Earthworm Jim 2
After the incredible success of the first Earthworm Jim game on the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis a sequel was inevitable. And thank God because TenNapel and Perry turned around a produced an incredible second part to this brilliant series featuring an earthworm (He's such a groovy guy) who comes across a super suit that falls from the space. (He rockets through the sky!)
Though not a gigantic jump up from the previous installment, Earthworm Jim 2 adds just enough to create a game that stands alone on it's own and makes for more than just playing the same game over again. It seems to me that in this one they took a lot of the over-the-top elements from the first game and expanded on them. This game contains more snot, cows and wormyness than ever before.
Earthworm Jim 2 follows -who else but- the ultra groovy and super unique super hero created by the incredible Doug TenNapel; comic artist and animator since the 90s. Everything in this game is bizarre, twisted and probably based off of some bodily function. You plow through levels with your machine gun in hand and a giant booger called Snot who helps you parachute down large calls, stick and swing from ceilings and other gross things. Your adventure to once again save Princess Whats-her-name brings you on a wild trip through the deep underground, some lady's staircase and the microscopic world of someone's intestines. Yup, simply as brilliant as the first one.
Really though, the levels were wrought with fantastically obscure humor. In once level you ride up a staircase in an old lady's mobility chair while she smacks you over the head with her cane. In another you are floating though a level as a blind cave salamander while Moonlight Sonata plays solemnly in the background. Yet another level has you saving your best pal Peter Puppy's babies as they are being tossed at you from above. Somewhat cruel, but still fits the bill for this exaggerated expanse of brilliant-yet-insane gamesmithing. (I just made that word, it's mine.)
Everyone knows and loves Earthworm Jim. It's deliciously fantastic and a perfect example of side-scrolling games at their height in the 16-bit era. The animation was extremely well done, as only Shiny and their staff could do and the entire game was possibly the most unique mainstream game of it's time. Though, surprisingly I never bought this one and I did own the one before it; so the first one still sits as my favourite in my mind. But as these posts tend to end: I should find the time in the near future to get a hold of a copy and give it a run through again.
After the incredible success of the first Earthworm Jim game on the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis a sequel was inevitable. And thank God because TenNapel and Perry turned around a produced an incredible second part to this brilliant series featuring an earthworm (He's such a groovy guy) who comes across a super suit that falls from the space. (He rockets through the sky!) Though not a gigantic jump up from the previous installment, Earthworm Jim 2 adds just enough to create a game that stands alone on it's own and makes for more than just playing the same game over again. It seems to me that in this one they took a lot of the over-the-top elements from the first game and expanded on them. This game contains more snot, cows and wormyness than ever before.
Really though, the levels were wrought with fantastically obscure humor. In once level you ride up a staircase in an old lady's mobility chair while she smacks you over the head with her cane. In another you are floating though a level as a blind cave salamander while Moonlight Sonata plays solemnly in the background. Yet another level has you saving your best pal Peter Puppy's babies as they are being tossed at you from above. Somewhat cruel, but still fits the bill for this exaggerated expanse of brilliant-yet-insane gamesmithing. (I just made that word, it's mine.)Everyone knows and loves Earthworm Jim. It's deliciously fantastic and a perfect example of side-scrolling games at their height in the 16-bit era. The animation was extremely well done, as only Shiny and their staff could do and the entire game was possibly the most unique mainstream game of it's time. Though, surprisingly I never bought this one and I did own the one before it; so the first one still sits as my favourite in my mind. But as these posts tend to end: I should find the time in the near future to get a hold of a copy and give it a run through again.
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