Retro Review: Toejam and Earl in Panic on Funkotron

With the success of the first Toejam and Earl game, Sega knew that a sequel was in order, and in 1993, they brought the funky aliens back in a brand new adventure. Toejam and Earl: Panic on Funkotron would be drastically different from its predecessor, much like Zelda 2 and the American version of Super Mario Bros. 2 were quite different from the games that came before them. Many people seem to prefer the original game over its sequel, but I fall in the small group who prefers the sequel. It is not only more delightfully silly, but it has an easier to manage difficulty level, loads of secrets to discover, and tons of memorable moments. Plus, it has been one of my favorite games of all time since I was a child. Let me go into details of why the sequel is better the the original game in this case.

After rebuilding their spaceship and escaping from the planet Earth at the end of the first game, Toejam and Earl have returned to their home planet of Funkotron. However, a number of Earthlings managed to stow away on the ship and are now causing mayhem throughout the planet. Not only are Toejam and Earl being blamed for the mess, but Funkotron is in danger of losing its funk forever because Lamont, the beloved Funkapotamus, has gone into hiding in the Funk Dimension as a result of the Earthling invasion. In order to save Funkotron as well as their reputations, Toejam and Earl must capture each Earthling and send them back to Earth, while at the same time trying to find a way to convince Lamont to come out of hiding. The story is quite a wacky one for the most part, though the threat of Funkotron losing its funk gives the mission a sense of urgency.

As in the first game, players can choose to play as Toejam, Earl, or in two-player mode, both, as they explore each stage. One of the first differences that players will notice is that, instead of an isometric view of sorts, the game switches to a more traditional side scrolling platform format. This change has its benefits, however. There are more secrets to be found in various spots. Shaking trees and bushes can reveal presents, and this time, every present has something good inside. Some presents will give you points, and as you accumulate points, you can earn extra lives. Other presents will give you items that can help you take care of the pesky Earthlings that are now running rampant throughout Funkotron. Sometimes, you can even find hidden doors (which are invisible unless you use them with a move called the Funk Scan) which will lead you to even more secret treasures.

The main goal in each of the game's 17 levels is to capture the Earthlings in jars. Our heroes have an unlimited supply of jars that they must throw at the Earthlings until they become trapped inside. Once an Earthling has been caught, you must pick it up before the creature can escape, or else you will have to trap it again. The enemies are even more delightfully quirky than in the first game. There is a cow ghost that can possess our heroes and make them moo. A fairy can sprinkle laughing powder on the aliens, causing them to laugh out loud and expose them to attack. Other foes include photographers that can stun Toejam and Earl with their flashing cameras, a duck riding a flying carpet, and boogie men who tend to appear and disappear. Only when all of the Earthlings have been caught will you be allowed to gain access to the next level.

As there is no time limit in any of the levels, you can spend as much time as you like exploring them in search of all of their secrets. Sometimes, you can play mini games for additional points and items. By jumping into a portal, you can run through the Hyper Funk Zone, in which you can grab presents and use the aliens' ability to teleport past walls in order to grab even more presents. In some areas, you can bounce on fungus and get scored by some alien judges. On other occasions, you can play some rhythm based mini games in which you can press buttons to a specific beat, which makes it something of a precursor to today's music-based games. All of these are neat diversions, and make an already fun experience even better.

From time to time, Toejam and Earl can speak with other inhabitants on Funkotron for added advice and to perform side quests. By talking to these friendly characters, you can also gain hints as to where to find Lamont's favorite things. Every level between the sixth and fifteenth stages has one of these items, ranging from a chocolate pickle to a rubber duck. If you manage to get all ten of these items, you will get the game's best ending. Searching for these items rarely feels like a chore, and is a pretty good way to add to the game's length.

This game is a bit longer than the first game. It can be beaten in a few hours, but for those who do not have the patience to beat it in one sitting, there are passwords that you receive at the end of most even-numbered levels. Also, you are now given a limited amount of continues so that if you lose your last life, you can resume from the current level until you run out of continues. The first game could have benefited greatly from this password and continue feature, given how difficult it can be at times. The password system is not as great as a save feature (though the Wii Virtual Console version has a suspend feature that allows you to pick up right where you left off), but it is still a welcome addition.

The challenge level is a bit more forgiving this time around. Some Earthlings do more damage than others, but when you learn how to deal with them, they are easier to manage. A few maze like areas are added to the mix, but they are largely more time-consuming than difficult. Only an underwater maze towards the end of the game may give players some frustration. The aforementioned password and continue features make it so that players will have an easier time to complete the game. Overall, the game is not terribly hard for the most part, but the game is so enjoyable for hardcore and casual players alike, they will not mind the medium difficulty level so much. For younger players, there is even a practice mode in which it is impossible to die, but which only takes our heroes through the first five levels. This mode is mainly for the purposes of learning how the game works before the player begins to tackle all 17 levels.

With an irresistible charm and plenty of quirky qualities, it is hard not to love Toejam and Earl: Panic on Funkotron. Aside from the occasional backtracking and its relatively brief length, it is a fun and wacky platform adventure that can be enjoyed by players of all ages. The term "wacky" describes the graphics perfectly well, as the game has a more cartoon style appearance than its predecessor. However, it allows for better animations for the characters, and as a result, it feels like you are playing a Saturday morning cartoon. Once again, a funky soundtrack accompanies the action, with a cooler version of the Toejam and Earl theme song and other wonderful tunes heard in every level. The music is guaranteed to stick in your head long after you turn the Sega Genesis system off.

I prefer Toejam and Earl: Panic on Funkotron over its predecessor not only because I played the sequel before I tried out the original game, but because it has a better feel to it. With numerous secrets, a more forgiving difficulty system, and lots of wonderfully silly aspects, the sequel is certainly an improvement in many ways. The first game was likewise excellent, but its unforgiving challenge makes it hard for me to love it as much as I love the sequel. I recommend you try both games to see which one you prefer. Both games can be downloaded from the Wii Shop Channel if you do not wish to look for the original cartridges. After playing them both, maybe you will agree that the sequel is better than the first game, although truth be told, both titles have plenty of neat features, and they make me wish that Sega would bring Toejam and Earl back someday.