Earthworm Jim 2 shows tremendous improvements made over the original in just a year's time. I think I can safely say pretty much everything is better here, but most notably the level design. Gone is that awful labyrinthian feel of the first game, this time they're both a bit smaller and a lot more obvious on where to go. I don't really have any complaints with the main gameplay, really.

The four non-platformer stages, though, are kind of miserable. Three different stages of Puppy Love is an incredibly poor decision, it would either work better as bonus stages or only showing up once. The humor on display in those segments is weirdly morbid as well, and doesn't really line up with the rest of the game's humor, and kind of sucks? I don't know, basically to sum it up there's nothing really I care for about those levels. The flying stage is pretty awfully designed as well, what with the enemies and the way the bomb seems to always go the exact opposite direction of what you want.

I think in Shiny Entertainment's quest to make this one more gimmicky than the previous installment, it created some much higher highs but also a handful of duds. Thoroughly a more enjoyable experience though, by actually quite a lot. You probably still should not spend money on it though and instead kick Doug Tennapel down infinite stairs. Maybe Tommy Tallarico too for good measure