Download Worms 3D (Windows)

When Sega first announced that they were going to release a 3D version of everyone's favourite comic-look turn-based destruction game, a fearful howl was heard round the globe. Would this be the equivalent of re-making "Casablanca", in colour, with Jim Carey in the Humphrey Bogart role?

Well, the good news is that Team17 spent six years trying to get it right and on the whole, they've managed to pull it off. A few old favourites have gone, several innovations have come in and new gameplay skills will have to be learnt to accommodate the new 3D perspective. Purists will complain anyway but, hey, we're in the 21st century now guys - moving on is what it's all about.

In case you've been in a cave for the last 30 years (or outside of Europe - the franchise never did enjoy the same immense success it garnered east of the Atlantic), the principle of the game is to arm your team of worms with any one of a range of often bizarre weapons and take turns to shoot at the opposing wrigglies until they're hammered into oblivion. So let's look at the weapons first.

Standard stalwarts like the bazooka, grenade, cluster bomb, exploding sheep, Uzi and banana bomb are still there but out goes the much loved flame-thrower. You've also got your air strike, jet pack, ninja rope and homing missile, plus a few other "hidden" specials that only get revealed after certain missions are completed. There are also a few new entries, including gas grenades and the nuclear attack.

The air strike and homing missile are dependent on a new camera view -- blimp view -- which gives you a top-down perspective that uncovers where the enemy are hiding. Using that view, you target the next worm and either watch the destruction unfold (in the case of the air strike) or return to third-person view to then launch your missile.

This highlights one of the other major changes from the 2D predecessors - the controls. In the past you simply moved your worm into position, used one control to alter elevation and another to control trajectory. Now, movement is via the WASD keys and direction is via the mouse much like a standard first- or third-person action game, with the cursor keys to adjust the angle. In addition, you can enter first-person mode and use the equivalent of a crosshair for targeting, which takes some time to get used to.

The major problem is jumping. If, for example, you're on a roof and are trying to jump on to a ledge, you have to simultaneously use movement and direction controls and then hit 'return' to complete the action (and hit it twice if you need a backflip). Confounding this is no apparent option to customize keystrokes to particular actions.

That aside, the 3D graphics themselves are perfectly in keeping with the spirit of the original. In other words, they are colourful, over the top cartoon creations, frequently mimicking film scenes (Saving Private Ryan, The Matrix, King Kong, etc.) and always with a strong vein of humour. The worms themselves rely on a broad range of facial expressions to express anxiety, elation or fear, allied to their familiar high-pitched squeaks (which can also be further customised).

One of the consequences of the new graphics is that movement time becomes more critical as you need to allow longer to get into position before setting up your next shot. This is where the jet pack and the teleport will definitely come into their own. The maps are not as extensive as in the 2D versions so trajectory is much more critical and the emphasis is now all above ground, as the tunnelling option has been removed.

Surprisingly, the only downside on the graphics is the surprisingly restrained degree of visual damage created by each hit. Yes, you get big explosions and fireballs and the accompanying sound effects match them well. But frequently after the dust has settled the attacked worm does little more than shake his head from side to side, sit up, and squeak, "That wasn't very nice!" Sure, this pays homage to the originals, and some kind of more dramatic response would just lift that sense of elation with each hit and would better suit the updated look.

The interface is simplicity itself with icons in each corner giving you tips on health, weapon elevation, wind direction, enemy location and weapon selection. The weapon options menu pops up when you right-click the mouse and hey presto, you're off and firing!

The start-up tutorial provides an essential introduction to the new changes and the single-player campaigns are there to sharpen up your response time and accuracy. There's an additional challenge mode which opens up after a mission is completed, but that is principally designed to practice further your speed and technical skills.

But as everyone knows, Worms is all about multiplayer and there are no disappointments in that department (aside from a tragic lack of online support on the console platforms). Designed for between two and four teams, virtually every aspect of the match is as customisable as ever. Schemes (i.e. game settings) can be saved once you've finished your modifications and there's the excellent Wormpot - designed like a one-armed bandit, it provides random game mode combinations (such as health bonuses, low gravity and specialist worms) so you will never have to play the same game twice.

The same random element is also present in the choice of landscape. You can either opt for randomly generated scenarios or pick one you've unlocked from a campaign. You can then give them a theme from lunar, war, England, horror, pirate or arctic and then choose a different time of day (three varieties) for each. You can then further edit the number of objects in the landscape and how spaced apart the islands are. And once again, you can even select the type of gravestone you want your squad to leave behind as a mark of respect!

Worms 3D's new engine isn't a necessary improvement on the classic and enduring 2D game, but the upgrade works, even if it makes the controls a little more cumbersome. It still has the tone, humour and playability that is synonymous with Worms, so fans can take comfort that their slimy pink friends have come out sassier and stronger than ever, ready to kick some slithering butt.

Review By GamesDomain