Earthworm Jim 2 (MD, 1995)
Graphics-9 Sound-8 Control-7.5 Challenge-7
Level Design-7 Frustration-8 Fun-7 Originality-6.5
Overall Score-7
+
Innovative and varied gameplay
Humorous (absurd, non-sequitur, slap stick)
Difficulty options
The blob mascot (parachute, swing mechanic)
Great animation and use of color
Fun weapons
Plenty of hidden items
New weapons and power ups
+/-
Odd level skip system (need to collect four icons in a level to be able to skip it after game over or resetting the game)
Heavy use of dithering (an attempt to simulate more shades of colour)
-
Some tedious levels (airplane level, last part of the cow abduction level)
The puppy love mini-game gets repetitive
No weapon selection on the fly (SNES version has it, could've been done on a six button controller or in the pause menu)
Slow knockback
Somewhat sloppy hit detection
Somewhat loose scrolling
Trial & error (final stage, swing through walls, quiz show mini-game, shots from off screen, etc)
Relatively few levels let you use your full weapon arsenal
Can’t shoot while moving or in mid-air (activates the parachute - could've had a unique button on six button controllers, you can whip in mid-air though)
Can't cancel the "climb ledge" move and it has a tendency to activate when you least want it to
ISO 9000 boss is very easy (the door)
Some annoying sfx
Notes:
A hack adds weapon selection on the fly (jump button+down) as well as easy access to a cheat/debug menu (pause, then press C nine times): http://elektropage.ru/publ/khaki/smd/earthworm_jim_2_weapon_select_mod/29-1-0-110
Level Design-7 Frustration-8 Fun-7 Originality-6.5
Overall Score-7
+
Innovative and varied gameplay
Humorous (absurd, non-sequitur, slap stick)
Difficulty options
The blob mascot (parachute, swing mechanic)
Great animation and use of color
Fun weapons
Plenty of hidden items
New weapons and power ups
+/-
Odd level skip system (need to collect four icons in a level to be able to skip it after game over or resetting the game)
Heavy use of dithering (an attempt to simulate more shades of colour)
-
Some tedious levels (airplane level, last part of the cow abduction level)
The puppy love mini-game gets repetitive
No weapon selection on the fly (SNES version has it, could've been done on a six button controller or in the pause menu)
Slow knockback
Somewhat sloppy hit detection
Somewhat loose scrolling
Trial & error (final stage, swing through walls, quiz show mini-game, shots from off screen, etc)
Relatively few levels let you use your full weapon arsenal
Can’t shoot while moving or in mid-air (activates the parachute - could've had a unique button on six button controllers, you can whip in mid-air though)
Can't cancel the "climb ledge" move and it has a tendency to activate when you least want it to
ISO 9000 boss is very easy (the door)
Some annoying sfx
Notes:
A hack adds weapon selection on the fly (jump button+down) as well as easy access to a cheat/debug menu (pause, then press C nine times): http://elektropage.ru/publ/khaki/smd/earthworm_jim_2_weapon_select_mod/29-1-0-110