Do you like cute things? I know I do. Of course, I’m more partial to cute things with machine guns and bazookas that are desperately trying to kill one another; which is good for me, because that’s exactly what you’ll get when you play Worms 2: Armageddon. To be completely honest, I have always heard of the Worms games but have never played them. So, I’m going at this game as a “noob.”
Worms 2 is a strategy turn-based game on a 2D plain, much like Scorched Earth. You take control of a battalion of Worms in a group of up to four. You battle against another group of Worms taking turns in battle until only one side is left standing. You will use a variety of weapons that range from Uzis and Bazookas to more outrageous stuff like rampaging Buffalos and fire punches. Each player takes a turn that consists of a select time period for you to move your worm and use an item or weapon. Some weapons allow you to attack twice in one turn, some can target multiple targets, and others will help you place your worm in a more strategic position on the map.
There is an extensive team customization that will allow you to customize your worms in appearance, attitude, and voices. All of which have a cutesy flavor to them that makes the game rather funny at times.
The game offers a campaign mode where you will be placed in situations where you must use strategy to win. There are also levels in the campaign that are basically puzzles where you have a limited amount of time or a limited amount of weapons that you must use to complete an objective. The campaign itself will last you a good 3 to 4 hours. It really gets you ready for what you will face in the multiplayer. You also earn money in the campaign that you can spend in the in-game store to buy new costumes, weapons, arenas, and more campaign missions. It keeps you going for a while.
The multiplayer features both online and offline play. There are a ton of unique modes to keep you busy. There’s a lot of customization in the modes to keep the game play fresh. It supports up to four players in local play and online player matches, but only two players in ranked matches. The online itself is decent, but I did run into a little bit of lag during my opponent’s turn. It’s not too bad, but it is there, and I experienced it in several matches.
I have to mention, this game features one of the largest trophy count of a downloadable title I have ever seen. So, trophy hunters, like myself will be hunting for a good long while in this game. Keep in mind, though, some of them can be downright impossible to obtain.
One of the great features of Worms 2: Armageddon is the tutorial. Since I had never played a Worms game before, I was hoping the tutorial would help me out a bit. I wasn’t disappointed. The tutorial lasted about 15 minutes, and really helped me get a good grasp on how the game plays and what strategies could help me out later on in the game. It was a really nice touch that will help out newcomers understand the ins and outs.
The only drawback to the game is the AI difficulty. Later on in the campaign, the enemies will become deadly accurate in their attacks to the point where all my guys are dead before I can even get a shot off. In the later levels, the game places you in situations to where the odds are stacked against you. It got just a little frustrating, but with time and a little practice, I made it through.
Worms 2: Armageddon is still a really fun game. If you have some friends or family to play with you, it can be a blast playing locally. The multiplayer is very complex in structure, but still a lot of fun if you mind the lag here and there. There’s just a ton of stuff to do in the game that can keep you busy for a good long time. For fifteen bucks, I would definitely drop the money on it if you’re looking for a good turn-based strategy game.
