1. Set up your Super Nintendo Entertainment System.
2. Be sure that control pad 1 is plugged in properly.
3. Make sure the power switch is turned OFF. Place the Earthworm Jim game
pak into the cartridge slot and press it down firmly.
4. Turn the power switch to ON. You should see the Nintendo Title screen, then the Earthworm Jim title screen. If not, open your eyes and try again.
TAKE CONTROL
Button Y Fire your Plasma Blaster, or any other weapon you get. Also acts
as an accelerator for your rocket.
Button A Does the Head Whip and the Bungee Shove. Activates Shield on
rocket flights.
Button B Jump. Rapidly pressing while in flight turns Jim's head into a
helicopter-like blade that will float him gently to the ground.
Acts as an accelerator for your rocket.
Button X Turns on Mrs. Schultz's porch light in Germany, so quit pressing it!
Control Hey, it controls which way you move and which direction you
Pad look. What did you think it did ?
THE WORM HAS TURNED
into a super hero
A small renegade ship escaped from the evil Queen with a stolen ultra-high tech, indestructable, super space cyber suit on board. During a frantic battle with Psy-Crow, the renegade and ship are blown to smithereens, and the suit falls to a strange planet called Earth.
Jim is struck by the falling suit and by sheer luck rests safely in the suit's neck.
Suddenly, the ultra-high tech space particles of the suit set off a radical light speed evolution and we witness the birth of Earthworm Jim.
THE OPTION SCREEN
To enter the options screen from the title screen, use up and down on the D-pad to highlight the options title and press any button.
Difficulty : There are three levels of difficulty in Earthworm Jim : Practice, Normal and Difficult. Every level of difficulty changes a number of things.
Practice : You can't even watch fishing shows. Salt makes you cringe. You don't even own any EarthWorm Jim action figures. You still haven't figures out the hamster gags.
Normal : Okay, you've ordered the action figures. You juggle fishing lures. You call him EWJ even though it's more syllables then EarthWorm Jim. You've been caught in long underwear tying your hair to a certain rod to see if you can swing from your head, just like EWJ. You begin to make hamster jokes yourself.
Difficult : You go swimming in trout-infested waters. You sunbathe on the hottest day of the year, and swim in the Dead Sea. You've designed the next EarthWorm Jim game and submitted your idea to Shiny Entertainment. You're a stud, you're tough, you're a Lumbricus terrestris.
THE GAME SCREEN
Worms left : This is the number of additional Jim lives you have left to complete the game. There are many hidden lives to help you on your quest to save the princess. Look everywhere for them!
Suit Energy : This is the percentage the suit has left. Whenever you are attacked by an enemy or generally do something stupid this number goes down. If this numbe reaches zero you will lose a life. additional energy can be found floating throughout the levels, or when you defeat an enemy.
Plasma Shots : This is the number of rounds of plasma energy you have left to fire. Additional energy clips can be picked up while you are playing, but you must use your shots carefully as many enemies await you. If you run completely out of shots, the plasme gun automatically recharges itself very slowly by gathering energy from around it, but it is strangely advised not to let the gun run out of ammo.
ITEMS
Plasma Power : Each time you pick up one of these you get an additional 250 rounds of plasma power. Plasma shots are limited so get as many of these as you can find!
Mega Plasma : The Big Wally of plasma detonation! This weapon will generally wipe out anything you can point it and fire! Every time you collect one of these you only get one mega-shot, so use them wisely!
Suit Power : Atomic energy that the suit needs to function. Collecting these items increases your overall suit energy. More healthy than a big bowl of chicken soup.
Asteroid Shields : During the Rock Races, grad these to protect yourself from colliding with the asteroids.
Atomic Accelarator : Catch one of these power gems to throw yourself into overdrive. Useful for a quick burst of speed to avoid Psy-Crow.
Fuel Pods: While racing, grad these items for fun and profit. Better than selling Grit (America's Family Newspaper) and much easier.
Extra Life : Hidden throughout the vast levels are these items that will give you an extra life towards rescuing the princess.
THE LEVELS
New Junk City : Menacing cows, giant mutant garbage cans, the junkyard's owner Chuck and his dog Fifi, want to welcome you to the junkyard in their own special way - by trying to kill you. Bounce from tire to tire, or slide across zip lines to grab extra power-ups. Watch out, compared to Fifi's bark, those bites are even worse!
What the Heck? : Welcome to Planet Heck. As Evil the Cat dances, you wander through the devilshly tricky maze. Step quickly...it can get a little to hot for Jim even in his indestructable suit. For an uplifting experience, take a jog on a gem, but don't let Jim get a hot foot! There'll be a hot time in the old town tonight for sure!
Down the Tubes : Bob the goldfish knows that EWJ's super suit couls make him rules of the world. Maybe even the universe!! Controlling the drone cat minions in his underwater lair, Bob will use his servants to find you wherever you hide, high or low. Don't let the size of Bob's kitten guards fool you-they're as powerful as the cats! Hamsters galore!
Snot a Problem : Bubgee jumping is scary enough without Major Mucus trying to bash you into the walls, but that's exactly his plan. As your bungee card gets thinner and thinner, your life hangs on a few measly threads!!! But that's not all. Mucus Phlegm Brain is waiting for you to get to close to the pool of snot or fall in - he's waiting for lunch!
Level 5 : The Professor would love to have Earthworm Jim on the dissection table, but that darn supersuit keeps him safe. The Professor wants that suit back - after all, he designed it for the Queen. Ofcourse, he could make another one...if only that darn monkey hadn't eaten the blueprints! That's another can of worms entirely. You'd better keep an eye out for the professor's creepy science experiments, they're everywhere. Careful when the lights go out! Remember when you were afraid of the dark ? Relive the horror (if you can find it) and find your way out!
For Pete's Sake : Walking the dog was never like this!!! If you let little Peter fall, watch out - his temper gets the best of him and he mutates into a ravenous hulking giant! If the meteor showers don't rain on your parade, and the flying saucers don't blow you away, then maybe, just maybe you'll make it through okay. Oh, did I forget to mention that the Unipus' (like an octopus, but with one arm) tentacles will kill you...?
Buttville : It's dark, there's lightning in the distance ,and you've got to keep your head in order to stay alive. You're now facing the Queen and her minions head to head, so use yours. The Queen is using her control over all the insects in order to stop you. Everywhere you turn, one of her followers is going to be there. You may think it's hopeless, but it's Snot. Try to control your every move here. Any mistakes will probably be your last.
Andy Asteroids : Ready for a wild ride through space ? Well hold on to your seat because between each level Psy-Crow is right on your tail! Dodge the asteroids and try knocking Psy-Crow off his rocket to help you get to the finish line alive. Grab the Atomic Accelerators along the way to leave Psy-Crow eating your heavy ions. Ofcourse, if you're travelling that fast, you'll want to stock up on shields...unless you're an expert pilot.
THE CAST OF CHARACTERS
Earthworm Jim : Just an ordinary earthworm caught in a suit he doesn't understand. Faced with the daunting task of keeping the super powered suit out of the evil clutches of his vicious enemies, you'll have to use every weapon and power you can just to keep Jim alive! And he got weapons, whips, plasma, blasters, hamsters (umm...) and other hi-tech stuff!
Chuck & Fifi : Fifi is a lovable poodle. Try a psychotic four-legged chainsaw with a rusty chain and you'll know what we mean. Fifi wants to keep strangers away from his master's junkyard. Chuck will throw anything he can to keep you from surviving. You'll need to keep your wits in order to dethrone him.
Evil the Cat : Born with no heart, the ruler of Heck lives to torture others. Filling Heck with corporate lawyers and dreaded elevator music, Evil has seen to it that Jim doesn't stand a snowball's chance. Evil's snowmen are a good example of how twisted this cat really is!!! If you thought Heck was bad before, you ain't seen nothin' yet.
Psy-Crow : Jim was hunted by crows all his life, but never one with a gun!!! Psy-Crow is determined to get that suit back for the Queen at any cost. Because of his persistence and twisted crow mind, you'll never know when he's gonna turn up!!! If he gets his worm hook into you and pulls you out of the suit, Jim is as good as bass bait. Keep your eyes open and stay on guard!
Major Mucus : From the distant Phlegm planet, Major Mucus will stop at nothing to get Jim's suit. Bouncing wildly from a tiny thread of goo, the Major is bound to be trouble. Watch out, if he gets hold of Jim, the snot will really hit the fan!
Peter Puppy : Peter may first look like a cute, cuddly puppy, but when he transforms into his alter ego there's nowhere to hide. This isn't going to be just another walk in the park with Peter! Jim's super suit helped him survive the trip through the black hole to Peter's world, but its powers might not be enough to help him get back...
Professor Monkey for a Head : You'd be pretty mad too if you had a monkey sharing your head, or is the Professor sharing the monkey's head ? Whatever you do, don't call him "Monkey Professor-for-a-Head" or he'll get really steamed! This guy is totally bananas and he's willing to destroy Jim to prove it.
Bob & #4 : Bob is a goldfish with plans...plans to steal Jim's powerful suit so he can rule the universe. He can't harm Earthworm Jim directly, but that's what the drone cat #4 is for! This brute packs a mean punch! Whatever Bob wants, #4 gets - and Bob wants that suit!
Princess-What's-Her-Name : Twin sister of the queen, she got the good end of the genetic pool. A truly bodacious babe of the highest magnitude! When asked about her favourite activities, she sweetly replied "Save the space whales. I'm a Libra. Will you buy me a spaceship ?"
The evil Queen Pulsating, Bloated, Festering, Sweaty, Pus-filled, Malformed, Slug for a Butt..... : Adjectives escape us as we try to encapsulate the utter putridity of her being. let's put it this way : She's big, she's bad, and she's in the mood for earthworm burgers! She has a face not even a mother could love (and a body to match). She's Jim's ultimate nightmare! How can be she defeated ? Is it possible ? You know she has a twin sister, don't you ?
HINTS AND TIPS
Try not to stay in the same place too long. As a moving target, Jim is a lot tougher to hit.
Limit your firing to short bursts of plasma. This will save much needed rounds for later.
Use your head - literally! Your whip-like head can do moe then destroy your enemies. You can use it to swing from place to place. Hmmm...what sort of thing could you swing form ?
Don't be afraid to make a leap of faith. With a part-time propeller for a head, Jim can gently glide down a chasm that he's leaped into - even though you couldn't see where he was going to land.
Sometimes hanging around isn't such a hot idea and you'll need to get out of somebody's way. Just pull yourself up by your bootstraps (you'd be amazed at how many enemies don't look up...)
Surrounding yourself with Earthworm Jim action figures, watching the new television show and buying anything with Earthworm Jim, the Playmates logo, or Shiny Entertainment's logo on it will automatically make you the coolest person in your neighbourhood.
Gather as many atoms as you can before the end of each stage. You'll need as much energy as you can get to defeat the bosses. And watch your plasma gun's energy level - recharching only seems to take longer when you're in a jam.
Open your eyes and search around. There are many secrets to be found. Closely look at what you see, for many secrets are off the screen...
There are a ton of goodies on each level. If you can't find a way to get to something you see, the answer may just lie ahead, or below, or above you, or this-a-way, or that-a-way...
To keep Psy-Crow out of the action, you've got to beat him in the asteroid...race. Otherwise he'll give you problems on every level. (Lose a turn for not laughing at the asteroid joke.)
Defeating the Queen involves stopping her from laying eggs. Now, how can you do that ? Don't you wish you stayed awake during health education ?
Most of the time, keeping Peter moving along is the best paln of action. But how can you stop him, or slow him down, when you need to ? Click.
Making cookies with butter-flavoured shortening rather than butter or margarine keeps them from flattening out too much during baking.
Finding the can of worms is one way to get a continue, the other..well, that's fuel for thought.
CREDITS
PROGRAM : Nicholas Jones
ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING : David Perry, Andy Astor
ORIGINAL CONCEPT : Douglas TenNapel
DIRECTING ANIMATOR : Mike Dietz
ANIMATORS : Edward Schofield, Douglas TenNapel
ART DIRECTOR : Nick Bruty
LEAD ARTIST : Steve Crow
LEVEL DESIGNER : Tom Tanaka
INK AND PAINT : Eric Ciccone, Mike Pilotti
CLEAN UP : Clark Sorensen, Ryan Silva, Nicky Wilson
ASSISTANT ARTIST : Lin Shen
MUSIC & SOUND FX : Mark Miller
DESIGNED BY : Many, Many, Shiny Meetings
PRODUCED BY : David Luehmann
DEVELOPMENT TOOLS BY : Andy Astor, Dan Chang, PSY-Q, Rob Northern Computing
SPECIAL THANKS : Playmates Toys, Richard Sallis, Becky Tran, Bug Busters, Game Test, Michael Koelsh, Sachs Finley & Co., Golin Harris Communications, Moore & Price Design.
