Earthworm Jim on Virtual Console

By Robert Purchese Published 3 October, 2008

Wriggles into view with Shining Force II.

Earthworm Jim and Shining Force II are the only exciting new sights on Nintendo's Virtual Console this morning in Europe, unless you count me, since I was on there for a bit to check. I'm exciting to look at.

Both were originally released on the SEGA Megadrive, which means both will set you back 800 Wii Points (GBP 6 / EUR 8) if you fancy reliving the varying experiences they offer.

Earthworm Jim, of course, is the original worm-in-a-spacesuit platform game, whose quirky humour (fridges falling on cows, that sort of thing) tickled us wriggly pink back in the days of Transformers, He-Man and jumpers for goalposts.

Incidentally, revived publisher Interplay is planning a fourth Earthworm Jim game, although no platforms or details have been announced, and the original team probably isn't involved, because the first game came out 200 years ago.

The other title on offer today is Shining Force II, a beefy RPG full of rangers and wizards and that. Apparently a boxed copy of the game is hugely sought after, and fetches as much as 60 or 70 American dollars from people who care, or "four houses" in current economic terms.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (16) Latest comment 3 years ago

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  • bitesize #1 3 years ago


    groovy!

  • speedjack #2 3 years ago

    Arn't both these meant to be awsome ?

  • CapnCloudchaser #3 3 years ago

    ZOMG SHINING FORCE 2!!

    /Caps for importance!

    Been waiting for SF2 ever since the VC was launched :)

    Oh, and I love Earthworm Jim.. Whatever happened to the awesome cartoon?

  • Triggerhappytel #4 3 years ago

    Earthworm Jim is excellent, probably in my top 10 2D platformers ever.

    Excuse the pedantry, but - "fridges falling on cows, that sort of thing" - the fridge doesn't fall on the cow. The fridge falls on a makeshift seesaw which propels the cow into the air, which eventually lands on the princess as Jim is about to get some lovin'.

    I've always wanted to play the Shining Force games, after hearing good things about them. I don't have a Wii though, so never mind.

  • danteire #5 3 years ago

    @speedjack

    Yes, yes they are.

    I need a Wii now.

  • bad09 #6 3 years ago

    Groovy!

    I still play Jim, absolute class!

    I'm Wiiless now anyway but I dunno (even if they released it on Live or PSN at that price), with PS1 going for £3.49 I can't help but feel £6 is a bit much for these games.....

    (If it's "spruced" up like a lot of the Live classics then I'll shut up)

  • bitesize #7 3 years ago


    ^ i doubt they'll be spruced up, VC games are always (so far) faithful ports of the originals, and i like it that way. the last thing i want is to drag my PS1 out of the loft and set it up (upside down, cos the disc lid is fucked) in the front room again, it's worth the extra cash (to me) to be able to play EWJ without having to do all that...

  • kinky_mong #8 3 years ago

    Earthworm Jim, of course, is the original worm-in-a-spacesuit platform game, whose quirky humour (fridges falling on cows, that sort of thing) tickled us wriggly pink back in the days of Transformers, He-Man and jumpers for goalposts.

    Erm... wasn't Earthworm Jim released in the mid 90's and Transformers and He-Man were from the 80's?

  • andywilkie35 #9 3 years ago

    haha I remember playing Earthworm Jim YEARS ago, I loved it! shall purchase

  • bushwod #10 3 years ago

    @mem

    Didn't see yesterdays news then?

  • secombe #11 3 years ago

    Interesting, wasn't Earthworm Jim a Virgin Interactive title? I always assumed we would never see games from them (and sadly not the superb Disney MegaDrive titles either, some which were through Virgin) but this looks promising.

  • bad09 #12 3 years ago

    "(and sadly not the superb Disney MegaDrive titles either, some which were through Virgin)"

    \o/ *cough* emulation *cough*

    / runs!

  • rock27gr #13 3 years ago

    To bad it's the MD edition though. I'd rather have the superior SNES one.

  • Kostabi #14 3 years ago

    The best deal is from Good Old Games, they'll be selling Earthworm Jim 1+2 as a package for $5.99

  • smelly #15 3 years ago

    SOLD!

    Cant wait to go snot bungie jumping again...

  • X #16 3 years ago

    Should have given the Mega CD version with the extra level and 'goodies' for the price they are asking.