ToeJam & Earl

From Sega Retro

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ToeJam & Earl Title.png

ToeJam & Earl
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Virtual Console, PlayStation 3, Steam
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Sound driver: GEMS
Genre: Action[1][2][3]

















Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
JP
¥6,8006,800 G-4066
Sega Mega Drive
US
$59.9559.95[6] 1020
Sega Mega Drive
EU
1020
Sega Mega Drive
UK
£34.9934.99[8][9] 1020
Sega Mega Drive
SE
(Rental)
Sega Mega Drive
AU
Sega Mega Drive
CA
1020
Sega Mega Drive
BR
Sega Mega Drive
KR
GM8027JG
Wii Virtual Console
JP
600pts600[11]
CERO: A
Wii Virtual Console
US
800pts800[12]
ESRB: Everyone
Wii Virtual Console
EU
800pts800[13]
PEGI: 3+
Wii Virtual Console
DE
800pts800[13]
USK: 0
Wii Virtual Console
AU
800pts800[16]
OFLC: General (G)
Steam
US
$4.994.99[18] 71166
ESRB: Everyone
Steam
EU
€4.494.49[18] 71166
PEGI: 3+
Steam
UK
£3.993.99[18] 71166
PEGI: 3+
Steam
AU
$6.996.99[18] 71166
OFLC: General (G)
Steam Linux
US
$0.990.99[20] 71166
ESRB: Everyone
Steam Linux
EU
€0.990.99[20] 71166
PEGI: 3+
Steam Linux
UK
£0.790.79[20] 71166
PEGI: 3+
Steam Linux
AU
$1.351.35[20] 71166
OFLC: General (G)
Steam OS X
US
$0.990.99[20] 71166
ESRB: Everyone
Steam OS X
EU
€0.990.99[20] 71166
PEGI: 3+
Steam OS X
UK
£0.790.79[20] 71166
PEGI: 3+
Steam OS X
AU
$1.351.35[20] 71166
OFLC: General (G)
Sony PlayStation 3
US
$4.994.99[21] NPUB-30796
ESRB: Everyone
Sony PlayStation 3
EU
€4.494.49[21] NPEB-01001
PEGI: 3+
Sony PlayStation 3
DE
€4.494.49[21] NPEB-01001
USK: 0
Sony PlayStation 3
UK
£3.593.59[21] NPEB-01001
PEGI: 3+
Sony PlayStation 3
AU
$6.256.25[21] NPEB-01001
OFLC: General (G)
Sony PlayStation 3
KR
₩6,2006,200[23] NPHB-00500
GRB: All
Sony PlayStation 3
TW
NT$156156[24] NPHB-00500
GSRR: 6+

ToeJam & Earl (トージャム&アール) is an action game developed by Johnson Voorsanger Productions, and published by Sega for the Sega Mega Drive. It stars two extraterrestrial rappers who, by way of pilot error, end up crash-landing on Earth. While there, they must search for the missing pieces of their spacecraft in hopes of reassembling it. The game frequently parodies and satirizes 1990s urban culture, and includes common 90s slang and a funk soundtrack. Much of this charm is what drew people toward the game. The game was followed by ToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron.

Gameplay

The game takes place in a surreal isometric world representing Earth, where land is in the form of a stack of randomly-generated floating islands. In each of the game's 25 island, the player must find the elevator that will bring them to the next level. Occasionally, a rocketship piece will be hidden somewhere on an island, although the player is not required to collect it right away before moving onto the next island. Every island besides the first is surrounded by a void, falling in at any time will cause the player to fall to the previous level.

Presents are scattered around the island that can be collected and used at any time. The effects of each present box are randomized each time the game is played. Some presents have helpful effects, such as restoring health, temporarily bestowing special abilities, or revealing hidden sections of the map. Others, however, can do more harm, and can do things such as summon enemies, cause the character to fall asleep and leave them open to attack, or randomize the effects of all the presents.

While most inhabitants of Earth will attack or otherwise hinder Toejam & Earl when they spot them, some will help them in exchange for money. The man in the carrot suit will identify presents, and the wizard will fully restore a character's health. On occasion, Santa Claus can be found, if the player is successful in sneaking up to him without alerting him, he will drop a few random presents.

The player has a rank shown on the bottom of the screen with their health and number of extra lives, and begins the game at the rank of 'Weiner'. As the player scores points by uncovering squares of the map and opening presents, their rank will increase at certain point values. When the player increases in rank, their maximum health increases, and for every second increase in rank, the player receives an extra life. The player is able to increase in rank eight times.

The game can either be played with one or two players. In two-player mode, if Toejam & Earl wander too far apart, the game will go into a horizontal split-screen so both players can keep track of their characters, with the screen returning to normal once the characters reunite. If Toejam & Earl walk into each other, they will high-five, causing the player with the most health to give a little to the player with less health. If one player loses all of their lives, they can also take a life from the other player to come back into the game.

The game ends when the player finds all 10 pieces of the spacecraft.

A sneaks and causes a character to use a present's special ability, when applicable. B pulls up an item screen. C switches to a map of the current island.

Achievements

Main article: ToeJam & Earl/Achievements.

Development

One of Greg Johnson's main influences for the design of ToeJam & Earl, was the video game Rogue[25], a dungeon crawling video game, developed around 1980 for Unix-based mainframe systems and released as public domain software, a game that Greg Johnson first played while studiyng bio-linguistics at the University of California in San Diego, staying up to early hours of the morning playing it.

Production credits

Digital manuals

Magazine articles

Main article: ToeJam & Earl/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Main article: ToeJam & Earl/Promotional material.

Artwork

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
20 [9]
73 [26]
73 [27]
80 №3, p8
73 №28, p24
84 [28]
70 №5
90 №28
89 №3, p24
80 №1992-04, p84
87 [29]
94 [30]
88 [31]
72 №5, p95
91 №9, p23
87 [32]
87 [33]
75 [34]
91 [35]
93 [36]
88 №18, p68
94 [37]
62 [38]
Sega Mega Drive
80
Based on
23 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
70
[39]
ACE (UK)
0
[9]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
73
[40]
Computer Game Review (US) NTSC-U
79
[41]
Console XS (UK) PAL
93
[42]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
70
[43]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU)
70
[44]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
80
[45]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
68
[46]
Game Power (IT)
72
[47]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
84
[48]
Gamers (DE)
73
[49]
GamesMaster (UK)
70
[50]
Games-X (UK)
90
[51]
Game Informer (US)
90
[52]
Game Zone (UK) PAL
89
[53]
Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
80
[54]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
87
[55]
Joypad (FR) PAL
94
[56]
Joystick (FR) PAL
88
[31]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL
72
[57]
Mega Drive Fan (JP) NTSC-J
71
[58]
Mega (UK) PAL
91
[59]
Mega Force (FR) PAL
85
[60]
MegaTech (UK)
87
[32]
Mean Machines (UK) PAL
87
[61]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
87
[62]
Player One (FR)
75
[63]
Play Time (DE)
95
[64]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
91
[65]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
93
[66]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
88
[67]
Sega Force (UK) PAL
94
[68]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
73
[69]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
77
[70]
Video Games (DE)
62
[38]
Sega Mega Drive
79
Based on
36 reviews

ToeJam & Earl

Mega Drive, JP
Tje md jp cover.jpg
Cover
ToeJamEarL MD JP CartTop.jpg
TJaE MD JP Cart.jpg
Cart
Toejam & Earl MD JP Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, US
TJaE MD US Box.jpg
Cover
Tje md us cart.jpg
Cart
TJE md us manual.pdf
Manual
ToeJam&Earl MD US Poster Back.jpgToeJam&Earl MD US Poster Front.jpg
Poster
TJE MD US pcb.jpg
PCB
Mega Drive, EU
ToeJam MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
TJaE MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart
TJE MD EU pcb.jpg
PCB
Mega Drive, SE (Rental)

Mega Drive, AU
TJE MD AU cover.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, AU (alt)
TJE MD AU alt cover.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, BR
TJaE MD BR Box.jpg
Cover
TJaE MD BR Cart.jpg
Cart
Toejamearl md br manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, KR
ToeJamandEarl MD KR cover.jpg
Cover
ToeJamandEarl MD KR carttop.jpg
ToeJamandEarl MD KR cartback.jpgToeJamandEarl MD KR cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, CA
ToeJamEarl MD CA cover.jpg
Cover

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Mega Drive
CRC32 d1b36786
MD5 0a6af20d9c5b3ec4e23c683f083b92cd
SHA-1 7f82d8b57fff88bdca5d8aff85b01e231dc1239a
1MB 1991-07 Cartridge REV00
Sega Mega Drive
CRC32 7a588f4b
MD5 72dc91fd2c5528b384f082a38db9ddda
SHA-1 85e8d0a4fac591b25b77c35680ac4175976f251b
1MB 1991-10 Cartridge REV02

External links

References

  1. File:Tje md jp cover.jpg
  2. 2.0 2.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-07-20 09:51)
  3. File:ToeJamandEarl MD KR cover.jpg
  4. Sega Pro, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-xx-xx), page 9
  5. GamePro, "September 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 64
  6. File:CGW US 089.pdf, page 83
  7. 7.0 7.1 Sega Power, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-10-04), page 10
  8. Sega Pro, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-xx-xx), page 63
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 ACE, "February 1992" (UK; 1992-01-08), page 98
  10. https://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/software/01.html (Wayback Machine: 2017-11-23 05:03)
  11. http://vc.sega.jp:80/vc_toejam/ (Wayback Machine: 2007-02-19 21:36)
  12. 12.0 12.1 http://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/7Zk0t7PUx42bzBtZGvHAv8XuFYK0yddT (Wayback Machine: 2010-11-22 23:51)
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 http://www.nintendolife.com/games/megadrive/toejam_and_earl (Wayback Machine: 2017-06-28 09:11)
  14. https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Virtual-Console-Wii-/Toe-Jam-Earl--279954.html (archive.today)
  15. https://www.nintendo.de/Spiele/Virtual-Console-Wii-/Toe-Jam-Earl--279954.html (archive.today)
  16. http://www.nintendo.com.au/index.php?action=catalogue&prodcat_id=41&prod_id=19784&pageID=4 (Wayback Machine: 2012-04-03 02:48)
  17. 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 https://steamdb.info/app/71166/ (Wayback Machine: 2019-11-20 01:27)
  18. 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 http://steamdb.info/app/71166/ (Wayback Machine: 2013-05-22 20:03)
  19. 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 19.5 19.6 19.7 https://steamdb.info/app/71166/history/?changeid=5755271
  20. 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 20.5 20.6 20.7 http://steamdb.info/app/71166/ (Wayback Machine: 2019-11-20 01:27)
  21. 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 21.5 21.6 http://blogs.sega.com/2012/11/06/funk-is-brought-toejam-earl-games-out-now-on-xbla-and-psn/ (Wayback Machine: 2016-06-08 09:00)
  22. 22.0 22.1 22.2 File:TJ E Release Announcement vFINAL.pdf
  23. 23.0 23.1 PlayStation Store (ko-kr; HP0177-NPHB00500_00-SVC313TOEJAMEARL) (Wayback Machine: 2018-04-05 01:27)
  24. 24.0 24.1 PlayStation Store (en-tw; HP0177-NPHB00500_00-SVC313TOEJAMEARL) (Wayback Machine: 2018-04-05 01:27)
  25. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rogue_(video_game)
  26. Beep! MegaDrive, "April 1992" (JP; 1992-03-07), page 33 (35)
  27. Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 84 (86)
  28. GamePro, "October 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 38-40 (40)
  29. Hobby Consolas, "Enero 1992" (ES; 199x-xx-xx), page 34/35 (34)
  30. Joypad, "Octobre 1991" (FR; 1991-09-17), page 65-67 (65)
  31. 31.0 31.1 Joystick, "Octobre 1991" (FR; 1991-xx-xx), page 164
  32. 32.0 32.1 MegaTech, "Xmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-06), page 81
  33. Mean Machines, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-10-29), page 106-108 (106)
  34. Player One, "Novembre 1991" (FR; 1991-xx-xx), page 60/61 (60)
  35. Sega Power, "February 1992" (UK; 1992-01-02), page 34/35 (34)
  36. Sega Pro, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-xx-xx), page 62/63 (62)
  37. Sega Force, "January 1992" (UK; 1991-12-12), page 30/31 (30)
  38. 38.0 38.1 Video Games, "4/91" (DE; 1991-12-06), page 32
  39. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 246
  40. Beep! MegaDrive, "April 1992" (JP; 1992-03-07), page 35
  41. Computer Game Review, "January, 1992" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 32
  42. Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 135
  43. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "November 1991" (US; 1991-1x-xx), page 24
  44. Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 363
  45. Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 109
  46. Famitsu, "1992-03-20" (JP; 1992-03-06), page 38
  47. Game Power, "Febbraio 1992" (IT; 1992-0-xx), page 54
  48. GamePro, "October 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 40
  49. Gamers, "Februar/März 1992" (DE; 1992-xx-xx), page 60
  50. GamesMaster (UK) "Series 1, episode 5" (1992-02-04, 24:00) (+5:40)
  51. Games-X, "31st October-6th November 1991" (UK; 1991-10-31), page 36
  52. Game Informer, "November/December 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 33
  53. Game Zone, "January 1992" (UK; 1991-12-18), page 24
  54. Hippon Super, "April 1992" (JP; 1992-03-04), page 84
  55. Hobby Consolas, "Enero 1992" (ES; 199x-xx-xx), page 34
  56. Joypad, "Octobre 1991" (FR; 1991-09-17), page 65
  57. Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 95
  58. Mega Drive Fan, "June 1992" (JP; 1992-05-08), page 83
  59. Mega, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 21
  60. Mega Force, "Septembre/Octobre 1991" (FR; 1991-09-13), page 86
  61. Mean Machines, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-10-29), page 106
  62. Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 142
  63. Player One, "Novembre 1991" (FR; 1991-xx-xx), page 60
  64. Play Time, "3/92" (DE; 1992-02-05), page 86
  65. Sega Power, "February 1992" (UK; 1992-01-02), page 35
  66. Sega Pro, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-xx-xx), page 62
  67. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 68
  68. Sega Force, "January 1992" (UK; 1991-12-12), page 30
  69. Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 86
  70. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 203


ToeJam & Earl

ToeJam & Earl Title.png

Main page | Maps | Achievements | Credits | Hidden content | Magazine articles | Video coverage | Reception | Promotional material | Region coding | Technical information | Bootlegs


Music: ToeJam and Earl Rap (1991)

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Games in the ToeJam & Earl Series
Sega Mega Drive
ToeJam & Earl (1991) | ToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron (1993)
Xbox
ToeJam & Earl III: Mission to Earth (2002)
Xbox Live Arcade
Sega Vintage Collection: ToeJam & Earl (2012)
PlayStation 3 PlayStation Network
Sega Vintage Collection: ToeJam & Earl (2013)
ToeJam & Earl related media
Music
ToeJam and Earl Rap (1991) | Sega Tunes: ToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron (1996)