Can a simplified strategy game stand the test of time and engage players new and old? The original Worms game surfaced in 1995 and has seen a few reiterations without changing all that much. How does the latest version stack up? Find out in our Worms W.M.D. Stadia review.
Bombs Away!
Like the other versions before this one, Worms W.M.D is a 2D war strategy game. Players take turns against their opponent to eliminate each other using a varied selection of weapons: from Shotguns to Sheep Bombs. Winning the game can take precise aim or tactical thinking – often a mixture of the two.
Weapons can be collected throughout the miniature map or crafted from components also found throughout the map or by dismantling weapons in your arsenal.
You will pick all these game play nuances up, and much more, in the game’s tutorials. Unlike with a lot of game tutorials, these tutorials actually offer a lot of value and serve as useful practice for the campaign or for multiplayer.
The tutorials are also a lot of fun in themselves! Which is rare. There are achievements to unlock, times to beat, and tasks to complete. There’s a lot to enjoy here and that’s without breaking into the game itself!
On the surface, this game may look repetitive. But as each map is varied; each level has its own challenges and shots are almost impossible to replicate with precision. The game play is more addictive than you might think.
Winning The War
Challenges such as eliminating the last opponent with a manned weapon or completing the level without losing any of your own worms will have you going back to previous worlds in order to obtain that coveted green tick next to each challenge.
At the start of each turn, or as a worm meets their maker, they will shout out a witty quip. Team 17 does an admirable job of balancing between being mildly offensive and family friendly! With jokes that can be enjoyed by all ages accompanied by humorous names that tie in to team names or the map of that level. It’s certainly a game for everyone, young and old, which is not as common a feat as I wish it was.
Visually, the game is great. Vibrant and detailed maps are distinctive from one another and offer plenty of hiding places and exploration. You can zoom out to see the whole map or zoom in for more precision and control of your aim.
Staying true to the design and aesthetic of the original 1995 version, Worms W.M.D somehow manages to look polished and modern. Even when playing on a large 4K screen. The one downside is that playing on a phone screen makes the names and other small details in the game hard to see. This isn’t a game issue per say – just something you should be aware of if you wish to take advantage of the cloud offering and play on the go.
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Worms W.M.D
Summary
Worms W.M.D is yet another family favorite in the cloud gaming library. This is definitely not one to overlook.
I have fond memories of playing Worms on my Nintendo DS when I was a kid. I’ll probably enjoy it a lot on Stadia!