Earthworm Jim 3D

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Earthworm Jim 3D
Developer(s) VIS entertainment ltd
Publisher(s) Interplay (PC version), Rockstar Games (Nintendo 64 Version)
Release date(s) October 31, 1999
Genre(s) Platformer
Mode(s) Single player
Rating(s) ESRB: Everyone (E)
Platform(s) PC, Nintendo 64
Media CD-ROM, Cartridge

Earthworm Jim 3D is to date the last console game in the Earthworm Jim series. Created by Interplay and based more on the Television series than the canon of the previous games, Earthworm Jim 3D was released for Nintendo 64 and PC. While the game featured classic villains such as Psy-Crow and Professor Monkey-For-A-Head, it was criticized for falsely advertising on the game box that Evil the Cat was included. This omission was due to a rushed development cycle, leading to the removal of a number of game locations (some also appearing on the game box) in an attempt to meet the game's release date.

Contents

[edit] Storyline

One fateful day, Earthworm Jim was hit by one flying cow too many, and was put into a coma. As such, deep within his mind Jim's Super Ego came into command and was informed that Jim had lost his marbles. It was now up to Earthworm Jim, Super Hero turned Super Ego, to explore his mind, collect all his marbles and bring himself back into the real world.

Screencap from Earthworm Jim 3D
Screencap from Earthworm Jim 3D

[edit] Gameplay

Earthworm Jim 3D borrows much of its gameplay from other platformers of the era, notably Banjo-Kazooie and Super Mario 64. New locations in Jim's brain are opened up by collecting Golden Udders, and new levels in each location are opened by collecting Jim's marbles. Like previous Earthworm Jim games, despite many platforming elements, Jim's primary method of combat comes from shooting his Blaster.

[edit] Main characters

  • Earthworm Jim - The hero of the game. After getting hit by a falling cow, Jim's worst fears and anxieties were unleashed and are destroying his psyche. As a last line of defense, Jim's four worm brains embody Jim as his own superego, and send him out to collect his marbles to repair his damaged IQ. When he starts off the game, he's as smart as pond scum. More levels within Jim's brains open as Jim gets smarter.
  • Peter Puppy - Earthworm Jim's friend. He basically tells Jim what happened after the cow fell on him and what to do about the resulting turmoil his mind is in.
  • Snott - A booger who is also Jim's friend. He appears from time to time, giving Jim hints and telling him how to perform moves.
  • The Sacred Cow of Contemplation - A cow that controls the portals to Jim's brains. His powers can only be recharged when Jim finds Golden Udders. He is a master of disguise (i.e., he wears an afro in Fear, and an army hat in Memory).

[edit] Locations

Common Earthworms have four brains, giving Earthworm Jim 3D four worlds to explore: Memory, Happiness, Fear and Fantasy.

[edit] Memory

(Requires 1 Golden Udder to access)

Even though Jim was just a child at a time, he was present for the horrible Barnyard War. In this stage, Jim helps the Cows and Chickens as they fight against each other. Unfortunately for Jim, Psycrow is also here.

Levels

  • Coop D'etat (Must talk to the Sacred Cow first to enter)
  • Barn to be Wild (Must be as smart as a waffle by collecting 60 marbles to enter)
  • Boss: Psycrow (Must be as smart as most accountants by collecting 101 marbles to enter)

[edit] Happiness

(Requires 13 Golden Udders to access)

There is one thing that makes Earthworm Jim happy: Food. In this world, Jim traverses cheese-encrusted hillsides. Also here is Fatty Roswell, an alien who believes Jim's mind is the key to making the ultimate hamburger.

Levels

  • Lord of the Fries (Must be as smart as gorgonzola by collecting 131 marbles to enter)
  • Are you Hungry Tonite? (Must be as smart as a spleen by collecting 187 marbles to enter)
  • Boss: Fatty Roswell (Must be as smart as a chat-show host by collecting 239 marbles to enter)

[edit] Fear

(Requires 27 Golden Udders to access)

To an earthworm, what is scarier than a bird? Easy: Disco. In this world, Professor Monkey-for-a-head and his family have constructed a mansion within Jim's fears to make experiments. Not only must Jim dodge ghostly chickens, but he must also explore a crypt full of Disco Zombies!

Levels

  • Poultrygeist (Must be as smart as "my pet hamster" by collecting 293 marbles to enter)
  • Poultrygeist Too (Must be as smart as nut-log by collecting 361 marbles to enter)
  • Death Wormed Up (Must be as smart as "your cousin Billy" by collecting 427 marbles to enter)
  • Boogie Nights of the Living Dead (Must be as smart as a fur-covered trout by collecting 483 marbles to enter)
  • Boss: Professor Monkey-for-a-head (Must be as smart as Sher's plastic sturgeon by collecting 599 marbles to enter)

[edit] Fantasy

(Requires 50 Golden Udders to access)

In this world, Jim faces his fantasy: To become a cowboy. Typical old-west trappings are to be found: Cactus, Cowboys, and even Yosemite Sam!

Levels

  • Violent Death Valley (Must be as smart as flossing to enter)
  • The Good, the Bad, and the Elderly (Must be as smart as a shiny button to enter)
  • Boss: Bob and Number Four (Must be as smart as" you`ll ever be" to enter)

[edit] Final boss

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

After Jim collects all of the Golden Udders in the game, Peter Puppy will direct Jim to the final boss of the game; Earthworm Kim, who is essentially a female version of Jim. Kim is also an unlockable character accessed by collecting all 1,000 marbles and entering a door in Fear's level hub (in the section where the Poutrygeist levels are accessed). Playing as Earthworm Kim makes the game harder.

Spoilers end here.

[edit] Mysteries

During its drawn-out three year development cycle, Earthworm Jim 3D changed publishers several times. This caused some problems as the game was based on the Earthworm Jim TV series which by the time of release, had been canceled for years. Also many locations displayed in early versions of the game are nowhere to be found in the released copy (such as a level set in a house, where Jim is ant-sized), and locations that were kept from early screenshots changed drastically before release. In some cases, entire characters were changed - originally, Evil the Cat was to be the boss of Fear, but was changed to Professor Monkey-For-A-Head at the last moment. Additionally, Evil Jim, Earthworm Jim's alter-ego from the TV series, was reportedly a part of the game. Early screenshots also display Jim riding his Pocket Rocket.

[edit] External links


Earthworm Jim
Games: Earthworm Jim | Earthworm Jim 2 | Earthworm Jim 3D | Earthworm Jim: Menace 2 the Galaxy | ClayFighter 63 1/3 | Earthworm Jim PSP
TV series: Earthworm Jim (TV series)
Heroes: Earthworm Jim | Snott | Peter Puppy | Princess What's-Her-Name
Villains: Psy-Crow | Queen Slug-for-a-Butt | Evil the Cat | Professor Monkey-For-A-Head | Bob the Killer Goldfish | Evil Jim
Other topics: List of Earthworm Jim characters | List of Earthworm Jim locations | List of Earthworm Jim items
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