I used to run a website about the Worms series of games, I say I 'used' to run it since I don't update it anymore, but it's still out there somewhere. I don't write this to plug it blatantly, it's just so you know that I will be rather biased when reviewing this game here. I think it's hard to honestly give a game ten out of ten in gameplay, there's always something that brings it down, and most games today concentrate more on flashy graphics and amazing sound effects. Worms on the other hands is one of those games that was just brilliantly perfect from the very beginning in every aspect. It has had a number of sequels of varying quality, of which Worms: Armageddon refined the already perfected form of play in the original game and came out just as wonderful (yes, essentially it's the same game as Worms 2, but W2 had some glaring balance issues that were fixed in W:A). This game was released a long time ago now, so indeed the graphics are dated, but they were just fine when the game was released (gotta love the way they looked exactly like the graphics for Lemmings, only with worms and deadly weaponry instead). Most importantly, the graphics worked with the game in a very good way, making it harder to navigate your worms around the map compared to W2:s graphics engine. The sound is awesome even by today's standards, Björn Lynne's ambient-like downplayed music brings a great sense of atmosphere to an otherwise as mentioned rather limited experience graphics-wise. Everything from the evil laughter in the Hell-levels, to the sound of the wind in the ones that take place in the desert, it's a joy to listen to. I have to mention the worms' voices as well, the latest Worms 3D did not bring justice to the great legacy of humorous high-pitched voices synonymous with the worms. Game play-wise, you really don't need more weapons than the bazooka and the grenade, after all this IS not that much more than a souped-up version of the old Scorched Earth or Gorilla for Qbasic game that maybe someone remembers. There are lots of other stuff to use though, if you feel the need. Worms is a very rewarding game that you can play for an infinity. The maps are never the same, and the computer AI of different difficulties is good. This game has a never before seen replay value, even though there isn't even any mission mode or anything in this very first incarnation! My qualified guess, if I know Microsoft and if I know Windows XP, Worms won't even play on that operating system. Which is a shame since it's a work of genius, a severely underappreciated such.
The first of the worms series doesn't have flashy backgrounds or beautifully drawn worms. What the game does have is a fun factor that I don't know of in any other franchise. Its soooo satisfying to aim a bazooka up in t... Read Full Review
A wise gamer's first glance at the boxshot would give rise to the impression that this is a whimsical game, and the use of anthropomorphic invertebrates - despite the jarring contradiction between the aforementioned adje... Read Full Review
