Developer(s) – Team17
Publisher(s) – Atari, Team17, MicroProse, Hasbro Interactive & Infogrames Entertainment
ELSPA – 3+
The original Worms game was very much a question of trial and error but still turned out to be a very good game. Worms Armageddon, however, took the same formula and built upon it extensively. Making for a much better gaming experience than the first. Delivering more on their outlandish sense of humor and unique gameplay style, Team17 set the bar for innovation within the industry with Worms Armageddon. And continues to hold up as an excellent game to this day.
Graphics – 7/10
As well as having greatly improved visuals from the original game. With the character sprites being in a lot more detail than before, the settings in Armageddon are also a lot more diverse. And the sound bytes used are a lot more humorous and varied. However, for a number of reasons, the PlayStation port, in particular, is much better than the Nintendo 64 version of the game. One of which is the inclusion of the many funny FMVs shown before each battle. Which in the Nintendo 64 version, are absent.
Gameplay – 7/10
Thankfully, the great gameplay is present in all ports of the title. The biggest improvement is that there are a lot more game modes to indulge in. And thus, increased variety. As well as having single or multiplayer, there is also a training mode, which can be used to improve the status of either pre-created teams or custom-made ones. All these new features work to keep things a lot more interesting than in the previous installment. And gives it much more replay value as well.
Controls – 9/10
Just like the first, however, the only issue I have about the game’s control scheme is the system of measuring up wind resistance against trajectory to take the most accurate shot possible with bazookas or grenades. In my opinion, it makes the game unnecessarily difficult at times, given the most awkward of circumstances and unit positions. However, there are no problems otherwise. It can be argued that it is also easier to play it on the PlayStation than it is on the Nintendo 64. Given the size comparison between the two system’s controllers.
Lifespan – N/A (10/10)
Like the first game, Worms Armageddon is a game that can simply be picked up and played without players having to worry about making progress in the conventional sense of having to worry about how fleeting the experience may feel after they’ve finished playing. However, with Armageddon, the extra gameplay features warrant heightened player interest and thus can be made to last even longer than the original game would have done.
Storyline – N/A (10/10)
In lieu of Team17 tradition, Armageddon, as well as the entire Worms franchise, has no established story. But only a basic premise. Worms warring with each other. Again, the best thing about the premise of Worms Armageddon is the continuation of the comedic value displayed in the many FMVs of the game, which play out before each fight. While they may not be quite as funny as the ones in the original game, they’re still quite humorous.
Originality – 7/10
Even at the back end of the 90s, when a lot of the innovation and outlandish ideas of the fifth generation had been well and truly established, Worms Armageddon, in my opinion, was still able to stand out among many of the other different games that were around at the time. It wasn’t as if the idea had been completely fazed out by that time; the idea still hasn’t been fazed out even to this day. Since Team17 continues to release and re-release installments of it on a regular basis.
Happii
To sum up, Worms Armageddon is my favorite Worms game of all time and one that I would highly recommend to any fans of the series who may not have played it yet. Team17 has produced many ideas that may sound ridiculous on paper but work well on the console over the course of their foray into gaming, but this to me is the one that stands out most.