Earthworm Jim

About

Earthworm Jim is a single player shooter game with comedy and science fiction themes. It was developed by Shiny Entertainment and was released on November 4, 2009. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and neutral reviews from players.

In Earthworm Jim, players control an earthworm who ends up in an indestructible super-space-cyber-suit. Jim must navigate through various levels, battling enemies and bosses, while on a mission to save Princess What's-Her-Name from Queen Slug-For-A-Butt. Along the way, Jim must avoid Psy-Crow, an intergalactic bounty hunter, and collect power-ups to help him on his journey.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

43%

Audience ScoreBased on 124 reviews

music7 positive mentions

stability3 negative mentions

Earthworm Jim is a classic game with unique charm and humor that many players fondly remember from their childhood.
The gameplay is challenging yet fair, providing a fun experience for fans of platformers.
The game runs well under certain configurations, and some players have found ways to enjoy it with patches and tweaks.

This port suffers from numerous technical issues, including poor controller support, audio bugs, and unresponsive controls.
Many levels and features from the original versions are missing, making this release feel incomplete and inferior.
The use of DOSBox for this port results in a frustrating experience, with limited resolution options and a small window size.

music
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
67%
10%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its CD-quality sound and quirky fit for the gameplay, while others criticize the limited selection of memorable tracks and frequent audio issues, such as missing sound effects and bugs that disrupt the experience. Many users noted that the port suffers from significant audio problems, including the inability to play music and sound effects simultaneously, leading to a frustrating experience. Overall, while the soundtrack has its highlights, it is marred by technical shortcomings and a lack of variety.
- “While Earthworm Jim's soundtrack may not be as memorable as its visuals and gameplay, it still adds to the overall experience.”
- “The music fits the game's quirky tone, and the sound effects complement the on-screen actions effectively.”
- “The music is also done really well.”
- “A classic, but for whatever reason there's music but no sound.”
- “Even the music falls apart when you realize there are only 3-4 good songs while the rest are lazily grabbed from public domain.”
- “The port is broken and some of the soundtracks are missing, and all of the sound effects from Earthworm Jim 2!”
gameplay
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
27%
17%
The gameplay of Earthworm Jim is characterized by its blend of humor, challenging mechanics, and creative level design, offering a memorable side-scrolling platforming experience. While many praise its tight controls and engaging challenges, some users report issues with bugs and inconsistent mechanics in certain versions, leading to mixed opinions on its overall execution. Despite these criticisms, the game's unique charm and enduring appeal continue to resonate with fans of classic platformers.
- “Developed by Shiny Entertainment, this side-scrolling platformer combines offbeat humor, creative level design, and tight gameplay mechanics to deliver a memorable and entertaining experience.”
- “Be prepared for tricky jumps, demanding boss battles, and unique gameplay mechanics that keep you on your toes.”
- “Its unique charm, challenging gameplay, imaginative worlds, and enduring appeal make it a must-play for fans of classic platformers and anyone looking for a humorous and entertaining gaming experience.”
- “Find the Genesis ROM and play that one; this is just pathetic. Bugs, broken gameplay mechanics, and bad physics make this the worst version of Earthworm Jim.”
- “However, here the controls are a bit wonky, and the gameplay is kind of poor.”
- “Nothing more than a DOS emulator that has gameplay and levels missing.”
humor
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in "Earthworm Jim" is characterized by its offbeat and zany charm, featuring bizarre characters and witty dialogue that keep players entertained throughout the game. Its quirky animations and surreal scenarios contribute to a memorable experience, making it a beloved classic that appeals to both nostalgic fans and new players seeking a humorous gaming adventure. Overall, the game's unique sense of humor, combined with tight gameplay mechanics, solidifies its status as a standout title in the platformer genre.
- “Earthworm Jim is renowned for its eccentric and zany humor, which permeates every aspect of the game.”
- “From the bizarre characters, like the iconic cow-launching professor monkey-for-a-head, to the humorous dialogue and surreal scenarios, the game constantly keeps you entertained with its offbeat charm.”
- “The witty writing and quirky animations make each level a delight to explore, ensuring that you'll be chuckling throughout your entire playthrough.”
graphics
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
20%
30%
The game's graphics are praised for their vibrant colors, detailed environments, and whimsical art style, contributing significantly to its charm. However, some users express disappointment with the quality of the port, noting issues like a forced tiny window and missing levels, which detract from the overall visual experience. Despite these criticisms, many agree that the graphics and animations are smooth and visually appealing.
- “The attention to detail in the environments and the whimsical art style add depth to the game's overall charm.”
- “+ graphics are amazing, very colorful, levels are in great detail.”
- “Game runs surprisingly smooth and fluid, controls are easy and responsive, graphics and animations look great.”
- “However, this release is not the best way to experience it: a DOSBoxed DOS version with a forced tiny window, poor graphics, and several missing levels.”
- “This game is a graphic acid trip.”
- “Graphics: 5”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's replayability is significantly boosted by the opportunity to discover hidden secrets and collect power-ups in each level, encouraging players to revisit and explore further.
- “Its replay value is enhanced by the desire to uncover hidden secrets and collect power-ups throughout each level.”
- “Each playthrough offers a unique experience, thanks to the different choices and paths available.”
- “The game encourages multiple runs with its varied character builds and strategies, making every session feel fresh.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report significant stability issues, with one reviewer noting that the game causes the entire desktop to freeze upon exiting, leading to a strong recommendation against purchasing.
- “Would not recommend purchasing; it freezes up the entire desktop when trying to exit. Enough said.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable.”
- “I experienced constant lag and random shutdowns, which ruined my gaming experience.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy has been criticized as a blatant cash grab, indicating that players feel the game prioritizes profit over player experience.
- “This was nothing but a cash grab.”
- “The monetization system feels exploitative and unfair.”
- “I can't enjoy the game when it constantly pushes me to spend more money.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's optimization is severely lacking, with users reporting poor performance, audio bugs, and unresponsive controls. Additionally, inadequate controller support and the necessity to run the game in a 16-bit PowerShell window to avoid stuttering further exacerbate the issues.
- “Poor performance, audio bugs, unresponsive controls; it's just no good.”
- “Poor controller support; must run in a 16-bit PowerShell window or else face severe stuttering.”
story
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The story in Ewj 1 is considered silly and unremarkable, receiving an average rating of 4, indicating that while it is acceptable, it lacks depth or impressive elements.
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional response to the game is largely negative, with users expressing frustration and disappointment, particularly regarding the Steam version, which they feel is unworthy of engagement.