ToeJam & Earl (Sega Genesis, 1991)

HI
Im an older gamer with lots of exposure to games from the 1st pong titles to the newest RPGs & action titles.
I say that to reveal I have experience as a gamer for over 25 years on all gaming systems & most arcade games that have existed within those years.
I want to help you get the most "fun" out of your gaming dollars.
This review is geared to Parents & may be helpful to younger people with limited money to spend as well.

I guess your thinking of maybe getting TJ&E for sega Genesis.
1st Let it be known there are Two Toejam & Earl games for Genesis.
You can Look at the box or cartridge if it says,

1.Toejam & Earl and shows a picture of the characters with a text bubble over one characters head saying "Jammin" this is the 1st TJ&E game.

2.Toejam & Earl "panic on funkatron" that is the 2nd TJ&E game for genesis.(TJ&E Panic.. Is a completely different type of game,its a platformer.(its good)
I added this section since Panic on funkitron & jammin are both commonly listed on eBay as just Toejam & Earl.
I also notice a few reviews that dont make it clear as to wich title is being reviewed as well.
Note they are both good but I wanted to make it unmistakable as to what game was reviewed here & what you may be buying.

The Game reviewed here is Toe Jam & Earl "Jammin"
Toejam & Earl "Jammin" is a great original game & is a bit over looked as a kids title.
Granted there isnt any adult content (blood, sex,profanity) in the game.
But its a very strong title for any age & has a nice humor factor & enough strategy combine with a moderate pace to please most adults. "even casual or non gamers"

You can choose from 2 characters to play "toejam or earl" or play simotanious 2 player with each person playing 1 of the characters.
This game runs split screen 2 player & doesnt slow down!
The two player is cooperative so its all for fun, no competition between your kids or play it with them & help out.
The 2 characters each have thier strong & weak points Toejam is faster & earl has more health. Toejam tends to be the easier to play.
The story & point of the game is you wrecked your space ship so you must explore the "earth" in order to retrieve the pieces of your ship.
The game is played from an interesting isometric perspective & feels like its 3D kinda similar to the super nintendo zelda game.
You explore & collect pressents that are actually power ups & tools to use to get through the game consisting of super high tops to run faster, spring shoes jump farther, tomatos are the weapon in the game, jam box gets the baddies dancing, icarus wings to fly, money there are plenty of uses for money in the game, the dreaded randomizer(ouch), food for health and many more items..
The learning curve on the game is low so its easy to play but theres a bit of challenge to actually beating the game.
So in the game you wander around uncovering the map picking up pressents, identifying them by using them or paying the carrot guy to identify them, & trying to survive.
The baddies consist of little devils, cherubs, army ducks, mad doctors, moles, hamsters lol & more.

HERES My numerical ratings 1-10 higher is better.
Graphics 10 this game looks unique & great for a split screen game.

Sound 9 catchy tunes on genesis

Game Play 10 for simotanious two player its awsome

Fun Factor 10.Play it with your friends or your kids

Give it a chance its worth the $ good for all ages & Great multi player.
"Jammin" Is TOP NOTCH

I picked this gem of a title up at a second hand store and I was amused and amazed at the point of this game. Going around level after level looking for pieces of your spaceship to get back home.Along the way, you have to avoid the Earthlings that seem to get in your way, the moldy or bad foods, and collect lots of presents that are oddly wraped like it was Christmas or a birthday.

Music/Sound - 10/10
Very cool.It's really funny to hear them say ''Hubbu hubbu'', ''MONEY!'', or them screaming ''WAKE UP!!!'' or the sounds the Earthlings make. The music is not repeative, almost every level has its' own music. Some of the sounds like when you level up or get hurt or fall are priceless.

Controls - 7/10
Fairly simple control system, A to creep by Earthling like your tippy toeing around, B opens the menu for the presents, and C opens, throws away presents and whatnot. Not hard to figure out or use, maybe too simple. And of course your Up,Down,Left,Right and Start pauses the game.

Graphics - 9/10
Not the best, not the worst I've played or seen. Could of been better. Each level is different, but at the same time the same. "Random World" isn't really random besides what levels the ship pieces are located, thats about it. Sprites seem to look clean and sharp.

Gameplay Value - 9/10
So, Sega made a sequel, and then out from nowhere, years after the Genesis, a third one for the X-Box. Shows how much fan base this game still has. I play this game all the time, I like to get out my Game Genie and type in codes so my presents don't ever wear off and get some Icarus wings on and repeativly open up that one present that makes Earthlings, around the machine to go to the next level, get into it and wait for my friend to get there and try to get in, it's loads of fun.

My mom and I both play video games, but there is one in particular we have played since I was like 6. That's Toejam & Earl! Everyone I know who has owned it has had it stolen, including myself. I saw someone sell just th case and booklet alone for $40 on eBay! The game can run up to $75 and still sell! It's absolutely insane! But this game is great!

Comic mischief? Check! Two aliens trapped on a planet have to find the ten pieces of their spaceship scattered over 25 levels. Ya walk around to find the elevator for each level, avoiding the many different "earthlings". You find presents like tomatoes, icarus wings, root beer, etc. Also, there are rain clouds, library books, and even earthlings in the presents, so be careful! All in all, a WONDERFUL game! If you haven't played it, shame on you!!!

Back when I was a child I played this game a couple of times and fell in love with it (its like ya know how every system out there has that 1 great game you cant live without, well this is the game for sega genesis). so twenty something years later I bought a sega to play this game!! it is incredibly easy to play but yet still a challenge because of all of the crazy characters running around. You play as toejam (and or) earl and have crashed your rocket ship and your mission is to find the hidden rocketship parts on the many levels. But while searching beware of the silly characters that like to get in your way (drill crazy dentists, fat ladies with shopping carts that will run you down, cupid and his arrows, man-eating mailboxes, sharks in water, hula girls that make you dance, walking carrots, even a santa claus with a rocket booster pack) be sure to grab all the pretty presents laying around full special treats and fun things like rocket skates and wings to make you fly. this game is a must and you will never ever see a game quite as hillarious and weird as this one.....It is rare and can be expensive but totally worth it. Remember it would not be expensive if everyone did not want it..

Anyone who has a genesis system and not this game is really missing some serious sega gaming! The story line is good the graphics are good and the game play is great! It is a game were you go through each level (most of wich are always different) and look for missing pieces that fell of your rocket ship. A BIG bonuse is that it can be played by two players. On top of that, if the two players want to explore in seperate areas, the game screen will split for them! Overall- ONE OF THE VERY BEST SEGA GAMES!