Worms W.M.D (PC) Preview

Worms has been a staple for PC games for a long time. In some ways, it is to turn-based strategies as what Mario Kart is to racing, being both different and accessible enough for even people not normally fans of the genres to enjoy. Most people probably have at least one version - in a drawer somewhere - forgotten and waiting patiently for some elaborate LAN gaming party plans to fall apart, and everyone to need a multiplayer game that works on one old laptop.

The games have moved on since that old copy in that drawer, though. After an admirable, but ultimately failed, flirtation with 3D in the early 2000s, Worms returned to its routes and has been regularly popping up on release schedules with 2D entries, ports, and re-releases ever since. Worms W.M.D, however, seems to be one of the most definitively new entries in the series. In fact, with its plethora of new features, it's arguably the most significant version of the game in some time.

Worms W.M.D features vehicles for the first time, allowing worms to take control over helicopters and tanks to provide a more mobile way to deliver carnage. There's also gun turrets, which work as expected, and what seems to be the most interesting new addition: buildings. Going inside buildings feels like the seamless expansion to the core mechanics rather than a new feature bolted on. Acting less like a garrison, and more like a simple cut-away of another part of the map, one could heavily bet on buildings (more than tanks and gun turrets) making a return in all future instalments. There's also, of course, a bunch of new weaponry, and the seemingly bizarre inclusion of a crafting system - as if there's a legal requirement for all games to have one these days.

Additionally, Team17 seems to have gone licensed IP crazy, with pre-orders for the game receiving skins and weapons based around games such as Saint's Row, Broforce, Goat Simulator, and even Yooka-Laylee. Sadly, however, it seems no one thought to invite Earthworm Jim - possibly the one crossover that would have made sense.

Aside from the buildings, a lot of these new additions could be categorised as gimmicks. Not that they are necessarily bad things. If something gives entertainment value in the moment, it doesn't need to revolutionise the genre in order to be worth having. The difference between a gimmick and revolutionary feature is simply what sticks around - and at times in gaming's history, what has seemed like a gimmick went on to become mainstream and expected. Only a complete fool would pretend to know what will become future classic parts of a game. That said, clearly buildings will become future classic parts of this game.