Earthworm Jim HD Gameplay Video and Impressions

JudoChinX

June 10, 2010

If you don't recognize Earthworm Jim, you haven't lived. If you do, then you're in for quite a treat. Earthworm Jim HD was released with limited exclusivity on the Xbox 360. For those of you with another platform, don't worry. You'll have a chance to join in on the festivities soon enough. The game will be released in a short month on the Wii and PlayStation 3. We've seen quite a few classic games re-released as downloadable content, with some more successful than others. The best examples are those that didn't tamper too much with the original content. Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo: HD Remix comes to mind as a perfect example of this. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time strikes me as a less than perfect instance of a classic game having lost a lot of its charm due to its updated graphics. Thankfully, Earthworm Jim HD doesn't follow that trend.

The basic gameplay remains the same. You play an earthworm in a special suit who platforms and shoots his way through quirky and comedic situations. If you've not had a chance to enjoy this gem back in the day, Jim fights evil using some rather humorous tactics, such as using the earthworm part of his body to whip enemies and climb across chasms. Then there's the cows. I'll leave those to your imagination. The platforming was never quite as tight as other platformers, but with a larger emphasis on shooting, I'm willing to forgive the sometimes floaty controls. Much of the challenge in the game comes from dodging or otherwise dealing with quick moving threats. Crows dive in from every direction and rabid dogs try to tear you to bits. Everyone wants a piece of Jim.

There was a time when games were a tad more difficult than they are today. Earthworm Jim is one of those games. It could and still can be very hard at times. Thankfully, this remake gives a few more options for those less self destructive out there. There's your run of the mill easy, medium, and hard, and then there's original difficulty. Ironically, this is the most difficult option in the game, and perfectly mirrors the feeling of the original title.

Visually, the game is a pleasure to behold. The graphics haven't been maimed, just touched up. The style is all there, and boy does it look great when displayed in HD. Crisp, clear, and sharp. That's how the game looks. Backgrounds, sprites, animations; they've all been touched up to get with the times.

The game wasn't just touched up however. There have been a few additions to the standard single player experience. There are challenge maps and multiplayer maps (up to 4 players can join in) to help add to the game's value. Though there are only a handful of levels for each of these new modes, there should be enough here to keep you entertained for a bit.

At 800 Microsoft Points ($10.00 in real people money), Earthworm Jim HD is an easy recommendation for those looking for a little jog down memory lane.