ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove!

 Switch
User Score
6.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 93 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 50 out of 93
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 93
  3. Negative: 36 out of 93
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  1. General_Tzu
    Aug 18, 2019
    10
    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.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.    … Expand
  2. Mickmog
    Jan 18, 2022
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A joyful trip down memory lane. Used to play in the early 90s after a night dancing to the cult and wonderstuff through to 3 in the morning.... now play cuddled up with twin 10 year olds on this joyous update!! A tad more sober....… Expand
  3. Frogacuda
    Mar 1, 2019
    10
    This is a game aimed squarely at fans of the 1991 original, with little concern for broadening that audience. There's a lot of merit to that -- we've had two sequels that attempted to reconcile the franchise with contemporary game design to diminishing result, and this one aims to punch a big, red "RESET" button on the franchise and give those tried and true fans of the original the properThis is a game aimed squarely at fans of the 1991 original, with little concern for broadening that audience. There's a lot of merit to that -- we've had two sequels that attempted to reconcile the franchise with contemporary game design to diminishing result, and this one aims to punch a big, red "RESET" button on the franchise and give those tried and true fans of the original the proper follow-up they've always wanted.

    Although this is a sequel, set after (and featuring characters from) the later games, it really feels like a reboot, and if you ignored the slightly different opening, you could even pass it off for a remake. There are a ton of new gameplay features, enemies, power ups, and mechanics, but the fundamental concept is almost identical to the original. You'll explore 25 randomly generated levels, stacked on top of each other, looking for 10 lost piece to TJ&E's ship, while avoiding enemies. It's one of the earliest non-traditional roguelikes, breaking out of the grid-based, turn-based design for something more organic and less combat-foucsed. That might not seem as revolutionary now, but it was at the time and there still hasn't been anything quite like it in the intervening years.

    This is certainly not a game for everyone. It's slow, there's very little combat, and you can beat the game in under two hours. Those who never understood the original won't be persuaded by this one. But it's long overdue -- and still one of the best couch co-op games around.    … Expand
  4. rosnk30
    Feb 3, 2020
    8
    Well...i cant believe how much time Ive played this game on mega drive at nines. In fact, I didnt played any other TJ instead of the first one and when I noticed that a new remake was released, I cant
    think twice and take it. So, if I thinks what a time have been passed (aprox. 27 years ago) I cant believe!
    Well...I guess that version is a great and a fan based game and the company did    Well...i cant believe how much time Ive played this game on mega drive at nines. In fact, I didnt played any other TJ instead of the first one and when I noticed that a new remake was released, I cant
    think twice and take it. So, if I thinks what a time have been passed (aprox. 27 years ago) I cant believe!

    Well...I guess that version is a great and a fan based game and the company did it doing a remake of the original one plus new things more. TJ & Earl back in the grove is better if you play with anybody because its is funny game with a lot of nonsense stuff to do. Ive played for hours with my nephew and the experience was great....    … Expand
  5. bladex
    Apr 14, 2020
    0
    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!!
  6. upThere
    Mar 7, 2019
    7
    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 fastMassive 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.… Expand
  7. Dann43
    Mar 3, 2019
    10
    This game is a co-op dungeon crawler. The goal is to locate spaceship pieces to get back home to funkatron. It's a unique experience, you'll ascend randomly generated levels which puts the whole delving deep into a dungeon on its head. To aid you, find presents just like magical scrolls which can overcome obstacles. To identify them, instead of finding deckard cain you'll need to locate aThis game is a co-op dungeon crawler. The goal is to locate spaceship pieces to get back home to funkatron. It's a unique experience, you'll ascend randomly generated levels which puts the whole delving deep into a dungeon on its head. To aid you, find presents just like magical scrolls which can overcome obstacles. To identify them, instead of finding deckard cain you'll need to locate a carrot man. It's bold, loud and a bit bizarre and that gives it a charm.

    It a laid back co-op game and perfect for couch play with split screen or over the internet with up to 4 players. Progress can be saved but once you die your save is wiped so the experience can be pretty brutal and very satisfying to complete it.    … Expand
  8. Gamerheadspodca
    Apr 2, 2019
    6
    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 toWhen 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.    … Expand
  9. 3liWallach
    Mar 2, 2019
    10
    I never played the original Toejam and Earl, but find this one to be very fun and mesmerizing. The world created in Toejam and Earl really feels magical and sticks with you outside of the game realm. This game is the most fun I've had playing a video game ever.
  10. Sindonor
    Mar 13, 2019
    10
    Fans of the original Sega Genesis version are going to be in for a treat. The game is an amazing updated version of the original formula.
  11. spencerplewe
    Jul 15, 2022
    8
    A classic game remake done right with popping hand-drawn graphics, rocking hip-hop soundtrack, and and even bigger barrage of enemies and power-ups to make this one of the craziest co-op treasure hunts ever.
    [Update: looking back a couple years later, and actually playing it with a friend, I now realize how kind of slow and uncompelling it really is.]
  12. Angelfuk83
    Dec 21, 2022
    9
    Uno de los juegos del sistema Génesis que más cariño le tenía, original y con una excelente banda sonora en forma de un remake bastante bien hecho y con añadidos extras como personajes nuevos, modo multijugador, nuevos enemigos, etc... Bastante recomendable.
  13. GoodGamePlus
    Sep 16, 2022
    10
    This game is very repetitive to unlock harder modes.the soundtrack is by bassist Cody Wright.
  14. Pichus_Play
    Nov 25, 2022
    10
    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, orThis 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.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

50
#50 Most Shared Switch Game of 2019

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 22 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 22
  3. Negative: 0 out of 22
  1. Nintendo Force Magazine
    Aug 28, 2019
    65
    ToeJam & Earl's endearing retro motif is right up my alley, but there simply isn't enough charm here to elevate this new entry over its source material. [Issue #39 – May/June 2019, p. 29]
  2. Switch Player
    Apr 18, 2019
    70
    HumaNature have executed the retro revitalisation of ToeJam & Earl exactly in the way that backers will have wanted. Whilst it might not be a revolutionary game in 2019, the updated features and trimmings are more than enough to keep fans of the series happy.
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  3. Pure Nintendo
    Mar 24, 2019
    70
    I do wish the time-honored gameplay was offset a bit more by balanced, polished, and tighter design at times. But if you’re “ready for a blast of funky nostalgia” the sense of déja vu that comes from familiar fun won’t be a negative.
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