Worms: Open Warfare 2 - The Way It Should Always Be.
Finally Worms was back!
Im one of those who remember how Worms was born onto the old systems, the IBM's and Amigas of the day.
There was nothing funnier than Ironically prodding a worm who failed to prod you off, to its doom. All the while Maniacally laughing at your friend as s/he sat next to you.
Worms 2 introduced a very good Editor and now you could play on your own creations. Usually rude words or images.
Worms Armageddon introduced the Song everybody loves, "The Enemy threw the latest device, Boggy B went and got it, Despite all advice. WHAT THE! "
As well as a whole slew of voices, maps and weapons. Those lucky PC folk even got the opportunity to record their own worms voices!
Unfortunately Worms took a turn for the worse, when they turned 3D.
The controls became fiddly, aiming became inaccurate it was no longer fun to play. It became a chore.
Worms Open Warfare 1 reminded us of how it used to be but couldnt quite deliver. Because as we all know at the heart of Worms is each and everyone of your friends.
Worms :OW 2 (Ironic eh?) polishes off the deal. While there appears little improvement on the singleplayer to Worms OW1, theres been a major development in the multiplayer. WIFI.
Okay to the break down.
Worms Open Warfare 2. Graphics:
OH GOD YES!!!!! Simplicity! Gone are the cartoony effects and exaggerated landscapes. Not to say Worms is plain, the little invertaebrates are smoothly edged the background animations are impressively clean and swiftly animated.
My only gripe is the Landscape. While the default landscapes are good too look at with only six or seven schemes it tires.
Also when making a custom arena the terrain can seem rushed even if youve spent hours making it. Sound:
Now while it is exactly like it used to be, nice and quirky. Its also its downfall. After a few hours those tunes do annoy however cute my girlfriend may think them while chirping in time " Left, Left, Left , Right, Left.".
So I say. No Improvement. Touch Screen:
Ill keep this short and simple. The touch screen is under used, and over-rated for Worms. It doesnt need to use it, and quite often gameplay is alot quicker without its use. The weapons bar doesnt "flick" up correctly when requested, requiring multiple attempts wasting valuable time.
You have no idea which weapon is which when selecting with a stylus unless youre a veteran and know all the Icons off by heart. ( I am guilty of this), so often you revert to the D Pad.
Also the lack of Stylus Aiming. It should have been included, even if it would be pointless, as it makes the other stylus uses pointless even more.
Why be able to select a weapon with it, if you have to aim by Pad?
The stylus's main use in Worms OW2 is the level editor and graphic editor.
It is perfect for such use.
Gameplay:
Ive desibed most elements of Gameplay already. However here are some other points.
The A.I. Unlike prior Worms games Team 17 are usually quite good at balancing it, here there are sharp jumps and drops during the campaign.
In the Enemy Worm A.I , the Mission Difficulty, even in a Custom game.
Ive played early missions where the enemy worms can launch their bazooka shell across the whole map, INTO a narrow tunnel and DIRECTLY onto my worm. Can I get a WTF?!
Yet later on, Ive had HARD AI Worms struggling to jump over a ledge.
Also what gripes, is the AIs Line of Sight approach. Unless they can directly see a worm or have a clear path, they ALWAYS skip their go.
Quite often you can sit under an enemy worm with only a thin piece of terrain seperating you, and yet theyll skip. Why not drill? Humans do....
Speaking of Humans.... Multiplayer:
The Heart and Soul of Worms.
Luckily I have a Wifi Hotspot near my home, so I regularly drop into my Macdonalds, buy a Burger and chill out on the Wifi.
Now my first thoughts are how long it takes to find a game. ARE there really that few people playing online???
No.
Theres actually quite a few, unfortunately Worms OW2 takes a while to connect to its primary servers.
Okay so Im connected. Ah.
now ive got to choose through a bunch of settings to SEARCH for another player who is after the IDENTICAL settings ive chosen. Not good.
What about the " I WANT TO PLAY ANY MATCH" setting?
Okay its ok, Its ok, Ill find someone. Ah here we go a nice deathmatch against one other person. Even though Worms OW2 CAN support 4 people with 4 wiorms each. ( However there is a SIGNIFICANT system delay when this is done.)
Okay Ill start play. It looks and feels EXACTLY like the Worms of Old. Alot of the people I play arent that Old Skool though. But thats not the games fault, however the Old tricks are still in there.
Much to the dismay of my first opponent who Disconnected, maybe cause he thought I was cheating when I water bounced grenades, zooks and Nana's over the water, or Curled my Zook shell with the wind.
The only trouble is the "Chummyness" isnt there. Quite often your opponents play too seriously, as theres no one to laugh with.
The goodthing is you can tell when a good game has happened.
In my most recent game, it was one worm versus one worm. Both precariously perched in a crater near the waters edge (which had risen for one turn).
The enemy Firepunched me upwards hoping id Ping off the cliff into the water. I didnt. the water sank.
Then I waddled my pink skin towards the other. My eyebrows raising like Groucho and pulled out a finger. I could tell the other guy was laughing. Thinking it wouldnt do anything.
I Prodded him onto the seabed below. And somehow I felt it dawn on him.
The water Rose.
Laughter could be felt on both sides, as we added each other to the Rivals lists.