Game Reviews

Worms is back, again. This time the candid series is in for its 18^th taking, so really you could say it’s a little old, and you’d probably be correct – Worms isn’t the most recent addition to gaming IP but it’s hard to deny there isn’t a place in all of us for a bit of traditional turn-taking glory. The comical series hasn’t exactly gone all out in its past adaptations though, often showcasing its feeble colours with basic puzzles and nostalgic online. You have to accept however, that if any franchise deserves another addition to its already crowded collection then Worms is the primitive choice. Luckily for developers Team 17 the latest in the franchise; Worms: Battle Islands ditches the old restraints and introduces a fresh take with a host of creative extras showing us that any ageing series can make a come-back. And ultimately do it on top form.

Worms: Battle Islands doesn’t reinvent the traditional Worms formula (thank-goodness), that would be stupid, but it does a simple job, it takes what fans love and adds simple extras, vital additions that not only entice the fabulous gameplay but make it more enjoyable. Things like better AI, vaster environments and stronger online make Worms: Battle Islands a strong addition to the series. You can clearly see the difference between Worms 2: Armageddon and this, Worms: Battle Islands is perfect, it has everything you can wish for in a worms game, the single player campaign is superb. Worms: 2 Armageddon delivered for single player so chances are if you savoured that you’ll enjoy this. You’re now split into islands, and the game includes mini stories to go along with each sector and mission, offering a treat before you go to battle, then there are the weapons which sit along side the story, these are fundamental to achieving your goal of killing enemy worms. Battle Islands doesn’t have many new weapons but the currently existing Armageddon ones are present, although I found the weapon selection easier to use in this iteration, there may only be minimal differences in the user-interface, but you feel like using a bigger variety of weaponry as there displayed in front of you in a clearer way, split into 3 categories, ‘Weapons 1’, ‘Weapons 2’ and ‘Utilities’ making selection for specifics easier.