I managed to get hands on with a preview build for Worms Revolution on Xbox 360 during my trip to GamesCom 2012. I have to say I was blown away, and not just by the female PR rep who kicked my ass but also with the improvements that I was initially a little dubious of.
Gone is the crazy idea of making Worms a FPS (first person shooter), à la Worms 3D and back is the Worms that I have been playing and enjoying for the last 20 years.
The game itself plays just like the Worms of old, turn based with crazy weapons at your disposal but this time there is more. A new class system for the worms has now been implemented. Scouts move fast and are smaller so when tunnelling, tunnels are small and narrow. Whereas the Heavy is just that, heavy. Difficult for your opposition to deal with, the heavy won’t be pushed around as easy as other worms, making it difficult to remove him from the board or dunk him into one of the aforementioned pools of water. Should the heavy hit you with the famous Baseball Bat you will know about it. Exerting all his massive force and strength, he does significantly more damage than other worms and will send you flying.
The overall graphics have had a massive overhaul, most notably the playing field now has depth giving a 3D feel. The addition of real world physics challenges gamers to consider the repercussions of their options or tactics taken on each and every turn. Water now flows down the playing field collecting in craters slowly drowning any worms caught in their path. A small but subtle addition is you can now see the damage your worm has taken. For example; Worms now get black eyes and bandages as their HP deplenishes.
One new weapon you have is the UFO. The UFO can be used to relocate objects on the map providing you with protection or trapping enemy Worms so you can rain grenades down upon their heads. The Farting Granny just has to been seen to appreciated.
The game itself has not moved that far from the original Worms on the Amiga all those years ago. When a young Andy Davidson entered a programming competition run by the Amiga Format magazine back in 1995 with Total Wormage (a possible nod towards Total Carnage, a massive Game on multiple systems at the time). Andy didn’t win but when he took the game to a UK trade show he met the guys at Team17 and the rest shall we say is history, as the game went on to be published by Ocean Software.
It’s a good thing that worms has not moved away from its roots, the game works, is not broken and is great fun as multiplayer or single player game.
We should have a full review up very soon so check back or keep an eye on our social media feeds. In the meantime check out the latest video from Team 17 where Don Keystone has taken to the medium of a public information film to try and warn the public about the cold and calculated warfare of the worm!
Worms Revolution is nearly upon us coming this October to XBOX 360 (XBLA) and PC via Steam and PS3 Via PSN.
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