Developed by Shiny Entertainment and released in 1995 for the Sega Genesis, Earthworm Jim 2 is a surreal run-and-gun platformer that leans heavily into absurd humor and constantly shifting gameplay mechanics. Instead of sticking strictly to standard side-scrolling, the sequel throws a different style of play at you in nearly every stage, from navigating isometric mazes as a blind cave salamander to frantically bouncing Peter Puppy's children to safety with a giant marshmallow. Armed with a bizarre array of new blaster power-ups and a green sidekick named Snott who acts as a parachute and grappling hook, Jim must once again race to rescue Princess What's-Her-Name from the villainous Psy-Crow.
How to Play
Your goal is to survive each uniquely themed level and reach the end, adapting to whatever bizarre mechanic the stage throws at you. For standard platforming, use the arrow keys to move. Sega Genesis games in the browser typically map the A, B, and C buttons to Z, X, and C, which you use to shoot your blaster, jump, and whip enemies or swing from hooks. You can cycle through your collected weapons using the Enter or Shift key. When jumping, hold the jump button to deploy Snott as a parachute and slow your descent.
Tips
- Save powerful weapons like the Barn Blaster, which damages every enemy on screen, for tough boss fights or overwhelming ambushes rather than wasting them on standard grunts.
- During the recurring “Puppy Love” bonus stages, keep your eyes on where the puppies are bouncing next rather than where they are falling from, and avoid the bombs so you aren't stunned when a puppy drops.
- Use Snott to stick to the green slime-covered ceilings and walls found in several levels, allowing you to bypass hazards and reach hidden extra lives and ammo.
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