New gameplay footage released by Amico gives a new meaning to the words “sneak peek” due to how little of the game was actually revealed. It shows earthworm Jim landing on a beach inside a tropical caldera. The side-scrolling adventure feels right at home among the many Earthworm Jim games from the past. As a viewer, our attention is immediately drawn to the multiplane effect reminiscent of Walt Disney film and technology. Since the Amico has been meant to bring classics back to life, this sneak peek leaves no doubt that such will be the case.
During the Amico special event on August 5, Intellivision announced that the Amico release would be delayed until April 2021. This is no surprise what with the Coronavirus affecting most things in our economy. Additional gameplay footage for other games was also released. One plus of the Earthworm Jim preview is the knowledge that the Amico is not just a glorified mini-game console. It has full-length games that promise a real return to other Amico classics. The entire special event was about an hour and a half long but a summary of the events can be viewed here.
Consumers will definitely need to weigh the benefit of the Amico console against the potential cost. Will this become a console that is used often, or will it be an afterthought-where families blast a few incoming missiles for five minutes (once a month) before getting bored? The promise of an exclusive Earthworm Jim game certainly leaves the door open for meaningful and consistent gaming. One thing is certain, and that is that since original game releases by Intellivision decades ago, expectations for graphics, gameplay, story, and overall quality have increased exponentially.
Hopefully, the fact that J. Allard joined the Intellivision team earlier this year as Global Managing director will bode well for the company. Having served as a top leader in Microsoft and having co-founded the Xbox, his massive success and experience could lead the Amico further than anyone might hope. However, anyone can learn to make a game and become a success overnight nowadays, and the market is much more saturated now than it ever has been for video games. Indie game design and other established giants make the market competitive and only time will tell if the Amico will make the impact that Intellivision clearly hopes it will.
