THE INSANE HISTORY OF EARTHWORM JIM - A Retro Gaming Documentary

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Today we look back at the history of the original Earthworm Jim game. A hugely popular title that made a huge impact on the world of 16-bit gaming. Is this game a work of art?
#EarthwormJim #RetroGaming #EarthwormJimHistory
Additional Sources
www.retrogamer.net/retro_game...
rocketworm.com/making-of-earth...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthwo...
www.pcgamesn.com/earthworm-ji...
Earthworm Jim Thumbnail Art -www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/55577...
Doug Fan Art - www.deviantart.com/gecko1993/...

[@TopHatGamingManChannel]

MAKE SURE YOU SUBSCRIBE TO MY BRAND NEW WRESTLING CHANNEL - My Latest video is on the Mad Story of Matt Striker...the child star. Check it out and leave a comment :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/fIaxenuXmbZ8ask&t

[@jessejennings3828]

Doug Tenapal is a cool guy. Just got boooted off of youtube for saying election fraud

[@SomeOrangeCat]

Shame the creator turned out to be an alt-right q-tard creep. I can sometimes separate the art from the artist, but there's a hard limit on that. I respect you Richard, but given the guy you're honoring with this, I just can't give this video a like.

[@SomeOrangeCat]

@@jessejennings3828 Way to oversimplify. KZbin asked him to stop using their bandwidth and platform to spread unfounded bullshit. He refused, so they nuked two of his three channels. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

[@devingiles6597]

Hey, Top You Gaming Man. How about you do a video on the original Sonic the Hedgehog?

[@UltimateGamerCC]

yes to more EWJ, even cover the 3rd one and the meh GBC game if you're feeling daring.

[@maritimemetaldoc6812]

I worked on the HD version when I worked at Gameloft. I did QA on the game. It was kind of impressive that they got a Chinese team to recreate the game without any of the original code. From what I remember they use an emulator to play the game and recreated the art and animation from what they could see. When we asked about the Dark level (I think it was in the sega CD version) we were told it couldn't be recreated because the dev team couldn't see the level with the emulator. If my memory is correct there was an iOS version created before the HD version for consoles. We were given the emulator to play the game to compare it to the iOS version so we could report differences from the original. This is was one of the last games I did QA on and had my name in the credits. I loved Earthworm Jim as a kid so it was great to be apart of the HD remake.

[@Invidente7]

Sadly Earthworm Jim HD got delisted and it's no longer alvaible ... thought official ways, that is.

[@maritimemetaldoc6812]

@@Invidente7 Well soon everything will be delisted on PS3 anyway. Glad iv had it downloaded and backed up for years.

[@Stylez-13]

@@maritimemetaldoc6812 they backed out due to backlash ps3 and vita games will no longer be delisted

[@maritimemetaldoc6812]

@@Stylez-13 Really? I guess im behind on the news. Good news at least.

[@tech34756]

If the Dark Level was "Who Turned Out The Lights?", it is in the MD/Gen version. Just messed around with it in an emulator, I thought it was funny that the way they achieved the 'dust' effect by the lights was by moving an entire background layer which is otherwise hidden from the player. Kind of funny seeing what looks like a black and white Jim walk across a blue and white sky while avoiding just eyes. Still, while what they did was impressive, I can't help but think that some people in the MD/Gen hacking community could have helped if emulators alone weren't enough.

[@Invidente7]

One of the greatest and funniest videogame franchises ever created. That's how it should be: you put the humor INTO the gameplay, not pause the game to tell jokes.

[@andregon4366]

Conker had both, and it was amazing. I think the secret is doing things properly, not force them with cringy "jokes".

[@dr.velious5411]

Psychonauts too was pretty balanced with its humor. I call this the steak situation, you can put a lot of things on a steak and it'll be okay if you do it properly, but there's a lot of things you shouldn't put on steak, and it's wrong to assume that every meal is steak, same with games.

[@dinohermann1887]

@@andregon4366The Bubsy series of games comes instantly to my mind regarding cringe-inducing „jokes“.

[@IvanIvanov-uo8xm]

if they get it on Nintendo switch physical will be amazing .

[@juiceala]

It’s videos like this why I follow this channel, you don’t see American youtubers talking about Earthworm Jim much, or anything related to SEGA in a positive way anymore, all American youtubers talk about is the same Nintendo first party games over and over, that’s all they know, THIS is my childhood, playing Earthworm Jim on my old CTR TV with a Mega Drive controller, it doesn’t get better than that.

[@thecunninlynguist]

watch sega lord x

[@BigBoshV]

One of my favourite soundtracks on SNES was Earthworm Jim 2. It often played in the background of my friends retro gaming shop before it closed down a few years ago.

[@TopHatGamingManChannel]

Anything but Tangerines!

[@nemosthebandit]

Literally a Masterpiece of a game. I can’t really explain how much this game shaped my artistic creativity.

[@Broockle]

be honest, how far did u manage to play it? 😆

[@kadosho02]

EWJ is a masterpiece. The visuals, art style, music, and flow. It was meant to be. Irresistible, wild, and groovy And soon a new EWJ on Amico (by the original dev team!!!)

[@inputfunny]

I noticed you didn't praise EWJ's gameplay; which is the most important part of the game. The gameplay is pretty meeeeh in EWJ and really what holds it back with floaty, flash-game controls.

[@thenoseguy]

​@@inputfunnyI love the gameplay, wdym? Sorry I know it's 2 years later lol

[@UltimateGamerCC]

it's freakin' sad how Jim was basically forced into early retirement, he had many more superhero days ahead of him, all because his foray into 3D didnt pan out too good.

[@eyeseer1]

Earthworm Jim deserves a revival but his creator banks on VeggieTales now.

[@godzgr8]

Forced into retirement because the creator was cancled for being conservitive.

[@robertmatthews9650]

Evil the Cat’s was so wicked, he even cuts his own theme to to torture people with elevator music.

[@RetroRespawn]

First encountered this as the cartoon. Later it was the game, on my friends Mega Drive (I was a Master System pleb even in 1995). We laughed endlessly at surreal humour. The "whoa nelly" in the Andy asteroids section tickled us most, I recall. Many years later I played it on my own Mega Drive (which I got in 2002), only to discover that beneath the subversive humour and superb cartoon visuals was a rage indicingly tough game. I still love it though.

[@Alakazzam09]

Anyone remember the theme song from the cartoon? Earthworm Jim! From the soil he did crawl Earthworm Jim! A super suit did fall Jim was just a dirt eating, chewy length of worm flesh But all that came to a crashing end! (ha-haha) Earthworm Jim! He's such a groovy guy Earthworm Jim! He rocket's through the sky Crusin' through the universe, having lot's of fun Here comes Earthworm Jim you know that he's a mighty one! (LET'S GO)

[@tombirge8632]

Oh yeah, Bring on Earthworm Jim 2!

[@juiceala]

Earthworm Jim, the “Cuphead” of the 90s.

[@bdel80]

Some of those swings you had to do was hard but once you learnt the level it wasn't too bad. I do remember finishing the game it took a while. It was times when you brought a game and played it for a few months.

[@juiceala]

@@bdel80 I wasn’t talking about difficulty, honestly both games imo are fairly easy.

[@Noname15514]

Cuphead would've been one of the more easier games of the 90s.

[@thecunninlynguist]

Groooovy! Had some killer music. Fun 90's "Edgy" names for characters too...Queen Pulsating, Bloated, Festering, Sweaty, Pus-filled, Malformed, Slug-for-a-Butt, and Princess What's-Her-Name...also if you haven't tried Wild 9 from Shiny Ent...I suggest you do, fun little gem.

[@gjergjaurelius9798]

Nooooooooo edgy didn't emerge until the 2000s 90s we had EXTREME! 🤟🏻💥

[@joeyparkhill8751]

FUN FACT: I have the same Birthday as Earthworm Jim August 2nd 1994

[@leecroft7311]

Would love for a EWJ Trilogy collection. Sure, EWJ3D wasn't that great but personally always and (still do) enjoyed it. Still play it from time to time on my N64.

[@sunekoo]

Lorenzens Soil from EWJ2 is one of the best pieces of music in any video game

[@iamgoat6740]

I was really young when I played ewj I can remember that level and music creeping me out.

[@nebwachamp]

GROOVY.... Well done.

[@Mr_Gixxer]

Agreed. I had the ps1 version growing up, and while I love the entire soundtrack, Lorenzo's Soil was my favourite.

[@shadowflash705]

@@nebwachamp Moo...

[@earthwormjim91]

Hey! I'm the one who did that interview with Bruty for unseen64 where you got that info about intestinal distress

[@blueselwoo1]

Hey guys, I made a couple of videos somewhat recently in regards to the Windows 95 version of Earthworm Jim! Here is a video of a full playthrough of it running in Windows 10: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mJ-pmqyFg8d5pq8 . Here is a video on how to get the Windows 95 version working in Windows 10: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p6vKl4yKecxrpZI . Hope you guys like it!

[@Phantom_Zer0]

I love it when you cover non fighting games, i'm not much into fighting games but i like your videos.

[@TopHatGamingManChannel]

Cheers, I just wish everything else got as many views as my fighting/beat em up content that would make life both more diverse and easier!

[@eduardosanchezbarrios5810]

Doug Tenapen and Jonh R. Dilworth should work together xD!

[@TheBradRules]

This was a spectacular retrospective, and I have to thank you for not dragging Doug's name through the mud. So many people on this site have stooped to the level of criticizing the games because they disagree politically with Doug. To me that is close minded and nonsensical when discussing a game's quality and the importance of a character. Doug is extremely creative and he is a fantastic comic book artist and writer to boot!

[@pandaclysm205]

I think the video says enough. After hearing about him in this video, I went to look him up. Holy yikes. It puts me on a level of confusion like Michael Jackson. He did some amazing work but also did some pretty horrible things. I can't comfortably listen to Michael Jackson anymore, the same as the way I can't enjoy Earthworm Jim.

[@joeyparkhill8751]

FUN FACT: Tommy Tallarico was a co-host of Electric Playground on G4TechTV!

[@kingstarscream320]

Who doesn’t know that? The man is a legend. He responded to one of my KZbin comments once!

[@joeyparkhill8751]

@@kingstarscream320 Actually many people don't know that Tommy is cousins with Steven Tyler

[@UltimateGamerCC]

@@joeyparkhill8751 i watched G4 religiously during it's short run, much like i enjoyed SEGA Channel during it's short run.

[@joeyparkhill8751]

@@UltimateGamerCC As did I

[@papapingas1797]

This is video got me to play earthworm Jim today

[@tonythepokemonguy751]

What the heck has the best music in any game

[@Ivegotsomewater81]

Love how it goes from Night on the bold mountain to elevator music lol

[@aaryscare214]

Yoooo!! This made my f'n day! I love Earthworm soooo much! Thanks for the awesome video man. Been watching since Darkstalkers coverage.

[@UncleIndie]

I spent hours playing Earth Worm Jim in my youth. It’s so mental I don’t understand how someone couldn’t love it. It could do with a reboot from someone like the adventure time people...

[@jeremybowers3181]

Doug Tenapple is a wacky genius when it comes to art design!!

[@Feasco]

Too bad he's a wacky far-right nutjob when it comes to anything else

[@OfficialJab]

So he's awesome all around.

[@michaelhaydenbell]

@@OfficialJab .....................................sure.

[@Elsnorko]

I want a life action Earthworm Jim

[@Psmgamer]

I remember renting Earthworm Jim and eventually buying it for Sega Genesis. Great game that was fun during the 90's and still is today.

[@tech34756]

Am I the only one who just thought PMfaH/MPfaH was just a spin on the old mad scientist trope? Considering scientists use of monkeys in experiments, I never saw the character as anything related to evolution as the creator envisioned. I guess you could say, I was not prepared for that.

[@turrican3839]

Honestly it's ashame seeing that the sequel was rushed, it would've been much more packed with content and on-top of more impressive stuff such as extra graphical effects and pre-rendered graphics, still somehow it's better than the first

[@Maggerama]

Wait, this isn't Street Fighter or Streets of Rage... I'll gladly take it!

[@MarMaxGaming]

Dude, I love covered EWJ 1 & 2... they’re so interesting to see from start to finish. They can definitely get a little frustrating but they’re beautiful and so creative. Cool choice!

[@SlobZombie]

Earthworm Jim definitely fueled my drive to be a cartoonist and character design. Big thanks to all involved Great video TopHat

[@bravo1oh1]

Seriously great video. Never knew the story behind this great game. Loved it back in the day. Great job with the channel. Never give up.

[@Stereozentrum]

Hey, awesome retrospective, man! Enjoyed the Win 95 version of the game a lot back in the 90s on my good old 486. I picked up on Twitter that you are also a trained school teacher. Another trait that we have in common besides retro gaming. ;) Keep up the good work!

[@seanmyster6]

I think that Earthworm Jim would be an excellent addition to Super Smash Bros. He's certainly a significant enough character to deserve it!

[@andregon4366]

Yes, and maybe pave the road for a new EWJ game.

[@younghotboy109]

he was in clayfighters

[@elliesanders5525]

A toilet you have to pay to use that's truly diabolical

[@AcornElectron]

Top notch Top Hat! Loved Earthworm Jim on MegaDrive. Even the cartoon was watchable as a kid. Keep up the good work fella and stay safe

[@javierdeanda8828]

Great shot of the Echo Park lake and Downtown Los Angeles at 2:07.... ECHO PARK COMMUNITY, BABY!

[@boomfuq8277]

I had a lot of fun with this game on my genesis but a weird one it certainly was

[@Gecko1993HogheadIncOfficial]

3:40-3:46 love how you used my tribute to Doug TenNapel without my permission, Top Hat Gaming Man, REAL classy!

[@Mamiya645]

Top quality as ever again, thank you!

[@maarifawalcott5145]

Both one and two are among the best games that I’ve played in my life. I really enjoyed this video.

[@CookiePrince52]

This was an awesome video! I'd love to see you do a video about Earthworm Jim 2, someday!

[@mccloaker]

OOH! Top Hat's doing a new genre! SPLENDID! And a wrestling video to watch too! It's a bonanza!

[@Ivegotsomewater81]

The music in Earthworm Jim 1 and 2 proves that the GEMS driver for the Genesis is super underrated.

[@mbtoober]

Toys for Bob need to get their hands on this game, and bring it back in a MAJOR way like Crash 4, this would be so awesome!!! Take my freakin’ money!😅👍

[@Thekinggamelon]

Ah yes, good ol' Earthworm Jim, we used to play that game many times on our old Windows 95.

[@ewj06]

Earthworm Jim needs a proper theatrical movie and new animated streaming series! But yea bring on EWJ 2 video!

[@vegetafan9922]

So... about that new animated series...

[@RocketWorm]

Ha ha. I didn't know the cow / giraffe story about DP. That's awesome.

[@Pokemonstar]

Great video. Great story. Thank you for sharing.

[@peterfairchild258]

We simply don't see art like this anymore. Long live the mega drive day's. FOREVER 🙏🔥🙏

[@Aeon2Flux]

I hope it's popular enough to get to the disaster of 3D. I'm curious to see a more in depth retrospec on it. To see what went so horribly wrong, besides the original creators not being involved.. As painful as that may be for you, this would be interesting. Good work as always on a legendary videogame..

[@charlesnash1218]

Go check out mat mcmussels vid on earthworm Jim 3D wha happen?

[@Aeon2Flux]

@@charlesnash1218 oh yes I think I may have seen it. That s a good show. Thanks ..

[@steelcurtain187]

Great video. Would love to see one on EWJ 2 as well!

[@devingiles6597]

Top Hat Gaming Man, you should definitely do a review video on Earthworm Jim 2!

[@fluxfist4584]

Doug isn't controversial in the slightest. He's a man who knows what he stands for and believes in a world that sells their souls daily to stay youtube monetized.

[@pandaclysm205]

Gross

[@clover831]

I'm looking forward to your coverage on Earthworm Jim 2, Tophat.👍

[@anonamatron]

I don't think I ever got more than a few levels into any Earthworm Jim game before getting bored and turning it off, despite "liking" it.

[@supacamoo]

Superb content! 👊🏾

[@EddieMountainGoat]

Great stuff!! Please pretty please do an EWJ2 review!

[@hermitfolgrim6126]

Another smashing videos mate, I loved this game growing up I hope you cover ewj2 very soon cheers!!!!

[@captainsensation]

Great video, maybe your most interesting one. Would love to see earthworm Jim 2 talked about

[@teh0wnz0r76]

one of the best games of all time easy.

[@retrorystergaming577]

I don't know why but this was one game I could never get into and yet I recognise its a good game

[@steammachine3061]

The earthworm jim cartoon was excellent. I downloaded the full show a year or 2 back assuming my daughter would love it. Ungreatful cowbag didnt show any interest. She did redeem herself by liking thundercats though

[@Rockhead84]

Earthworm Jim was definitely a vibe when he was hot. Me and friends loved the cartoon!

[@UNITGJ]

Brilliant game! I was obsessed as a kid.

[@DioBrandoWRYYYYYY]

Doug TenNapel is based and cool.

[@itsasecrettoeverybody]

It's one retro game I still play sometimes.

[@Dare1C]

SEQUEL VIDEO PLS THANK YOU AWESOME WORK!

[@jamesbounds]

I never could get passed the underwater level.

[@cell718]

They didn't get paid for all the ports 😬 wow that's crazy injustice right there.

[@lifeonleo1074]

Great video.

[@KouD3Graw]

The dislikes can go get attacked by space dogs.

[@UltimateGamerCC]

and get their heads rammed up Queen Slug-For-A-Butt's Slug!

[@chocolocojames213]

A collection on modern day consoles would be sweet.

[@RocketWorm]

Oh this is awesome.

[@JOGEZAI]

Love your content 💗

[@DolFunDolhpinVtuber]

I loved this series and the anime, as well as Clayfighter. Homer Simpson voice actor.

[@mazonemayu]

Fantastic game, totally in a league of its own 😎

[@zu_1455]

HELLLLLOOOOOO Ladies and Gentleman!

[@Ostnizdasht206]

I remember I got most of those toys one Christmas. I think it was Christmas of 95.

[@Captofthisship]

This game still looks great, one of a kind for sure.

[@ninjashogun]

I remember that game when I was a kid it was a really solid game very fun and it was kind of hard

[@traestyles25]

Part 2 please

[@mcurran6505]

Who still remembers the theme song?

[@sonicsega1699]

the cartoon was fantastic as well. yes do the whole ewj series. theres 3 games not including hd versions?

[@shaieresmirnoff]

Loved this game. The art. The style. Should have had a cartoon

[@YassineTorchani-dc2cm]

It already had a cartoon

[@kingstarscream320]

Tommy Tallarico! TRROOOONNNNN!!!!

[@joeyparkhill8751]

I hope Vic & Tommy get picked up by the upcoming revived G4TV Tommy recently said to, of all people, Victor Lucas that he would "be open to co-hosting Judgment Day/Reviews on the Run once the Covid travel restrictions in the U.S. end,"

[@nesbeatzpowerhouse1487]

Do also a video on earthworm jim 2 that would be great

[@llamafish5051]

2:24 What's funny is that R.E.M. hates that song.

[@antdgar]

Nice, bro

[@jamegumb7298]

I had the double stack jewel case version for pc. Jim 1 and 2 in that sucker. I lost way too many hours playing that.

[@39Hundred]

@5:20 Sonichu!

[@pio0055]

Since interplay has took over the EWJ trademark and only did basically 1 title EWJ3D what has followed has only been remakes of EWJ1 thats been remade at least 3-4 times, its a wasted trademark and it deserves to be in the hands of a better company that will do far more sequels with it

[@antm6970]

I luv him so much i got a EWJ tattoo💚

[@freeweights101]

Why do I get cowardly the dog feel when watching Earth Worm Jim

[@rustyshackleford7265]

Oh yeah. Oi luvv "Eawf Weum Jim"

[@qurn]

oh man, if you don't shoot the bowl and just walk up to him, Jim pulls Bob out of the fish bowl and eats him.