SNES

Earthworm Jim 2

If it wasn't for Yoshi's Island this would be platform game of the year, period. I am very pleased that this isn't just "more levels of Jim", but there are actual play mechanic improvements. I can't get over the creativity of Shiny; the extent of weirdness in this game can't even be matched by 4 a.m. writing binges in the offices of GameFan. Nonstop humor, nonstop puzzles, precise jumping, swinging, bosses...the whole package you loved last year, only bigger, better, more and Tommy T. Round 1, fight!

The graphics are near perfect, with eye-popping 3D backgrounds, vibrant color and animation that belongs in a cartoon. If you love humor, love action-platform games, or just love games in general, you should not let this title wiggle away.

Loaded with humor, awesome graphics and incredibly diverse levels, Earthworm Jim 2 manages to exceed the lofty standards of the first game. Fans of the original will eat some serious dirt if they miss this one.

Wrap that all around some of Tommy Tallarico's best soundtrack work and it all creates a nearly perfect gaming experience. Even when it's doing something hundreds of other games do, it's that much better in Earthworm Jim 2. It's a rare case where the gameplay is certainly important, but the graphics and soundtrack play a huge role in its success. It's unforgettable, partly because of how completely off the wall it is, and partly because it's just a great video game.

With a roster of quirky characters, silly puzzles, and unique weapons, Earthworm Jim 2 has lost so little of its luster over the years that it can easily stand alongside many of today's best platformers. Only a few difficult minigames hamper this title's appeal, which makes this sequel only slightly less of a classic than the first earthworm Jim game.

Delicious graphics, amusing jokes and chucklesome sub-games aside, Earthworm Jim 2 is actually no more exciting or compelling than any other competently-produced platform game, and I've already got lots of them. Encountering the jokes and eye-popping level designs is highly entertaining the first time around - I laughed until the man in the flat downstairs came round and complained - but they'll start to wear thin after you've played it through a few times. (Which, with limitless continues, shouldn't take long.) If you did buy it, though, you'd probably find yourself suddenly very popular with your SNES-owning chums.