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| | Genre: Arcade | | | Min OS X: 10.6 |
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Requirements: Mac OS X: 10.6 | CPU: 1.83GHz Intel Core Duo | RAM: 1 GB | Graphics: Nvidia Geforce 8600, Radeon X1600Review: There have been loads of variations on Worms since the original was released in the age of Pentium PCs, including a fully-3D Worms. From the concrete donkeys to the multiplayer ninja-roping, the series has always been a blast to play. So, when what appears to be an update is released for the Mac in the form of Worms Special Edition, how can anyone not give it a try? The question isn't "Is this an entertaining turn-based action game," as that goes without question. The real question is, "what's new?"Well, it really isn't different from a recent PC Worms release by another name. What it essentially adds are new pieces of gear, a shop system where you can unlock weapons, levels, and other items for use, a landscape editor (as opposed to just randomly generating them until you see one you like), and a survival mode. It doesn't really differ from the traditional Worms formula of taking turns blowing the crud out of the custom teams of your friends. Of course, that's definitely a good thing. The core gameplay has been fun for years and there's no good reason to change it now! If you haven't really played a game of this variety before, it's pretty easy to learn. The different teams of worms take turns moving and firing within a set time limit, picking up crates for rare weapons like the devastating super sheep, and doing their best to avoid being knocked off-screen or into water for an instant death. The only real difficulty comes from landing a good hit, particularly when you're attempting to land a grenade. Still, if you don't enjoy games that allow you to create streams of exploding buffaloes, Worms may not be for you.That being said, the graphics have remained relatively static as the years have progressed. The 2D sprites still look quite distinctive and stylish against the landscapes that are doomed to be demolished, all explosions and napalm spatters look quite devastating when shots are pulled off properly, and the game looks extremely polished. It's just that it would've been nice to allow for a bit more detail around the edges. On the audio side, all the sound effects and music tracks are quite effective. What truly sells the sound for Worms, though, is the voice acting for all the different wormy exclamations. These are always based around a central theme for the team like "Soul Man," that then becomes interpreted in the most irreverent and entertaining way possible. The simple fact is, you wouldn't take anywhere near as much enjoyment out of beating your friends if their worms didn't go "AAAAAHHHH!" when a grenade lands nearby. It just adds that extra bit of satisfaction as their helpless worm gets blasted off into the water. So, to summarize, if you enjoy games with explosions and aiming projectiles, then Worms is a must-buy. It'll take a bit to learn, but once you and your friends create your teams and begin the brawl, you'll be sold. If you already own one of the previous entries in the series, then it's up to you whether you value the new items and campaign as high enough for a purchase. In either case, you can't really go wrong with Worms. Pros: • The Worms formula remains a blast to play
• Voice acting adds a lot to the experienceCons: • Players of previous versions might not find enough new here to justify a purchase
• While colorful and stylish the graphics could benefit from an upgrade
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