Earthworm Jim

Earthworm Jim is a 2D shooter/platformer created by Shiny Entertainment originally for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis and published in 1994.

Earthworm Jim is one of the most eccentric and memorable platformers of the 1990s, a game that redefined the genre with its surreal humor, detailed graphics, and fluid animation. Initially developed for the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive in 1994 by Shiny Entertainment, the studio founded by David Perry, the game quickly became a hit. Perry, who had already made a name for himself with titles like Cool Spot and Disney's Aladdin for the Genesis, teamed up with artist Doug TenNapel, who designed the character of Jim, and a talented development team to create a platformer that went beyond the usual genre standards, blending frantic action, absurd situations, and high-quality visuals.

The concept of Earthworm Jim is both simple and brilliant: an ordinary earthworm, thanks to a high-tech supersuit, transforms into a hero capable of taking on bizarre enemies in an adventure filled with grotesque humor. The story follows Jim as he attempts to rescue Princess What’s-Her-Name from the evil Psy-Crow, traversing strange and imaginative levels while battling over-the-top bosses like Bob the Goldfish and Professor Monkey-for-a-Head.

Earthworm Jim stands out from other platformers of the era thanks to its unique gameplay variety. In addition to classic platforming elements, the game introduces a range of innovative mechanics. Jim can use his head as a whip to attack enemies and interact with the environment, fire his blaster, and even spin his body like a helicopter to glide over obstacles. Some levels break away from traditional platforming entirely, incorporating high-speed space chases against Psy-Crow and underwater sections with limited oxygen, requiring precise timing and control.

Visually, the game pushes the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive to its limits, featuring incredibly fluid animations and detailed character sprites thanks to the meticulous work of artist Nick Bruty. The level and character designs are exaggerated and surreal, with environments ranging from junkyard planets to cartoonish hellscapes. The experience is further enhanced by an unforgettable soundtrack composed by Tommy Tallarico, alternating between epic orchestrations and comedic tracks that perfectly complement the game's wacky atmosphere.

After its success on the Genesis, Earthworm Jim was ported to multiple platforms, including Super Nintendo, MS-DOS, Sega CD, and Game Boy. The SNES version featured a broader color palette but lost some of the original's graphical and audio effects. The Sega CD version improved sound quality thanks to CD audio, while the MS-DOS version offered slightly sharper visuals.

Earthworm Jim received widespread critical acclaim for its creativity and humor, becoming an instant classic and spawning a sequel, Earthworm Jim 2, which expanded on the first game’s mechanics. Over the years, the character became so popular that he inspired an animated TV series and multiple attempts at reviving the franchise. However, none fully recaptured the magic of the original. Even today, Earthworm Jim is remembered as one of the most distinctive and entertaining platformers of its time, a prime example of how an unconventional idea can turn into a gaming masterpiece.