Earthworm Jim HD is a remake of the original Earthworm Jim, a run-and-gun platformer featuring Jim, an earthworm. It mostly sticks to the levels and design from the Genesis/Windows special edition versions.
The evil Psy-Crow captured a rebel spacecraft pilot who had stolen an Ultra-high-tech-indestructible-super-space-cyber-suit ordered by the evil Queen Pulsating, Bloated, Festering, Sweaty, Pus-filled, Malformed, Slug-for-a-Butt. During the ensuing space battle, the suit crashes to Earth, landing on Jim, who has been mutated into a superhero. When he overhears the adversaries above discussing the suit’s location and their plans with the Queen’s sister Princess What’s-Her-Name, he resolves to embark on a quest to save the princess.
Jim can run, jump, float in the air briefly, hold on to objects, and shoot foes with his blaster, much like in the original. There are semi-3D races called Andy Asteroids in between the standard stages.
The most noticeable difference is the new graphics. Based on the work Gameloft already did on the iPhone version, everything has been re-animated and re-drawn at a much better resolution and with a slightly different aesthetic. Other modifications and additions include:* Four difficulty levels (easy, average, challenging, and original)
- A new intro cinematic based on re-imagining the original comic book tale.
- New conversation lines for Earthworm Jim were recorded with new voice actor Scott Shaw and combined with those already registered by Douglas TenNapel (the original concept designer, who had no participation in this remake).
- Option to select a level
- Online cooperative multiplayer for four players in revised levels are better suited for multiple players (new boss behaviors and a more comprehensive level structure).
- Based on the premise that Jim is fighting inside a computer, three new stages with new landscapes and adversaries have been created. These are offered as separate bonus stages from the main game. They also include new bosses like a grandmother, a swarm of flying animals, and the internet meme-based Keyboard Cat.
This is not, however, the ultimate edition, which includes all previously available content from earlier editions. Earthworm Jim HD, for example, features the Intestinal Distress stage specific to the SEGA Genesis version and New Junk City II, but not the Big Brute’s location exclusive to the special edition. The original game’s hidden bonus stage, “Who Turned Out the Lights,” was omitted.
