Worms Armageddon

"Great game, one of my favorites, but has its flaws"

I'm not going to explain what the premise of this game is or what give an introduction of what it's about; the other reviews do a fine job of it. My review delves deeper into the intricacies of the game.

One of my favorite N64 games, this game is loaded with options and is fun for one or many. However, WORMS lacks a couple of things in the graphics and sound department that leave some room to be desired. A great game, but I feel it could have been a bit more polished to deserve the perfect '10' score.

I haven't played the other versions on the PC, Dreamcast or PSX, so I can't compare the N64 version to the others and recommend which one is better. Maybe the other versions have that certain 'polish' that I eluded to before. However, if you only have an N64, this game is a must.

Sound (8/10) - I'm not going to provide an extensive review of every aspect, but the sound is pretty good. The different voices/accents are an awesome option that adds to the gameplay and replay value. Even with this unique and dynamic option, the actual voices could have been a bit clearer. But hey, real worms don't have teeth, tongues or lips...maybe they're supposed to sound muddled.

Gameplay (10/10) - Simply awesome. What makes this individual score a perfect '10' is the variety of options. You can control, change and set up every aspect of the game. From the ''shot clock'' to number of worms, manipulating the amount of time to escape after planting a grenade to naming the worms, this game has it all. A plethora of levels to select and you have the option of 'generating' more. You can personalize the game into any type you want.

Did I mention that you have an arsenal of weapons larger than Inspector Gadget? The plethora of tools at your disposal ensure that you are not just shooting the same gun over and over again. Getting bored with the bazooka? Try the holy grenade or homing pigeon or flaming sheep for added challenge and entertainment. Each weapon has its strengths and weaknesses that cater it to a special situation. What separates the great players from the losers is the ability to use the weapons most resourcefully, effectively and correctly. One thing though, it would have been nice to manually select which weapons you could activate and the number of uses as well. They are pre-set in different modes to choose from.

Great feature is the ability for 4 players to play, even if you only have one controller. You can have 3 players controlling different teams, but on the same side for some 3-on-1 action or you can have a free-for-all. You can add a computer and adjust the skill level if you and a buddy just aren't enough worms for satisfactory mayhem.

WORMS also has training modes and missions for 1 player mode that are just as important to the overall game, not just an afterthought add-on to the game. But the engine that powers this tank is the multiplayer.

Graphics (7/10) - My biggest gripe. It's simple. Not outstanding, but serviceable. It doesn't detract from the gameplay, but it doesn't add. The view is pretty far, so the worms are less than an inch big. The camera zoom is not adjustable, so the precious expressions and weapons that the worms perform cannot be appreciated as much. When you place a grenade right on top of your enemy's head, you want to be able to zoom in and see the worm's expression and fear up close and personal, right before it gets blown to smithereens. Without the zoom, it is also tough to see the entire level, which can hurt strategy a bit.

One final comment: Instant replay? The computer does one or two replays automatically, but you don't possess the ability to manually replay it, zoom in/out and replay it again. The most joyous occasion is to blow up your opponent's worm, yet there is no option to re-live it, gloat to your friend and show it over and over and over. To be able to watch the worm blown up in the sky and then bounce off a wall into another mine is precious. Sorry, no manual replay.

Overall, I love this game, but it lacks that 'polish' that separates it from a perfect game. Single player action, multiplayer action and party game, WORMS ARMAGEDDON is perfect for every situation for gaming madness. ENJOY!

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 06/10/02, Updated 06/10/02