ToeJam & Earl

Infobox VG
title=ToeJam & Earl


developer=Johnson Voorsanger Productions
publisher=Sega
designer=Greg Johnson
Program=Mark Voorsanger
director=
producer=Scott Berfield
released=March 12, 1991
genre=Action, Adventure
modes=Single player, 2-player co-op
ratings=
platforms=Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Virtual Console
media=16-bit
requirements=
input=Game controller

"ToeJam & Earl" is a series of action/adventure games for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis and Xbox consoles. The first game was released on March 12, 1991 in North America. The games feature the two eponymous characters, aliens from a planet called "Funkotron", who accidentally crash on Earth after their ship collides with an asteroid.

The games were created by ToeJam & Earl Productions Inc., formerly known as Johnson Voorsanger Productions (JVP), of San Rafael, California by founders Greg Johnson and Mark Voorsanger. Scott Berfield was the producer and it was published by Sega of America. The music was written by John Baker.

Characters

*ToeJam is a skinny three-legged red alien with two ommatophores (eye-stalks), who wears a white hat, black and white sneakers resembling Chuck Taylors, and an oversized golden medallion. He moves faster than Earl.
*"Big" Earl is a chubby orange alien who wears sunglasses and blue shorts, which tend to fall down. His life bar is longer than ToeJam's.

Gameplay

The game's premise starts with ToeJam & Earl cruising the stars in their spaceship, when ToeJam decides to let Earl drive. As a result, the pair crash-land on Earth, their spaceship broken into ten pieces. They must search for the pieces and reassemble their spaceship in order to return home to the planet Funkotron. As they do so, they face a variety of Earthlings that either stand in their way (by causing the player to lose health in various ways) or help by providing beneficial services (for a small fee).

The gameplay consists of the player controlling the characters around a multitude of levels in a search for their "funkotronic" space ship parts, while fighting earthlings with tomatoes. During the game, the player will also collect present boxes which contain special items. The items vary from food (to gain or lose health points) to rocket-skate shoes, and each different type of present box contains the same kind item.

Another notable feature of the game is the multi-screen capability. When on two players mode, if the characters get too far away from each other, the screen will split in half leaving each character free to move through the game. The players could even be on different levels at the same time. Players can assist one another by performing a high five, which equalizes health between the two. A special present, Togetherness, allows a player to teleport to the other player's location.

The two characters also talk with each other during the game, if they are close enough and if they're both not moving. When two players get together again, the characters also say things like "Yo, what's up!". They also humorously chat with each other as they ride the elevator between scenes.

To defend against the Earthlings, a variety of power-ups are provided in the form of "presents." Each present appears as a differently-wrapped package, which must be identified either by opening it or by other means. Some presents offer increased mobility for a limited time, such as the Super Hi-tops (increased speed), Rocket Skates ("really" increased speed at the cost of control), Spring Shoes (ability to jump), and Icarus Wings (flight). Other presents provide bonuses, such as extra bucks (which may be used to mail-order presents at mailboxes or to have presents identified by the Wise Man in the Carrot Suit without opening them) or extra lives. Still others are harmful, such as Schoolbook (puts the player to sleep for a time, making them vulnerable to attack) 'Total Bummer!' (kills the player on the spot) or Randomizer (scrambles all identified presents, requiring them to be identified all over again). Health bonuses in the form of food items are also found; the better the food tastes, the more it heals, so a fudge sundae will heal more than a bowl of cereal. Some food items, however, cause the player to "lose" health rather than gain it. Most of this type are rotten, like moldy cheese, but some types are foods stereotypically disliked by children, such as cabbage.

The game has twenty-five main levels, which are arranged vertically, one above the other, and a secret level zero which you can get to through the left bottom corner of level 1. Players progress upward through the levels by means of an elevator, which appears on each map. Levels also have cliff edges, which the unwary player can fall from, landing on the next-lower level. The terrain also presents hazards such as deserts (which acts as quicksand) and lakes. The game could be played through with pre-set levels (Fixed World) or randomly-generated levels (Random World). In Random World mode, the level layout, Earthlings, and presents were randomised, increasing the longevity of the game.

"ToeJam & Earl" was a hit; the game appeared on top lists of rentals for years after its release, and is one of the best-remembered titles of its generation.

On December 22 2006 in Europe and December 25 2006 in the US, "ToeJam & Earl" was released as a Virtual Console game for Nintendo's Wii console. Upon its rerelease, 1UP.com praised its indescribable appeal and enjoyable co-op mode. [cite web| url=http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3156110 |title=Retro Roundup: Saturnalia Edition|last=Parish|first=Jeremy|date=2006-12-29|accessdate=2007-01-02|work=1UP.com]

There are various rankings that you aspire to achieve throughout the game, in an RPG-esque system of points gathered by revealing the map and opening present packages (you don't earn points by defeating earthlings). Each ranking raises your life bar and certain rankings earn you an extra life. These are: 1. Wiener, 2. Dufus, 3. Poindexter, 4. Peanut, 5. Dude, 6. Bro, 7. Homey, 8. Rapmaster and 9. Funklord

Earthlings

The Earthlings represented in Toejam and Earl range from stereotypical humans to bizarre monsters from the imaginations of children. They can be either helpful (for a small fee) or harmful (the majority).

Helpful Earthlings

"Wise Carrot" - The wise carrot paces wonderingly back and forth. If Toejam or Earl make contact with him, the Carrot asks if he has two bucks. The player may then chose either 'yep' or 'nope'. If the player choses 'nope', the quotation bubble disappears, and the carrot continues on his way. If the player choses 'yep', and indeed has the requisite money, a box will appear showing the player's inventory of presents. For two dollars, the player may select an unidentified present, notarized by question marks, and the carrot will reveal the contents of the gift. The player may continue to reveal the presents' contents as long he or she has sufficient funds.

"The Opera Singer" - Valkyrie-like mountain of a woman who waltzes or putters around the screen seeking an audience. She will follow Toejam and Earl around a given level, albeit slowly and clumsily - having difficulty, like all earthlings, with the edges of cliffs and water. For 3 bucks, she will belt out a ho-yah-ho and pop all other earthlings in the vicinity. Toejam and Earl escape unscathed by virtue of covering up their ear holes.

"Mailbox" - The mailbox - not to be confused with the evil mailbox monster - is not an earthling. Upon contacting it, Toejam or Earl will be asked in a pop-up bubble if he has a mail order. If the player choses 'yep', a screen will appear with three presents from which to select. The player may then purchase a present for a fee of either $3, $4, or $5. Once a present is selected, the screen disappears, and the player may continue. Note: these presents may be unidentified, and can be terrible. The prices and presents are randomized, so you can buy a $5 Total Bummer or $3 fudge sundaes.

"Santa Claus" - Santa Claus is a rare character, appearing only occasionally throughout the game. Santa appears in his traditional outfit, but he is wearing a Biggles-style flying helmet and goggles. Once he is visible on the screen, Santa Claus is seen digging in his sack. If Toejam or Earl walk up to him quickly, question marks will appear above Santa Claus' head. He will then look around, throw the sack over his shoulder, and a now recognizable rocket pack will emit flames. Santa Claus will fly off to an unknown place on the map. If Toejam or Earl see Santa Claus immediately and commence to sneak up on him by holding in the A trigger, he will drop a number of presents from his sack when contact is made. The player may then collect the dropped presents, and Santa Claus will fly off with his rocket pack. The trick is to stop tiptoeing when he looks up; when he looks back down, the player can continue sneaking up on him.

Presents

ToeJam and Earl can acquire a limited number of presents. These are placed throughout the levels or can be bought from mailboxes (not the bad ones). The identity of presents remains unknown until used or identified by Carrot Man. If a player uses a present within the same screen as a co-operative player, then the present is mutual and applied to both players.

Sequels and other appearances

Two sequels have been released:
* "ToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron" (Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, 1993)
* "" (Microsoft Xbox, 2002)

ToeJam and Earl also appeared in "Ready-Aim-Tomatoes!", a game packaged with the Menacer light gun for the Mega Drive/Genesis, which involved ToeJam fighting off Earthlings by throwing tomatoes. They have also appeared in Art Alive! and Wacky Worlds, both paint programs for the same console.

Tributes

Boston musician Robby Roadsteamer released an album called "This Album Syncs Up To Toejam And Earl" in May 2008.

References

External links

* [http://www.tjande.com ToeJam & Earl Productions Inc.] Official website
* [http://sega-16.com/feature_page.php?id=247&title=Interview:%20Greg%20Johnson Sega-16's interview with creator Greg Johnson]
*GameFAQs|id=563350
*moby game|id=-group/toejam-and-earl-series|name="PAGENAME" series