For fans of turn base action or battle games there have been a few hits out there. There have been a few flops as well that may have suffered from a poor storyline or lack of action. The creation team of Worms, Team 17, has always tried to make sure each new addition to the series has something new in it. They also try and add in more insane humor and new and creative weapons.

Now the series has been around for a long time and we have seen two of the games already released for the Xbox. So the question is does Worms 4 Mayhem offer fans anything new? Read the review and see what I thought of the new addition to the series.

Gameplay

The game is a budget priced title at $19.99 which is a bargain given everything that is on the game disc. The basic story for the single-player mode is strange, but for fans of the series they are used to the warped humor in the games. A wacky Professor is trying to build a time machine and at the same time guide one of his pupils. The Professor is a wise old worm and has the skills but, perhaps his age is catching up with him. The time machine breaks down often and it’s up to the team of worms to defend a certain place or item while defending themselves and trying to take out the enemies. All the while trying to collect the needed part(s) to fix the time machine to get home. Of course the machine breaks down each time and this builds the storyline for the game and all 25 single-player missions. If you are a fan of the series, you know the storylines are not the deepest or even the most unique, but its the crazy antics, weapons and creations that make the game fun to play.

Unlike other turn base games, Worms presents the gameplay in a way that does not get old. You take turns instead of waiting for each member of the other team to make their moves or deploy their weapons. It plays faster and the action is intense. Throw in the crazy cut-scenes and the one-liners of the zany worms and you can’t help but have a good laugh and fun playing the game. It has a similar feel to the last two games and may be too familiar for some fans. Somehow though while the game is not original from the other two, it manages to provide some laughs and sight gags that make up for the lack of originality. They threw in more modes this time and the online mode will have fans taking on other fans, so the game tries and offers a few new things in the way of weapons and attacks. It would be unfair to judge the game against the others and say well it plays like the last one or two for that matter. To be honest, the formula of the whole series has not really changed that much since the very first game back in the 90’s.

It does have some additional challenges that can be played before or taking a break from the story mode and does offer some great ideas. For those die-hard fans, the exploding sheep, the calling in air-strikes, and even sacrificing a worm to cause the most damage against the other team is intact. I have seen the little sheep running along making its noise loads of times and still laugh when it blows up. Hey, maybe it’s just me but that’s funny and while a bit demented so is the fact the game is all based on talking war-crazed worms. It’s a mix of parodies, humor and puns but it never gets old. The weapons are back and a few new cool ones that I tell you about as not to spoil it for those who have not played it yet. They are interesting and Team 17 has not lost its touch.

The game seems a bit toned down on the violence this time around, or maybe it’s just the story. It is still fun and the levels are not a cakewalk. For those playing the game for the first time, they will enjoy it a bit more than long time fans only because we know the gags and even with the new ones you already know the outcome. To be fair though, the die-hard fans will like the way the game is made and have come to expect certain gags and weapons so changing the game entirely may be a risk the developers were not willing to take. The game still plays as well as the rest.

The action is over the top and you have plenty to do in Worms 4, so it’s going to appeal to fans regardless of the fact it is similar to last year’s game. It is just plain fun to blow up the objects and the worms. It’s sort of like the old Road Runner cartoons you know Willey is going to fail and wind up getting blown up or fall. You know it’s going to happen, but you watch it and laugh anyway. In a way, Worms has the same feel and fans seem to enjoy it so why mess with what has worked?

Control / Playability

The games controls are simple but will take a bit of time to get used to. Basic in lay out and the way you operate each weapon, it is harder due to angles and the arc of where you are aiming at. Anyone can get the basics down in less then 20-30 minutes. Learning to be deadly and accurate with every weapon and knowing where to move each of your fellow worms will take some time to master and this has always been part of the charm with a series that features talking worms that enjoy destroying each other. Moving each worm is controlled by the right analog stick while the left operates the game’s camera and allows you the right view. While the camera seems harder to control and the fact you need to tweak or adjust it more than in the past. It’s not horrible, but they have had better camera controls before. The hardest part is actually maneuvering the worms up planks and other obstacles. It takes a bit of practice and some adjusting of the camera but still plays well.

Xbox Live

The online mode returns and really makes the game shine since you can name each team and customize them. It may sound silly sitting there naming each worm but it’s fun to pick out names and make them unique. You can play a death-match and statue defender which sounds exactly as it is: guard and preserve a statue while the other team tries to destroy it. They included a few more modes this year and the online play has always been a part of the fun of the series even back on the PC versions.

Now with Xbox live you can talk smack while challenging a friend or jump in a game and just let loose. The lobbies are easy to navigate through making it simple to make a game and set your own rules. This low budget game has features some of the more expensive titles are missing. The action is intense, but there is also a thinking element in the game and not just blowing up worms and objectives. The cartoon-look makes the game even funnier than it really is and of course this was by design.

Graphics / Presentation

As mentioned, the game is in a 3D cartoon style. Each level is well-designed and a few will make you think about the right places to move before attacking. The colorful graphics also show off the intense battles. There is no blood, only bits of worms when they explode. Each worm has their own unique look and you can buy new items to help make them more colorful looking. The game has never taken itself seriously and it’s that approach that has made the series a hit. Using the 3D cartoon graphics and the cute looking worms is an angle that works and makes the game fun to play and almost suitable for any age.

Audio

The voices are typical of what has been in the series for years. The voice acting is good but then again they are worms that talk. If you can believe they are actually talking, it says a lot for the voice talents. For years fans have heard the comments that all sound like helium filled comics shooting off one-liners. They can sneak in a few hilarious and at time colorful comments. You’re not sure if they actually say what you think you heard which is again by design. Of course it’s the snappy one-liners when choosing a rocket launcher and about to pull the trigger that will make gamers laugh out load and blow a perfect shot. The explosions, weapons and air-strikes all sound great.

Replay Value

The best way to explain Worms is it’s a game you play a few levels and then either go on to a challenge or take it online then return to it again after awhile. The new items and weapons offer a reason to play though the single-player mode. The storyline, while a bit weak, makes sense. Die-hard fans will probably get the most replay value and enjoy it more, but again at $19.99 it is one of those games that few could find fault with due to its cartoon look and cuteness. They added more modes than in the past and this will also increase the replay value.

Overall Score

Overall Score: 7.8/10 [not an average]

Additional Comments

While the game does not alter the series, it offers some new battle areas and modes. It has some great thought out levels and features plenty of online modes to do battle and have fun. It is not for everyone but is suited for almost every age group. The over the top violence and objectives are cleverly hidden in the realm of the cute looking 3D Worm world. Worms 4 Mayhem is perfect for those times when you want a fun game to play online or off with a friend and to kill some time and have a few laughs. For $19.99 it offers a great mix of difficulty and fun. Although the camera does make a few of the levels a bit more frustrating, fans will still want to add it to their collection and those into turn base games may find Worms a refreshing break form the other games out there right now.

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