ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove

ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove is a faithful enhancement to the classic original. It might not satisfy those looking for their next big blockbuster or 'prestige indie' title as the design may feel somewhat dated, despite the game’s own attempts to obfuscate the obsolete with the arbitrary. This funky, distinctive game should please the nostalgic while being unique enough to attract, and satisfy, the curious.

The game can be confusing at first and a bit punishing without saving, where simple mistakes can cost the player being sent back down levels or even a life, potentially leaving some to put the game down too soon before getting a true grip on it. For only twenty bucks this seems great for retro fans or those that loved the series before, but anyone who is brand new to Toejam & Earl may not be able to handle the funk.

That’s all to say that despite some apprehensive dalliances with repetition, I loved ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove. The sublime style drips with funk, and the cadence of roaming through floors using my presents to try to avoid failure and find my ship parts is one that made for a charming experience. It didn’t matter if I saw some of the same things several times over my multiple playthroughs. The whole thing is spectacularly goofy and weird, even if I eventually do figure out why the hell the yeti has a pencil.

I do wish the time-honored gameplay was offset a bit more by balanced, polished, and tighter design at times. But if you’re “ready for a blast of funky nostalgia” the sense of déja vu that comes from familiar fun won’t be a negative. For the unacquainted, the co-creator, designer, and studio head Greg Johnson worked on Star Control II – if that’s not a selling point, what is? Concerning ToeJam & Earl, I can say the series, and Back in the Groove! especially, has a style all its own. There isn’t anything quite like it.

ToeJam and Earl are definitely back in the groove with this remake, and this game has been welcomed by fans who backed the Kickstarter back in 2015. I certainly wanted to see a more fresh take on these characters, but the game we got will keep fans of the franchise happy while introducing a whole new generation of gamers to the series.

ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove is essentially the exact sequel fans of the 1991 original have wanted all these years, and it does not skimp on new content over the first game. Despite its small issues, Back in the Groove is probably the best entry to this classic series we have gotten or will ever get. It is by no means perfect, but that's totally cool with me.

An updated version of the duo’s original Genesis exploits both in spirit and design, it manages to remain a charming experience no matter how ruthless its old school gameplay can be at times. It may only take a few hours to complete the story mode, but randomized worlds and plenty of unlockable variants will keep seasoned players coming back to this lovingly crafted sequel by HumaNature Studios for quite some time. This is exactly how a retro revival should be done and studios would be wise to take note.

Playing this game is equivalent to downing some orange soda and Cool Ranch Doritos while watching Rocko’s Modern Life with the Fresh Prince and DJ Jazzy Jeff playing on my parents’ six-CD player. With a little more variety in objectives this could be the killer co-op game to end all co-op games, but even with the same basic goal each run, ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove is one of the illest, dopest, most hella fly experiences I’ve had on my Switch.

ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove is a literal return-to-form for the series, and longtime fans should be happy about that. While it might not be a hardcore roguelike or fully integrate its more modern design choices, it does exactly what it sets out to do: give players a true sequel to the original Genesis classic. It’s hard to say how far this formula could have come in 28 years if the series hadn’t taken detours into other genres, but for now I’m just happy that it’s gone back to its roots.

The visuals are pretty, and the music is brilliant, but ToeJam and Earl: Back In The Groove! is the same game it was nearly three decades ago. This is fine I suppose, but it feels like more could have been done. It’s an enjoyable experience with friends, but a bit dull on your own. The whole experience is just a bit lackluster when compared to games of today. I’d love to see the series take some wild turns and try out new things. It’s a shame that this isn’t what happened.

All in all, though, you've really got to applaud what HumaNature Studios have achieved here. They took a franchise that looked to be dead, and, with help from the wallets of fans, they brought it back to life. ToeJam & Earl: Back In The Groove may not reinvent the wheel, but it is a funky slice of fan service that is bound to bring sizeable smiles to the exact people that paid for it to get made (and anyone one else that happens to pick it up).

Toejam & Earl: Back in the Groove might be the game that Mega Drive fans have been craving, but it feels slow and boring in the modern age of games.

If you have a place in your heart for ToeJam and Earl (and the rest of the funky bunch) this is a game you need to check out, but it's questionable whether new players will develop warm feelings if this is their first contact with the series.

ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove is one of those games hoping it can sell itself purely on nostalgia alone, as there isn’t much here that feels fresh or new, but I feel like that is the point. The developers certainly wanted to make a spiritual sequel to the original game and in that, they succeeded. So if you just want more ToeJam & Earl, you’ll probably be more than likely satisfied, but if you are hoping for something that feels like a modern day game that rejuvenates and brings life back to the series, this isn’t it.

The music is a healthy dose of funky jams and hip hop beats as you might expect. There are also some nice audio touches like the occasional muzak when riding the elevator. After years of relative obscurity, ToeJam & Earl is back in a big way. Back in the Groove likely won’t push the franchise beyond its cult status, but it is a good game that fans both old and new should check out. Pick up and play this one with a friend for the best experience.

Con nuevos personajes y un rediseño adaptado a los tiempos actuales, los amantes del original se emocionarán con este título que recupera las mismas mecánicas y enemigos, a lo que suman elementos de Panic in Funkotron. Sin embargo, se echa en falta un mayor atrevimiento a la hora de innovar en un diseño de niveles donde la mayor sorpresa son enemigos cada vez más poderosos.

Toe Jam & Earl Back in the Groove è tutto quello che si poteva chiedere al ritorno indie di un gioco che era già indie alla sua nascita. Ha dei limiti, soprattutto tecnici e nella possibile sensazione di ripetitività, ma ci sono pochi giochi che possono vantare una simile, strabordante, personalità. Un carattere dato da ciò che si vede, da quello che si fa, dalla colonna sonora, dal divertimento che scaturisce nelle partite in multiplayer. Tutti elementi che consentono di dimenticarsi per un po’ delle sue imprecisioni.