Java Jim... in Square Shaped Trouble

Java Jim... in Square Shaped Trouble is a video game in the action genre developed by Thorn EMI Computer Software and published by Creative Sparks originally released in 1984. It is currently playable on Commodore 64.

Java Jim is trapped on a luxurious but deadly tropical island made up of squares. In the center of this island is an erupting volcano that shoots fireballs at the squares every five seconds, and there are several warp holes scattered around the area. There are eight regions for Jim to explore, and in these regions, Jim's task is to dig holes and obtain any items he finds. The items he finds will be stored in his inventory, but he can carry up to eight items at any given time. While Jim is busy digging in the squares, the volcano keeps landing in the squares, and when Jim has already dug through the square, the resulting fireball to restore the square to its former glory. Jim also has to watch out for Flesh-Eater, an insect that hops across the screen undoing Jim's work, and the only way to destroy it is for Jim to get an axe and hunt it down.

Jim has a limited number of digs, and if he runs out, he jumps into a warp hole scattered around the island, and into a snake-infested pit. Jim has to avoid them while getting the blinking squares that will increase his digs. If Jim is poisoned by a snake too many times, he will lose a life. Once Jim has gotten enough digs, another warp hole will appear which will transport Jim back to the surface.

Some objects help Jim deal with the dangers that appear, but if by chance Jim finds a ladder, the volcano will turn into a series of steps by which Jim can climb out of the region. But at the same time, a nasty thief will appear who seems to be hunting Jim. If the thief manages to catch up with Jim, the items he has obtained will be stolen from him one by one. If Jim leaves the region before the thief can reach him, he will be taken to the store.

Here, Jim can exchange his items for a number of tokens, and get something else in the store. Some items are worth more than others, and if Jim doesn't have enough tokens, he won't be able to trade and will have to go to another region to drop some low-value items in order to get the chance again. The main objective is for Jim to empty the screen in order to build a device that will allow him to escape from the island.

It is possible that we have multiple downloads available when different versions exist.