E3 2006: Earthworm Jim returns

Atari has today announced it's secured the rights to the Earthworm Jim franchise. The company is planning to develop a range of titles over the next five years for next-generation handheld systems, including the Nintendo DS and PSP.

Developer Shiny, the studio behind such gaming horrors as Enter the Matrix and Matrix: Path of Neo, are hoping to recreate the critical and commercial success enjoyed by the heroic worm during the Nineties. The upcoming Earthworm Jim title will be a side-scrolling action-packed platform game set in a cartoon-like world with 3D visuals. In addition to the return of some familiar faces, Earthworm Jim himself will sport a new look, and it's expected (and hoped) that the zany humour of the previous titles will still be one of Jim’s finest attributes. The game will also include new weaponry and two-player gameplay modes.

It's been a while, but it’s good to see that the cow-launching worm is back. More as it’s available.

Related Earthworm Jim Content

Earthworm Jim images poke out of the ground
17 Aug, 2006 That is according to Jim of course.

Release date revealed for New Super Mario Bros.
23 Feb, 2006 Plus: massive marble elimination!

Revolution specifications may never see the light of day
02 Nov, 2005 'Irrelevant,' says Jim Merrick.

11 Comments

theory

5 years ago

Wow! Totally out of left field... I'll be keeping an eye out for new EJ.

HeDanny

5 years ago

Altho I loved EWJ back in the day, I am hesitant to be optimistic it would work too well now. The entire thing would need some SERIOUS re-working for it to work imo.

I would rather see more neverhood, personally.. Still one of the most inventive, unique and hilarious game ever made. It would be fantastic to return there and catch up with Willy, Clayman, and the others.

David

5 years ago

What's with all the digging up of old franchises? I was a huge fan of EWJ 1 - 3, but I've a feeling this will just lead to some PS3 shovelware and disgrace the name. Also, as we've seen, if the same game is on both PSP and DS one or the other will have to suffer - the systems are just too different.

KickyFunkFresh

5 years ago

Is Shiny developing it?

But more importantly, is Douglas Tenaple back on board? If Jim is to be re-designed, I'm gonna have to assume that he isn't.

Jim should have just been left in the 16bit era where he belongs.

EvilHayama

5 years ago

It says in the article that shiny sold on the rights to atari...

I loved the original games, loved the cartoon more, but unless they have the same writers it's going to bomb

Mark

5 years ago

EvilHayama wrote

It says in the article that shiny sold on the rights to atari...

I loved the original games, loved the cartoon more, but unless they have the same writers it's going to bomb

Someone incorrectly modified the original article. Shiny are making it and it's believed that the original team is behind it.

EvilHayama

5 years ago

OK, I stand corrected. Original team FTW!

Infested Jibbs

5 years ago

Yeah it will be just as good as ewj on the 64!

Actually lets hope not!

ZNMS

5 years ago

Atari has the rights to the Earthworm Jim franchise? This isn't good news.

dc0079

5 years ago

Earthworm Jim was my fav action games. I love how it is so funny, and the variety of the games (bungy jumping anyone?)
If it is anything like the old games, it's gonna be great.

ugh the boot

5 years ago

Earthworm Jim was funny as...i love the character names....especially the villans....henchrat, queen-slug-for-a-butt, bob the killer goldfish and number 4 and haha.....professor monkey-for-a-head!

They better not screw this up!

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