Earthworm Jim, a platforming video game from 1994, was wildly popular. While it hasn't received the success of Mario, it is known as a difficult platformer that provides hours of entertainment. I've never played the 1994 version, but I got a chance to try a re-vamped version of the game, developed by Gameloft, and released for the iPhone a few weeks ago.
In Earthworm Jim, $4.99, you control a worm named Jim, who has a suit which gives him special abilities. You can jump, shoot a gun, and use yourself as a whip. The evil Psy-crow has stolen Princess What's-Her-Name (Yes, that is her name), and you must go through 16 levels in 10 different environments to save her. There are 12 types of enemies, and 9 bosses, which provide variety in the game. The graphics are exponentially improved from the 1994 version.
There are two ways to control Earthworm Jim. The first is analog stick, which allows you to move Earthworm Jim around by using an analog stick similar to the ones in Gangstar, Modern Combat: Sandstorm, and other Gameloft titles. The second format is a virtual D-Pad, similar to the one in Castle of Magic. In certain levels of the game, you use tilt controls to avoid incoming asteroids. From my experience, the D-Pad is the easiest to use, since it's annoying to have to drag in a direction on the analog stick. Players of the original game have said that the controls aren't precise enough, but they're fine for me.
The variety of Earthworm Jim is amazing. One level, you're battling a snowman in a hellish setting, the next, you're in underwater pipes chomping through enemies while riding on a hamster. There's even a boss level where you're Earthworm Jim, but you're helpless because you don't have your suit. The controls change based on the context of the game, and that's what makes it a perfect match for the iPhone and iPod Touch.
The best, and worst part of the game is the difficulty. Earthworm Jim is ridiculously difficult, but not so difficult that hardcore gamers can't even beat one level. This lengthens the play time, since you usually have to try parts of the level over and over to figure out how to beat a section. This doesn't get tedious unless you just can't get your lasso to one hook, climb up one wall, etc. However, if you are a casual gamer, you might get frustrated easily.
Pros:
Great Re-Vamped Graphics
Precise Controls
Lots of Variety
High Difficulty
Cons:
Frustrating
Bottom Line:
If you're a hardcore gamer who loves platformers, Earthworm Jim is for you. However, the sheer difficulty of the game might deter the majority of iPhone and iPod Touch users.
Scores:
Graphics: 5/5
Gameplay: 4/5
Controls: 4.5/5
Sound/Music: 4/5
Replay Value: 3/5
Overall: 8/10 (not an average)
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