I also covered this game on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GL-keuI9nso

This is an old-school platformer mash-up title that many probably haven't heard of. It was more popular in Europe but not so much in North America. It blends together side-scrolling action, top-down action and shoot em' up levels into the same game, something very different and ambitious for the time. None of these are shining examples of their respective genres but they're all competently done. There's a lot of content here compared to many 90s era platformers, especially PC platformers. This game is rock hard though and only suited for those who enjoy a significant challenge and/or want to practice a lot to iterate their progress.

Unfortunately, this collection is a technical mess and isn't even worth $5 in the state Piko Interactive shipped it in, especially since as of this writing, they seemed to have stopped supporting or talking about it. It includes the MS-DOS and SNES versions of this game, as well as an "enhanced" SNES version, which is essentially a ROM hack that adds more life points and removes the double parallax scrolling which is hard on the eyes. Unreleased Genesis and NES versions were promised to be added as free DLC but these are nowhere to be seen and status is unknown.

The MS-DOS version uses the DOSBox emulator and is improperly configured when first installed from Steam. In order to get the digitised sound effects, you have to manually edit the DOSBox configuration file (instructions are in the Steam forums.) It also runs at a very inconsistent frame rate with awful screen tearing, even on my overclocked Core i7 machine. Other DOSBox games which are properly configured run like butter on this machine. This has never been fixed. You're charging money to provide the optimal way to play this game. If your users have to fix it for you, you shouldn't be charging for it.

The SNES versions use a re-badged implementation of what looks like the Snes9x emulator and while it runs at a much better frame rate and with better sound, it doesn't have proper XInput support. Trying to use an Xbox One controller results in the game thinking that B is being constantly pressed and even after rebinding the controls manually, I couldn't fix it. Playing with an old Xbox 360 controller worked fine and the DOS version of the game works fine with an Xbox One controller. Unacceptable in a 2015 release.

I would have refunded this game if I hadn't had it in my collection for months before I finally got around to playing it. Jim Power is an interesting historical series that platformer fans will like but in this state, with the lacking promised content and near silence from Piko Interactive for the last several months, you should not buy this package. If they ever get around to fixing it, optimising it and adding in the promised missing content, maybe then but not before. This is the last thing I'll be buying from this company.

With the original Jim Power: The Lost Dimension being my favorite SNES game, I was very surprised and amazed to see this game being sold here and with other things included! The DOS version is a very nice add-on as I'm sure many people haven't experience that version, and the "Enhanched" version of the SNES game is a nice variant for an even challenging version of an already brutally challenging game!

It is a shame the original Amiga title Jim Power in Mutant Planet isn't included, but considering this is all related to "The Lost Dimension" port of the game, I can see why it wasn't. Still I would love to see Piko release the original and all the ports from that one like the Amstrad CPC and PC-Engine releases. And with the addition of the unreleased SEGA Genesis version coming soon, a High Quality version of the OST from Chris Hulsbeck , and the NES homebrew version, it's worth it!

Edit: A shame all the extra stuff to come later never came to this release, as Piko did a Kickstarter last year to release physical versions of this game which included the NES homebrew version and finished version of the Genesis prototype that was mentioned to be here. I did support the Kickstarter and was very surprised to see it all happen and it was pretty worth it for that, but as far as this release, just keep in mind you're only getting the DOS version and the SNES variants here.

Jim Power - The Lost Dimension isn't new its a re-release and you get 3 different versions of the game. You get the DOS, SNES original and a SNES enhanced version. Essentially the enhanced version just uses filters to give it a more HD look and the SNES Original is a less defined version that you remember playing on the SNES.

There is a minor issue that is fixed by manually changing the graphics settings to higher performance as well as turning on V-Sync which will fix the problems with screen tearing. Okay so how about the game play well it features two different genre's in one game. You get action sidescrolling platforming and a side scrolling shmup which is much like your favorite arcade counterparts.

The great part of this is that the game has an amazing difficulty setting but the DOS version and SNES are different. The DOS version is a lot slower which makes it a lot easier and the SNES version is a lot faster and is a lot more difficult. But hey both games are still quite difficult its just I find the DOS version a lot more easy to handle.

The music in the game is outstanding and if you know Chris Huelsback you'll know he has done music for a lot of classics which include Turricane, The Great Giana Sisters and he is now producing new music for newer games like The Giana Sisters Twisted Dreams and more so check him out. I usually don't know how to review sound effects but hey they sound great for the 16bit genre of gaming with all the classic slashing sounds and explosion sounds you remember.

I haven't fully completed the game and its one of those games your going to have a very hard time completing but hopefully the DOS version will make things a lot more easier for you. Its still a very fun game and something you should have in your collection if your a fan of retro gaming.

Check out https://www.pikointeractive.com/ for more information on some new and amazing classic games.

First off, ONLY consider buying this if you have some nostalgia for the game, because it is not a good game. It is the most unfair stupid hard junky platformer ever to grace your screen.

What it DOES have is the best video game soundtrack of all time. This is not up for debate, everyone who disagrees is in deep denial.

This package itself however does not have enough features to justify even the sale price, such as:

The Dos version is slow with inferior sound and music
The Enhanced SNES only contains some very minor tweaks
Genesis version has yet to be released
NES version has yet to be released
Does not have the original Jim Power game for Amiga/Turbografix
No high quality soundtrack

Just get your own emulator and ROMs for free.

This game rocked the gaming industry near 1992 for the Amiga as it was a great and challenging hardcore game. The other ports added some additional features and Health Points, which wasn't featured on the Original Amiga version. You should also check Chris Huelsbeck's soundtracks as he is one of Amiga's legendary composer.

Vaprak threatens to defeat our world which is the last planet that stands between him and a dimensional vortex. This vortex leads to a fifth and, up until now, lost dimension. If he succeeds in defeating us, he will destroy our world, opening a gateway for his kind as well as the strange mutating effect that this dimension has on all organic life forms. His forces are far too strong for us to defeat in a frontal attack which is why I was sent to slip past his Omni-eye scanners and make an assassination attempt on the greatest evil that man has ever known. It will take absolutely all of my wits and skill but it is imperative that I reach his fortress and send him back to the sulfurous plane from whence he came.

Jim Power is not a very good game, yet it is still worth playing for it's quirky charms (and yes, excellent soundtrack.)

I definitely admire Piko's effort to make the stupendously awful SNES version *somewhat* playable, and I think they've actually succeeded. That said, the game is still more suited for a long, exacting and gruesome game design autopsy rather than any actual jump-and-shoot 16-bit fun; but that's at least a possibility now. Don't even bother with the SNES original unless you have a nearby toilet or sink to vomit into.

Once you've had your fill of laughing at all the hilariously emasculating ways ol' Jim bites it on just the first stage (death by water droplet, death by moist dog nose, etc.) in that, you can safely move on to the DOS version, which is not only graphically superior, it's infinitely closer to a polished and playable game. It's still quirky, odd and a bit off-kilter; but there's less annoying obstacles in the way of your potential platforming fun.

I also really have to commend Piko just for offering multiple ports of JP - it shouldn't be lost on younger generations that the same game was often wildly different on varying home computers and consoles. Thanks for giving customers some bang for their buck in a retro re-release! :)

Jim Power in of itself is not a great game. The SNES version runs more quickly than the DOS version, which sounds great, but it feels unintentional and too fast, which creates a lot of segments that require future knowledge to not die. The game's overall controls and level design point toward trial and error until the player has memorized the game enough to get to the end. The "Enhanced Version" tries to curve the game's inherent difficulty by implementing 3 hits per life, but does not save what is ultimately an unpleasant experience. On the other hand, the DOS version is more possible with its less ludicrous speed, but in turn makes the game feel worse and less responsive to play.

This particular release runs the game on Piko's emulator. Unfortunately, this emulator doesn't read diagonal inputs, resulting in the player coming to a complete stop if inputting more than one direction(typically resulting in player death). This release also promised:

-Unreleased Sega Genesis version coming in future update

Future DLC-

-High Quality Soundtrack by Chris Huelsback!
-8 bit NES version!

that never released after its 5-some year release on Steam.

First things first, the game itself is great! The problem comes with this release of the game. It includes the DOS and two variations of the SNES version (original and enhanced). As you'd expect the DOS versio uses DOSbox and controller support is fine, but whatever emulator they're using for the SNES version runs the game fine but doesn't have native controller support... really, Piko? On top of that the keyboard mapping is plain horrendous: ignoring which key is which respective SNES button, you jump with CTRL and fire with C...... WHO SERIOUSLY HTOUGH THIS WAS A PLAYABLE CONTROL SCHEME??? The game is a huge challenge, which is part of it's appeal, so confusing and cumbersome controls make it almost unplayable.

Decided to try this release out since it included the DOS version, and apparently a planned update for the Genesis/Megadrive one. Piko's other releases are literally just them selling you a ROM, but here at least you get a package of the different versions to enjoy. Again, the game is great but this release is absolutely horrendous. Find another way to play it, unless you're OK exclusively playing the DOS version. Makes me wonder how bad the other SNES games from Piko control assuming they use the same emulator.

PC version runs awfully. Don't play it.

SNES enhanced version should be called another way since the biggest difference is that it gives three times the lives you normally have and nobody tells you that.

SNES original version is good.