Reviews: Worms HD (XBLA)

Worms is probably the most anticipated XBLA game so far and has been the subject of numerous delays. Worms fans, like myself, have been left despondent every Wednesday that Worms wasn’t released since the game was announced in summer 2006. Now it is here does it deliver the same simple, but brilliant gameplay of old?

In short, it is a big YES. This is probably the best version of Worms since Worms 2 thanks to the addition of 4 player games over XBLA, crisp graphics, and value for money (it is only 800 M$).

The Worms turned base combat with a variety of crazy weapons is retained, as is the 2D cartoon style and sense of humour of the original game. As with pervious games you can create your own worm army (it checks for rude words when you play online!), and gameplay rules. You can battle friends or in ranked matches over XBLA. The game also features 20 single player levels, the last 4 of which are extremely difficult; especially with the AI sometimes having a supreme accuracy that renders all defence useless.

The XBLA version features a limited set of the Worms’ arsenal, including exploding sheep, air-strikes and the mighty dragon punch. However, the are some omissions, including the Holy Hand Grenade and old Woman, which suggests that a future DLC update will follow, or even a Worms 2.

The 2D gfx are crisp and cute, whilst the 3D backgrounds look great. If you scroll the screen around you can actually see the perspectives of depth in the backgrounds, especially in London. Sadly, there are only three backgrounds to choose from. Yes three! This might explain why Worms is only a 40MB download when the new limit is 150MB. Once again, we can smell the prospect of further paid-for DLC.

The music is functional and the sound effects and voices are cute. There are 5 different worm voices provided: including English, French 1 & 2, Italian and my favourite, German. Unfortunately, there are no variations on these like those featured in classic Worms, such as Cockney, Welsh and Irish, but I fully expect them to arrive in the future as DLC.

Worms represents fantastic value for money at only 800M$ (although DLC later may push this up!). The 20 challenges are fun and rewarding, whilst the multiplayer, which was always the best feature of Worms, is an absolute riot. You’ll split you sides as a friend ends up destroying him/herself with a carefully planned attacked going awry or managed to swing from a rope straight into the drink. Multiplayer games are always close and fun given the randomness of many of the weapons being such a leveller of ability.

Worms is the best XBLA game available at this point. What are you waiting for, start throwing exploding sheep today!

9/10