Worms Ultimate Mayhem review

Name : Worms: Ultimate Mayhem
Developer : Team 17
Platform(s) : Xbox 360 (XBLA), PC (Steam)
Genre : Action & Adventure, Strategy & Simulation
Release Date : 28th September 2011
Homepage : www.team17.com/?page_id=878

It’s been 16 years since the release of the original Worms, and it’s fair to say that Team 17’s continued development has brought the franchise a long way from its roots. More recent adaptations include online multiplayer, and an upgrade to 3D visuals. The latest, Worms: Ultimate Mayhem, is a collector’s edition of all the best bits from Worms 3D and Worms 4: Mayhem.

In the past, the Worms games have had hilarious comedy elements to them, and I’m pleased to say the humour isn’t lost in Ultimate Mayhem. The funny cutscenes, over-emphasised accents and witty one-liners crack a laugh and surprisingly don’t get old, quick. There is plenty of customisation as well. Players can create their own teams, with their own names, clothes, looks, graves and accents. Themes vary from cowboys to builders and items such as moustaches and hats and be equipped.

It’s fair to say that in previous 3D Worms games, movement was frustrating. For Ultimate Mayhem, Team 17 has worked hard at correcting these issues and it has really paid off. The controller layout works well, though there are still a few remaining camera issues on rare occasions which can make actions such as jetpacking and parachuting difficult. Many of the classic weapons return, as well as fan favourites like the Holy Hand Grenade and bazooka, though there is a disappointing amount of new content.

There are six single player modes in total; a tutorial, quick match, two story modes and two challenge modes. The tutorial is very lengthy and overly informative for experienced Worms players. Thankfully, it is optional and separate from the main game. All in all, there are around 60 single player missions which vary from the traditional deathmatches, to enemy base destruction and item collection. The challenges involve beating tasks against the clock, and include minigames such as jetpacking, shooting crates and targets. After each mission, players are judged on speed, and awarded coins respectively. These coins can be used to unlock further customisation for the worms.

The up to 4-player local and online multiplayer offers a lot of longevity to the game. There are four types of modes; the standard Deathmatch, Survival, Destruction (players must destroy an enemy base), Statues (worms are on statue defence duty), all playable in social and ranked lobbies. Don’t expect to get a match easily however, unless you are playing with a friend. Moreover, the loading times are excessive, and I found there was a few seconds lag between my opponent’s actions and my screen display.

The environments in the game are quite varied, from deserts to castles, building sites and restaurants. Unfortunately, the randomly generated and customisable levels featured in previous Worms titles don’t exist, meaning the limited multiplayer maps start to feel a bit repetitive after a short while. Due to the 3D design of the maps, they are a lot more limited in terms of destruction than the classic 2D ones. There is no tunnelling, and a lot of the environment is non-destructible, which takes away from the charm of the series.

It’s fair to say that Worms: Ultimate Mayhem is good fun, and fans of previous 3D Worms titles will enjoy the improvements that Team 17 has made. That said, players who have not been won over by the move from the classic 2D experience will not be swayed with this new installment in the series. The single player will entertain for at least five hours, and providing you can find a game online, the multiplayer will extend the games lifetime.

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