DIGITISER
  • MAIN PAGE
  • Features
  • Videos
  • Game Reviews
  • FAQ

REVIEW: TOEJAM AND EARL - BACK IN THE GROOVE (SWITCH, PS4, XBOX ONE, PC - SWITCH VERSION TESTED)

6/3/2019

12 Comments

 
Picture
Though it never sold as well as Sega expected, Toejam and Earl nevertheless succeeded in becoming one of the most memorable games on the Mega Drive. It was a true original, with a unique aesthetic,  and surreal sense of humour, ensuring it built a dedicated hardcore of followers.

And yet, if the characters were so iconic, why were the sales initially so underwhelming? Unfortunately, it seems that having an idiosyncratic sense of whimsy is great for passionate cult appeal, but generally seems to annoy more people than it appeals.

But then, most people are massive idiots with sediment for brains, whose idea of cutting-edge comedy is a panel show with interchangeable jokes, featuring stand-ups whose only distinction from one another is how much hair they have - the comedy equivalent of a Boney M concert (what does the "M" stand for? Mudflaps).

I'm not bitter. 

In fact, the original 16-bit Toejam and Earl is so iconic, that people tend to forget that there was an unloved third game in the series released for the Xbox.

Truthfully, if I peel back my nostalgia flap, I always found Toejam and Earl a case of style over substance. Yes, it boasted an aesthetic that was unique for its time, its tongue wedged firmly in the cheek of its conviction, but the gameplay was woefully slow and - dare I say it - a bit boring.

It's probably heresy to say it, but I sort of preferred Toejam and Earl II, precisely because it ditched the randomised wandering around in favour of a more traditional platform game (albeit still with the same wacky hip-hop stylings).

This is why I approached Toejam and Earl: Back In The Groove with a degree of trepidation (the worst type of idation). I liked the characters, I liked that Toejam and Earl was at odds with almost everything else around at the time... I just didn't really love that first game, and everything about Back In The Groove appeared to be a homage to the original.

And, indeed, there's no escaping that this is more remake than sequel, with little in the way of fresh ideas.  
Picture
FLOATERS
Just as in 1991, Back in the Groove is set on a series of floating islands, viewed from a fixed isometric perspective. Choosing the higher difficulty options randomises these levels, but the basic quest is always the same: search for the missing pieces of your spaceship, find an elevator, and then ascend to the next island. Getting knocked over the side finds you plummeting down to the island below, like a weird game of Snakes and Ladders.

These islands are the scattered fragments of Earth, after it was sucked into a black hole, and are populated with a bizarre selection humans. Just as in real life, humans can be both a help and a hindrance - some will lock you in place by compelling you to perform a hula dance, reverse your controls, or run you over with a Segway. Others will provide protection, level up your character, or reveal what is contained in the presents you gather as you make your way around. 

Just as with the characters you encounter, presents are both good and bad; some might help you swim, or mark the location of your missing ship piece on the map... others will send you ricocheting around the world on barely-controllable rocket skates.

There are also bonus levels, which transport you to the Hyperfunk Zone from TJ&E2, where more presents can be gathered, and - upon encountering a boombox-equipped human - a basic rhythm-action game. Just as with the original, you can play spilt-screen with a friend or tender lover, and this time can invite another two players to join you online. 

It's all jolly and silly, adhering to the original's early-90s Nickelodeon look - even the music is relatively stripped back and lo-fi - all which helps to sell what is, and there's no getting away from this, something of an exercise in nostalgia.  
Picture
FINE
Back In The Groove is fine. Just as in 1991, it's not really like anything else. It's sporadically funny, but the humans soon lose their novelty. Worse still, certain elements seem entirely arbitrary; the randomised nature of everything makes the presents feel as much of a hazard than a help, despite the game urging you repeatedly to open them. It's also paradoxically rather repetitive, and somewhat short. 

Furthermore, while the game is faster than its 1991 counterpart, it still feels slow by comparison to most modern games. I initially appreciated the more sedate pace, but soon wanted something with a little more oomph. Later levels become so populated by humans that progress becomes an exercise in how much frustration you can stuff into your knickers before they rupture. 

Unfortunately, for all the jiggly, wriggly, 90s squiggles, the nature of the world you inhabit means that the visuals - while much crisper than their 90s counterpart, and ripped straight from an episode of Rocko's Modern Life - are a bit bland.

The biggest tragedy here is that these are all complaints I had the first time around. However, it's 28 years later, and thus hard to know - outside of Toejam and Earl's passionate fanbase - who the game is going to appeal to.

For all those complaints, I didn't hate it. I'm happy that it exists. I just wish they'd done something that wasn't quite so slavishly grafted to the original template. 

​SCORE: 1991 out 3000
12 Comments
Biscuits
6/3/2019 10:31:26 am

Boy I loved the first one, the second was great too. I love the fact that the presents are often as detrimental as they are helpful. I was hoping they would lean into that a bit and make presents combinable/stackable as with Binding of Isaac. Failing that all they had to do to sate me was make it faster, and it seems they did, but not sufficiently so. A shame. In any case BIG EARL BIG EARL TOOOEJAM *plays air bass*

Reply
Dr Peanuts
6/3/2019 11:02:38 am

Say what you will about Boney M but Rasputin is not only a "good" song, but also the most historically accurate one about the "Mad Monk". He really WAS Russia's greatest love machine.

Reply
DD
6/3/2019 11:41:08 am

Does anybody remember finding the secret paradise island with the hot tub by crossing the water on Rocket Skates?

Damn good memories!

Reply
Toearl
6/3/2019 12:02:58 pm

Yeah, there was one in the other corner of the map too, but it just had presents. That hula dancer island was great! Free lemonade!

Reply
RichardM
6/3/2019 12:09:49 pm

Yeah, never liked the first one much either. Roguelike syndrome: you either die early on, or you get up a bit of momentum and then a present fucks you over randomly (and frustratingly). Wouldn’t mind if there was a good way to mitigate against failure, but there just isn’t. Not to my taste!

Reply
Tealjames and Edward
6/3/2019 12:17:16 pm

There are no presents that fuck your game up beyond repair, a temporary inconvenience is all you would have to deal with

Reply
RichardM
6/3/2019 12:55:27 pm

I recall one which kills you, which will indeed end your game if you only have 1 life left!

Robobob
6/3/2019 12:32:15 pm

Did we ever get a Rocko's Modern Life videogame? Just curious.

Reply
RichardM
6/3/2019 12:57:30 pm

Yeah, on the SNES. You had to look after his dog, kind of like the Peter Puppy levels in EarthWorm Jim.

Reply
Lummox60N
6/3/2019 09:09:34 pm

I remember playing the first at a friend's house, he had a MegaDrive, see? He declared the game to be "The Best Game Ever", and insisted I play it with him.
So he stormed away through the game with his previous knowledge, and I sort of puttered around, trying to keep up. I can't say I was entirely engaged by what was going on. I can't say I thoroughly enjoyed what was going on, either.
However, in the recent past I had occasion to emulate the game, and try to enjoy it with one of my pet teenagers. He was as confused as I was the first time around, I was still as confused also. I still don't "get it". And I have the same complaints as Mr. Biffo. Dear gods it's sooooooooooo slow, and repetitve to the point of being utterly dismal, despite the knowingly, desperately, garish visual design.

And yet, I'm tempted by the new iteration...or I was, until I read this review...

Reply
Clive link
6/3/2019 10:24:44 pm

FFS Sega.... Sonic Mania had it right. If you're going to go retro, give us the pixel art, not high-res Nickelodeon bullshit. Doesn't look right at all. Same goes for Streets of Rage 4. Looks like something you'd find on Newgrounds a few years back. UGGHHH *sets beard on fire*

Reply
mrak
7/3/2019 10:18:20 am

The original TJ&E was a game that somehow eluded me since release. I was aware it existed and people liked it but as far as me knowing exactly what it was my only reference was a few seconds of footage from Gamesmaster.

Me and a pal loaded it up on ("my Mega Drive" - Ed) the other weekend after I'd mentioned I'd never played it though and I found the whole thing interminably boring despite its overt wackiness, jerky beyond belief, and borderline uncontrollable.

I much prefer Earnest Evans. Psyche!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    This section will not be visible in live published website. Below are your current settings:


    Current Number Of Columns are = 2

    Expand Posts Area =

    Gap/Space Between Posts = 12px

    Blog Post Style = card

    Use of custom card colors instead of default colors = 1

    Blog Post Card Background Color = current color

    Blog Post Card Shadow Color = current color

    Blog Post Card Border Color = current color

    Publish the website and visit your blog page to see the results

    Picture
    Support Me on Ko-fi
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    RSS Feed Widget
    Picture

    Picture
    Tweets by @mrbiffo
    Picture
    Follow us on The Facebook

    Picture

    Archives

    December 2022
    May 2022
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    November 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014


    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • MAIN PAGE
  • Features
  • Videos
  • Game Reviews
  • FAQ