Earthworm Jim 2

From Sega Retro

n/a

EarthWormJim2 Title.png

Earthworm Jim 2
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Saturn
Publisher: Playmates Interactive Entertainment (US), Virgin Interactive (EU), Takara (JP),
Sega Mega Drive
Sega Channel Interplay (JP)
Developer:
Sound driver:
Sega Mega Drive
GEMS,
Sega Saturn
SCSP/CD-DA (13 tracks)
Genre: Action

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
JP
(Sega Channel)
Sega Mega Drive
US
$69.9969.99[2] T-132056
Sega Mega Drive
EU
T-70446-50
Sega Mega Drive
AU
Sega Mega Drive
BR
R$89,9989,99 047170
Sega Saturn
JP
¥5,8005,800 T-10304G
Sega Saturn
US
$59.9959.99[5] T-13203H
Sega Saturn
EU
T-7019H-50
Sega Saturn
PL
Wii Virtual Console
JP
600pts600[12]
CERO: A
Wii Virtual Console
US
800pts800[7]
ESRB: Everyone
Wii Virtual Console
EU
800pts800[8]
Wii Virtual Console
AU
800pts800[10]
OFLC: Parental Guidance (PG)

Earthworm Jim 2 (アースワーム・ジム2) is the direct sequel to Earthworm Jim, and was released (among other consoles) for the Sega Mega Drive in 1995. An enhanced version was released on the Sega Saturn.

It retains the surreal humour from the first game and was followed by Earthworm Jim 3D in 1999.

Gameplay

Though very similar to the original game, Earthworm Jim 2 has more varied gameplay than its predecessor. As well as including standard platforming levels, there are also quiz questions, an isometric shoot 'em up level and various adaptions to the platforming formula, including marathon races and a stage where Jim must shoot his way through mounds of dirt.

Levels

Presumably due to streaming issues (i.e. the need to load data from the disc), the Saturn treats some of the boss battles as new levels. For the most part, however, the content is the same between both versions.

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Anything but Tangerines

Notavailable.svg

Granny Chair

Notavailable.svg

Lorenzo's Soil

Notavailable.svg

Puppy Love Part 1

Notavailable.svg

The Villi People/Jim's Now a Blind Cave Salamander!

Notavailable.svg

The Flyin' King

Notavailable.svg

Puppy Love Part 2

Notavailable.svg

Udderly Abducted

Notavailable.svg

Inflated Head

Notavailable.svg

Hammer Head
The Saturn version considers this a separate level.

Notavailable.svg

ISO 9000

Notavailable.svg

Door Chase
The Saturn version also considers this a separate level.

Notavailable.svg

Puppy Love Part 3

Notavailable.svg

Level Ate

Notavailable.svg

Flamin' Yawn
Also considered separate in the Saturn version.

Notavailable.svg

See Jim run. Run Jim run.

History

Legacy

The Mega Drive version of the game has since been re-released for the Wii's Virtual Console service.

Versions

Mega Drive version

Like its predecessor, Earthworm Jim 2 was developed with the Sega Mega Drive in mind, with the code subsequently ported to the Super Nintendo. The Mega Drive version is therefore the original copy of the game and the basis for most of the ports going forward.

Saturn version

The Sega Saturn version of Earthworm Jim 2 was ported to the system (alongside a PlayStation version) by Screaming Pink. It uses the enhanced CD audio soundtrack seen in the PC version released six months prior, while making a number of improvements to the game' graphics (namely the backgrounds, which are unique to these two versions). A great deal still resembles that of the Mega Drive original, however, and many of the sprites remain largely unchanged (including those employing dithering techniques to circumvent the Mega Drive's limited colour palette).

The Saturn version runs in a higher resolution than all other ports (352x240 vs 320x240 for the PlayStation), though as the graphics were not altered to compensate, this means on a standard 4:3 display, the visuals are slightly "thinner" than their counterparts on other platforms. The Saturn also features more graphical effects than the PlayStation, such as more parallax background layers and transparency effects. Loading times are also quicker, sound effects play at a higher sample rate, and Jim correctly says "A", "B" or "C" when answering questions in the "Game Show" segment (no lines were recorded for Square, X and Circle).

The Saturn and PlayStation Earthworm Jim 2s were considered controversial by some critics in 1996, as it was felt the upgrades were not significant enough to justify the release on newer hardware.

Production credits

Mega Drive version

Earthworm Jim 2
(C) 1995 Shiny Entertainment, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
  • Program: Andy Astor
  • Additional Programming: Nicholas Jones, D.P.
  • Art Director: Nick Bruty
  • Lead Artists: Steve Crow, Mark Lorenzon
  • Level Designer: Tom Tanaka
  • Directing Animator: Michael Francis Dietz
  • Animators: Jeff Etter, Shawn McLean, Ed Schofield, Doug Tennapel, Larry Whitaker
  • Assistant Animators: Eric Ciccone, Roger Hardy
  • Additional Art: Rod Altschul, Clark Sorensen, Lin Shen, Tom Tanaka
  • Fine Art Director and Illustrations: Michael Koelsch
  • Music & FX: Tommy Tallarico Studios, Inc
  • Clean Up: Dave Bombadier, Nancy Fernandez
  • Designed By: About a million Shiny meetings
  • Produced By: Scott Herrington, David Luehmann
  • Development Tools By: Andy Astor, Dan Chang, Alias, Psy-Q, Rob Northern
  • Lead Testers: Andy Brown, Lee Jones, James Martinez, Carlos Rodriguez, Manuel Quintones, Jose Zatarain
  • Special Thanks: Brenda Bolanos, Sandy Burusco, Brad Hartke, Stacy Hering, Charles Loop, Chris Mayberry, Richard Sallis, Nicole Smith, Kris Stoyak, Angie Tennapel, Beck Tran, Chips + Bread, Cows

Magazine articles

Main article: Earthworm Jim 2/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Main article: Earthworm Jim 2/Promotional material.

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
76 [13]
93 [14]
93 [15]
79
96
92
91 №37, p50/51
93 [16]
76
95 №58, p92-95
95 №74, p32-34
93 №53, p42/43
94 [17]
100 [18]
Sega Mega Drive
90
Based on
14 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
80
[19]
CD Consoles (FR)
76
[20]
Consoles + (FR)
93
[21]
Cool Gamer (RU)
90
[22]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
93
[4]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
79
[23]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU)
80
[24]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 2 (RU)
80
[25]
Fusion (US) NTSC-U
75
[26]
GameFan (US) NTSC-U
96
[27]
Game Players (US) NTSC-U
92
[28]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
98
[2]
GamePro (UK)
95
[29]
GamesMaster (UK) PAL
94
[30]
Hobby Consolas (ES) PAL
95
[31]
Joypad (FR)
93
[32]
LeveL (CZ)
100
[33]
MAN!AC (DE) PAL
76
[34]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
91
[35]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
95
[36]
Next Generation (US) NTSC-U
75
[37]
Player One (FR)
95
[38]
Sega Magazin (DE) PAL
94
[39]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
95
[40]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
93
[41]
Sega Saturn Magazine (UK) PAL
94
[17]
Todo Sega (ES)
95
[42]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
92
[43]
Ultimate Gamer (US)
100
[18]
Última Generación (ES)
77
[44]
VideoGames (US) NTSC-U
90
[45]
Sega Mega Drive
89
Based on
31 reviews

Earthworm Jim 2

Mega Drive, US
EWJ2 MD US Box.jpg
Cover
Earthworm Jim 2 MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Earthworm Jim 2 MD US Manual.pdf
Manual
EWJ2 MD US Poster Back.jpgEWJ2 MD US Poster Front.jpg
Poster
Mega Drive, EU
Earthworm Jim 2 MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
EarthwormJim2 MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, BR
EWJ2 md br cover.jpg
Cover
EWJ2MDBRCartTop.jpg
EWJ2MDBRCart.jpg
Cart
Earthworm Jim 2 MD BR Manual.pdf
Manual

Saturn version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
92 [46]
70 №413, p31
80
83
81
60 [47]
100 [48]
76
70 [6]
80
87 [49]
85 №82
72 [50]
70 [51]
80 [52]
80
90 [5]
Sega Saturn
80
Based on
17 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
CD Consoles (FR) PAL
40
[53]
Consoles + (FR)
92
[54]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
70
[55]
Fun Generation (DE) PAL
80
[56]
GameFan (US)
83
[57]
GameFan (US) NTSC-U
90
[58]
Game Players (US) NTSC-U
81
[59]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
85
[60]
GamesMaster (UK) PAL
60
[47]
Hacker (HR)
84
[61]
Hacker (HR)
82
[62]
Joypad (FR) NTSC-U
100
[48]
MAN!AC (DE) PAL
76
[63]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
91
[64]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
70
[6]
Next Generation (US) NTSC-U
50
[65]
neXt Level (DE) PAL
80
[66]
Player One (FR)
87
[67]
Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J
70
[68]
Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J
61
[69]
Secret Service (PL)
75
[70]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
85
[71]
Sega Saturn Magazine (UK) PAL
72
[72]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
70
[73]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
80
[74]
Total Saturn (UK) PAL
76
[75]
Total Saturn (UK) PAL
73
[76]
Video Games (DE) PAL
80
[77]
VideoGames (US)
90
[5]
Sega Saturn
77
Based on
29 reviews

Earthworm Jim 2

Saturn, US
EarthWormJim2Back us.jpgEarthWormJim2Box us.jpg
Cover
EarthWormJim2SatDisc us.jpg
Disc
Earthwormjim2 sat us manual.pdf
Manual
Saturn, EU
EWJ2 Saturn EU Box.jpg
Cover
EWJ2 Saturn EU Disc.jpg
Disc
Saturn, JP
EWJ2 Saturn JP Box Back.jpgEWJ2 Saturn JP Box Front.jpg
Cover
EarthwormJim2 Saturn JP Spinecard.jpg
Spinecard
Earthworm Jim 2 Sega Saturn JP Disc.jpg
Disc

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Mega Drive
CRC32 d57f8ba7
MD5 2ed39b147fa5fa67d6d0707f54a5a078
SHA-1 ef7cccfc5eafa32fc6acc71dd9b71693f64eac94
3MB 1995-10 Cartridge (US)
Sega Mega Drive
CRC32 af235fdf
MD5 fa52bcb320299c6b51c7f47caa303da8
SHA-1 b8e93ea8b42c688a218b83797e4a18eda659f3e0
3MB 1995-10 Cartridge (EU)
Sega Saturn
 ?
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
397,024,656 CD-ROM(EU) T-7019H-50 V1.004
Sega Saturn
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
396,979,968 1996-08-29 CD-ROM(JP) T-10304G V1.001
Sega Saturn
 ?
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
396,958,800 CD-ROM(US) T-13203H V1.000

Track list

Saturn version

1. [data track]  
2. Tangerine (02:02) 
Composed by: Tommy Tallarico
3. Granny Bag (02:07) 
Composed by: Tommy Tallarico
4. Italian Medley (01:53) 
Composed by: Tommy Tallarico
5. Dad's Tune (01:21) 
Composed by: Tommy Tallarico
6. Moonlight Sonata - 1st Movement (05:37) 
Composed by: Beethoven
7. Moonlight Sonata - 3rd Movement (06:19) 
Composed by: Beethoven
8. The Moo Tango (01:48) 
Composed by: Tommy Tallarico
9. The Big Top Polka (02:53) 
Composed by: Tommy Tallarico
10. Tropical Paradise (02:28) 
Composed by: Tommy Tallarico
11. Subterranean (05:40) 
Composed by: Tommy Tallarico
12. Dixieland Finale (00:45) 
Composed by: Tommy Tallarico
13. Continue To Rock (00:39) 
Composed by: Tommy Tallarico
14. Doobeedowapbop (01:08) 
Composed by: Tommy Tallarico
Running time: 34:40

External links

  • Sega of Japan Virtual Console pages: Mega Drive
  • Nintendo catalogue pages: US, UK, AU

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Press release: 1995-11-13: GET READY FOR EARTHWORM WEDNESDAY
  2. 2.0 2.1 GamePro, "November 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 76
  3. [[1]]
  4. 4.0 4.1 Computer & Video Games, "December 1995" (UK; 1995-11-10), page 24
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 VideoGames, "May 1996" (US; 1996-04-23), page 62
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 Mean Machines Sega, "December 1996" (UK; 1996-11-01), page 71
  7. 7.0 7.1 http://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/4QzXcIiZDK3NFIfyB33IWCuS5aD7vqVL (Wayback Machine: 2010-11-22 22:47)
  8. 8.0 8.1 http://www.nintendolife.com:80/games/megadrive/earthworm_jim_2 (Wayback Machine: 2017-08-27 18:14)
  9. https://archive.is/v2vJL
  10. http://www.nintendo.com.au/index.php?action=catalogue&prodcat_id=41&prod_id=20029&pageID=4 (Wayback Machine: 2012-03-28 00:44)
  11. https://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/software/11.html (Wayback Machine: 2018-03-06 22:05)
  12. http://vc.sega.jp:80/vc_ewj2/ (Wayback Machine: 2009-09-06 21:45)
  13. CD Consoles, "Novembre 1995" (FR; 1995-xx-xx), page 108-111 (108)
  14. Consoles +, "Novembre 1995" (FR; 1995-1x-xx), page 120/121/122 (120)
  15. Computer & Video Games, "December 1995" (UK; 1995-11-10), page 24/25 (24)
  16. Joypad, "Novembre 1995" (FR; 1995-11-03), page 58-60 (54)
  17. 17.0 17.1 Sega Saturn Magazine, "December 1995" (UK; 1995-11-24), page 89
  18. 18.0 18.1 Ultimate Gamer, "November 1995" (US; 1995-1x-xx), page 92
  19. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 67
  20. CD Consoles, "Novembre 1995" (FR; 1995-xx-xx), page 108
  21. Consoles +, "Novembre 1995" (FR; 1995-1x-xx), page 120
  22. Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 71
  23. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "November 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 42
  24. Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 309
  25. Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 2, "" (RU; 2000-xx-xx), page 123
  26. Fusion, "Volume 1, Number 4: November 1995" (US; 1995-1x-xx), page 116
  27. GameFan, "Volume 3, Issue 11: November 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 22
  28. Game Players, "Vol. 8 No. 12 December 1995" (US; 1995-1x-xx), page 58
  29. GamePro, "December 1995" (UK; 1995-10-28), page 20
  30. GamesMaster (UK) "Series 5, episode 9" (1995-11-16, 24:00) (+14:17)
  31. Hobby Consolas, "Noviembre 1995" (ES; 1995-xx-xx), page 72
  32. Joypad, "Novembre 1995" (FR; 1995-11-03), page 58
  33. LeveL, "Březen 1996" (CZ; 1996-03-06), page 21
  34. MAN!AC, "12/95" (DE; 1995-11-08), page 80
  35. Mega Fun, "12/95" (DE; 1995-11-21), page 36
  36. Mean Machines Sega, "Earthworm Jim 2 Exclusive Review Booklet" (UK; 1995-10-30), page 2
  37. Next Generation, "December 1995" (US; 1995-11-21), page 1999
  38. Player One, "Novembre 1995" (FR; 1995-1x-xx), page 94
  39. Sega Magazin, "Dezember 1995" (DE; 1995-11-15), page 18
  40. Sega Power, "January 1996" (UK; 1995-11-16), page 32
  41. Sega Pro, "January 1996" (UK; 1995-11-30), page 36
  42. Todo Sega, "Noviembre 1995" (ES; 1995-1x-xx), page 42
  43. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 13
  44. Última Generación, "Octubre 1995" (ES; 1995-xx-xx), page 102
  45. VideoGames, "December 1995" (US; 1995-11-21), page 92
  46. Consoles +, "Janvier 1997" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 114/115 (114)
  47. 47.0 47.1 GamesMaster, "October 1996" (UK; 1996-08-29), page 44
  48. 48.0 48.1 Joypad, "Juillet/Août 1996" (FR; 1996-0x-xx), page 64
  49. Player One, "Janvier 1997" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 100/101 (100)
  50. Sega Saturn Magazine, "November 1996" (UK; 1996-10-17), page 72/73 (72)
  51. Sega Saturn Magazine, "1996-15 (1996-09-13)" (JP; 1996-08-23), page 240 (242)
  52. Sega Saturn Magazine (readers), "Final data" (JP; 2000-03), page 11 (13)
  53. CD Consoles, "Janvier 1997" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 126
  54. Consoles +, "Janvier 1997" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 114
  55. Famitsu, "1996-11-08,15" (JP; 1996-10-25), page 1
  56. Fun Generation, "08/96" (DE; 1996-07-10), page 78
  57. GameFan, "Volume 4, Issue 3: March 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 12
  58. GameFan, "Volume 4, Issue 7: July 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 12
  59. Game Players, "Vol. 9 No. 5 May 1996" (US; 1996-04-xx), page 66
  60. GamePro, "May 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 64
  61. Hacker, "02/1996" (HR; 1996-xx-xx), page 30
  62. Hacker, "07-08/1996" (HR; 1996-xx-xx), page 28
  63. MAN!AC, "07/96" (DE; 1996-06-12), page 62
  64. Mega Fun, "07/96" (DE; 1996-06-19), page 40
  65. Next Generation, "June 1996" (US; 1996-05-21), page 119
  66. neXt Level, "Juli 1996" (DE; 1996-06-12), page 68
  67. Player One, "Janvier 1997" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 100
  68. Saturn Fan, "1996 No. 17" (JP; 1996-08-02), page 189
  69. Saturn Fan, "1996 No. 26" (JP; 1996-12-13), page 70
  70. Secret Service, "Marzec 1997" (PL; 1997-xx-xx), page 66
  71. Sega Power, "Collectors' Issue 1996" (UK; 1996-07-xx), page 50
  72. Sega Saturn Magazine, "November 1996" (UK; 1996-10-17), page 72
  73. Sega Saturn Magazine, "1996-15 (1996-09-13)" (JP; 1996-08-23), page 242
  74. Sega Saturn Magazine, "Readers rating final data" (JP; 2000-03), page 13
  75. Total Saturn, "Volume One Issue Three" (UK; 1996-11-29), page 54
  76. Total Saturn, "Volume One Issue Four" (UK; 1996-12-29), page 24
  77. Video Games, "8/96" (DE; 1996-07-31), page 112


Earthworm Jim 2

EarthWormJim2 Title.png

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Sega Mega Drive
Prototypes: 1995-08-24

Sega Saturn
Prototypes: 1995-12-29 | 1996-01-05