ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove
{{Infobox video game
| title = ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove
| image = ToeJam & Earl BitG pre-release Steam header.jpg
| developer = HumaNature Studios
| publisher = HumaNature Studios
Limited Run Games (Physical PS4 and Switch versions)
| director = Greg Johnson
| producer = Matt Conn
Macaulay Culkin
| designer = Greg Johnson
| programmer = Jeff Kreis
Christopher Hall
Ko Costarella
| artist = Nathan Shorts
Rick Servande
Connie Chin
| writer =
| composer = Cody Wright
Nick Stubblefield
| series = ToeJam & Earl
| engine = Unity
| genre = Action platformer
| modes = Single-player, multiplayer
| platforms = Linux, macOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One
}}
ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove is the fourth entry in the ToeJam & Earl series of video games. The game was developed by HumaNature Studios, founded by series creator Greg Johnson, and published by the studio on March 1, 2019.
It is the first new entry in the series since 2002's ToeJam & Earl III: Mission to Earth, as well as the first entry that Sega had no involvement with. The physical release features a standard red cover design as well as a purple cover variant sold exclusively through Best Buy.
Gameplay
The game plays most similarly to the original ToeJam & Earl game for the Sega Genesis.{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/02/25/toejam-and-earl-returns-with-new-kickstarter-project|title=ToeJam and Earl Returns With New Kickstarter Project|first=Mike|last=Mahardy|date=25 February 2015|website=IGN|accessdate=5 June 2017}} The game plays from a fixed, isometric viewpoint, and features the same basic gameplay of searching and exploring up a successive layer of floating islands.{{cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/features/2015/2/25/8107999/toejam-and-earl-kickstarter-reveal-feature-greg-johnson|title=The plan to resurrect ToeJam & Earl|first=Philip|last=Kollar|date=25 February 2015|website=Polygon|accessdate=5 June 2017}} While it mostly does not play like the game's vastly different sequel, ToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron, it implements some of the minor side aspects of it, such as the "Jam Out" rhythm-based mini-game. The game features nine different playable characters, and four-player cooperative gameplay, both online and locally.{{cite web|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/toejam-and-earl-back-in-the-groove-partners-with-adult-swim-due-2017/|title=Toejam and Earl: Back in the Groove partners with Adult Swim, due 2017|first=Joe|last=Donnelly|date=25 August 2016|website=PC Gamer|accessdate=5 June 2017}}
Development
The game was developed by HumaNature Studios, the company founded by ToeJam and Earl series creator Greg Johnson.{{cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-02-05-toejam-and-earl-game-teased-by-doki-doki-universe-dev|title=ToeJam & Earl game teased by Doki-Doki Universe dev|first=Tom|last=Phillips|date=5 February 2015|website=Eurogamer|accessdate=5 June 2017}} Work on the game's premise started shortly after the team's prior game release, Doki-Doki Universe, which released December 2013. After teasing that the team had been busy working on the game's premise in early 2015, the game was formally announced in March 2015.{{cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-02-25-toejam-and-earl-back-in-the-groove-rocket-skates-to-kickstarter|title=Toejam and Earl: Back in the Groove rocket skates to Kickstarter|first=Jeffrey|last=Matulef|date=26 March 2015|website=Eurogamer|accessdate=5 June 2017}} The game's original plan was to forgo securing a publisher, in favor of raising funds through crowd sourcing. The team ran a Kickstarter campaign throughout the month of March, with a goal of raising $400,000 to fund the game.{{cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/2015/3/25/8292449/toejam-and-earl-kickstarter-back-in-the-groove|title=New ToeJam & Earl game hits fundraising goal on Kickstarter|first=Michael|last=McWhertor|date=25 March 2015|website=Polygon|accessdate=5 June 2017}} The game's goal was met on March 25, two days before the campaign's end, and ended up at over $500,000 as the total amount, successfully funding the game, but failing to meet the stretch goals required to get the game released on traditional video game consoles, instead being relegated to the Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows. The team, at the time, consisted of just three people - Johnson, an engineer, and an artist.
Initially scheduled for a 2016 release, in August 2016, it was announced that Adult Swim Games had joined on to publish and give additional funding for the project.{{cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/2016/8/24/12624946/toejam-and-earl-back-in-the-groove-gameplay-trailer-adult-swim-games|title=ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove coming 2017 from Adult Swim|first=Michael|last=McWhertor|date=24 August 2016|website=Polygon|accessdate=5 June 2017}} This allowed for the game's release on additional video game platforms, but did not specify which ones, and delayed the game into 2017. While Adult Swim Games was publishing the game, the deal did not involve the creation of any sort of animated cartoon for its Adult Swim television broadcast. On February 28, 2017, during a Nintendo Direct focused around indie and crowd-funded games coming to Nintendo platforms, the Nintendo Switch was revealed to be one of the platforms the game would be released on, with more to be announced.{{cite web|url=http://wwg.com/2017/03/01/toejam-earl-back-in-the-groove-coming-to-nintendo-switch/|title=ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove Coming to Nintendo Switch|first=Matthew|last=Hayes|date=1 March 2017|website=WWG|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302124621/http://wwg.com/2017/03/01/toejam-earl-back-in-the-groove-coming-to-nintendo-switch/|archivedate=2 March 2017|url-status=dead|accessdate=5 January 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1578116861/toejam-and-earl-back-in-the-groove/posts/1804747|title=Update 55: Back in the Groove coming for the Switch!! · Toejam and Earl: Back in the Groove|website=Kickstarter|accessdate=5 June 2017}} Versions for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One were confirmed in April.{{cite web|url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1578116861/toejam-and-earl-back-in-the-groove/posts/1867915|title=Update 56: Almost there! · Toejam and Earl: Back in the Groove|website=Kickstarter|accessdate=22 June 2017}} In June 2018, it was announced that Adult Swim Games would no longer be publishing the game.{{cite web|url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1578116861/toejam-and-earl-back-in-the-groove/posts/2219859|title=Update 63: Incoming Transmission from Funkotron! · Toejam and Earl: Back in the Groove|website=Kickstarter|accessdate=20 October 2018}} It was ultimately self-published digitally by HumaNature Studios in early 2019. Limited Run Games published physical editions for PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch.{{cite web|url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1578116861/toejam-and-earl-back-in-the-groove/posts/2288669|title=Update 71: PAX Wrap-up, Limited Run, and MORE! · Toejam and Earl: Back in the Groove|website=Kickstarter|accessdate=20 October 2018}}
Actor Macaulay Culkin, a longtime fan of the series, connected with Johnson after he praised the games on his podcast, Bunny Ears.{{cite news |title=Meet Macaulay Culkin, retro video game nerd |url=https://www.engadget.com/2019-02-27-macaulay-culkin-toejam-earl-launch-interview.html |access-date=25 August 2021 |work=Engadget}} As executive producer, Culkin gave his input on the game's development.{{cite news |title=Macaulay Culkin Revealed As Executive Producer On ToeJam & Earl: Back In The Groove |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2019/02/macaulay_culkin_revealed_as_executive_producer_on_toejam_and_earl_back_in_the_groove |access-date=25 August 2021 |work=Nintendo Life |date=28 February 2019}}
Reception
According to review aggregator Metacritic, ToeJam and Earl: Back in the Groove received "generally favorable reviews" on Nintendo Switch and PC, and "mixed or average reviews" on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
{{Video game reviews
| MC = (PC) 76/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/toejam-and-earl-back-in-the-groove/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=ToeJam & Earl: Back In The Groove for PC Reviews |publisher=Metacritic |accessdate=March 22, 2019}}
(PS4) 66/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/toejam-and-earl-back-in-the-groove/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4 |title=ToeJam & Earl: Back In The Groove for PS4 Reviews |publisher=Metacritic |accessdate=March 22, 2019}}
(NS) 75/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/toejam-and-earl-back-in-the-groove/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch |title=ToeJam & Earl: Back In The Groove for Switch Reviews |publisher=Metacritic |accessdate=March 22, 2019}}
(XONE) 70/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/toejam-and-earl-back-in-the-groove/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-one |title=ToeJam & Earl: Back In The Groove for Xbox One Reviews |publisher=Metacritic |accessdate=March 22, 2019}}
| PSQ = {{Rating|6|10}}{{cite web |title=ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove Review (PS4) {{!}} Aces high |url=https://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/ps4/toejam_and_earl_back_in_the_groove |website=Push Square |date=28 February 2019 |access-date=25 September 2021}}
| GSpot = 5/10{{cite web |last1=Marsh |first1=Calum |title=ToeJam & Earl: Back In The Groove Review - The Funk-Soul Brothers |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/toejam-and-earl-back-in-the-groove-review-the-funk/1900-6417102/ |website=GameSpot |date=15 February 2019 |access-date=25 September 2021}}
| GI = 8/10{{cite magazine |last1=Cork |first1=Jeff |title=ToeJam & Earl: Back In The Groove Review - Funky In All The Right Ways |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/review/toejam-earl-back-in-the-groove/funky-in-all-the-right-ways |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306071203/https://www.gameinformer.com/review/toejam-earl-back-in-the-groove/funky-in-all-the-right-ways |url-status=live |archive-date=March 6, 2019 |magazine=Game Informer |date=28 February 2019 |access-date=25 September 2021}}
| Destruct = 9.5/10{{cite web |last1=Andriessen |first1=CJ |title=Review: ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove |url=https://www.destructoid.com/reviews/review-toejam-earl-back-in-the-groove/ |website=Destructoid |date=3 March 2019 |access-date=25 September 2021}}
| CGM = 6.5/10{{cite web |last1=Marsh |first1=Calum |title=ToeJam & Earl: Back In The Groove Review - The Funk-Soul Brothers |url=https://www.cgmagonline.com/review/toejam-earl-back-in-the-groove-switch-review/ |website=Computer Games Magazine |date=4 March 2019 |access-date=25 September 2021}}
| GameRev = {{Rating|8|10}}{{cite web |title=ToeJam and Earl: Back in the Groove! Review {{!}} Funky Fresh {{!}} Aces high |url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/501313-toejam-earl-back-in-the-groove-review-funky-fresh |website=GameRevolution |date=28 February 2019 |access-date=25 September 2021}}
| EGM = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine |title=ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove review {{!}} Aces high |url=https://egmnow.com/toejam-earl-back-in-the-groove-review/ |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |date=28 February 2019 |access-date=25 September 2021}}
| SN = 7/10{{cite web |last1=Khan |first1=Asif |title=ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove review: Familiar funk |url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/111039/toejam-earl-back-in-the-groove-review-familiar-funk |website=Shacknews |date=4 April 2019 |access-date=25 September 2021}}
}}
=Awards=
The game was nominated for the Freedom Tower Award for Best Remake at the New York Game Awards,{{cite web|url=https://www.bleedingcool.com/2020/01/02/the-new-york-game-awards-announces-2020-nominees/|title=The New York Game Awards Announces 2020 Nominees|first=Gavin|last=Sheehan|date=2 January 2020|website=Bleeding Cool|accessdate=5 January 2020}} and for "Game, Classic Revival" at the NAVGTR Awards.{{cite web|url=https://navgtr.org/2019-nominees/|title=2019 Nominees|date=13 January 2020|website=National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers|accessdate=23 January 2020}}
{{clear}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{official}}
{{ToeJam & Earl series}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:ToeJam and Earl: Back in the Groove}}
Category:Video games about extraterrestrial life
Category:Crowdfunded video games
Category:Kickstarter-funded video games
Category:Nintendo Switch games
Category:Video games developed in the United States