Worms 3D Review (no fat)

Game Description

The slithering slew of squeaky-voiced squirmers finally go 3D in this offering from Team17 - the creators of the ultra-popular Worms (and its near half dozen sequels). In its new avatar, Worms 3D blends real-time action with turn based gaming and features some adorable sprites, challenging campaigns, a whole lot of map themes and missions plus a radical arsenal of weapons.

Even though the objectives remain the same as all Worms games, the third dimension pushes the difficulty level and overall gameplay up by a few notches. The well thought out missions ensure hours of gaming fun.

Worms 3D Gameplay

Getting along with Worms isn't as easy as it looks. The 3D terrain and controls can make even seasoned gamers scratch their heads. Fortunately, Team17 threw in some tutorials that come in handy.

The objective is to command a team of armed worms. You have to roam around the worlds and annihilate opposing teams. As such, the game play involves strategizing and using your arsenal (and the terrain) to gain an upper hand over your enemies. Since the game is turn based, a timer regulates the amount of time each player gets to control their worm. Once you're through, the next player takes over. Up to four players can play at the same time and utilize their turns to maneuver, strategize and nuke opponents.

Camera modes include 1st person and 3rd person views. There are many gaming modes to pick from including Single Player campaigns, Skirmishes and LAN mode.

Transforming a side scrolling 2D game to full blown 3D is never an easy chore but the game developers have done a decent job. The game engine could have done with a few tweaks but when you pit the overall playability factor against minor quirks in design, the former wins.

Worms 3D Firepower Frenzy

If you thought the concept of Worms involved in warfare was crazy then you better have a look at the awesome arsenal these little soldiers have come up with. If the regular cache of guns, sniper rifles and ammo isn’t up your block, you can make your opponents the victims of Exploding Sheep attacks, or serve them the ever popular Banana Bombs. If these aren’t enough, you could revert to the good old baseball bats and Homing Pigeons…

While some weapons are just point and shoot, others require more skill as you have to position them right, set the amount of firepower and plot the projectile's trajectory. So the use of weaponry has gained some complexity with the introduction of 3D gameplay.

The Worms' world is pretty unpredictable as it is randomly generated. Maps employ a whole lot of themes including Arctic, an English garden, a Laboratory and even spooky ones like a Graveyard. Though the graphical detailing isn't the best, it is the interactive nature of the worlds and the way they add to the overall game play that make them great. And if you are still not satisfied with the scenery, you could always readjust it with an atomic explosion!

Grenades and small bombs do the job on a smaller scale and they are especially useful when you need to take out an unsuspecting worm or two. /p>

Worms 3D Controls

The keyboard controls take some time getting used to but once you get a hang of it you can make your worm jump, do flips, fly around using jetpacks and generally traverse the worlds. Some of the props are pretty hard to use and you might face occasions where your worm does a little bit too much or too little. Once you get acclimatized to the 3 dimensional world and the controls, Worms can get seriously addictive.

Worms 3D Graphics

The polygon/voxel game engine, responsible for those destructible landscapes, is a great innovation. The game's cartoon style graphics are a visual treat even though the detailing isn't all that cutting edge. The cell shading we witnessed earlier has disappeared in the Worms 3D, but then again, the 64MB graphics card does ensure a gripping lag-free performance.

Worms 3D Sound

Worms 3D comes loaded with funny voices, ambient background scores and some whacky sound effects. There are a total of 41 different voice sets for the Worms so you can hardly get bored with a single squeaker. The mood of the voiceovers is light and it does keep pace with the radical gameplay…in fact, the voiceovers add to the game’s overall fun.

The sound effects are just as cool as the voiceovers…the sounds of bugs flying round, rainfall and wind is very realistic. Also, there are 45 techno tracks which do provide some variety to the gamers…however, these are perhaps the only thing about Worms 3D sound that is not refreshingly wormy.

Worms 3D 2 cents

Overall, Worms 3D is a decent migration from 2D to 3D. The cartoony graphics display a malleable world filled with sprightly voiceovers and crazy weaponry.

Except for the instances of frustration when a worm doesn't respond to your controls properly, the turn based strategy provides great multi-player action and hours of addictive fun.

The beauty of this game is the unpredictability factor and the sheer number of options that it offers. Overall its addictive, endearing and packed with ample doses of quirky humor, which makes Worms 3D, worth the investment you put in.

Worms 3D – Game Cost

Worms 3D for PC currently retails at 14.64$.