Earthworm Jim review (Game Boy Advance)

When it debuted in 1994, Earthworm Jim was visually impressive, with detailed and varied level designs, a unique cast of characters, and tons of fluid animation. The game makes the transition over to the GBA flawlessly, retaining all the visual style that made it something special on the SNES. It might be a 7-year-old engine, but with the help of a smaller screen, it still manages to impress.

The sound in Earthworm Jim may not be its crowning achievement, but it's still proficient. It may not be a musical tour de force like Super Mario Advance or Castlevania: Circle of the Moon, but the music never gets in the way and occasionally manages to be pretty catchy. The smattering of voice samples found in the original are included, though the tinny presentation keeps them from knocking your socks off like they did seven years ago.

For fans of the original Earthworm Jim games, this is a real treat that provides an exercise in nostalgia while still being legitimately fun. For first-timers, Jim introduces a whole new generation of gamers to his bizarre brand of off-kilter platforming action. Either way, Earthworm Jim proves two things; 2D platforming isn't dead, and it's OK to laugh.