Developer: HumaNature Studios
Publisher: HumaNature Studios
Reviewed on: Switch
Code Received.
ToeJam & Earl: Back In the Groove will mean a lot of things to different people. For those who played, and fondly remember, the 1991 Sega Genesis classic, it will be immediately recognizable. For new comers to the series, or those who played the subsequent sequels, it’s impact may be limited. At face value, ToeJam & Earl: Back In the Groove is a quirky, colorful rogue-like adventure game. It succeeds in capturing the look and feel of the original, without straying too far from the established formula. However, I am not sure if the gameplay and systems hold up in today’s market where procedurally generated rogue-likes are a dime a dozen.
Attitude has always played a big role in the ToeJam & Earl series. The titular heroes are the embodiment of ’90s urban culture. ToeJam wears a large chain around his neck and a backwards hat while Earl dons high-tops and wraparound sunglasses. The soundtrack is full of funky, hip-hop beats set against a bizarre, often psychedelic, backdrop. All these elements are here on full display in Back In the Groove. Even the random characters you encounter in the world, like an old man dressed in a carrot costume, appear and behave the same way they did in 1991. In fact, if you were to present ToeJam & Earl: Back In the Groove as a high-definition remaster of the original game you’d probably get away with it.
If you were to present ToeJam & Earl: Back In the Groove as a high-definition remaster of the original game you’d probably get away with it
Obviously this aesthetic is going to ring true for many fans of the series. HumaNature’s extremely successful Kickstarter certainly proved that there are many out there nostalgic for this type of game. However, much of the game’s satire and references probably won’t hit for new comers to the series. Certainly the game’s visual style, and especially the soundtrack, are timeless, but much of it will lose it’s charm after a few runs. It’s here where the gameplay and features must pick up the slack for a lack of nostalgia. Unfortunately, I do not think ToeJam & Earl: Back In the Groove has the chops to stand up to other games in the genre it occupies. If you strip the game of it’s legacy and the impact of it’s humor then what you’re left with is a run-of-the-mill procedurally generated rogue-like adventure game.
At the start of each run you choose from a hand full of characters. There’s of course ToeJam and Earl, who also have alternate variations. As well as their girlfriends Latisha and Lewanda. Each character has starting stats, for instance ToeJam can move fast, but is weak, while Earl is slow, but can take a beating. The story revolves around your spaceship crashing on planet Earth, and your goal is to collect all 10 ship pieces to escape the weird planet. Each run is broken up into several levels, and each one must be explored for ship parts, presents, and the exit while avoiding the dangerous humans trying to stop you. Once all the ship parts are found the run is over.
In some respects, a run plays out much like a dungeon crawler. When you arrive into a level it will tell you whether there is a ship part there, which saves a lot of time especially if you quickly find the elevator to the next level. As you explore you will find humans of the good and bad variety. The bad ones will chase you around if you aggro them and you can either run away or hide. If they catch you they will do some damage, but also knock you back. This knock back is probably their most dangerous effect as it can push you clear off the edge of the level and back down to the previous one. This can get pretty tedious on the later levels that are full of enemies. You can also hire friendly humans to protect you, like an opera singer who’s voice will stun enemies. There are also a variety of mini-games you can take part in like a guitar hero-style dance battle and a 2D endless runner, both of which reward you with money and/or presents. Finally, there are a number of special environments you can encounter like snowy levels with slippery ice and pitch-black levels where you can barely see what’s around you. So there is some variety, but it’s not quite enough fight off the feeling of repetition.
One interesting aspect of the game is the present system. Like potions and items in other dungeon crawlers, the contents of most presents you pick up are unknown to you. You can open them to see what they contain (thus using the item, good or bad), or you can pay the old man in the carrot costume that appears in every level to reveal each present. They often contain power ups like hi-tops that make you run faster, tomatoes that you can throw at enemies, and even wings that let you soar above everything for a short time. The wings are particularly useful because they let you explore areas that may be cut off from the main section of the level. The presents are definitely the most interesting aspect of a run because you never really know what wacky power ups you’ll get.
The presents are definitely the most interesting aspect of a run because you never really know what wacky power ups you’ll get
Every time you collect a ship part the game gives you a random prize. Sometimes it’s money, which is useful for revealing presents and hiring protection. However, there’s a random chance that it will give you a skill point that you can use to upgrade one of your character’s six skills, layering on a light RPG mechanic. While it’s nice to be able to give your character a small health boost or expand their inventory, the effects aren’t substantial. Combine that with the rarity of the upgrades and the fact that they do not carry over from run-to-run, and it seems rather superfluous. On the other hand, getting extra cash or a rare present is a much more impactful reward.
In the end it’s hard decide whether to recommend ToeJam & Earl: Back In the Groove because it will mean very different things to different people. If you are looking for an almost perfect recreation of the original 1991 game, with a few minor tweaks and a shiny new coat of paint, then this will most certainly deliver. For myself, who remembers playing the original, but lacks a strong feeling of nostalgia for it, I find it a little underwhelming. Especially when you consider that it’s competing in a genre with games like Don’t Starve, Spelunky, and even Dead Cells. It’s not a bad game by any stretch, and is actually well made with a fairly high level of polish, however, it’s systems are old. It gets repetitive quickly and there just isn’t enough variety in the level encounters. So for those not bringing with them fond memories, or really connecting with the game’s vibes, they may find themselves away on vacation.
