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Art from the canceled 2003 Earthworm Jim game re-surface photo

Here's your second dose of canceled game esoterica for the night, again courtesy of Unseen64: concept art and details about the ill-fated Earthworm Jim prototype for the Xbox and and PlayStation 2 from 2003.

Barely out of preproduction, the new Earthworm Jim prototype was prematurely scuttled as it constituted a risky move for Interplay Entertainment. You know what's an even riskier move? Not making games that fans love and keep clamoring for. Interplay is now all but forgotten, downloadable remakes and a stuttering "revival" notwithstanding.

In any case, the game would've been a side-scrolling shooter kind of like Donkey Kong Jungle Beat: 3D environment viewed from a fixed, on-rails camera. As usual, the Annelid Avenger's head would've served as grappling hook and propeller, with the added advantage of being able to pick up (and throw?) heavy objects. 

But, as the venerable Gonzo put it, "when the going gets weird, the weird turn pro." One section of the game involved a swing-dance style musical boat tour of the River Styx, with Charon acting as bandleader and coxswain. Another featured ancient Rome made entirely of cheese, where Jim would've fought Gorgon Zola in the Fondue Coliseum while toga-clad mice looked on. 

There's no way that wouldn't have been awesome, especially since Charon looks like Manny from Grim Fandango and Gorgon Zola looks like the Tentacle of Day of the Tentacle. Can you spot any more Tim Schaefer-inspired designs in the gallery?

LAUNCH GALLERY (7 IMAGES)
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Joseph Leray is a founding Destructoid editor and has better hair than you. He speaks French and needs to send us his updated bio in English, preferably. Likes Confuse Ray, Feel My Blade A Mabari War Hound, Snot, Spiral Arrow, Argo, Dan Smith's critical hit bark, Rolling things up into my life Meet the rest of the team



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18 comments | showing # 1 to 18
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TheCleaningGuy's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/03/2009 01:17
TheCleaningGuy
I love the art! Totally TenNapel, who I love.
I can't wait to see his stuff in the next game if it ever gets made.
Monodi's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/03/2009 01:20
Monodi
Who is the blue chick?
JynxShot's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/03/2009 01:33
JynxShot
"Another featured ancient Rome made entirely of cheese, where Jim would've fought Gorgon Zola in the Fondue Coliseum while toga-clad mice looked on."

FUCKING
GENIUS

That's the greatest thing I've read all week.
DeadSpaced's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/03/2009 02:05
DeadSpaced
Ehh...I dunno guys. I'm just not digging it, and as much as it pains me to say this, the art style in the first image reminds me of those kiddy Spy Fox games. It just doesn't seem as edgy as the original. I DO love the Grim Fandango resemblance, intentional or not.
Strandli's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/03/2009 03:32
Strandli
I am kinda glad it got canceled...
I don't think Jim works for a 3D game.
But they should make a new HD 2D downloadable game! Like Mega-man 9, made for the fans with the same formula.
Onlineatron's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/03/2009 04:05
Onlineatron
Give this to Tim Schafer.... NOOOOOOW!!!
Monodi's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/03/2009 04:19
Monodi
Is it valid to compare the bulked up Jim with Glottis from Grim Fandango?
MCChampaignMillionaire's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/03/2009 07:02
MCChampaignMillionaire
This is awesome...
Xzyliac's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/03/2009 07:30
Xzyliac
Hey whatever happened to that Vectorman game that was supposed to come out last gen?
Krahsh's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/03/2009 08:03
Krahsh
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Moloks's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/03/2009 09:06
Moloks
I don't know. This could've been good, but then again, EWJ3 comes to my mind.

At least this looks MUCH better than the also canned PSP remake of the fisrt game, you can find videos of that hideous thing on youtube.
H4RDC0RP5's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/03/2009 10:22
H4RDC0RP5
The big guy to the left of Jim is slightly reminiscent of BoboAbobobaobobobo or whatever.
ErigBurger's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/03/2009 11:31
ErigBurger
"The big guy to the left of Jim"

You mean the big muscular Jim?
Holyetheline's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/03/2009 12:09
Holyetheline
So this is what we're missing out on eh? Sad... I loved EWJ and EWJ2 so so so very much back in the day.
Sharpless's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/03/2009 13:02
Sharpless
Wait, this was cancelled? :(
scals37's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/03/2009 17:29
scals37
canceled? "what were they thinking??"
joe asylo's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/03/2009 18:09
joe asylo
bato why, why
it would been cool.
like snail making bubble cool.
Zeromus's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/04/2009 04:22
Zeromus
I wish this game happened :(
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