Earthworm Jim (1995). Play online

Summary

Earthworm Jim on Game Gear brings the quirky worm‑in‑a‑suit to a handheld with vibrant color graphics that still surprise. The core remains a 2D side‑scroll platformer where Jim can blast foes with his gun or lash enemies and hooks with his body, even spinning the suit to hover briefly. Intermittent levels swap perspective – the “Andy Asteroids” race puts Jim’s rocket behind the screen, while other stages demand bungee‑jump duels or timed underwater mazes.

The portable version suffers from the Gear’s two‑button layout: whipping, shooting and the hover function compete for the same inputs, which reviewers flagged as a major hurdle. Screen blur also masks enemy patterns, upping the difficulty beyond the original console.

Despite these quirks the Game Gear port earned praise for delivering the series’ humor and boss gallery, including the bizarre Robotic Chicken, on the go. A Brazil‑only Master System adaptation used the same code base, proving the game’s reach extended far beyond the original handheld launch.

Storyline

In Earthworm Jim on the Game Gear, an ordinary earthworm is transformed when a mysterious super‑suit falls from the sky. The suit forms a body around Jim’s worm head, giving him human‑like abilities while he retains his wiggly nature. Instantly, a host of enemies appear, all eager to reclaim the powerful armor.

Jim’s primary goal is to reach the enigmatic Princess What’s‑Her‑Name, and he eventually succeeds in finding her. In a bizarre twist, the princess meets an untimely end when a cow, launched into space by Jim at the start of the adventure, comes crashing down on her. The story ends with Jim’s triumph over the villains but a comically tragic finale for the princess.