ToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron

Two aliens, funk pouring from the speakers, and a green planet infested with Earthlings who sneaked aboard their ship. ToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron from 1993 was the sequel to one of the Mega Drive's most distinctive titles and chose an entirely different direction from its famous predecessor.

While the original was a roguelike exploration of randomly generated levels from an isometric view, the sequel turned into a classic side-scrolling platformer. The player controls the rapping ToeJam or the bulky Earl, who have returned to their home planet Funkotron only to discover that Earthlings have slipped in unnoticed. The task is to catch them all and lock them in jars, which is done by throwing tomatoes and hunting down hidden enemies.

The game preserved the series' inimitable atmosphere, built on funk music, laid-back humor, and the style of nineties street culture. It contains the so-called Funkotron sections and the HyperFunk Zone minigame, so the action varies its pace. Many fans of the first game were caught off guard by the change of genre, while others appreciated the fresh polish and wealth of detail.

Development-wise, the series was the work of Greg Johnson and Johnson Voorsanger Productions. ToeJam and Earl were created as a tribute to funk and African-American pop culture, and in a sea of Japanese mascots they came across as utterly unique. It was precisely this distinctiveness that made them a cult brand, even if never a mass-selling one.

Culturally, the series belongs among the most beloved curiosities of the Mega Drive. The characters later returned in further installments, among them the modern ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove from 2019, funded via Kickstarter. Panic on Funkotron remains a testament to an era when even such unusual and stylish games could appear on consoles.

Why play: A stylish, funk-soaked platformer with unmistakable humor, ideal for players looking for something off the beaten track.