ToeJam & Earl

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ToeJam & Earl

Developer(s)	Johnson Voorsanger Productions
Publisher(s)	Sega
Designer(s)	Greg Johnson
Release date(s)	March 12, 1992
Genre(s)	Action, Adventure
Mode(s)	Single player, 2-player co-op
Platform(s)	Sega Genesis, Virtual Console
Media	16-bit
Input	Game controller

ToeJam & Earl is a series of action/adventure games for various Sega consoles. The first game was released on March 12, 1992 in North America. The games feature the two eponymous characters, aliens from a planet called Funkotron, who accidentally crash on Earth after their ship collides with an asteroid.

All the games employ music and style derived from early-1970s funk music and culture, similar in some respects to the blaxploitation films of that period. The games were created by ToeJam & Earl Productions Inc., formerly known as Johnson Voorsanger Productions (JVP), of San Rafael, California by founders Greg Johnson and Mark Voorsanger. Scott Berfield was the producer and it was published by Sega of America. The music was written by John Baker.

1 Characters
2 ToeJam & Earl
3 ToeJam & Earl 2: Panic on Funkotron
4 ToeJam & Earl 3: Mission to Earth
5 Other Appearances
6 References
7 External links

[edit] Characters

ToeJam is a skinny three-legged red alien with snail-like eyes, who wears a white hat, black and white shoes and an oversized golden necklace, somewhat reminiscent of Flavor Flav. He moves faster than Earl.
"Big" Earl is an orange alien who wears sunglasses and blue shorts, which tend to fall down. His life bar is longer than ToeJam's.

[edit] ToeJam & Earl

The original ToeJam & Earl, a two-dimensional action game, was released for the Mega Drive/Genesis game console in 1992. The game's premise starts with ToeJam & Earl cruising the stars in their spaceship, when ToeJam decides to let Earl drive. As a result, the pair crash-land on Earth, their spaceship broken into ten pieces. They must search for the pieces and reassemble their spaceship in order to return home to the planet Funkotron. As they do so, they face a variety of Earthlings that stand in their way, such as the Insane Dentist (Painus Maximus), Crazed Shopper (Spenditallinadae), Nerdherd (Geekus Dorkia), Mailbox Monster (Mailboxim Donttrustium), Hula Dancer (Hawaiinus Bootius Shakium), Cupid (Cupidus Stupidus), and the Phantom Ice Cream Truck (Driverus Insanicus Ghostium), each of which causes the player to lose health and eventually lives.

Screenshot from ToeJam & Earl

The gameplay consists of the player controlling the characters around a multitude of levels in a search for their funkotronic space ship parts, while fighting earthlings with tomatoes. During the game, the player will also collect present boxes which contain special items. The items vary from food (to gain or lose health points) to rocket-skate shoes, and each different type of present box contains the same kind item.

Another notable feature of the game is the multi-screen capability. When on two players mode, if the characters get too far away from each other, the screen will split in half leaving each character free to move through the game. The players could even be on different levels at the same time.

The two characters also talk with each other during the game, if they are close enough and if they're both not moving. When two players get together again, the characters also say things like "Yo, what's up!". They also humorously chat with each other as they ride the elevator between scenes.

To defend against the Earthlings, a variety of power-ups are provided in the form of presents. Each present appears as a differently-wrapped package, which must be identified either by opening it or by other means. Some presents offer increased mobility for a limited time, such as the Super Hi-tops (increased speed), Rocket Skates (really increased speed at the cost of control), Spring Shoes (ability to jump), and Icarus Wings (flight). Other presents provide bonuses, such as extra bucks (which may be used to mail-order presents at mailboxes or to have presents identified by the Wise Man in the Carrot Suit without opening them) or extra lives. Still others are harmful, such as Schoolbook (puts the player to sleep for a time, making them vulnerable to attack) 'Total Bummer!' (Kills the player on the spot) or Randomizer (scrambles all identified presents, requiring them to be identified all over again). Health bonuses in the form of food items are also found; the better the food tastes, the more it heals, so a fudge sundae will heal more than a bowl of cereal. Some food items, however, cause the player to lose health rather than gain it. Most of this type are rotten, like moldy cheese, but some types are foods stereotypically disliked by children, such as cabbage.

The game has twenty-five main levels, which are arranged vertically, one above the other, and a secret level zero which you can get to through the left bottom corner of level 1. Players progress upward through the levels by means of an elevator, which appears on each map. Levels also have cliff edges, which the unwary player can fall from, landing on the next-lower level. The terrain also presents hazards such as deserts and lakes. The game could be played through with preset levels (Fixed World) or randomly-generated levels (Random World). In Random World mode, the level layout, Earthlings and Presents were randomised, increasing the longevity of the game.

The game's two-player cooperative play is one of its most unique features. When two players play, the game keeps them on the same screen whenever feasible, but switches to split-screen rendering if they get far enough apart. Players can assist one another by performing a high five, which equalizes health between the two. A special present, Togetherness, allows a player to teleport to the other player's location.

ToeJam & Earl was a hit; it has been suggested by some that, were it not for Sonic The Hedgehog, ToeJam and Earl could have become the platform's unofficial mascots. The game appeared on top lists of rentals for years after its release, and is one of the best-remembered titles of its generation.

On December 22 2006 in Europe and December 25 2006 in the US, ToeJam & Earl was released as a Virtual Console game for Nintendo's Wii console. Upon its rerelease, 1UP.com praised its indescribable appeal and enjoyable coop.^[1]

[edit] ToeJam & Earl 2: Panic on Funkotron

It has been suggested that this section be split into a new article. (Discuss)

Screenshot from ToeJam & Earl II: Panic on Funkotron

A sequel to the original in the form of a side-scrolling platform game, ToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron was released for the Mega Drive/Genesis in 1993. In this game, it is revealed that a number of Earthlings hitchhiked on ToeJam and Earl's spaceship on their trip back home after the first game, and are now infesting Funkotron. ToeJam and Earl must capture the Earthlings in jars, and ship them back to Earth in rocket ships at the end of each level. A side-mission is to find ten beloved objects of Lamont the "Funkapotamus", the source of all funk in the universe, (seen again in Tj&E 3) to persuade him to return to Funkotron.

The player has a variety of "funk powers" to assist in evading and capturing the earthlings, such as Funk Move (allowing the player to pass through walls and other objects) and Funk Scan (revealing hidden items). Other bonuses are also found throughout the game, including minigames such as Jam Out (a rhythm-matching game requiring the player to press the controller buttons to match patterns shown on screen) and Hyperfunk Zones (a time-limited race to pick up bonuses). Presents and food items also show up, in a manner similar to that of the original game. Progress can be saved by means of passwords that are presented at specific points.

[edit] ToeJam & Earl 3: Mission to Earth

It has been suggested that this section be split into a new article. (Discuss)

The third game in the series was originally intended for the Sega Dreamcast console, but, after Sega discontinued the Dreamcast, the game was retargeted at the Microsoft Xbox. A three-dimensional platform game, it was released in October 2002. The gameplay is primarily based on that of the original ToeJam & Earl, though elements from Panic on Funkotron were also included. The game presented a more adult approach, full random 3-D levels.

For the more-capable platform, ToeJam and Earl were given graphical makeovers; ToeJam was dressed in a tank top and shorts to accompany his gold medallion and baseball cap, while Big Earl's polka-dot Bermuda shorts were replaced by blue denim, and he was given a knit cap. The two characters are joined by Latisha, a blue female insect-like character in blue jeans, a bra top, and gold bangle jewelry. Players may play as any of the three, and may switch between characters in mid-game using the Character Switch Platforms. (Additional playable characters may be downloaded via Xbox Live, as well as additional levels.)

The three are called upon by Lamont the Funkopotamus, to retrieve the twelve Sacred Albums of Funk, which have been stolen and hidden on Earth. As with the original ToeJam & Earl, a variety of Earthlings stand in the way, many of which have carried over from the first two games. To fight against them, the player can use "funk powers" (as in Panic on Funkotron) such as Funk-Fu, a short-range energy blast, and Funk Notes, which can be launched at enemies from a distance, to "funkify" the Earthlings and render them harmless. Presents and food items, many of which carry over from ToeJam & Earl as well, are available to assist or hinder the player. The rhythm-matching from Panic on Funkotron also makes an appearance, in the form of Funk Rhythm, which funkifies nearby Earthlings or gives the player bonus points for matching rhythms by pressing the controller's buttons.

The levels, instead of being arranged in a linear fashion, are grouped into five zones, and accessed by collecting keys scattered throughout the levels. Each zone contains its own set of levels, as well as minigames in which the player must compete against the clock to win bonuses. The gates between zones are opened through special minigames, which must be accessed by collecting karaoke microphones, each of which requires the completion of a mission in one of the levels to acquire. Gradually, however, a more critical purpose is revealed, through cut scenes in which Lamont, in lines reminiscent of Star Wars (such as "I feel a great disturbance in the Funk"), tells the player of the existence of the "Anti-Funk", the game's final boss. Progress through the game is saved to the Xbox console's hard disk drive.

ToeJam & Earl III received mixed reviews in the gaming community. Some reviewers felt it was one of the best platform games available on any console. Others dismissed it as suitable for fans of the original but otherwise relatively pedestrian.

[edit] Other Appearances

ToeJam and Earl also appeared in Ready-Aim-Tomatoes!, a game packaged with the Menacer light gun for the Mega Drive/Genesis, which involved ToeJam fighting off Earthlings by throwing tomatoes. They have also appeared in Art Alive! and Wacky Worlds, both paint programs for the same console.