The Worms franchise has been around now for the better part of the last two decades, so it should serve as no surprise that publisher and developer Team17 would be looking to reinvent the title that helped to shape the turn-based strategy genre in new and exciting ways. But, it’s like they say “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it” and it looks like that’s the exact credo that the studio based out of the UK decided to live by.

The game mechanics are simple, matches begin on a 2D battlefield where each team of worms can have anywhere from 1 – 4 “worm soldiers”. Each team takes turns using a plethora of provided tools and weapons in the attempt of eradicating their enemy before the time runs out. Think of it as a really cool looking game of chess, but instead of rooks and pawns, there is an army of the cutest creepy crawlers ever conceived. Players are limited to what they’re able to control during each turn. For example, worms are able to move freely about the map by slithering, or jumping, but if at any time they are injured or have used a weapon or certain tools the turn will come to an end. This will continue until only one team is left standing.

Now, this isn’t to say that there haven’t been any improvements to this game; in fact, there are many additions to this downloadable title that you wouldn’t see on the original release for the PC in 1999 but at its core, it’s still the side-scrolling action strategy game that it was intended to be.

Teams are customizable, and players are given quite a few options to give their worms personality and set them apart from the rest. Options like: custom voices, hats, gravestones and forts are just to name a few. Weapons and tools in the game are also extremely unique, ranging from items like a ninja rope all the way to items like a concrete donkey that falls from the sky. These elements are what sets apart the “Worms” franchise from other turn-based strategy titles. Team17 has done an amazing job porting Worms 2 to the Playstation Network by up-scaling all graphics and sounds to HD and utilizing the trophies system by offering 27 trophies that can be earned over the various game modes.

Single Player mode includes 35 missions of various team matches, puzzles, and deathmatches. Players earn coins after successfully completing each mission; these coins can be used to buy new weapons, gravestones and campaigns from the store.
In Local Matches, up to four players can play at once, either on the same controller or four separate controllers. Computer controlled teams can also be added to these matches with varying difficulty levels to suit the experience of all users. Online Playstation Network matches range from random quick matches to a variety of game modes like Forts, Races and Deathmatches, all of which are customizable by the user. The game has Leaderboards for these game modes so that you always know where you stand in your quest for wormy greatness.

If there is ever any uncertainty when it comes to a particular game mode, there is a breakdown of how to play in the “Help and Options” section of the Main Menu. This section also gives players the opportunity to customize their teams and game styles in order to tailor the experience.

Accessibility Issues/Concerns:

Where the game falls short is that the player is not able to customize the game controls, so if the default setting does not cater to their abilities, there’s no way to change this to be more accommodating. The game does require a fair bit of precision is order to pull off some of the more tactical moves, so the game would benefit some players by allowing this.

Deaf gamers will be able to play with little to no setbacks. Every time an action is expected by the players, visual indicators are clearly displayed where the camera focuses on the worm or current action and in some scenarios’ there are even on-screen captions. These captions do not change font size shape or color, so this offers the comfort of consistency. It is possible to play one hand but because the game is made to use the [Left Stick] to move and the [Right Stick] to control the camera it takes some getting used to. One way to counteract this would be to increase the time for each turn to allow for more movement and actions without the feeling of being rushed. Gamers who are color blind may have a slight disadvantage as each team is color coated, but because the game has such clear visual indicators this won’t disrupt the end user experience too much.

At a Glance

Mobility: Precision does play a part in the players ability to complete the actions they intend during their turn, but with the ability to increase the time for each turn, the game offers an enjoyable experience to gamers of all abilities
Recommended score: 6/10

Hearing: There is on-screen captions and extremely legible visual indicators that don’t change shape, size or readability. Recommended score: 10/10

Vision: Even though teams are color coated, players are able to navigate through each game mode with the assistance of captions and arrows which indicate whose turn it is. Recommended score: 8/10

Overall: Whether you’re new to the Worms series or a seasoned vet, this is a must have downloadable title. With hours of playability and an additional add-on battlepack available at the Playstation Store, the game offers fun, excitement and a bit of comedy for gamers of all ages and abilities.