„Earthworm Jim” or Earthworm Jim: PSP Is a canceled game that was supposed to be released on the PlayStation Portable. Initially, the game was supposed to be a remake of the original game, it was later revealed that the game will contain mostly original content. The game was reported to have reunited some of the developers who worked on the acclaimed „Earthworm Jim” and Earthworm Jim 2″, but they were absent during the production of the inferior games „Earthworm Jim 3D” and Jim: Menace 2 the Galaxy”. Although the game was 80% complete in August 2006 and was scheduled for a release date in early 2007, the game was eventually canceled in mid-2007.
Development of
Rumors of a new Earthworm Jim game began in 2006. It was originally thought to be a remake of the original Earthworm Jim due to Jim’s footage on a level very reminiscent of that New junk city from the first game. Atari officially announced the game at E3 2006, and the firm also received the franchise rights. However, the game was reportedly still in development with contributions from the two original games, Earthworm Jim and Earthworm Jim 2, including Shiny Entertainment, founded by David Perry, Douglas TenNapel, Nick Bruti and Tommy Tallarico. … The developers later announced that the game would be mostly filled with new content, albeit with elements from earlier games. Among the characters that were to return to the game, Princess Whatever was mentioned and Peter Puppy.
In August 2006, the game was 80% complete and many video game reviewers had hands-on builds of games such as GameSpot, GamesRadar, and IGN. A release date for the game was scheduled for early 2007. However, the game was canceled and never saw the light of day.
Gameplay
The game was supposed to keep the gameplay of the two original games, playing a side view in 2D with Run and gun elements, only with 3D graphics. The game was supposed to have 3D gameplay, much in the spirit of Sonic Rivals or Klonoa: Door to Phantomile. As in the original two games, the gameplay consisted of maneuvering Jim through the levels by running, jumping and defeating enemies with the pistol and his head, using it as a whip.
Many new features have been planned as well. One of them was the ability to collect various parts for Jim’s costume, such as new gloves, boots, and armor. Several details were used to facilitate certain aspects of the levels, such as the speed boost from upgrading boots, which made it easier to navigate the level. Also, the game was supposed to have a competitive mode for two players. The player also had the opportunity to make Jim start dancing at any point in the game. For example, the player could force Jim to sit down and fit into smaller spaces.
The game was reported to have eight separate levels, but only two (New Junk City and The Birds and the Bees) were specifically detailed. „New Junk City” was to be a remake of the level of the same name from the original „Earthworm Jim”, and „The Birds and the Bees” was a completely new level in which Jim finds himself in a war between birds and bees. GameSpot described the level in such a way that Jim was caught in the middle of a war between birds and bees and would have to progress through an increasingly difficult level, the design of which was inspired by the board game Mousetrap. In other words, what Jim does at a given level affects one part of it.
Cancellation
Atari quietly postponed the game until June 2007, when Atari spokesman Alyssa Bell announced that it would not be included in their development list and that they might return to it in the future, but the title of the game was still pending. Since then, no further announcements have been made about the game and has since been canceled. GameZone reported that this is mainly due to financial problems, as they stated:
Earthworm jim was originally published by Interplay, a company that had frequent money problems and sold the entire Fallout franchise to Bethesda Softworks to help deal with their debt problems. However, back in 2006, before the sale of all Fallout intellectual property, it was reported that they needed $ 75 million to complete the Fallout MMO project. The Earthworm Jim project was supposed to start around the same time. So, as luck would have it, Interplay was in dire need of money and was unable to pay off Shiny Entertainment’s royalties from previous years, including TV shows, toys, and more, which sent the worm into the superstar’s stratosphere.
In addition, it has been suggested that the 80% figure and the involvement of the original creators may have been exaggerated as well. Interplay remained silent about the franchise until 2008, when the fourth installment in the Jim series was announced, but series creator Douglas Ten-Napel later denied its existence in 2010, and no other information was announced.
