| " | DailyRadar Review Back in 1995, the original Worms was something of an underground hit. Over the years, it's gathered a cult following of devotees that has slowly grown and started to attract some casual gamers. Being released for both the Dreamcast and the PC, Worms World Party is perhaps the most approachable version of the game to date. Although veterans of the game may consider it merely an expansion pack, it's a game that stands on its own, with enough new options and features beyond new missions to warrant a full release. For the uninitiated, Worms is a combination of action, puzzle game and turn-based strategy, whereby each side tries to wipe out the other with myriad weapons in nearly limitless combinations. Players can move their worms (and sometimes just a single worm) over hills, into mountainsides, across treacherous landscapes -- pretty much anywhere but into the water. Weather effects also play a major role in the Worms universe. The wind, for example, will affect the direction of most projectiles, though not all of them. By weapons, we don't mean the usual knives and guns. Worms has more weapons than most other games, and plenty of them are deviously creative. In addition to the expected shotguns, bazookas and bow and arrow combinations, players will find things like Scales of Justice, an Exploding Sheep Launcher, a Stinking Skunk and the "End It All" weapon that's aptly named Armageddon. Each weapon has a specific use, and many different weapons can get the player through the same situation, leading to a lot of trial-and-error and even a lot of replayability. The maps are quite creative as well. In addition to the expected mountainous terrains, there are many other forms to play through, including fighting onto a ship as the water level rises. To keep everything interesting and new, a new feature called the Wormpot allows players to access well over 1,000 different game styles. It works either like a slot machine, with a random dynamic picked, or players can select their own style. Features include altering weapon damage, making sticky or slippery surfaces, and even a blood mode. (Don't worry, the game will be rated "E." The violence is cartoonish at best.) Each dynamic is mixed and matched, adding even more replayability. Newcomers to the Worms universe have not been forgotten. In addition to the Wormpot, there's now a Wormopaedia, which is an excellent guide that explains each and every weapon in the game. In addition to listing the damage for each weapon, most also contain tips from "Worm Experts" that give good and possibly unique uses for each weapon. It's a great way to figure out what's going on without having a past history with the game. There's also a Training Mode that shows how to use each weapon with various target practicing and other skills put to the test. Online play for up to 18 people is also included, although it's recommended for no more than six at a time because of the nature of turn-based strategy. For those that prefer to go it solo, there are 45 new single-player missions, 16 new time attack missions and even a deathmatch mode that can be played both single and multiplayer. Developer Team 17 has really tried to make Worms World Party as accessible as possible. | " |
