ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove

Mechanics

Gameplay largely draws on the mechanics from the first instalment. This translates into coming back to the isometric perspective and free exploration. There is no more permadeath characteristic to roguelike productions – instead, once defeated, you spawn at the checkpoint. During travelling through Earth, you come across a number of absurd enemies, such as mad doctors and bizarre wizards. Sometimes, you find mysterious presents – obtaining them is one of the most important part of the game, as they contain power-ups. However, you can never know whether they will help you or harm you. The title also introduces a set of minigames. Importantly, each adventure can be played solo or with up to three other players.

Technical aspects

ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove utilises a good-looking retro style. The world and the characters seem like they were cut out from paper, and implementing the 3D perspective to some locations gives the title more depth. Naturally, the soundtrack is a mixture of funk and rap, which draws inspiration from the music trends of the 1990s. Thanks to the characteristic bass tunes, the soundtrack is really catchy.