Proto:Earthworm Jim 2 (SNES)/Apr 24, 1995 Prototype/Dirt

This is a sub-page of Proto:Earthworm Jim 2 (SNES)/Apr 24, 1995 Prototype.

Like Meat Level, Dirt normally doesn't load due to two incorrect bytes. Selecting the level only plays music with a black screen.

General Differences

Prototype	Final

• Loading the stage plays the song "Tangerine". In the final, the stage uses "Subterranean".
• The level's gimmick hasn't been implemented yet.
• The enemies and Pedro Pupa don't appear in the level although pencil-test sprites of them exist in the ROM.
• Jim uses the Plasma Blaster in this level. In the final, Jim uses the Electro-Gun which has infinite ammo.

• Jim can only stand on dirt with black and deep blue spots. The large cracks and thin scratches represent the diggable dirt and background, respectively.

Prototype	Final

• For the excavation site setting, instead of an underground pipeline with garbage scattered around, Dirt originally took place at a buried, ancient Greek city.
• This stage cannot be completed.

Background Differences

Prototype	Final

• The dirt was originally blue before settling with a naturally, earthy color.

• The dynamic background for the dirt hasn't been implemented yet. In the final, the dark areas represent spots where Jim and the various objects interact and traverse in. Digging through the dirt changes the background in real time with the dirt from the main level.

• Instead of a vignette, a garishly green, transparent background is used. This is also present in Meat Level.

Level Layout

• Jim spawns at the top-right of the level and starts falling until he either lands on the dirt or at a pit.
• The location Jim spawns is part of a second copy of the level. The screen locks at the right until Jim moves leftwards and enters the proper map.

• Following the proper path, an ant tunnel appears sooner than the final, which is located a bit upwards.

• Unfortunately, the path ends at the bottommost floor. There's no way to go upwards at this point.

• The floor above has some ant tunnels above Greek structures that Jim cannot stand on.

Prototype	Final

• Midway is a rectangular dirt pattern with three ant tunnels. In the final, this is located near the top, and the holes are positioned differently.

• The second half of the level consists of a basic layout without any level graphics.

Prototype	Final

• The boss arena is more cramped than the final.

• The level continues past the boss to the right, then upwards and to the left. Jim would've actually escaped from the dirt (as in the manual's story blurb) rather than simply using a lever system or a taxi once beating the boss. The final's uppermost level is the boss arena, and a pipe is placed on the right side of the arena.

(Source: corea61 for the patched ROM)