|
|
|
The
story behind the game is strange, so I'll explain briefly. After losing his
job, Jim heads for the Planet of Monsters, where his friend Peter Puppy is the
proud parent of six hundred puppies and they are all being turned into monsters
by the evil space bird, Psycrow. Jim must save them before their
transformation.
|
|
|
|
Earthworm
Jim was the super hero of the 16 bit, 2 D scrolling platforms of the past.
Similar to other platforms, the objective is to work your way across the level,
collecting weapons and power ups, blasting all enemies that cross your path,
while negotiating various obstacles set in your way. But as you progress you
realise that E.Jim provides more than the average platformer, as you are treated
to shoot ups, skill tests, quizzes, and some slick humor.
So does
Earthworm Jim scale up to the highest platform, or will he wriggle deep into the
soil and only pop out when it rains?
|
|
|
|
My
first impressions of the graphical content, were that Earthworm Jim was a
journey back in time to the roughly drawn platformers of old. Saying that, I
said the same thing about Worms, then the gameplay turned out to be excellent
and it was duly forgiven. But as you progress, the graphics cease to be boring,
as alternative levels treat you to a feast of colorful animations of a high
standard. Earthworm Jim does not possess the smoothness of Rayman, but then
again it is definitely not a repetitive Gex.
|
|
|
|
The
sound effects are the usual crash, bang, wallop associated with the cartoon
version of Earthworm Jim. Following each successful section of a level, you are
offered to mark your spot with a continue, and this is usually accompanied by
Jim proclaiming "Way Cool". If it's not his catch phrase now, it soon
will be, as there are a lot of opportunities to save your progress, meaning a
hell of a lot of "way cools".
The music on the other hand is
of the highest standard, with each of the level themes, accompanied by a
suitable tune to match the mood of whatever is going on at the time. In the slow
underwater scenes, you are treated to a smoothing classical rendition as you
gracefully float past the obstacles. While in the frantic bouncing puppies
level, the music is a foot tapping jig which complements the action perfectly.
|
|
|
|
You
are confronted by 10 levels and a top secret bonus area, each having its own
theme and gameplay. The options are straightforward enough, allowing a choice
from 4 different difficulty setting, controller configuration, and the entry via
a password which uses icons rather than digits.
Straight into the first
level, which is a platform standard. The controller allows you to perform
jumps, the use of a weird snott parachute, select and fire a weapon, the
unbelievable whip weapon, that actually uses Jims head as the whip, and the even
stranger snott lasso, used for swinging over hazards. On each level you must
keep an eye out for the save icons, which must be collected in a certain order,
also watch out for the hidden sub-games.
The next level switches to Jim
buried deep underground, armed with a drill gun. You must dig through the
earth, allowing you to construct your own platforms to reach the hidden clocks,
that will extend your time. It's a nice idea, that allows you to move in all
directions and as you drill above your head, the loose earth falls below your
feet and raises the ground below you, which might just be enough to let you
reach that ledge up above. Reaching the end of this level you are faced with a
giant maggot to defeat. When a level is completed, E.Jim throws a heavy weight
in the air, which usually lands on the opposite side of a plank of wood he is
standing on, which catapults him out of that level. At the end of this level,
the wood breaks in two, so Jim hails a cab to leave the level. Nice touch.
Puppy
Love makes a regular appearance throughout the game, increasing in difficulty
with each visit. Once again leaving the platform format, Jim stands on a bridge
with Psycrow at one end, throwing the new born pups from a window to their
demise. Jim must catch the falling pups on a giant marshmallow and bounce them
across the bridge to the safety of Peter Puppy. Save the pups and you will be
rewarded with a bomb to blow up Psycrow. Allow too many pups to be killed and
an angry Peter transforms into a rabid rottweiler and gives you a good seeing
to. Hilarious.
Further into the game, the mood slows down when you
must guide your way underwater past various hazards. If successful you will
take part in a quiz show with a difference. Try answering wacky questions such
as, What flavor is a cow? and Does Jims mother approve of his girlfriends? or
What is Jims favorite magazine? I replied that it was Absolute Playstation,
only to be informed that the answer was Playworm.
With further levels
involving paper mazes, cow carrying(?), balloon pushing, pea shooting cats(??),
flying sumo centurions, mutant penguins........God, this game is
strange........but I like it. If you love platform games, then Earthworm Jim is
for you, but if sick off the same repetitive gameplay that recent platforms have
offered, like myself, then give Earthworm Jim a try, you might just enjoy it.
|
|
|
|
A
platform consisting of shoot ups, skills and quizzes. Standard graphics mixed
with some excellent animations. The music is of the highest standard. The
gameplay features so many variations that you will always want to see what is
around the next corner.
|
|
|
|
MARTIN |
|
|
|
|
|
GRAPHICS: |
Average |
I
came across one or two frustrating levels, but these were long forgotten when I
returned to the Puppy Love levels throughout the game. |
|
SOUND: |
Good |
|
PLAYABILITY: |
Good |
|
VALUE: |
Good |
|
OVERALL
7/10 |
|
|
JIM |
|
|
|
|
|
GRAPHICS: |
Good |
Its
a long time since I laughed as much as I did while playing this game. Each of
the levels is slick and well thought out and there is enough variety in this
game to make you want to keep playing until you have completed it. |
|
SOUND: |
Good |
|
PLAYABILITY: |
Excellent |
|
VALUE: |
Excellent |
|
OVERALL
8.5/10 |
|
|
