Worms Open Warfare 2 Review

Thirteen years since Andy Davidson' take on turn-based warfare first turned gamers hell-bent on annelid destruction, it appears that Team 17's franchise is still going strong. Following the recent arrival on Xbox Live Arcade, THQ have been quick to return with a sequel to last year's handheld outing with the release of Worms Open Warfare 2 on Nintendo DS and Sony PSP.

Building upon what came before; Worms Open Warfare 2 introduces the range of extra modes you'd expect from a sequel with such a quick turn-around. A full-blown single-player campaign covers the likes of WW1, WW2, Desert Warfare, and Space Wars as a background, pitting worm against worm in increasingly trickier stakes. Restricting which weapons are on offer lends the Campaign mode a good sense of challenge and structure, with a 'Boss' to takedown at the end of each geared around varying strategies such as only using girders!

Beyond the Campaign, Worms Open Warfare 2 also introduces Puzzle and Time Attack options, although there seems to be very little to differentiate these beyond the staple Worms gameplay formula. Often with just a single worm (and occasionally without the ability to move), Puzzle mode challenges you to use the limited weapons on offer and the environment to your advantage. The enemy never fires back, so it's just a question of working out the correct solution whether it's hopping weapon-less across a stage or devising the right trajectory to kick-start a lethal chain-reaction with the last remaining missile. Although there's little to substantiate the mode's cryptic qualities, it does at least help you to hone the basics, whether it's the fine precision needed when manoeuvring around mines or judging the affect the wind will have on a missile. Certain stages challenge you to forget about destruction and simply use whatever items you collect to reach the exit - it's almost like another iconic 2D puzzler from the 90's!

It's evident that some thought has been placed on the single-player modes, but you have to ask who really wants to play Worms on their own?

Anybody who's ever played a videogame in the last 10 years will be able to tell you about the social experience Worms provides, it's all about the multiplayer and it's here where Worms Open Warfare 2 really comes into its own. Featuring support for Infrastructure Wi-Fi on PSP and Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection on the DS alongside local play, Worms Open Warfare 2 provides all the options you'll need to engage in some heated worldwide online multiplayer. Despite a split-second delay, online play appears to provide a strong and enjoyable experience on both formats, whether local or worldwide. With support for Leaderboards, Daily Awards, Clans, Buddy Lists, Chats and Downloads, Worms Open Warfare 2 offers a surprisingly extensive line-up of features and support.

Beyond the archetypal Deathmatch, Worms Open Warfare 2 also introduces Fort and Rope Race game types, although their execution fails to replicate the pure simplicity and joy of the original Worms formula. Congregating each team of worms onto individual island fortifications, Fort intensifies the stakes and puts the focus squarely on attack by removing movement items such as the Jet-Pac and Ninja Rope. It seems quite a jump to re-badge this as an entirely new mode given everything remains virtually the same, although the distinct battlelines and no-man's land does create an intensified sense of tension especially when the Ice Caps are melting and the Earthquakes shake your worms into the rising waters below.

Rather annoyingly, the Rope Race appears to be even more pointless and will only appeal to those who managed to master one of the more important techniques in a worm's repetoire. Challenging players to hike their way to the top of the summit using Ninja-Ropes exclusively, the design of the levels means that it's all about finding that little nook and cranny to lodge your worm in. Personally, I've always found the Ninja-Rope to be one of the most aggravating items ever to feature in a videogame, but then perhaps, I just lack the dexterity and attention to appreciate the appeal behind such a game type.

The sequel also puts more emphasis on customising your own team of worms, with additional accessories, weapons and more unlocked via the Shop with points earned during the Campaign mode. It's a shame that Team 17 couldn't have pushed the idea a little further, perhaps introducing a Cannon Fodder styled experience system with the worms that actually manage to survive.

Long-standing fans of the series will be happy to note the appearance of several new weapons, some of which add a definitive new edge to Worms tactics and strategies. Attracting or repelling metallic objects such as missiles and grenades, the Electro-Magnet provides plenty of options; equally, a well-placed chuck of the item-collecting Boomerang can double up as an effective alternative to the humiliation of a nudge into the icy waters. With 33 weapons in total, Worms: Open Warfare 2 provides one of the most comprehensive line-up's of the series history, although there's still some strange omissions and funny touches - shotguns causing plenty of damage at long-range and where's the Old Grannies?