Games

Worms 4 Mayhem

Platform: PS2, Xbox, PC
Price: £29.99
Publisher: Codemasters

Proof that a solid concept will always outlast shallow gimmickery, Worms has been around since 1994, when it made its rather humble debut on the Amiga. It has since spawned at least ten sequels, spin-offs and reworkings but the core appeal has remained constant throughout.

And what is that concept? Funny worms killing each other. It's that simple. Teams take it in turns to move and attack, using an arsenal of wacky weaponry, with the winner being the one with worms still standing (as much as worms can stand, of course) when the carnage is over.

It's a fundamentally appealing gameplay mechanic, and one that developer Team 17 has wisely maintained from the 2D shareware Amiga days all the way up to next-gen 3D console play, though they have tinkered with the formula over the years with varying degrees of success.

Worms 4 sees the franchise going back to basics after the lukewarm reception given to Worms Forts by critics and fans. Whereas that title asked you to build your defences, as well as clobbering the opposition, this latest offering earns its subtitle of Mayhem by pruning everything back to turn-based worm slaughter.

The big innovation this time is the ability to design and create your own weaponry - something that is automatically more fun than building defences - and as the game already features such gems as exploding sheep, banana bombs and inflatable scousers you can imagine the sort of silliness you're allowed to come up with.

Other tweaks include specific single player missions, where you may have to complete other objectives as well as defeating the other team, and larger, more interactive levels. The multiplayer mode, always at the heart of Worms success, is still present and correct along with a beefed up online function - though the random level generator of old is still sorely missed.

Graphically it maintains the high standard of previous 3D entries, loaded with bright, chunky detail and the ever-present slapstick humour. Indeed, these rather basic pink shapes are loaded with more personality and charm than most heavily marketed game characters, thanks to Team 17's effortless expertise with visual gags and comic timing.

The only major fault with the game is the camera. It still feels like a 2D game forcibly stretched into 3D and, despite a top-down view, the inability to look around the play area quickly and clearly can cause frustration. The camera is also rather slow to move, and for a game where decisions must be made against the clock, that can be fatal.

Despite this grievance, Worms 4 Mayhem carries on a much loved British gaming brand with style, good humour and is still one of the more entertaining pick-up-and-play titles out there. If you like your gaming silly and addictive then there's really no excuse for not picking this up.