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"Proud Gashead!"
Regular
on 27/04/2009 at 9:57:54PM
Edited: 28/4/09 8:34 Total Posts: 2595 |
XBL Arcade 400MSP (approx £3.33)
In what may seem like a dated game, Worms on the XBL Arcade still warrants a review, especially now that it can be downloaded for less than a fiver.
For those of view that have never been acquainted with a Worms title, Worms is a strategy game produced by Team 17, in which you control a platoon of four worms and your job is to pit their arsenal of weapons against the arsenal of up to three other teams of four worms. It sounds fairly bizarre (it is, but that’s the joy of the game), but the game play is quite straight forward and most of the time, hilariously funny!
The game will start with your four worms placed randomly placed over a 2D map, each with 100HP (hit points). The goal is to keep as many worms alive (or retain as many hit points as possible), whilst eliminating all of your opponents’ worms’ hit points, in a turn based fashion.
The landscapes are surprisingly detailed, with obstacles ranging from tennis rackets to telephone boxes (they don’t sound like very big obstacles, but considering they are tiny worms, the obstacles are huge). An array of oil drums (worm-sized ones at that) and tiny landmines scatter these landscapes to add a different challenge the players’ strategy. It all sounds incredibly complex, but when playing the game, it is unbelievably simple and extremely easy to get to grips with.
The landscapes are randomly generated each game to add an immense variety to every game. However, before each deathmatch game you can read a code, which is the landscape code for that map. If you really enjoy that landscape, you can recreate it in a different game by re-entering that code. Clever idea – along with the fact you can choose a theme for each game and repeat your favourite landscapes.
The worms’ arsenal isn’t as boring as the kit you’d find on most modern day first person shooters. Although you will find a bazooka, Uzi and shotgun, you will find some interesting weapons, such as the exploding sheep or the banana bomb. Sound odd? Well they are! Some weapons offer a set amount of damage (as to help your strategy) and some offer a variable amount of damage (you may get lucky!). As long as you whack all of your opponents’ worms and keep your own worms alive, it doesn’t matter how you deal out the damage!
Of course, no strategy game would be complete without the obligatory time limit. Fail to annihilate all opposition worms in the time limit then the game will enter sudden death. The water level will rise after every turn and every single worm will have their hit points returned to one point (so one hit kills stand). Most people aim to finish the game by this point although it could be part of your strategy to last this long.
All of the above just applies to the quickplay mode. This mode is more than enough for most casual gamers. However, if you get bored of this mode, there are 20 challenges for you to undertake. Each challenge gets progressively harder and it will take an age to get through them all (it did with me, but all of those who know me, it wouldn’t surprise you!)
Multiplayer is great as well, online and offline. Offline, up to four players can play – on just the one controller. This means if you are new to the 360 and have few controllers, you and three other mates can take part on just player one’s controller. Great if you have just started up (or cannot get hold of another controller or online). Online is also good fun. You can take on the best of the best, whilst competing for a decent place on the Live leaderboards. The competition against real players is slightly better than the already sublime AI from the computer opponents.
Overall, although the XBL Arcade version of Worms does lack some of the weapons that Worms did on some of the earlier versions (and even that of the same version on other formats), Worms is a solid, enjoyable party/strategy game that will provide many hours of entertainment – for those who are serious gamers and those who like the odd pick up and play game. It is only 400MSP (£3.33) from the marketplace and that represents excellent value for the amount of hours you will be sat at the helm of your wormy platoon. With a sequel of this game already announced for the XBL Arcade, its worth getting yourself trained up for the battles you’ll undoubtedly be playing when you purchase the sequel.
Go on, buy it – or at the very least, download the free demo!
9/10! (maybe 9½ whilst playing it with your mates and a few beers!)
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pb
"Shoryuken!"
Moderator
on 28/04/2009 at 9:06:02AM
Total Posts: 10173
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Nice review there. Certainly a good price for the game.
A slightly updated version has recently made it's way on to PSN as well, so any PS3 owners can also download Worms to play online.
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hippyman
"Proud Gashead!"
Regular
on 27/04/2009 at 9:57:54PM
Edited: 28/4/09 8:34 Total Posts: 2595
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XBL Arcade 400MSP (approx £3.33)
In what may seem like a dated game, Worms on the XBL Arcade still warrants a review, especially now that it can be downloaded for less than a fiver.
For those of view that have never been acquainted with a Worms title, Worms is a strategy game produced by Team 17, in which you control a platoon of four worms and your job is to pit their arsenal of weapons against the arsenal of up to three other teams of four worms. It sounds fairly bizarre (it is, but that’s the joy of the game), but the game play is quite straight forward and most of the time, hilariously funny!
The game will start with your four worms placed randomly placed over a 2D map, each with 100HP (hit points). The goal is to keep as many worms alive (or retain as many hit points as possible), whilst eliminating all of your opponents’ worms’ hit points, in a turn based fashion.
The landscapes are surprisingly detailed, with obstacles ranging from tennis rackets to telephone boxes (they don’t sound like very big obstacles, but considering they are tiny worms, the obstacles are huge). An array of oil drums (worm-sized ones at that) and tiny landmines scatter these landscapes to add a different challenge the players’ strategy. It all sounds incredibly complex, but when playing the game, it is unbelievably simple and extremely easy to get to grips with.
The landscapes are randomly generated each game to add an immense variety to every game. However, before each deathmatch game you can read a code, which is the landscape code for that map. If you really enjoy that landscape, you can recreate it in a different game by re-entering that code. Clever idea – along with the fact you can choose a theme for each game and repeat your favourite landscapes.
The worms’ arsenal isn’t as boring as the kit you’d find on most modern day first person shooters. Although you will find a bazooka, Uzi and shotgun, you will find some interesting weapons, such as the exploding sheep or the banana bomb. Sound odd? Well they are! Some weapons offer a set amount of damage (as to help your strategy) and some offer a variable amount of damage (you may get lucky!). As long as you whack all of your opponents’ worms and keep your own worms alive, it doesn’t matter how you deal out the damage!
Of course, no strategy game would be complete without the obligatory time limit. Fail to annihilate all opposition worms in the time limit then the game will enter sudden death. The water level will rise after every turn and every single worm will have their hit points returned to one point (so one hit kills stand). Most people aim to finish the game by this point although it could be part of your strategy to last this long.
All of the above just applies to the quickplay mode. This mode is more than enough for most casual gamers. However, if you get bored of this mode, there are 20 challenges for you to undertake. Each challenge gets progressively harder and it will take an age to get through them all (it did with me, but all of those who know me, it wouldn’t surprise you!)
Multiplayer is great as well, online and offline. Offline, up to four players can play – on just the one controller. This means if you are new to the 360 and have few controllers, you and three other mates can take part on just player one’s controller. Great if you have just started up (or cannot get hold of another controller or online). Online is also good fun. You can take on the best of the best, whilst competing for a decent place on the Live leaderboards. The competition against real players is slightly better than the already sublime AI from the computer opponents.
Overall, although the XBL Arcade version of Worms does lack some of the weapons that Worms did on some of the earlier versions (and even that of the same version on other formats), Worms is a solid, enjoyable party/strategy game that will provide many hours of entertainment – for those who are serious gamers and those who like the odd pick up and play game. It is only 400MSP (£3.33) from the marketplace and that represents excellent value for the amount of hours you will be sat at the helm of your wormy platoon. With a sequel of this game already announced for the XBL Arcade, its worth getting yourself trained up for the battles you’ll undoubtedly be playing when you purchase the sequel.
Go on, buy it – or at the very least, download the free demo!
9/10! (maybe 9½ whilst playing it with your mates and a few beers!)
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