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I have found them. The one person on this planet who has never heard of Worms.
I had assumed previously that every man and his dog had at least heard of Worms, with the vast majority of those even having played a game or two. But no, for my darling wife, has never even heard of it.
It’s a Saturday night and we have a friend staying the weekend. He is a gamer so we’re finding a game to play for the evening. I tell him I have Worms Armageddon: Anniversary Edition to review and then before I know it, we’re into the wee hours, reliving our youth with one of the greatest couch multiplayer games of all-time.
It has felt like an age since a Worms game last released, but the truth is very different. This is the eighth Worms game released with Xbox achievements attached and whilst it has been three years since the last one, Worms Rumble, it may be more of a case of a lack of quality in recent times.
Worms Armageddon originally released in 1999. By that point the series was very much into its stride, but as the third in the series, it pretty much peaked. As a result, to celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary, the best Worms game is getting a re-release with a host of new extras. Though, at the price that Team17 are quoting, a few more extras would have made it an even sweeter deal.
If you too are like my wife, then Worms is a very simple premise. All the action takes place on a 2D playing field and teams must eliminate opposing worms to end up victorious. But no, not by feeding them to the birds in the garden.
These worms pack some serious firepower; there are your classic weapons like a bazooka, shotgun, grenades and more. All sitting alongside some comical weapons like the destructive banana bomb, super sheep, battle axe, old woman, holy hand grenade and, of course, the concrete donkey. Part of the fun is coming up with unorthodox ways in which to kill other worms. Sure, you can hit them with a bazooka shot, but isn’t it more fun to call in a napalm strike?
Yes, is the answer. Always, yes.
Worms Armageddon: Anniversary Edition comes with all the content from the original release. You can jump into a local game from the gate, and this remains the best way to truly play a round or ten of Worms. There is also the ability to play it online, but the lobbies have been sparse. You can also customise games and teams to your heart’s content. Whether you want your IRL friends with you or against you, I am not one to judge, but the option is available for both outcomes. Worms Armageddon: Anniversary Edition comes with all the voices you loved laughing at all those years ago too, with many accents given a gentle ribbing.
Just like the original release, the single player component is also here. There is a lot to go at as well, but it may make you doubt your prior Worms proficiency. The training is tricky to overcome, and the missions aren’t kidding around either. These feel different from the main mode of deathmatch-based gameplay and help add some variety. Though if you prefer that, there is a single-player deathmatch mode that gets progressively harder as you complete each match.
Having gone through several facelifts over the years, the look of Worms Armageddon is perhaps the most memorable. And in this Anniversary Edition, that hasn’t been lost at all. The randomised maps all retain that cartoonish feel to them, and the worms themselves are as animated as ever.
There is more than just blowing the hell out of the opposing worms. This is developed by Digital Eclipse, who have developed a reputation in recent years for also adding in digital curated exhibits alongside classic re-releases. This is no different, and it is chock full of interesting lookbacks, interviews with original developers, celebrity fans, pictures and old-school gameplay. For example, have you ever wondered how the Concrete Donkey came to be? Well, in this interactive treasure trove you can finally have the answer.
If you have played the recent Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration or Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story, then you should know what to expect here. And whilst it may gloss over a lot post Armageddon, it is no less inferior even if this game is on the silly side.
Also included is the Game Boy Color version of Worms: Armageddon. The nostalgia hits here too, especially when you see the classic Infogrames armadillo logo splash screen. This may be the best part of this version however, as it is a very stripped back version of the larger main game. There are fewer weapons to choose from and just a general lack of variation when compared to the main feature. It plays perfectly well however, and for those that played the original release will get some joy out of it. But for those who never did, there is no reason to really play this version over the other one. Except for an achievement…
Worms Armageddon: Anniversary Edition is for fans old and new. Older fans will appreciate a re-release of the series high point, along with some other cool bits, and the newer fans can get a taste of a multiplayer classic. Whilst the package would have benefitted from a little extra, say, Worms Pinball for example, helping justify the £24.99 price tag, it isn’t bereft of content.
Once again, Digital Eclipse has proven with Worms Armageddon: Anniversary Edition that there is a real hunger for packages that offer gaming joy alongside an interactive timeline.
Worms Armageddon: Anniversary Edition Launches on Xbox, PlayStation, and Switch – https://www.thexboxhub.com/worms-armageddon-anniversary-edition-launches-on-xbox-playstation-and-switch/
Looking Back to 1995 and the unkillable genius of Worms – https://www.thexboxhub.com/looking-back-to-1995-and-the-unkillable-genius-of-worms/
Buy Worms Armageddon on Xbox – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/worms-armageddon-anniversary-edition/9NH5HHR5W9WX