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ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove!
Released On: Feb 15, 2019
75
6.2
Where to Buy
Where to Buy
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 22 Critic Reviews
75
55% Positive
12 Reviews
12 Reviews
45% Mixed
10 Reviews
10 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 22 Critic Reviews
75
55% Positive
12 Reviews
12 Reviews
45% Mixed
10 Reviews
10 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Even if you don’t have an ounce of affinity for the first game, or weren’t around to experience it to begin with, ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove still comes together as a modern roguelike that everyone can enjoy.
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.
User Score
Mixed or Average
Based on 93 User Ratings
6.2
54% Positive
50 Ratings
50 Ratings
8% Mixed
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
39% Negative
36 Ratings
36 Ratings
User Score
Mixed or Average
Based on 93 User Ratings
6.2
54% Positive
50 Ratings
50 Ratings
8% Mixed
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
39% Negative
36 Ratings
36 Ratings
This game, although I did not know its predecessors, and although at first I did not know what it was doing, I was very hooked on the game, it is an excellent game for my taste, good difficulty and good randomness in certain parts that offer you a challenge , and ufff, cooperation is very well achieved, what I like most in games, it doesn't go sideways with all the players alive, or someone dead and we can't revive him for life, it's still useful distracting and showing hidden objects
In itself, the game is fine, if it is your type, pure strategy and RNG (the RNG is not exactly negative, as in other games that play a lot against, here the RNG feels fun)
It is my personal opinion, I respect the opinion and type of tastes of all.
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Nintendo Switch
This game is very repetitive to unlock harder **** soundtrack is by bassist Cody Wright.
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Nintendo Switch
All in all, ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove! is as solid of a remake of the classic title as you can hope for. It plays the same, sounds the same, looks better, and has a fair amount of new content. It's fun and accessible, and it's a solid roguelike for players of all ages. Nostalgic fans of the original will find a lot to love here, and newcomers should enjoy this retro trip back to the radical '90s.
While still in need of some technical polish, ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove is a loving flashback to the good old 90s, filled with some lighthearted laughs and killer beats in an easygoing adventure setting. Fans of the original will definitely find something to love, and those who are new to the craziness can find some great fun here.
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. Details such as the exhaustive documentation and varying minigames definitely show some heart in the development. Ultimately, this is a package that is designed to appeal to pre-existing fans rather than create entirely new ones, but if you're a fan of this kind of game and don't mind the odd spot of randomness, then you should give it a try.
It has the unlockables and online functionality of its modern contemporaries, while sticking to its roots and showing us that a good game can still be a good game, even after all these years.
Back in the Groove might satisfy series fans that just want some new toys to play with, but the sluggish speed and obtuse design of the dated original remains.
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Nintendo Switch
I enjoyed the first Toejam & Earl game, but never quite understood what the hell you were supposed to do. This switch version is eye popping gorgeous, has online player mode (rarely someone else playing), and is easy to learn. After playing through this, there are great incentives (unlockables) to keep playing. The game is just ridiculously fun and well crafted to reboot the franchise. This was definitely for the old players and not so much an attempt to bring in new players (IMO).
Loved it, play it all the time.
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Nintendo Switch
Massive fan of the original. Played it co-op many times over with my big sister. This remake does successfully recreate the fun personality, features and systems of the original game, but is not as playable or as well-made. The original game had two invisible, excellent, features - a slower, deliberate pace, and plenty of visual breathing room. In this remake everything slides around fast and loose, clamoring to overlap and occupy more of the screen, ruining what made the original so approachable. New features have been added - new biomes, day/night, a stats system and a bigger variety of presents & unlockables add replayability, but the *core game* - the control response, movement, field of view, scale and readability of the enemies' (for dodging), the 'stealth' and 'combat' (sneaking and tomatoes) -- all of these things were great in the original but here they are a hot mess, lively at best but utterly frustrating and unplayable on the harder difficulties. Example - random generation places important objects directly atop eachother - impossible to see clearly and interact deliberately. Most enemy characters are oversized compared to your viewing area, they move fast and their sprites flail around so wildly you can't read and judge their collision area so as to negotiate dangerous situations - late in the game there'll be literally entire screens filled with oversize enemies flailing wildly and you can't hope to see what's coming and avoid it, and don't rely on tomatoes or a slingshot because they aren't easy to aim or satisfying to use. Sure it's a game about funky personalities and weird popculture gags, but the core mechanics have been slapped together with minor consideration for what made the original game so playable underneath it all. It's a damn shame that so many good new ideas have been piled atop a shoddy remake of the core mechanics. This game gets lots of new things right but screwed up what made the original so playable and satisfying. Tons of personality, lacking in basic playability.
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Nintendo Switch
When playing this game I couldn't help but think back to the good ole days of sitting up in my room, a Dew and Doritos 3D at the ready, just jamming out to the dynamite soundtrack of the original ToeJam & Earl. This newest entry in the series is ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove! and boy is that name fitting. Everything you remember from the original T&E is back, but it’s all cranked up to 11. The music is fantastic! The whole time I was playing this game I kept finding myself doing a little jig while sitting on my couch. My girlfriend who normally just falls asleep whenever I play games even pointed out how good the music was.
The level design is simple but not underwhelming. There are plenty of humans, bushes, houses and random objects for you to interact with throughout the level. You’ll also encounter hidden areas and magically appearing ground that leads you to either a new area or some teleporters.
The game is simple: you explore an area while finding presents that aid you on your journey while avoiding interaction with humans and trying to find your missing spaceship parts.
Nostalgia definitely plays a factor when playing T&E:BITG because its roots run deep, but don’t let that fool you. There is still plenty of new features to come with it. There’s also couch co-op that adds a whole other layer to the game. There’s something to say about local co-op modes. There’s nothing I enjoy more than scavenging a torn apart earth, looking for crazy, wacky presents with the people closest to me.
This game will take you back to a simpler day while still adding to your experience, but it seems like it’s leaving something out. Eventually the environments get stale and the enemies (humans) grow old; not really evolving as you play but rather repeating the same monotonous steps over and over until you find that last spaceship part. The levels change and they even add in different climates but it just feels like it it’s not enough. Each step of the way you’re avoiding humans on the same 3D platform, searching for presents and paying tolls. The characters have a variety of stats but all in all it doesn’t seem to matter, you still end up doing the same thing with all of them.
Although the game is fun, I couldn’t fully commit to it. It’s not the same level of enjoyment as it once was for me. One might say that it feels like I’ve grown up, and ToeJam & Earl... hasn’t.
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Nintendo Switch
they should rename this to CRASHjam and earl! if you want this game than DO NOT get the switch port. it constantly crashes when you use the elevator, fall off the level and even when you go to save sometimes. endless mode is incredibly buggy too the fps is also constantly dropping DO NOT BUY THIS!!
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Nintendo Switch
Summary The iconic ‘90s duo is back in the groove with all-new presents to help them navigate this wack planet ”Earth” and retrieve all the lost pieces to the Rapmaster Rocket. Team up for co-op play to discover secret locations, hidden presents and new friends.
Rated E +10
for Everyone +10
Platforms:
- PlayStation 4
- Xbox One
- PC
- Nintendo Switch
Initial Release Date: Feb 15, 2019
Developer:
- 22nd Century Toys
- Humanature Studios
Publisher: Limited Run Games
Genres:
