ''Jumping Flash!'' games, only this time there's no real villain you must take care of. Instead, you are tasked with helping out various residents of Hananuma Island, and can get cash and other collectibles for various missions. It's currently the last game in the series, and no titles have been released since, though you can grab digital downloads of the first two games through various official services from Sony.

* AdorableEvilMinions: The Muu-Muus.
* AmazingTechnicolorBattlefield: The final stage of both games is a boss stage against Robo Aloha/Kabuki in a floating boxing ring with a colorful background.

* DualBoss: The bosses of World/Extra 5 in the second game are two homicidal clowns. You fight them both together until half of their health is drained, at which point one of them dies. In the first run, you'll be left with the weaker short-hat clown, but in the Extra version, you get the top-hat military clown who has an arsenal.

* EternalEngine: World/Extra 4 of the second game takes place in a large factory with flames and oil. The second stage of World/Extra 6 also has this theme, as it's a boss stage where Robbit has to confront a robotic Muu-Muu with drills in a silo.

* {{Expy}}: The final boss of the second game, Robo Kabuki, is essentially the same as the final boss of the first game, Robo Aloha, aside from some cosmetic and tactical changes.

** The shogun/samurai boss of World/Extra 2 in the second game has two floating enemies behind him that breathe fire your way; in the "Big Trouble on Little Muu" episode, they breathe spiral orange flames, but in the Extra episode, it's a sustained stream of white fire.
** The boss of World/Extra 3 in this same game, a piranha plant in a pot, will sometimes smack the ground and bring out mini-plants with pitchforks in the first phase of the fight. Once it starts raining, they stop appearing.
** The boss of World/Extra 4, a mechanical spider, can unleash baby spiders that explode.

* GottaCatchEmAll: Robbit must find every booster carrot/Muu-Muu in each stage to be able to leave, and the second game has a medal system for completing certain goals.

* HeelFaceTurn: [[spoiler: The Muu-Muus in ''Jumping Flash 2'', due to Robbit rescuing them. They completely become faces after their master starts the whole thing all over again.]]
* HerrDoktor: While the MadScientist Dr. Aloha sounds American in the first game, he suddenly has a German accent in the second game, which is strange, because he is voiced by the same actor in both games.

* JerkWithAHeartOfJerk: You'd think Baron Aloha would be at least a little grateful to Robbit for helping him take back his hideout and rescuing his Muu-Muus. Well, [[spoiler: he apparently hates Robbit so much, that he makes Kabuki, the guy tearing up his planet to begin with, his [[TheDragon Dragon]] and basically repeats the whole thing all over again just to get rid of him. In the end, his own Muu-Muus want nothing to do with him and tell him off.]]

* MascotMook: The Muu-Muus, weird squid-like creatures with small palm trees on their heads. There's also the Kiwis, which are spherical green birds with spindly legs and long thin beaks.

** After you damage the guard scorpion of World/Extra 2 in Game 1 enough, its body will explode and it will start chasing you while walking on its claws. It can now damage you just from touching you.

** The fourth boss of Game 1, a turtle, loses his legs and starts spinning on his shell after he takes enough damage.
** The plant boss of World/Extra 3 in Game 2, after losing half his health, will make it rain, which will restore his health; he'll also alter his attacks.
** The clown duo of World/Extra 5 in Game 2 start the fight together, but after half of the boss's health is depleted, one of them will die and the other will change his attack pattern to fight you alone. In the main game, the clown with the small hat and the tuxedo will fight you, and he is easier; in Extra, the military clown will attack with rockets and whatnot.
** The robo Muu-Muu in World/Extra 6-2 in Game 2 starts chained to the floor and has three attacks: a bunch of fire pillars, rockets, and it can try to jab you with its drills (it will always do it twice in a row). After taking some damage, it drills away its chains and starts moving around; in the standard game the rockets and drill moves go away (they're replaced with laser swords), but in Extra, it will retain both attacks in the second phase, plus it can spin around (in Extra it will shoot bombs as it spins).

** Also, the main episode of that game is called ''[[Film/BigTroubleInLittleChina Big Trouble On Little Muu]]''.

* ThisIsADrill: The robo Muu-Muu boss that has to be confronted before Kabuki in the second game has drills on the ends of its arms, and these drill '''hurt''' when he shoots them in your direction.

* UnderwaterBossBattle: The rematch with the Robo [=MuuMuu=] in Extra 6-2 forces Robbit to fight the boss underwater.

* VillainsOutShopping: The cutscenes after you clear each world in the first game and the second game's ''Two Faces of Baron Aloha'' mode are of the MuuMuu's hanging out at a Japanese bar, commenting on Robbit's progress, or just hanging out.

* {{Wutai}}: World/Extra 2 of the second game is a Japanese temple in winter; the first stage takes place outside, and the rest have Robbit inside the house. It comes complete with a Shogun boss.