I was really looking forward to this game when I first heard about it. Then, I forgot about it for a while because I hadn’t heard anything about it. Eventually, ToeJam and Earl: Back in the Groove was released.
This was a game that I streamed on Twitch, back when I thought that might be a fun thing to do. I enjoyed the game, but it was too easy for me. What I remembered about the first game wasn’t exactly what I got from this game. It had similar gameplay, but wasn’t as good.
The first and second games in the series were something that my friends and I played back in the early 1990s. I don’t think we ever beat them, but they were always fun to play. My friends Joey and Eric each owned the first game, and it was one of the games that made me want a Genesis.
I haven’t written down my thoughts on Back in the Groove yet. The game was released about six years ago at this point, so I might as well get a review of the game up on my blog. Back in the Groove came out at the right time for me, and with some news of another ToeJam and Earl game being worked on, I figured this was a good time to revisit it.
TLDR: A fun game that is much easier than the original game.
Narrative
The story in this game isn’t all that different from the plot of the first game in the series. There is more to the story than that, but you’re basically trying to get back home. To do this, you have to find all the pieces of your spaceship.
Because there are more characters, they added into the story. What has basically happened is that our heroes have crash landed back on Earth. It is the same thing that happened in the first game on the Genesis.
I don’t mind this much. Everything is set up quite well, and I don’t think anyone is looking for some in depth story in a game like this. The setting is what an alien might see when they look at Earth, and who am I to say that this is wrong? An alien might see our planet in this strange way.
Gameplay
The gameplay is a little more complex than that of the first game in the series. You’re still doing the same thing that you did in the Genesis game, which is something I like. There are more presents, more ways to get a promotion, and new enemies for you to deal with.
The core of the game is to gather the pieces of your spaceship. To do this, you have to explore each of the levels. There are a few things you need to find, like the elevator. Not every level has a piece of the spaceship on it, but they all have an elevator.
If you fall off the edge of a level, then it can be a major pain in the ass. It is possible for you to fall multiple levels, which makes things a little frustrating. Back in the Groove is more forgiving than the first Genesis game. It is easier to avoid falling off the edge.
There are a lot of presents. Many of them aren’t all that helpful, and it felt like there were more that cause problems. What is in the presents is unknown at first until you open one. This is fun because it makes things more random.
The controls are quite good. I didn’t have any problems as I was wandering about the different levels. This game felt much easier than the first game. I was a little disappointed with this. The first game was more challenging, and that is why I like it a little more than Back in the Groove.
Overall, the gameplay is quite good. I like how different this game is from the other games on the market. There are more games that use similar gameplay, but I like how Back in the Grove does things a little more. If the game were more challenging, then I would absolutely love it. As it stands, I like the game, but don’t love it.
Visuals
The graphics are wonderful! I love the more cartoonish look to everything, rather than using modern pixel graphics. This is one of the times that I don’t think pixel graphics would be the better choice. The game looks a little like a Saturday morning cartoon.
The playable characters look great! I love the other aliens that have been added to the game. They all look like they should be in this bizarre world. With how strange everything is, none of it feels out of place.
The level design reminds me of the first game. The world looks good, and it gave me the feeling of playing the first game again. I like that the alerts for a spaceship piece being on a level are still here, and it is fun to see more land being revealed as you explore.
It is easy to identify the enemies, presents, elevators, and where the pieces of the spaceship are. Enemy characters, as well as the friendly NPCs, look great. Everything is played for comedy, which is how things were in the original.
While the levels look good, they don’t feel as big as the first game. There are a few spots where I was wondering how to get to a location. I think they might’ve overdone it with the land appearing as you wander around each level.
Overall, I love the graphics. It feels like I’m playing an upgraded version of the first game. The enemies look wonderful with a nice mix of the classic enemies and some new ones. The levels look good, and I like how they changed the graphics.
8/10. I like this game because it reminds me of the original. That is part of the problem, though. It made me want to go back and play the first game because this one is too easy. I like it, but I wanted more out of it. The graphics, controls, and story are all fun, but I want more of the game than what is here.
Pros
- Great Graphics
- Fun Gameplay
- Easy to Learn
Cons
- Too Easy for Me
- Limited Replayability
Conclusion
Going back to play this game again was fun. ToeJam and Earl meant a lot to me when I was a kid, and I was initially excited for this. My only experience was with the first two games, and I had no idea there was a third game in the series. This made me a little confused by some of the other characters in Back in the Groove.
After I played this game, I went back to play the Genesis game. I can’t help but compare the two because they’re so similar. Back in the Groove is a much easier game, even though it does have some strong resemblances to the Genesis game. I was expecting more, but that isn’t really this game’s fault.
I saw that there was another ToeJam and Earl game being worked on, even if it is still in early development. That is part of the reason I wanted to look back at this game, and it helps that I like it. I wish the game had been updated or received some DLC. Hopefully, the next game in the series sees the light of day, and is as good as the other games in the series.
If you liked this post, check out my other posts on indie games. Such as Super Blood Hockey or Jay and Silent Bob Mall Brawl.