Having not played Earthworm Jim is quite a few years, I was pretty excited to get my hands on the new "HD" version of the game for XBLA. My biggest mistake was that I did not even bother to get the trial first, and made an immediate purchase. I'm already regretting it.
While the game itself is still mostly fine, it's bogged down by horrendous controls and movement. Using the analog stick especially just feels awkward due to really loose movement speeds, resulting in poor controlling of the character, whether it be on foot, rocket ship, or submarine. Using the D-pad feels a little better in terms of being able to get a handle on the movement, but still feels weird given the positioning of the d-pad on the 360's controller.
I've also come across various bugs and glitches, such as occasional cases of bad hit and collision detection. There's also a glitch that has prevented me from progressing through Level 5, where a switch that is activated by whipping it, will simply explode and disappear rather than turn on. So far, it has done that to me every time I've tried. Shooting it will also cause it to explode.
The game does look good, though. The graphical overhaul is pretty smooth, although some of the animations look like they are missing a few frames. A few of the changes made to the version are nice, too, such as being able to switch between Plasma shots and normal shots. The 3 original levels added to the game are quite fun, as well. I haven't tried out the multiplayer portion of the game, simply because no one is playing it yet.
This version of Earthworm Jim is not completely terrible. I'm not going to flat-out tell you to not buy it. Just do yourself a favor and try out the demo first. Don't make a blind purchase for the sake of pure nostalgia like I did. You may end up sorely disappointed.
Earthworm Jim
Game » consists of 25 releases. Released Oct 02, 1994
- Genesis
- Super Nintendo Entertainment System
- Game Boy
- Sega CD
- + 13 more
- Game Gear
- PC
- Game Boy Advance
- Wii Shop
- iPhone
- DSiWare
- Xbox 360 Games Store
- PlayStation Network (PS3)
- Windows Phone
- Nintendo Switch
- Sega Master System
- Mac
- Amazon Luna
Created by the twisted minds at Shiny Entertainment (led by Dave Perry and Doug TenNapel), Earthworm Jim is a nonsensical side-scrolling platform game that allows the player to venture through the galaxy as an earthworm trapped in a futuristic space-suit to rescue Princess What's-Her-Name.
Earthworm Jim HD didn't turn out so hot.
I got to play a little bit of the multiplayer a little while ago. It is strictly 4-player co-op. It was surprisingly very fun. It's the entire main game with the levels re-designed for co-op. Though the actual "co-op" aspect of it really just revolves around opening doors for other players and the like, it's mainly more of a chaotic nature, not too dissimilar to something like New Super Mario Bros. Wii.
I did encounter what I'm going to assume is a very bad bug. At the end of each level is a Finish Line that each player must pass through in order for the game to progress to the next level. We neared the end of the first submarine level, when all but one of us died. The remaining player crossed the finish line, but nothing happened. The game didn't go to the next level, we didn't respawn, just...nothing. The guy tried going back a bit, but still nothing. I'm not sure exactly what the reasoning is for this, if any, but it was kind of annoying having to back out of the game and be forced to do this all again.
The 360's d-pad is so pathetic. It's definitely the controller's biggest flaw. I liked the Earthworm Jim games back in the day, so it's possible I could have ended up buying it blindly too. Thanks for the heads-up. I'll still probably give the trial a shot, though.
Earthworm Jim HD is just what I wanted. I love it for it's riduculousness. And yo, Spacesuit avatar awards!
Now my progress is only impeded by For Pete's Sake. Nothing to do with this particular port of the game. That level is just one of the most awful fucking things ever devised.
I'd almost say Earthworm Jim HD is worth it for the co-op. If you can look past the control issues, then go for it. I've found myself getting used to the loose movement the more I play, though it still makes some stages way harder than they already may be. Co-op is definitely this game's strong point and is by far the best portion of this release.
" Shooting the target in Level 5 always caused the escalator to start moving for me, but I absolutely can't find a way into the bonus Who Turned Out The Lights? area. Did they strip it from the game? :\ "I've heard that they may have, actually. No one anywhere else has been able to get to it.
in co-op if someone has died before you can all pass the finish line, go back to a continue spot and they will respawn.
it's really badly implemented. this game has a lot of problems. i doubt this would have any value for me at all if it weren't for nostalgia. the fucking racing bits between levels are soul crushing.
I actually think it's a pretty good remake and managed to not come across any of the issues that you described. Also, the movement has always been pretty loose in Earthworm Jim and I found using the analog stick to be fine, just takes some getting used to.
" One word: Gameloft. "Yep, I think we can lock this up or something now, were done here...
" @Infininja said:I hear that you can find it in Splinter Cell Conviction." Shooting the target in Level 5 always caused the escalator to start moving for me, but I absolutely can't find a way into the bonus Who Turned Out The Lights? area. Did they strip it from the game? :\ "I've heard that they may have, actually. No one anywhere else has been able to get to it. "
" @august said:Their Prince of Persia makeover was decent. I own it on my phone and my 360." One word: Gameloft. "Yep, I think we can lock this up or something now, were done here... "
ah I picked up a SF4 gamepad for the 360 with its superior 32 way dpad. So I can use it on all 2d and fighting games. So I'm okay in that area...and bugs and glitches...the original earth worm games had those in spades.
I played the demo last night. I don't know...I really didn't like it. Visually it's very nice, but I found the controls to be absolutely terrible. Hopefully it's a little more improved on the PS3, but I'm not really counting on that.
I love this game, and despite all the negative reviews, Im loving the HD version too. Just for kicks Ive been doing a side by side level comparison, and though Im not really a gameloft fan, I think they did a fine job. Havent made it to the supposedly jinxed 5th level though....
" One word: Gameloft. "True that.
' Now my progress is only impeded by For Pete's Sake. Nothing to do with this particular port of the game. That level is just one of the most awful fucking things ever devised. '
Bloody oath man. I know theres no doubt a graceful way to get through with minimal health lose but it just felt like every time a asteroid storm came i was stuck taking a boat load of damage even when i was firing (i.e. either forward, up or in at 45 degree angle...) it seemd to let heaps through and damaging me.
Like you said, the biggest flaw with the game is that its a port, early 90's controller and all. Its games like this that remind me that while i may have been just plane terrible at video games when i was young, controls in general were just awkward as hell. I felt the same way when i tried the perfect dark demo, i totally forgot all the pain i had doing simple thing because either the controls weren't responsive enough, or because they were just badly designed.
Even for the PS3 this is absolute garbage!
Controls are horrible.
Controls are even worse in the Andy's Asteroids level.
Music is cheesy.
Jim's voice isn't the same and cheesy as well.
The respawn "can of worms" art was so horribly designed...if its suppose to look like Jim it looks more like a peach colored bird.
Extra added scoreboard artwork at the end of each levels looks like crap.
Graphics in HD are a joke, they should have gotten the original artist, David Perry to re-skin the game (More like the original box cover art would have been doable on modern game systems and absolutely insane).
What happened to the Snowman mini-boss in What the Heck?
No Who Turned Out The Lights? bonus level...wtf.
They ruined a classic, but still better than the EWJ 3D for N64.
Bonus levels and multiplayer are interesting.
Wish Doug TenNapel would have done EWJ4 like he hinted years back.
I hope sonic 4 isn't a disappointment
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