Now before I begin I just want to clarify this:
This is strictly my own opinion. If you disagree with me, more power to you. Just keep the comments civil and respectful.
Hello, everybody, and welcome back to
GAME MODE: ON!
Since I started writing game reviews for this site, all the ones I've written so far are for titles I've played on a PlayStation console. As much as I love me some PlayStation, I don't want to be mainly known as the Sony Boy because I do want to venture out onto other consoles such as the Xbox or a Nintendo unit.
So I'd figure I would like to try my hand at tackling something alot more retro though the problem with that is that retro games, while fun to play and interesting to learn about, can be ridiculously fucking hard.
I mean, I love a good challenge, I really do, but I can't review a game if I'm unable to finish it. Which is why you might not see me review much older games as frequently as more recent ones. Not that I don't want to review these games, I just happen to suck at alot of them especially if they're from the NES days.
I have managed to beat a few retro games in my spare time such as Sonic 2 and Castlevania 4 but that's about it.
But then there's this one game, ToeJam & Earl, that seems to look promising enough. Before this point, I have played a good amount of it and it doesn't seem that bad so I'd figure this would make for some stress-free work. Yeah, I was wrong, this game can be a pain in the ass.
But remember, just because a game is hard doesn't mean it sucks. If a game is difficult but fair and fun, it can work immensely and provide enough enjoyment for the player, I mean, look at Cuphead for example. But if a game is too difficult to the point of absolute bullshit, that's where people's patience can wear off fast. Seriously, that boss fight against Dark Gaia in Sonic Unleashed can go eat a fucking dick.
In regards to ToeJam & Earl, the game has received some great reviews with players praising the gameplay and two-player mode and was considered a sleeper hit despite low sales. It has been re-released many times, spawned three sequels and there's even a movie adaptation in the works. So obviously, this game has done something to warrant such acclaim so let's not waste any time and jump right into it.
STORY & CHARACTERIZATION:
ToeJam & Earl are a duo of rapping extraterrestrials who hail from the planet Funkotron and have a habit of speaking early-90's Californian slang and dancing to hip-hop music.
During a trip through outer space, Earl took over piloting their spaceship for a bit which, due to his erratic driving skills, causes them to crash into an asteroid and send them plummeting to Earth.
Although the two survive the crash, their main concern now is to find the missing parts of their ship so that they can leave and return home.
As this is a much older title, don't expect anything like deep character development or a complex overarching storyline. This is classic old-school shit where the main concern is just, well, actually playing the fucking game.
So there's really not much point in delving into this aspect for long as there's not much to go over. I will say that the characters of ToeJam and Earl do have some fun personality and they can occasionally earn a good laugh.
While I wouldn't call the game absolutely hilarious, there are a few jokes and visual gags that can amuse you and, well, there is a reason why the game is often praised for it's sense of humor. However, most of the jokes are only present if you're playing the game in co-op mode so I hope you have a second player to join you or you'll be missing out. So yeah, not much else to say around here, really.
GAMEPLAY & CONTROLS:
The game works as a rouge-like adventure where you journey through randomly-generated maps to locate one of ten missing ship pieces and then head for an elevator once you're done. If a certain map doesn't start with a pop-up hinting at a piece, you need to head straight for the elevator. While there is an option to play the game with fixed maps, I usually go for random as it makes for a better challenge not knowing where everything is at.
You have the option to play as either ToeJam or Earl but as far as I know, there's not much difference between the two characters in terms of mechanics, speed and whatnot.
When you start a map, it is almost blanked out and the only way to uncover where you are is by wandering around the environment. Occasionally, you'll hear a telephone ringing and if you manage to find it, you can uncover parts of the map much faster.
Along the way, you'll find a variety of items which include dollar bills, food and presents. Good foods like burgers, fudge sundaes and bacon & eggs will refill your health while bad foods such as moldy cheese and fish skeletons... yeah, best to avoid those. Then there are the presents which contain various items but there's no telling which one is which without taking a risk and selecting them. Some items can be very helpful like extra lives, spring shoes and so forth while others will make your life hell including rain clouds, insta-death bombs and a generator that resets all your findings. It's a cheap gamble that I don't find myself using often. There is a man in a carrot costume that can help you identify presents without having to open them for a small fee of two bucks per present which is mega-helpful. You can also use the money you've collected to buy presents at a mailbox but sometimes, it's suicide because half the time, the mailbox is an asshole monster that's too fast to avoid and can knock too much health off of you which can really piss you off.
Speaking of pissing you off, the game has a variety of enemies you encounter throughout. Some are pathetic like those winged babies that seem to barely hit their target, women slowly driving shopping carts and constantly-wandering demons. But then there are those that are so fucking hard to avoid. I've already mentioned the killer mailboxes but then there's flocks of bees, sharks, mad scientists, packs of nerds, tomato-throwing chickens, lawnmowers driven by assholes and moles that steal your items. The worst ones for me have to be the bogeymen and the ice-cream trucks because they're such a fucking chore to avoid and they're usually too fast to get away from unless you happen to have some speedy shoes at the ready. Those things can go to hell for all I care.
There's also these hula dancers that are so annoying because every time you get close to them, your character stops for a moment to dance with them and that can really suck major balls if you're trying to get away from a pursuing enemy, it's like "There's a time and a place, dipshit! MOVE IT!". Oh, and also tornadoes that have the potential to drop you off a level which is extra kinds of frustrating.
To make things worse, not only is it possible for you to slip off a cliff and start right back at the previous level thus forcing you to stroll over to the elevator all over again but once all your lives are gone, that's it, game over. No continues, no password system, you don't get diddly-dick and you have to start all over again. Thank god I played this on the Sega Mega Drive Mini so that I can take advantage of the save states.
Not to mention, there are certain areas of certain maps that cannot be possibly traversed without either finding a secret pathway or using whatever items you have but good luck if you have any spring shoes left and you better pray to god that the all-too-important ship piece isn't on that unreachable area thus stumping you for good.
So yeah, the game can have it's frustrating elements but even with that said, it controls well. Moving your character around isn't too much of a hassle and the button prompts aren't too complicated once you get the gang of it. You can check the map by pressing the C button as while you're there, you can press B to check to see how many parts are left and if there are any on the level you're on.
You can also check up on the item menu by pressing B. Pressing C will switch between using an item or dropping it while A either uses or drops said item. Holding A will have you sneaking about(if you don't already have an item selected that is) which will be helpful if you don't wanna disturb enemies that you know will make things difficult for you.
It is a little slow traveling around and trying to find what you're looking for since your character does walk at an ice resurfacer's pace but you'll get used to it after a while.
GRAPHICS & PRODUCTION VALUE:
Even after thirty-two years, this game really does look pretty damn good. Everything from the environments to the character designs have that funky and goofy charm to them that it's hard not to appreciate. Who know blast-processing can be so damn hip?
Also, the music by John Baker is quite the banger. Each tune cranked out is pleasing enough to the ear that you'll wanna keep on playing in-spite of it's shortcomings.
So overall, ToeJam & Earl is a good game. It has memorable visuals and music, the titular characters are charming enough and the gameplay is pretty decent and even a little humorous.
Just keep in mind that there will be certain elements that will make your experience hell if you're not too careful enough.
That being said, the game is better played as a co-op experience as you'll cover more ground better and have a more fun time. It's still a fine game playing by yourself but it's best to have a second player around.
If you happen to come across this game on sale either digitally or you happen to still have your old Sega Mega Drive or you're planning to buy a Mega Drive Mini or already own one, I say give this game a shot and see what you think.
Until next time, thank you for taking the time to check out this installment of GAME MODE: ON.
If you liked what you've read here and want to see more, you can go ahead and follow me whenever you want.
And also, don't forget to check out my Letterboxd page for new film reviews every week.
QUESTION: Are the sequels any better and if so, which is your favorite ToeJam & Earl game overall?
This is strictly my own opinion. If you disagree with me, more power to you. Just keep the comments civil and respectful.
Hello, everybody, and welcome back to
GAME MODE: ON!
Since I started writing game reviews for this site, all the ones I've written so far are for titles I've played on a PlayStation console. As much as I love me some PlayStation, I don't want to be mainly known as the Sony Boy because I do want to venture out onto other consoles such as the Xbox or a Nintendo unit.
So I'd figure I would like to try my hand at tackling something alot more retro though the problem with that is that retro games, while fun to play and interesting to learn about, can be ridiculously fucking hard.
I mean, I love a good challenge, I really do, but I can't review a game if I'm unable to finish it. Which is why you might not see me review much older games as frequently as more recent ones. Not that I don't want to review these games, I just happen to suck at alot of them especially if they're from the NES days.
I have managed to beat a few retro games in my spare time such as Sonic 2 and Castlevania 4 but that's about it.
But then there's this one game, ToeJam & Earl, that seems to look promising enough. Before this point, I have played a good amount of it and it doesn't seem that bad so I'd figure this would make for some stress-free work. Yeah, I was wrong, this game can be a pain in the ass.
But remember, just because a game is hard doesn't mean it sucks. If a game is difficult but fair and fun, it can work immensely and provide enough enjoyment for the player, I mean, look at Cuphead for example. But if a game is too difficult to the point of absolute bullshit, that's where people's patience can wear off fast. Seriously, that boss fight against Dark Gaia in Sonic Unleashed can go eat a fucking dick.
In regards to ToeJam & Earl, the game has received some great reviews with players praising the gameplay and two-player mode and was considered a sleeper hit despite low sales. It has been re-released many times, spawned three sequels and there's even a movie adaptation in the works. So obviously, this game has done something to warrant such acclaim so let's not waste any time and jump right into it.
STORY & CHARACTERIZATION:
ToeJam & Earl are a duo of rapping extraterrestrials who hail from the planet Funkotron and have a habit of speaking early-90's Californian slang and dancing to hip-hop music.
During a trip through outer space, Earl took over piloting their spaceship for a bit which, due to his erratic driving skills, causes them to crash into an asteroid and send them plummeting to Earth.
Although the two survive the crash, their main concern now is to find the missing parts of their ship so that they can leave and return home.
As this is a much older title, don't expect anything like deep character development or a complex overarching storyline. This is classic old-school shit where the main concern is just, well, actually playing the fucking game.
So there's really not much point in delving into this aspect for long as there's not much to go over. I will say that the characters of ToeJam and Earl do have some fun personality and they can occasionally earn a good laugh.
While I wouldn't call the game absolutely hilarious, there are a few jokes and visual gags that can amuse you and, well, there is a reason why the game is often praised for it's sense of humor. However, most of the jokes are only present if you're playing the game in co-op mode so I hope you have a second player to join you or you'll be missing out. So yeah, not much else to say around here, really.
GAMEPLAY & CONTROLS:
The game works as a rouge-like adventure where you journey through randomly-generated maps to locate one of ten missing ship pieces and then head for an elevator once you're done. If a certain map doesn't start with a pop-up hinting at a piece, you need to head straight for the elevator. While there is an option to play the game with fixed maps, I usually go for random as it makes for a better challenge not knowing where everything is at.
You have the option to play as either ToeJam or Earl but as far as I know, there's not much difference between the two characters in terms of mechanics, speed and whatnot.
When you start a map, it is almost blanked out and the only way to uncover where you are is by wandering around the environment. Occasionally, you'll hear a telephone ringing and if you manage to find it, you can uncover parts of the map much faster.
Along the way, you'll find a variety of items which include dollar bills, food and presents. Good foods like burgers, fudge sundaes and bacon & eggs will refill your health while bad foods such as moldy cheese and fish skeletons... yeah, best to avoid those. Then there are the presents which contain various items but there's no telling which one is which without taking a risk and selecting them. Some items can be very helpful like extra lives, spring shoes and so forth while others will make your life hell including rain clouds, insta-death bombs and a generator that resets all your findings. It's a cheap gamble that I don't find myself using often. There is a man in a carrot costume that can help you identify presents without having to open them for a small fee of two bucks per present which is mega-helpful. You can also use the money you've collected to buy presents at a mailbox but sometimes, it's suicide because half the time, the mailbox is an asshole monster that's too fast to avoid and can knock too much health off of you which can really piss you off.
Speaking of pissing you off, the game has a variety of enemies you encounter throughout. Some are pathetic like those winged babies that seem to barely hit their target, women slowly driving shopping carts and constantly-wandering demons. But then there are those that are so fucking hard to avoid. I've already mentioned the killer mailboxes but then there's flocks of bees, sharks, mad scientists, packs of nerds, tomato-throwing chickens, lawnmowers driven by assholes and moles that steal your items. The worst ones for me have to be the bogeymen and the ice-cream trucks because they're such a fucking chore to avoid and they're usually too fast to get away from unless you happen to have some speedy shoes at the ready. Those things can go to hell for all I care.
There's also these hula dancers that are so annoying because every time you get close to them, your character stops for a moment to dance with them and that can really suck major balls if you're trying to get away from a pursuing enemy, it's like "There's a time and a place, dipshit! MOVE IT!". Oh, and also tornadoes that have the potential to drop you off a level which is extra kinds of frustrating.
To make things worse, not only is it possible for you to slip off a cliff and start right back at the previous level thus forcing you to stroll over to the elevator all over again but once all your lives are gone, that's it, game over. No continues, no password system, you don't get diddly-dick and you have to start all over again. Thank god I played this on the Sega Mega Drive Mini so that I can take advantage of the save states.
Not to mention, there are certain areas of certain maps that cannot be possibly traversed without either finding a secret pathway or using whatever items you have but good luck if you have any spring shoes left and you better pray to god that the all-too-important ship piece isn't on that unreachable area thus stumping you for good.
So yeah, the game can have it's frustrating elements but even with that said, it controls well. Moving your character around isn't too much of a hassle and the button prompts aren't too complicated once you get the gang of it. You can check the map by pressing the C button as while you're there, you can press B to check to see how many parts are left and if there are any on the level you're on.
You can also check up on the item menu by pressing B. Pressing C will switch between using an item or dropping it while A either uses or drops said item. Holding A will have you sneaking about(if you don't already have an item selected that is) which will be helpful if you don't wanna disturb enemies that you know will make things difficult for you.
It is a little slow traveling around and trying to find what you're looking for since your character does walk at an ice resurfacer's pace but you'll get used to it after a while.
GRAPHICS & PRODUCTION VALUE:
Even after thirty-two years, this game really does look pretty damn good. Everything from the environments to the character designs have that funky and goofy charm to them that it's hard not to appreciate. Who know blast-processing can be so damn hip?
Also, the music by John Baker is quite the banger. Each tune cranked out is pleasing enough to the ear that you'll wanna keep on playing in-spite of it's shortcomings.
So overall, ToeJam & Earl is a good game. It has memorable visuals and music, the titular characters are charming enough and the gameplay is pretty decent and even a little humorous.
Just keep in mind that there will be certain elements that will make your experience hell if you're not too careful enough.
That being said, the game is better played as a co-op experience as you'll cover more ground better and have a more fun time. It's still a fine game playing by yourself but it's best to have a second player around.
If you happen to come across this game on sale either digitally or you happen to still have your old Sega Mega Drive or you're planning to buy a Mega Drive Mini or already own one, I say give this game a shot and see what you think.
Until next time, thank you for taking the time to check out this installment of GAME MODE: ON.
If you liked what you've read here and want to see more, you can go ahead and follow me whenever you want.
And also, don't forget to check out my Letterboxd page for new film reviews every week.
QUESTION: Are the sequels any better and if so, which is your favorite ToeJam & Earl game overall?