ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove!

Platform(s): Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Genre: Action/Adventure
Developer: Humanature Studios
Release Date: March 1, 2019

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'ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove!' (ALL) Brings In Macaulay Culkin as Executive Producer

by Rainier on Feb. 27, 2019 @ 9:37 a.m. PST

ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove! is the upcoming fourth entry of the funkadelic action roguelike series.

The iconic ‘90s alien duo is back. ToeJam and Earl, hoping to impress Latisha and Lewanda, have…”borrowed” the Rapmaster Rocket. One black hole-related accident later, they are back on the floating remnants of Earth, scrambling to pick up the pieces of their ship before their home planet of Funkotron notices anything missing.

Hidden throughout the procedurally-generated levels are presents with random effects that help the duo find their ship parts. Rocket skates, Icarus Wings, Boomboxes and more than 60 other presents make each run feel fresh. Characters and unlockable hats that offer awesome hidden powers persist across playthroughs so there’s more to strive for beyond getting back home.

You would think a three-legged alien in dope threads would be the weirdest thing on the planet, but Earthlings give ToeJam and Earl a run for their money. Sneak around humans like the Hula-Girl so you don’t get hypnotized into shaking your hips, leaving you vulnerable to attacks. Over 50 Earthlings ranging from King Tut, armies of chickens and Internet Trolls roam around each level, so get to know which are friends and which are foe.

ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove! brings a new present for its fans, with the addition of actor and musician Macaulay Culkin as the game’s newest executive producer.

Culkin, an outspoken fan of the franchise, named the original 1991 Sega Genesis ToeJam & Earl as his favorite game during a Reddit “Ask Me Anything”, included the pair on a parody of the March Madness Mega Bracket as a favorite to win, and Tweeted he’d rather play it than watch the 2018 Oscars.

With more than three decades of experience in the entertainment industry, Culkin started the comedy brand Bunny Ears in 2017 as a digital outlet to express his unconventional thoughts on everything pop culture related through hilarious articles and podcasts with fascinating guests.

Now The Incredible Culk and his team are debuting Bunny Ears Games with ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove!. Bunny Ears’ wry wit and penchant for satire provided crucial input to ensure the game is a hella good time. Growing up playing the original game on Sega Genesis, Culkin knew exactly what would – and wouldn’t – appeal to the thousands of Kickstarter backers that funded the sequel.

Says Culkin, "I'm honored to be producing the new ToeJam & Earl because it is literally my favorite video game of all time. Plus, Greg Johnson is the tits!"

"ToeJam and Earl: Back in the Groove is a ‘90s styled blast from the past." Said Greg Johnson, founder of Humanature Studios. "Macaulay Culkin, the star of the ‘90s classic Home Alone is an Uber Fan of the ToeJam games. He totally gets the vibe and humor of the new game, and his involvement has made the game even crazier and more fun."

Back in the Groove!’s got all the classic moments which made the series a staple of ‘90s gaming with modern improvements like online play, all in a nostalgic underground comic style.

Up to four friends can play together through online multiplayer and choose from nine characters -- some blasts-from-the-past, some new and funky fresh. Each character has their own stats and special abilities. Console players can enjoy couch co-op with two players total, while PC will enable local co-op accommodating four players.

Minigames keep ToeJam and Earl on their toes. The side-scrolling HyperFunk Zone from Panic on Funkotron is back so players can earn extra presents and cash. Feeling the beat? Jump into a rhythm-based dance-off. Get ready to jam out with your homies to more than 30 groovy tunes, including classic remixes from the original games.

ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove! will be coming to Switch, PS4, Xbox One and PC on March 1, 2019 for $19.99 USD


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