ToeJam & Earl is a landmark 1991 roguelike developed by Johnson Voorsanger Productions for the Sega Genesis. You play as two funk-loving alien rappers who have crash-landed on a bizarre, floating-island version of Earth. To get back to their home planet of Funkotron, you must navigate randomly generated levels, hunt down the scattered pieces of your righteously wrecked spaceship, and avoid a wildly surreal cast of hostile Earthlings.
How to play: Your objective is to find ten hidden spaceship pieces across increasingly difficult levels. Since the map is generated randomly, exploration is key. You cannot attack enemies directly; instead, you rely on wrapped presents scattered around the world. These contain unpredictable items that can either save you (like Icarus Wings or Super Hi-Tops) or doom you (like the Randomizer or Total Bummer). On a standard keyboard, use the arrow keys to move, and Z, X, and C for the Genesis A, B, and C buttons to manage presents and view your map. Press Enter to start.
Tips:
- Always identify your presents when possible by paying the Wiseman in the carrot suit. Using an unidentified present in a panic is a massive gamble.
- If you find a Boombox, save it for crowds of aggressive Earthlingsโit forces them to stop and dance, giving you a clean getaway.
- Sneak past sleeping Earthlings by walking slowly (gently tapping the movement keys) instead of moving at full speed, which will wake them up.
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