ToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron

n/a

NTSC-U/NTSC-J PAL PAL (DE)
ToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Virtual Console, PlayStation 3, Steam
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Johnson Voorsanger Productions M2
Sound driver: GEMS
Peripherals supported: Six Button Control Pad
Genre: Action
Number of players: 1-2
Official in-game languages: English Deutsch
Release Date RRP Code US 1993-12 $49.9949.99 1043 EU 1994-01-16 1043 DE 1994 PT 199x UK 1994-01-16 £49.9949.99 1043 AU 199x $129.95129.95 FTOE01SMC BR 199x KR 199x GM93048JG AS 199x 1043 US ▼ 2007-06-04 800pts800 EU ▼ 2007-06-01 800pts800 AU ▼ 2007-06 800pts800 US ▼ 2012-03-14 $4.994.99 71167 EU ▼ 2012-03-14 €4.494.49 71167 UK ▼ 2012-03-14 £3.993.99 71167 AU ▼ 2012-03-14 $6.996.99 71167 US ▼ 2019-02-01 $0.990.99 71167 EU ▼ 2019-02-01 €0.990.99 71167 UK ▼ 2019-02-01 £0.790.79 71167 AU ▼ 2019-02-01 $1.351.35 71167 US ▼ 2019-02-01 $0.990.99 71167 EU ▼ 2019-02-01 €0.990.99 71167 UK ▼ 2019-02-01 £0.790.79 71167 AU ▼ 2019-02-01 $1.351.35 71167 US ▼ 2012-11-06 $4.994.99 NPUB-30797 EU ▼ 2012-11-07 €4.494.49 NPEB-01008 DE ▼ 2012-11-07 €4.494.49 NPEB-01008 UK ▼ 2012-11-07 £3.593.59 NPEB-01008 AU ▼ 2012-11-06 $6.256.25 NPEB-01008 KR ▼ 2012-11-07 ₩6,2006,200 NPHB-00501 TW ▼ 2012-11-07 NT$156156 NPHB-00501

ToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron is a Sega Mega Drive action platform game developed by Johnson Voorsanger Productions and published by Sega. Released in 1993, it is the sequel to ToeJam & Earl, and the only game in the series to feature side-scrolling gameplay.

Story

The story takes place immediately after the first ToeJam & Earl game. After ToeJam and Earl had repaired their Righteous Rapmaster Rocketship and escaped Earth, some Earthlings have clung to the outside of the ship on the way home and are now running amok on Funkotron, being a nuisance to the local Funkotronians. Now in deep trouble, ToeJam and Earl must capture the rampant Earthlings in jars and send them back to Earth. In addition, they must also seek out the Funkapotamus, who has retreated to the Funk Dimension because of the Earthlings, to restore Funk to Funkotron.

Gameplay

ToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron is vastly different from other games in the series in that it is a platformer instead of a roguelike. The main objective of the game is to find and capture the Earthlings to send back to Earth and get through each level. The arrow on the HUD will guide the player to the nearest Earthling. To capture Earthlings, the player(s) must throw jars at them - pressing on its own will throw the jar directly forward, while + will throw a jar upwards in an arc, + on the ground will set a jar on the ground for an Earthling to run into and + in mid-air will throw jars downward. Pressing will perform a teleport maneuver known as a Funk Move, which can be used to avoid Earthling attacks or to pass through narrow walls, though this requires Funkitude.

By pressing  START , ToeJam and Earl have access to three additional moves by pressing , or before "game paused" appears. Pressing will activate the Funk Scan, which will view the surroundings through the Funk Dimension and reveal hidden items, Earthlings, traps, Secret Doorways and Funktivate Spots at the cost of some Funkitude. Pressing will activate the Panic Button if ToeJam and Earl have one, which will make them run around in a panic, making them invincible and making jars fly off in all directions. Pressing will activate the Funk Vac if ToeJam and Earl have one, which is a powerful vacuum machine that sucks in all nearby Earthlings even if they are hiding. If a player is using a Six Button Control Pad, then they can access these moves without having to pause by pressing , or respectively.

ToeJam and Earl can interact with the environment in many ways, which will often be necessary in searching for Earthlings. Pressing in front of an object will make ToeJam or Earl interact with it, such as checking bushes, shaking trees, pressing buttons or inserting coins into coin meters. Manholes can be checked by pressing when above one. Bubbles can be used as platforms, with the player(s) needing to press or to maintain their balance while standing on one.

A Bouncy Fungus can be used like a trampoline. Pressing directions on the D-Pad while in the middle of a bounce will make ToeJam and Earl rotate their bodies, and pressing when landing on their feet will make them bounce higher. To move off a Bouncy Fungus, HOLD or must be used. If a Bouncy Fungus has a coin meter next to it, then it is a Judging Fungus, which will summon judges if a player puts a coin in. By skillfully perfoming tricks while bouncing on a Judging Fungus, the player will earn bonus points and items, though falling off the Fungus or landing on ToeJam/Earl's head will make the judges leave.

Some levels have bodies of water which ToeJam and Earl can swim in. To swim, a player must repeatedly press to swim in the direction of the D-Pad. When underwater, a timer appears in the corner of the screen to indicate how much air ToeJam or Earl has - to refill it, the player must swim back up to the surface or swim into a purple puffer fish to give it a kiss and take its air. Going for too long without air will result in drowning.

In addition to Earthlings, ToeJam and Earl will also encounter various Funkotronian locals. They can talk to a Funkotronian by standing in front of them if they are out in the open, or by ringing doorbells with and waiting if they are inside a house. Peabo, Sharla or Lewanda will have a coin meter next to them, and will invite ToeJam or Earl to Jam Out with them to earn Funk, which involves copying their moves exactly ( for "Boom", for "Shaka", for "Clap"). Finding and talking to Trixie, the mermaid Funkotronian, in hidden spots will grant ToeJam and Earl a special power that will last for the remainder of the level.

By talking to the Funkotronians will ToeJam and Earl learn of an optional secondary objective in the game: to lure Lamont, also known as the Funkapotamus, out of the Funk Dimension by looking for his favourite things hidden throughout levels 6 through 15. Depending on how many of Lamont's items are found, the player(s) will get different endings.

The player starts with three lives, and extra lives are awarded for every 10,000 points scored. If ToeJam or Earl run out of health, they die and will use a life to continue the game. If there are no lives left, then they can use up to three Continues to continue the game. If Lil' Kid Mode is turned on in the main menu, then ToeJam and Earl will never die, however the game will end after level 5.

Just like its predecessor, the game can either be played with one or two players. In two-player mode, if ToeJam & Earl wander too far apart, one of them will end up going off the screen, but can teleport to the other player by pressing  START . If ToeJam & Earl face each other and duck with , they will high-five, causing the player with the most health to give a little to the player with less health. Extra lives are shared between players, and if one player dies, they can use an extra life to rejoin the game if they have at least one.

HyperFunk Zone

The HyperFunk Zone is a special area that can be accessed via certain coin meters. Upon entering the HyperFunk Zone, ToeJam or Earl will automatically run forward, and must go as far as possible and collect as many presents as possible. When , or are pressed, ToeJam/Earl will turn into a scribble which will allow him to phase through obstacles that would slow him down. Collecting lightning bolts will make him go faster, and collecting clocks will add to the timer. If ToeJam/Earl runs out of time or touches a Vortex, they will leave the HyperFunk Zone.

The HyperFunk Zone is always the same each time the player enters, and any presents previously picked up in a previous visit will only award 100 points. By getting all the way through the HyperFunk Zone twice will the player unlock two more HyperFunk Zones to run through, with greater rewards to be earned for getting through those twice. In a two-player game, only one player can enter the HyperFunk Zone at a time.

Items

	Present
	Contains items, extra Funk or points. They can be found on balloons, hidden inside objects or in the HyperFunk Zone.
	Pesky Present
	A present with legs that will run away from the player(s). The player(s) have to jump on them to catch them, or work together to cut them off in a two-player game.
	Coin
	Currency that can be inserted into coin meters.
	Super Jar
	Larger jars that can capture any Earthling in a single hit.
	Food
	Restores health.
	Panic Button
	Can be used with  START  then (or on a Six Button Control Pad) to panic. Up to 5 can be carried at any time.
	Funk Vac
	Can be used with  START  then (or on a Six Button Control Pad) to suck up Earthlings. Up to 5 can be carried at any time.
	Fountain
	Gives out gameplay tips. Stand in front of one and press to get a tip. Can be turned off in the game options.
	Lamont's Favorite Things
	Items which are necessary for Lamont. There is one of these items hidden throughout levels 6 through 15. The player(s) can ask Funkotronians for hints on where to find them.

Earthlings

	The Little Girl
	Jars required: 2
	The easiest Earthling to capture. The player(s) just need to find her.
	The Baseball Kid
	Jars required: 3
	This Earthling can duck to avoid the player's jars.
	The Cow Ghost
	Jars required: 2
	The player(s) need to use their Funk Scan to see where it is when it's invisible.
	The Construction Worker
	Jars required: 5
	Nasty William
	Jars required: 5
	Poodles and the Rich Lady
	Jars required: 5 (Rich Lady), 2 (Poodles)
	If the Rich Lady is captured, the poodles will go berserk and become much more dangerous, so it is a good idea to capture them first.
	Tourists
	Jars required: 4 (Woman), 6 (Man)
	Tourists will attempt to blind the player(s) with their cameras. The flashes can be guarded against by pressing while on the ground, however it will not be possible to avoid them while in mid-air. The Woman takes fewer jars to capture, but will use her flash more often.
	Naked Man in Box
	Jars required: 7
	This Earthling cannot be hit with jars when he is hiding in his box, so the player(s) must place jars by his feet or hit him when he stands up out of the box.
	The Insane Fairy
	Jars required: 4
	Attacks by sprinkling powder that won't hurt ToeJam or Earl, but will make them throw a laughing fit. She can dodge jars by doing a loop-de-loop, but won't dodge jars that are thrown straight up.
	The Duck
	Jars required: 8
	Rides about on a flying carpet and attacks by diving down, which can be avoided by ducking. The best strategy is to continually throw jars in the air or use a Super Jar.
	Boogie Man
	Jars required: 4
	Attacks by sneaking up on ToeJam and Earl. Using the Funk Scan can reveal their location.

Levels

	Funky Forest
	Homey Street
	Lower Funkytown
	Snowy Street
	El Choice-o Grande
	Outerspace Place
	Slammin' Slopes
	Danger Alley
	Pesky Place
	Squidly's Pad
	Mount Funkerhorn
	The Funky Foliage
	The Funkotronian Moon
	Mayhem Mountain
	The Bottomless Pit
	The Crazy Chasm
	Home Stretch Meadow

Achievements

Main article: ToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron/Achievements.

History

Development

Johnson Voorsanger Productions had originally begun development on a sequel to ToeJam & Earl that greatly resembled its predecessor, i.e. a top-down action exploration game with proceduraly-generated levels. Sega of America, however, felt a more traditional platformer would better sell the game, and the majority of development work up to that point was scrapped entirely.

Production credits

Main article: ToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron/Production credits.

Digital manuals

• 

  Steam manual

• 

  Mega Drive Mini 2 US manual

• 

  Mega Drive Mini 2 EU manual

Magazine articles

Main article: ToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

File:ToeJam&EarlinPaniconFunkotron MD US TVAdvert.mp4

US TV advert

Print advert in Mega Force (ES) #20: "Diciembre 1993" (1993-xx-xx)

Print advert in GamePro (US) #54: "January 1994" (199x-xx-xx)
also published in:

• Sega Visions (US) #17: "February/March 1994" (199x-xx-xx)

Print advert in Mega Force (ES) #21: "Enero 1994" (1994-xx-xx)

Print advert in Todo Sega (ES) #14: "Mayo 1994" (1994-0x-xx)
also published in:

• Hobby Consolas (ES) #32: "Mayo 1994" (1994-xx-xx)

Print advert in Hacker (HR) #5: "03-04/1995" (1995-xx-xx)

Artwork

• 

  Concept artwork of the level Funky Forest.

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source 81

	81
Based on 1 review

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score 1700 igr dlya Sega (RU) 70 Consoles + (FR) 89 Cool Gamer (RU) 70 Computer & Video Games (UK) PAL 89 Electronic Games (1992-1995) (US) NTSC-U 96 Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U 70 Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU) 70 GameFan (US) NTSC-U 90 GamePro (US) NTSC-U 95 GamesMaster (UK) 90 GamesMaster (UK) 90 Hyper (AU) 92 Joypad (FR) PAL 84 MAN!AC (DE) PAL 76 Mega (UK) PAL 92 Mega Action (UK) PAL 87 Mega Force (FR) 88 Mega Fun (DE) PAL 85 MegaTech (UK) PAL 91 Megazin (SI) 86 Magazina Igrushek (RU) 95 Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL 91 Player One (FR) 91 Sega Magazine (UK) PAL 88 Sega Power (UK) PAL 90 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 93 Sega Zone (UK) PAL 92 Sonic the Comic (UK) PAL 85 Todo Sega (ES) 91 Tricks 16 bit (RU) 84 Video Games (DE) PAL 82

	87
Based on 31 reviews

ToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron

Mega Drive, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, EU
Cover
Cart Manual PCB

Mega Drive, DE
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, PT
Cover

Mega Drive, AU

Mega Drive, BR
Cover
Cart

Mega Drive, KR
Cover
Cart

Mega Drive, Asia
Cover

Technical information

ROM dump status

System	Hash	Size	Build Date	Source	Comments
✔	CRC32 aa021bdd MD5 7ee9f6a3d28a94d7298bb9813478e504 SHA-1 0ea0da09183eb01d030515beeb40c1427c6e1f07	2MB	1993-09	Cartridge (US)
✔	CRC32 47b0a871 MD5 4a8ed7605e644b5bf19603ae0e376ed2 SHA-1 ac05701d86ba8957adb8fe0b67d8b4bb51328d98	2MB	1993-09	Cartridge (EU)
✔	CRC32 4081b9f2 MD5 cd1d837e8532f3a6be292db9f2a4dfce SHA-1 9d4e4b358147ab913c3fcff2811558eac7b8b466	2MB	1993-09	Cartridge (DE)
?	CRC32 e1b36850 MD5 07195d7d9d9ec075581599b0674a49bb SHA-1 141af8fd1e5b4ba5118a384771b0d75f40af312f	2MB	1993-12	Cartridge (Asia)
?	CRC32 c6a1a8dc MD5 049084737b7bdcbc1b11d3b3ed5a5468 SHA-1 a9f7a493e3470a2843c632c221e238080eed2de2	2MB	1993-08	EPROM cartridge				Page

External links

• Nintendo catalogue pages: US, UK, AU
• ToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron on Steam
• ToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron on PlayStation.com: US, KR
• ToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron on PlayStation Store: US, UK, AU, KR, TW

References

Games in the ToeJam & Earl Series
	ToeJam & Earl (1991) | ToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron (1993)
	ToeJam & Earl III: Mission to Earth (2002)
	Sega Vintage Collection: ToeJam & Earl (2012)
ToeJam & Earl related media
	ToeJam and Earl Rap (1991) | Sega Tunes: ToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron (1996)