A port of a PC traditional that’s a bit tough across the edges.
The Worms franchise has been a staple of PC gaming because the ‘90s, and over time has made its strategy to consoles in quite a few types as properly. The collection beforehand made its strategy to Change in 2017 within the type of Worms: W.M.D., however now on the reverse finish of the Change’s life we bought Worms Armageddon: Anniversary Version, a port of the critically acclaimed 1999 sport. The port was launched in 2024, and in 2025 acquired a big replace that included emulated variations of a number of console ports of traditional console variations of Worms.
The bottom sport of Worms Armageddon: Anniversary Version stays very true to the unique, which isn’t all the time a superb factor. The core gameplay stays enjoyable, with difficult turn-based technique in 2D side-scrolling type. You management a squad of the titular worms and face off towards others, with all kinds of weapons accessible to select from, most of which have the power to destroy the terrain along with your enemies. Whereas the range is enjoyable, it’s very clear that this sport was constructed for a PC interface. Attempting to navigate menus with a controller as a substitute of a mouse is clunky, and whereas it really works, it’s not the best strategy to play.
Worms Armageddon: Anniversary Version additionally doesn’t embody a lot in the way in which of a tutorial or coaching for brand spanking new gamers. This can be a collection recognized for its unforgiving problem, and it doesn’t actually even attempt to assist carry you in control. There are a couple of missions known as coaching, however they don’t clarify the mechanics, they simply give you a chance to follow them. For those who don’t know what you’re doing, this can contain a good quantity of trial and error and possibly going off to YouTube to determine issues out.
Past the coaching the sport contains a lot of single participant marketing campaign missions along with the usual deathmatch, however the sport might be greatest loved in multiplayer. There are loads of choices for native video games with hotseat play on one system, in addition to on-line multiplayer, however if you wish to play on-line you’ll want to rearrange it forward of time with somebody, as a result of it doesn’t seem to be anybody’s nonetheless actively enjoying on-line on the Change model.
The large draw of the 2025 replace for Worms Armageddon: Anniversary Version, which this assessment coincides with, is emulated variations of Worms for Genesis, Worms for SNES, Worms Armageddon for Sport Boy Coloration, and Worms World Occasion for Sport Boy Advance. Whereas these video games are attention-grabbing to poke round with for just a little bit as a curiosity, there’s no motive to spend a lot time with them. As dated as the bottom sport can really feel at occasions, all these traditional ports are much more so, with restricted choices and management schemes that make the most of even fewer buttons. The one doable perk is that they embody a save state choice, and if you wish to abuse that in an effort to counteract the unforgiving problem it’s an choice.
Worms Armageddon: Anniversary Version is an effective, trustworthy port of a traditional PC sport, for higher and for worse. For those who’re a fan of the collection, it’s an pleasurable strategy to play it regardless of the clunky controls, however when you’re a brand new participant you must anticipate a steep studying curve. The traditional Worms video games are neat to mess around with for an hour or two, however usually are not price shopping for the sport simply to see.