Earthworm Jim 2

About Earthworm Jim 2

Earthworm Jim 2 arrived on November 15, 1995 from developer Shiny Entertainment. You find this title on the Sega Mega Drive and later the Wii. It is a platform shooter starring an annelid superhero in a space suit who must save Princess What's-Her-Name from marrying Psy-Crow. The story takes Jim across the galaxy to stop Evil the Cat and Major Mucus. This sequel expands the universe with surreal humor and chaotic action. You play through varied stages that change gameplay styles constantly. It is a loud, colorful adventure that relies on its absurd tone rather than serious storytelling.

Gameplay

You control Jim while managing Snott in his backpack as a permanent partner. The core loop involves shooting enemies with weapons like the Plasma Blaster or Homing Missiles. You also use the Bubble Gun and Barn Blaster for specific situations. Snott lets you stick to green surfaces and swing across gaps. A jump turns him into a parachute to slow your fall. Each level introduces a different mission type. One moment you are rescuing cows, and the next you are outsmarting lawyers or fighting Bob the Killer Goldfish. The controls feel responsive but the sheer number of objectives keeps you busy. You navigate diverse environments that shift between circus tents and alien planets without much warning.

What Players Think

The data shows mixed feelings among players. IGDB lists a score of 76.4 out of 100 based on 115 ratings. Community moods suggest a divide between those who love the humor and those who find the difficulty spike frustrating. Average playtime sits around 8 hours for a standard run. Completion rates indicate many players stop after the first few worlds due to complex platforming sections. Review snippets often mention the chaotic nature of the level design. Critics note that while the variety is high, some weapon mechanics like the Bubble Gun feel underutilized. The community generally agrees the game holds up visually but struggles with pacing in later stages.

PlayPile's Take

This game works best if you enjoy absurd humor and fast-paced action over tight difficulty curves. The price varies by platform but the value comes from the sheer volume of content. You will unlock numerous achievements that track your use of different weapons. Earthworm Jim 2 is not for players seeking a serious narrative or perfect controls. It is a loud mess in the best possible way. Play it if you want to laugh at the nonsense while jumping through fire. The game ends when you save the princess, so there is no endless grind waiting for you.

Storyline

Earthworm Jim 2 follows the exploits of annelid superhero Jim and his new sidekick Snott as they try to rescue Jim's beloved Princess What's-Her-Name from a forced marriage to the nefarious Psy-Crow. While chasing Psy-Crow across the universe, Jim comes across the summer homes of a number of villains from the first game, including Major Mucus, Evil the Cat and Bob the Killer Goldfish. Like the original game, Earthworm Jim 2 contains a lot of irreverent, surrealist humor. It also features more diverse gameplay than the original, with each stage having a unique different style and mission, often with varied gameplay and objectives to complete from stage to stage, as well as various new weapons to obtain and use. There are extra weapons in addition to the Plasma Blaster, such as the Three-Finger Gun, the Electro-Gun, Homing Missiles, the extremely powerful Barn Blaster, and the rather useless Bubble Gun. Snott returns from his cameos in the first game, and is now a permanent companion for Jim, hiding in the backpack of Jim's Super Suit. Snott can be used to stick and swing to other slimy green surfaces, or as a parachute, upon jumping.