Gosh, I have so many fond memories of playing Earthworm Jim 95, back from when I used to go over to my aunt and uncle's house to watch my older cousin play it... at least, until I'd try to knock him off the computer so I could have my turn.
The game has the sort of concept that would probably turn off the discriminating (read: boring) gamer if described without any context: basically, you're an ordinary earthworm who's obtained a cyber-suit that gives you super-powers, super-intelligence, and being a relatively good guy, you immediately set out to use your new skills to fight evil.
Sounds a little ridiculous? Oh, definitely. But that's exactly the point. Earthworm Jim 95 is one of the most delightfully goofy games I've ever had the privilege of playing. While designed largely along the same guidelines as your ordinary side-scrolling shoot-em-up game, Earthworm Jim possesses a delirious inventiveness in every single frame - from the settings (toilet teleporters!), to the villains (a fat guy on a wire who vomits dead fish at you!), to Jim's funky combo moves (taking off his own head and whipping it at people!). Yeah, a lot of the humor is on about a 10-year-old level, but then again, if you're anything like me, that's a SELLING POINT.
And the best part of all is Earthworm Jim himself. Some
of the funniest moments come when you're not even doing anything at all. If you leave Jim alone for a while, he starts doing some cute things like playing jump rope with himself, serenading you off-key, and just being a big old' goofball. There are way too many of these games that involve a little caveman-like creature with no personality whatsoever jumping from ledge to ledge, so it's a refreshing change to control a hero who's bound to constantly surprise you with his creativity. He's even got his own set of catchphrases, and years after I played the game for the first time, I still find myself responding to difficult situations with a very Jim-like, "WHOA, NELLIE!"
Side trivia note: If you recognize that deep, rich voice of Jim's, that's because it belongs to Dan Castellaneta - Homer Simpson himself.
Anyway, if you need any further convincing as to why you should download this game, just remember that this beauty spawned not only several sequels, but also a popular Saturday morning kids' show on the WB. There's no higher praise than that, folks!
