ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove

82%
Game Brain Score Based on 543 reviews
  • gameplay
  • music
  • graphics
ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove Game Cover
ToeJam, Earl, and the rest of the gang come back to Earth with style.
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ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove is a funky fresh remake of the classic 90s game. Play as one of two alien rappers on a mission to collect pieces of their spaceship after crash landing on Earth. Explore randomly generated levels, avoid hazards, and interact with eccentric Earthlings in this humor-filled adventure.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

82%
Audience ScoreBased on 543 reviews
gameplay27 positive mentions
stability10 negative mentions
  • ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove! is a faithful remake that captures the charm and gameplay of the original while adding new characters, power-ups, and online co-op features.
  • The game features a vibrant art style and a funky soundtrack that enhances the nostalgic experience for fans of the original.
  • The addition of randomized levels and unlockable characters provides high replayability, making it a fun experience whether playing solo or with friends.
  • Some players have reported bugs and glitches, particularly in online multiplayer, which can disrupt the gameplay experience.
  • The game can feel too easy at times, with some players noting that the difficulty does not match the challenge of the original.
  • The keyboard controls are not intuitive, and many players recommend using a controller for a better experience.
  • gameplay101 mentions

    The gameplay of "ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove" retains the core mechanics of the original, featuring exploration of randomly generated levels, item collection, and a mix of new and classic elements that enhance the experience. While the game is praised for its nostalgic feel and cooperative play, some players note issues with pacing, control responsiveness, and a lack of innovation in gameplay design. Overall, it offers a fun, albeit sometimes dated, experience that appeals to fans of the original while introducing new mechanics and characters.

    • “Retains the original's core gameplay: explore randomly generated levels, avoid hazards, and collect mysterious presents (some helpful, some hilarious).”
    • “The gameplay is basically the same as the 1991 Sega Mega Drive release, but there's a ton of new mechanics, presents, and characters to play as.”
    • “They perfectly captured the feel of Toejam & Earl 1 while also integrating mechanics from Toejam & Earl 2 like the coin slot/button chains, tree shaking, and dance games.”
    • “As for other gameplay concerns, hard mode and I assume extreme mode as well, the beginning when you have no stats and barely any presents, the game is hard as hell to the point you probably won't make it past floor 3 unless you really take your time and play really slowly.”
    • “It may be my fault not to get involved earlier, perhaps unfair from a late sales buyer to point out lacking gameplay elements especially coming out of a short demo kind of playstyle... but this is no retro ToeJam and Earl experience at all.”
    • “The enemy behavior is just so binary, with them constantly aggroing you and you basically either being faster than them or not, that there isn't really any gameplay to be found with them around.”
  • music100 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its funky and vibrant soundtrack, which successfully blends classic tunes with new remixes, creating a nostalgic yet fresh experience. Many players appreciate the relaxing and humorous atmosphere that the music contributes to, although some note that it can become repetitive after extended play. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a highlight, enhancing the game's quirky charm and engaging gameplay.

    • “The iconic soundtrack gets a similar bump-up, keeping the classic tunes while adding some new funky jams.”
    • “The music is phenomenal, and you can play for hours!”
    • “The humor is classic and the soundtrack is almost worth the price of admission alone.”
    • “My biggest nitpick is the music; the tone just seems way too repetitive throughout.”
    • “I love this game, but the only bad thing about it is that they didn't include the original soundtracks inside the game as well.”
    • “Uninspired music.”
  • graphics76 mentions

    The graphics of the game feature a vibrant cel-shaded art style that evokes a playful, 90s cartoon aesthetic, though opinions on the visuals are mixed. While some players appreciate the colorful and funky design, others find it less detailed or reminiscent of mobile games, with certain elements feeling cluttered or glitchy. Overall, the updated graphics are seen as a nostalgic nod to the original while introducing modern touches, though not all fans are satisfied with the changes.

    • “The visuals get a fresh coat of paint with a groovy cel-shaded style that pops with color.”
    • “Has a vibrant and playful art style that really brings the characters to life, and the soundtrack is exactly what you'd expect for a Toejam & Earl game.”
    • “Razor sharp visuals, great soundtrack, humor that won’t make you cringe, and more of everything you loved in the original.”
    • “Somehow to me it seems less detailed than the underrated graphics of each of the first two games.”
    • “The graphics look okay, but it feels like a phone game, not a completed computer title.”
    • “Art style is questionable, the 2D-paper-like characters don't feel right in a 3D world.”
  • humor31 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its quirky, zany charm, reminiscent of classic titles, with a mix of absurd character designs and funny power-ups that enhance the gameplay experience. While many players enjoy the lighthearted and funky atmosphere, some note that the humor can become repetitive after multiple playthroughs, potentially leading to boredom. Overall, the game successfully combines a fun soundtrack with a playful sense of humor, making it a delightful experience for fans of casual exploration and co-op play.

    • “There's no pressure to rush; you can explore at your own pace, unwind to the funky soundtrack, and enjoy the wacky humor.”
    • “The world is so goofy and zany, and everything has these fine touches of humor that makes the game a joy to play.”
    • “The humor is classic, and the soundtrack is almost worth the price of admission alone.”
  • replayability24 mentions

    The game boasts high replayability due to its variety of playable characters, multiple game modes, and randomized levels, which ensure that no two playthroughs are the same. Unlockable rewards and cooperative multiplayer further enhance the experience, making it enjoyable for both newcomers and long-time fans. Upcoming updates promise to add even more features, solidifying its status as a game with considerable replay value.

    • “Player since ToeJam & Earl in the early 90s, this game is amazing and infinitely replayable.”
    • “There are several game modes that make the game challenging and give it excellent replay value.”
    • “Great replayability thanks to randomized levels and unlockable rewards each time you beat the game.”
    • “If you're looking for a challenging roguelike with hundreds of hours of replayability, this is not it.”
    • “- replay value.”
    • “The game is quick to 'beat' but that's not the point of tj&e and never was, that's why the replay value is high, especially with friends.”
  • stability11 mentions

    The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant bugs in multiplayer, including invisible rooms, character glitches, and issues with online co-op that can lead to game-breaking states. While some users found the minor glitches amusing and manageable, others expressed frustration over the frequency and severity of the bugs, particularly in split-screen and online modes. Overall, while the game is enjoyable, players should be prepared for a range of stability issues.

    • “The game ran smoothly without any major issues on my end.”
    • “I experienced no crashes or glitches during my playthrough.”
    • “Overall, the stability of the game was impressive and allowed for an enjoyable experience.”
    • “The multiplayer was extremely buggy, from rooms being invisible to friends to characters randomly disappearing to characters just randomly getting irreparably stuck.”
    • “Great game, highly recommend. However, beware of the online co-op glitch: if you get a swap player present and you don't have online split-screen on, you will enter into a broken state of the game with no music or sounds. When you switch back, everything works out, but the other player will remain broken even after rebooting the level. So, while it's still a good game, be aware of the glitches; that one is pretty major.”
    • “Once you look past the nostalgia, though, it's kind of a disappointing buggy mess.”
  • story8 mentions

    The story of the game revolves around the classic premise of ToeJam and Earl, where the titular alien characters crash-land on Earth and must collect scattered spaceship parts to return home. While the core narrative remains familiar to fans of the original, the remake introduces new characters, enhanced graphics, and additional content, though some players feel the main storyline is brief and could benefit from more downloadable content to expand the experience. Overall, the game blends elements from previous titles in the series, offering a nostalgic yet refreshed take on the original story.

    • “So as far as the classic story goes, ToeJam & Earl are aliens and then their spaceship gets hit by an asteroid, so they crash into Earth and your goal is to collect the spaceship parts that have gotten scattered throughout different levels, so they can eventually return home.”
    • “If you have played the original, then you know exactly what to expect; there isn't much new other than enhanced graphics and some story.”
    • “Personally, I think they could release more DLCs to add new content, considering the main storyline is kind of fast to beat and you feel that you need an extra taste of this magical world.”
    • “This is a remake of the original in terms of gameplay but with extra content and a new story, new characters, and new presents.”
  • grinding5 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly after extended playtime, with frustrations stemming from lengthy loading times, unskippable logos, and the repetitive nature of searching for items. While the game is enjoyable overall, these elements can detract from the experience, making certain tasks feel laborious. Additionally, the online multiplayer setup adds to the tedium by complicating the process of adding friends.

    • “I just found it a bit tedious after a couple of hours.”
    • “I really enjoy this game, but after completing the game with all the modes, it can become tedious.”
    • “Normally, it would get very tedious to have to shake every single tree, bush, and building in hopes to find presents.”
  • atmosphere4 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is praised for its nostalgic revival, effectively capturing the essence of the original while incorporating a trippy vibe enhanced by remixed music from earlier titles. Players appreciate the chaotic energy of co-op gameplay, which adds to the overall experience, making it enjoyable both solo and with friends.

    • “This remaking, retelling, rejuvenation of a wonderful atmosphere after decades of dormancy gave me hope.”
    • “This one captures the atmosphere of the original perfectly.”
    • “The game has a very trippy atmosphere to it, and the music is taken straight from the older games and remixed, which a lot of fans would appreciate.”
    • “Nevertheless, the game is great casually alone and with friends as the co-op creates a much more chaotic atmosphere, much in line with the series.”
  • optimization4 mentions

    Overall, the optimization of the game has received mixed feedback, with users noting minor performance issues such as hiccups during level loads and saves, as well as occasional slowdowns and dropped frames, particularly on the PS4 Pro. While these issues are not game-breaking, they can detract from the overall experience, especially during repetitive gameplay.

    • “Occasional performance hitches can occur, but overall the experience remains enjoyable.”
    • “Performance has some minor hiccups, mostly in level loads and saves.”
    • “Minor performance gripe.”
    • “Performance hitches on PS4 Pro, including slowdown and dropped frames.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    Players find the game emotionally engaging, describing it as a comforting and immersive experience that evokes a sense of belonging. However, some feel that the emotional impact is fleeting, leading to a lack of desire to revisit the game after the initial experience.

    • “It made me feel like I never wanted to leave, that this is where I needed to be.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development is enhanced through hidden alternate endings and side dialogues, which add depth to the characters while showcasing a distinct 90s style and humor. The charming presentation and character designs contribute to an engaging experience, complemented by fun roguelite elements that encourage replayability.

    • “The hidden alternate endings and side dialogue provide significant character development.”
    • “The game oozes distinct 90s style and humor, with fun and charming character designs that enhance the overall experience.”
    • “The fun roguelite elements encourage replays, allowing for deeper exploration of character arcs.”
    • “The hidden alternate endings and side dialogues provide some character development, but they feel too limited and don't fully explore the characters' potential.”
    • “While there are some moments of character development, they often feel overshadowed by the main plot, leaving many characters underdeveloped.”
    • “The character development is lacking, with many characters feeling one-dimensional and their arcs not being fully realized.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The review does not provide any specific insights into the monetization aspect of the game, focusing instead on the reviewer’s personal experience with the Sega Mega Drive and their unfamiliarity with its games.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

73% average critic score

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