Earthworm Jim 2

Did You Know?

• In a 1994 CompuServe conference, David Perry stated they were considering a version for the Atari Jaguar, which never materialized.
• The Earthworm Jim series had future sequels, Earthworm Jim 3D and Earthworm Jim: Menace 2 the Galaxy, made by different developers with generally negative reception.

Gameplay

The objective remains largely the same as the original: traverse levels to save Princess What's-Her-Name from Psy-Crow, but the gameplay is much more varied. Most levels are run and gun platformers, such as the opening level "Anything but Tangerines" and the eighth level "Level Ate", which offer a larger variety of moves than the first game. New weapons include an auto-aiming gun and the "Barn Blaster" that eliminates all visible enemies. Power-ups include the chip butty, boosting Jim's suit power to 200%. Jim's friend Snott accompanies him, allowing him to stick to and swing from slimy surfaces or use as a parachute. Other levels depart from the formula: in "Villi People", Jim disguises as a blind cave salamander and navigates intestinal passages while avoiding exploding sheep and hazards, later switching to a game show format with nonsensical multiple-choice questions. "Inflated Head" has Jim floating upward with an inflated head, avoiding sharp objects and Evil the Cat's attacks. "The Flyin' King" is an isometric shooter where Jim on a pocket rocket directs a bomb-carrying balloon to the end while defending it from enemies to defeat Major Mucus. The final level, "See Jim Run Run Jim Run", is a race against Psy-Crow through an obstacle course. The game ends with Jim saving the Princess, but all three are revealed to be cows in disguise.

Release

The Sega Genesis was the original target platform, with a Super NES port arriving around the same time. The Super NES version swapped in different background art and let players cycle through weapons. Japan got the Genesis release only through the Sega Channel service. Rainbow Arts bundled it with the first game for MS-DOS as "Earthworm Jim 1 & 2: The Whole Can 'O Worms," adding a CD soundtrack, extra voice clips, and redrawn visuals, but cutting the "Lorenzen's Soil" level. Screaming Pink, Inc. handled the Sega Saturn and PlayStation ports, which kept all original levels and the upgraded audio, plus their own unique background art and graphical tweaks. A Game Boy Advance port from SuperEmpire Inc, based on the Super NES version, hit in 2002 and was heavily criticized for its poor graphics, bad sound, and glitchy performance. The MS-DOS version later returned via DOSbox emulation on GOG.com and Steam. The Super NES version joined the Nintendo Classics service in March 2022.

Reception

Reception for the game was very positive. Sources such as IGN and GameZone declared it better overall than the original. Destructoid praised the humor, innovative gameplay, and "minigame" style levels as a welcome change from linear gameplay common at the time. Reviewing the Genesis version, one Electronic Gaming Monthly reviewer disapproved, remarking "where the first had technique, this one just gets cheap", but the other three declared it a worthy sequel, noting it retains the original's gameplay while adding excellent new weapons and "levels which are even crazier than before". GamePro reviewers gave positive reviews for both the Genesis and Super NES versions, praising the new level designs, diverse soundtrack, and improved animations, with one concluding "Earthworm Jim 2 manages to exceed the lofty standards of the first game." A Next Generation reviewer felt the inventive level designs made the game feel fresh despite using the same gameplay, summarizing that the sequel answered the success of the first with more humor, action, and skill, adding a few surprises. Sega Saturn Magazine gave the Genesis version a 94%, citing the variety of gameplay styles with "every one, in every way, sickeningly well implemented."