Jim Still Got The Powah! – Jim Power In Mutant Planet –

Jim Power stands out as one of the most memorable Amiga 500 classics for me—it’s a game that tends to evoke strong opinions, either love or hate. Personally, I’ve always loved it far more than I disliked it because nearly everything about this game is simply outstanding.

The music, composed by Chris Hülsbeck, is timeless. It’s the kind of soundtrack that makes you want to dive back into the game again and again. However, many players never get to fully experience all of it fully due to the game’s brutal difficulty spikes.

Jim Power is a hybrid game in many ways, and unlike many others that attempted the same mix, this one manages to retain its high quality across all its varied gameplay styles, making each section feel unique and a joy to play.

The game offers everything—from traditional Run ‘n’ Gun platforming to vertical and horizontal shooter levels, giving players a refreshing variety.

I’ve included a sample of the music here for you to enjoy, and just to be clear, the Amiga version is the superior one. While the TurboGrafx version uses CDDA, it doesn’t come close to matching the rich sound of the Amiga release.

http://www.emuparadise.me/GameBase Amiga/Music/J/Jim Power in Mutant Planet.zip

On the map screen, lots of people never got past the last level (the tunnel at the bottom) and i was one of them until 2 years ago (and i played it a lot since the release in the early ’90s), a very unforgiving game at certain places and just before the end there is a semi glitch place… AAAAAARGH!.

Even by today’s standards, this game looks absolutely stunning. Featuring up to seven levels of parallax scrolling, an incredible array of colors, and diverse design, it stands out as a visual marvel for an A500 title.

What’s even more impressive is the smooth performance—there isn’t a single instance of slowdown throughout the entire game!

Games like this are few and far between. Yes, it’s a platformer, and there was no shortage of those from the mid-’80s to the mid-’90s, but this one feels unique, offering something distinct in terms of gameplay.

The huge bosses, combined with the fun, sometimes frustrating, but always captivating music, make for a truly memorable experience!

In the screenshot below, you can see one of the earlier bosses—admittedly, it’s a bit on the dull side. But don’t miss the two amazing bosses further down!

This particular boss is one of the first you encounter. It’s incredibly fast-moving and splits open in the middle, revealing the vulnerable spot where you’ll need to strike to defeat it.

I had to grab these two boss images from MobyGames, as I couldn’t find a better source, and capturing these fast-moving boss battles in E-UAE turned out to be more challenging than expected. I admit it’s a bit lame to use different resolutions for the images, but it is what it is.

One of the best things about this game is how every level makes you want to jump back in and see what’s coming next. That sense of excitement was something special from the era, unlike today’s games where the design feels repetitive throughout.

(Picture on the left side)
The hitboxes on this level will make you want to scream. You have no idea how many times I had to replay it before I finally managed to get past. I could have taken the easy route and used infinite lives or cheats, but I’m totally against that. In my opinion, cheats break the game.

After all these years, it’s become a matter of principle for me—I had to beat it on my own, without cheats. The funny thing is, even after completing it, I still feel the urge to go back and do it again, and I still won’t resort to a level trainer or anything like that.

(Picture on the right side)
This is the first level you’ll see a lot, and while it’s tough, it’s also fun and rewarding!

This is roughly where you get your proper weapons, so be sure to stay alive here—no pressure, right? Hehe.

Notice how it’s spread across four floppies? Well, a good friend of mine, Chris Vella, sent me his two NTSC copies after I had been searching for years to find a copy of the game. It was pretty rare at the time, but about two years after receiving those floppies from him, I finally managed to get my hands on a mint boxed version of the PAL release.

This game is still quite pricey, even for copies with damaged boxes. So, if you ever come across a mint version for less than 50 British pounds, don’t hesitate—snatch it up!

Haven’t tried it yet? Well, don’t wait any longer—go and play it right now! If you’re a fan of retro games, this is a must-play. Just make sure you’re trying the Amiga version for the best experience.