Sixteen Bit

"Guess who's back?, bitches!!"

Earthworm "mothafuckin" Jim is back and looking better then ever. Earthworm Jim HD was released for Playstation Network and X Box Live Arcade, August 10th 2010. I can't remembered what I paid for it, I think around 9.99. I was was a little worried it was worth ten bucks, as soon as I started the first level, the price did matter anymore. The memories came flooding back, the catchphrases, strange animal like enemies, tubas, and amazing bosses.

I must of been around 10 years old when I first played as the ultra-high-tech-indestructible-super-space-cyber-suit wearing worm. The original release date was August 2, 1994 from Developer Shiny Entertainment and published by Playmates Interactive Entertainment. Doug TenNapel is the brain behind Earthworm Jim, he started as a animator on Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: The animated series. He began working in the video game industry, on titles such as Jurassic Park and Stimpy's Invention for Sega Genesis and The Jungle Book (which is an epic game) for SNES. He also voices our hero Earthworm Jim. Sorry for the history lesson, lets get back to the game.

Ok, One day, in the space above Earth, the evil Psy-Crow had cornered a rebel spaceship pilot who had stolen an "Ultra-high-tech-indestructible-super-space-cyber-suit" built by Professor Monkey-For-A-Head. The suit had been commissioned by the evil Queen Pulsating, Bloated, Festering, Sweaty, Pus-filled, Malformed, Slug-for-a-Butt so that she could further conquer the galaxy. In the ensuing space fight, the suit was dropped to Earth, and fell on Jim. By a stroke of luck, Jim managed to land within the collar of the suit, and it ended up mutating him into the large and intelligent (at least by earthworm standards) superhero he is today.Jim overhears Psy-Crow talking to Queen Slug-for-a-Butt about the scorch marks left by the suit and her plans for her sister, Princess What's-Her-Name. Jim thus sets out to rescue the princess, fighting many enemies along the way, such as Major Mucus, Chuck and Fifi, Evil the Cat and my favorite Bob the Killer Goldfish.

I have no idea what Doug TenNapel was on when he thought up the Earthworm Jim story, but it is still a game I will never forget. The HD version has some added gameplay features like the ability to change between plasma round and normal rounds, and three new computer related levels. The graphic upgrades are pretty good, but the controls seem the same as 1994. Jim can be hard to control sometime,s mostly when trying to change paths and  trying to whip those hooks can cause fits of rage and controller throwing (well at least when I was a 10 year old). There is some online multiplayer, unfortunately I can never find any matches. Earthworm Jim is a solid all around shoot'em up platformer for its age. With so many platforming games out in the 90s, Earthworm Jim stood out with it's wacky story line.

To me this game kicks ass. The second level in Evil the Cat's lair is one of my favorite levels of any platformer game. Just love the hell, underworld theme and how fart sounds are the main sound effects for the fire and killing enemies. Major Mucus's snot bungee battle is super fun and Bob the killer Goldfish might be the hardest boss in gaming history. Trying to collect all the atoms, ammo and 1-ups using hooks and chains to navigate hidden paths, adds a lot more to the levels other then just running from the left side to the right. The Psy-Crow interstellar races between levels are awesome. Lets not forget the interactive groovy screen is fucking hilarious.

Well it might not be for the new gamers out there today, but this is the type of game I grew up on in the 1990s. If you like retro games and platformers I suggest you purchase Earthworm Jim HD for Playstation Network or X box Live. Come on guys I need some one to play with online.