Earthworm Jim 3D
Earthworm Jim 3D is a Nintendo 64 action game released in 1999 developed by VIS Entertainment. It centers on platform movement and landing judgment, aiming, shooting, and weapon use, and movement and immediate actions, with controls, information, and pacing arranged around the analog stick, directional pad, A/B buttons, C buttons, and Z trigger.
- AI score · out of 10
- 6.0 / 10
About this game
Earthworm Jim 3D is a Nintendo 64 action game centered on platform movement and landing judgment, aiming, shooting, and weapon use, and movement and immediate actions. Stages build pressure through routes, enemy patterns, and changing objectives, with progress divided into stages, tasks, matches, or growth milestones that make its immediate goals understandable. Its value depends on whether these rules continue to create judgment and room for mastery rather than on length, sales, or series recognition. Short campaigns are judged by repeat-challenge value, while longer ones are judged by variety, pacing, and recovery after failure. Animation, hits, camera behavior, and readable hazards determine whether feedback remains dependable, while 3D scenes, fog, textures, and cartridge audio need to preserve target readability within limited memory and television output. The genre-specific limitation is that camera behavior, collision rules, input mapping, and repeated ground after failure can raise the entry barrier. Platform conditions also include camera control, stick precision, Controller Pak saves, Rumble Pak support, Expansion Pak requirements, and four-player setup can affect original-hardware use. This description covers only this platform release and does not import features from other editions.
Collected in series
Earthworm Jim turns an ordinary worm in a powerful spacesuit into a very unlikely action hero. Jumping, shooting and using Jim himself as a whip carry you through strange places full of visual jokes and unexpected challenges.
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Nintendo 64
AI review
AI reviews are subjective assessments, not player ratings. See each review for its evidence and limitations.Published date:
A workable platformer undermined by its N64 camera.
Earthworm Jim 3D sends its hero through the landscape of his own mind to recover lost marbles. Jumping, head-whipping and blaster use are mapped clearly to the Nintendo 64 controller. Puzzles and collectibles give the game a workable 3D platform structure, while returning enemies and absurd humor retain some of the series’ personality. Soft pastel environments and lively character animation are pleasant, if not particularly sharp. Much of the campaign follows familiar item-collecting patterns rather than matching the surprise of Jim’s earlier 2D adventures. Its decisive problem is not basic button response but the camera. A direct Nintendo 64 review describes walls and unhelpful angles repeatedly hiding the action; holding R to recenter behind Jim does not reliably solve it. A jump or fight can therefore become difficult for reasons outside the underlying move set. This judgment concerns the original N64 release and does not import PC or later-port performance claims. Series fans may find some charm, but anyone sensitive to obstructive 3D cameras should be wary.
Strengths
- Clear inputs, absurd humor and lively animation.
Weaknesses
- Conventional collecting and persistently obstructive camera.
Who it is for: Jim fans tolerant of early 3D camera problems.
Play notes: Camera findings come from the direct N64 review.
View scoring basis
| Dimension | Review state | Score | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimension The campaign is serviceable yet less surprising than the series’ earlier inventions. | Reviewed | 6.0 / 10 | Not provided |
| Dimension The core actions respond well until camera positioning obstructs them. | Reviewed | 6.7 / 10 | Not provided |
| Dimension The visual tone is pleasant rather than an especially sharp cartridge showcase. | Reviewed | 6.5 / 10 | Not provided |
| Dimension Poor visual control can make otherwise responsive jumps and combat hard to execute. | Reviewed | 3.7 / 10 | Not provided |
Review sources
Not provided
Core information
- Developer
- VIS
- Publisher
- Interplay
- Release date
- 1999
- Platforms
- Nintendo 64
- Content kind
- Game
- Release state
- Released
- Region
- Worldwide
- Official website
- Not provided
- Offline minimum players
- Not provided
- Offline maximum players
- Not provided
- Online minimum players
- Not provided
- Online maximum players
- Not provided
- Categories
- Action · Primary genre
- Tags
- PlatformingDodgeFast-pacedMain Story Under 10 HoursLinear Levels3D GraphicsSolo-friendlyReal-time CombatThird PersonReplayableShooting
- Supported game languages
- Not provided
- Requires base game
- Not provided
- Standalone
- Not provided
- Age ratings
- Not provided
- Play modes
- Single player
- Perspectives
- Third person
Release editions
- Nintendo 64Worldwide1999
Game gallery
Sources
Not provided