Worms: Reloaded
Encyclopedia
Worms: Reloaded is an artillery game/turn based strategy game developed by Team17
and is part of the Worms series. It was first released on Microsoft Windows
via Steam, on August 26, 2010. It was released on Mac OS X
via Steam, on May 17, 2011. Gameplay is turn-based and returns to its original 2D aspect for the first time on PC since Worms World Party
in 2001. There are both Single player and Multiplayer modes available with up to four players online or local hotseat.
Players take turns controlling their team of worms with the ultimate goal of taking out the opposing team(s). The player must act within a time limit before the turn ends.
When "Artillery" mode is not enabled, worms can move across the landscape. Movement is primarily accomplished through crawling and jumping, but items such as the jet pack and ninja rope can enable much faster travel and access to more terrain. The player has a preset amount of time to move or attack with the worm before the turn ends (5 to 90 seconds). Once the player uses a weapon, the "escape" timer starts, giving up to five seconds to move the worm to a safe position before the turn ends.
Reloaded features a wide variety of weapons, some based on real weapons and others imaginary. Some weapons fire in straight line, such as the shotgun, but many such as grenades and bazooka shells follow curved trajectories (from gravity and wind) and can attack distant targets behind obstacles. Several animal weapons such as the sheep and ferrets will move along the landscape and then explode. There are also several "air strike"-type weapons which are dropped from the sky towards the intended target.
A worm can be killed in two ways, either by having its health reduced to zero or by falling into the water below the landscape and drowning.
Weapons, utilities (such as jet packs and blowtorches), and health kits can be randomly airdropped into the level if selected as part of the game scheme.
Players can also modify or create multiplayer game schemes, which define the gameplay rules and available weapons during matches. For example, the turn length can be adjusted, and the players can choose what objects may randomly spawn on the landscape. Additionally, Reloaded allows players to define the starting inventory of every weapon, and how long before that weapon becomes available for use. If weapon crate airdrops are enabled, more weapons will randomly drop to the landscape over the course of a game.
The game offers an in-game level editor, in which the players can draw terrain shapes and add basic features such as possible spawnpoints for objects. The game automatically fills the terrain's shape in with a landscape texture when the level is finished. Additionally, players can import full-color levels in image format.
While still flexible, the customization in Reloaded is simplified when compared to older PC titles. For example, Worms Armageddon
allowed the player to choose for each individual weapon how likely that weapon was to appear in a weapon crate. Reloaded does not offer any control over which weapons can appear in crates or how frequently. Likewise, players can no longer adjust the power of each weapon individually. Team size has been reduced from eight to four, and sudden death scenarios have been reduced.
(released on Xbox Live Arcade
in 2009), but is said to be an 'extended edition of the console versions of late.' Team17 released few details or media content concerning the title before release, and a press release is not available. A select group of the public were allowed into a European and Worldwide Beta, however both were under a non-disclosure agreement
(NDA).
On June 21, 2010, the official Team17 Twitter revealed that the beta testing phase had ended. The developers stated that the game would be released as a digital download only at a “very attractive” price.
The game was released on Steam on August 26. Two days before the release, Valve Corporation
announced that anyone who pre-ordered or bought Worms: Reloaded over the subsequent 10 days (August 25 through September 2) would receive a gift in Team Fortress 2
.
Team17 stated that a Mac OS X version was in development. The Mac version was released on Steam on May 17, 2011. Users of the Mac version can not play a multiplayer game with users of the Windows version of the game.
is currently 79, based on more than 20 critic reviews.
GameSpot commented: "The latest entry in the long-running Worms series further refines the 15-year-old formula and is one of the best yet", giving it an 8.0. Apart from that general praise, the game has received criticism on its user interface
(UI). PC Gamer called the UI "ridiculously oversized" and AceGamez called the horizontal lists used in the interface "tiresome and very irritating".
Team17
Team17 Software Ltd. is a video game company best known for developing the Worms series of games , but it has made many other games, notably Superfrog and the Alien Breed series. Most of its early releases were on the Amiga home computer system and featured trademark smooth scrolling, and detailed...
and is part of the Worms series. It was first released on Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
via Steam, on August 26, 2010. It was released on Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
via Steam, on May 17, 2011. Gameplay is turn-based and returns to its original 2D aspect for the first time on PC since Worms World Party
Worms World Party
Worms World Party is an artillery game, which is a type of Turn-based strategy game. It was developed by Team17 as the seventh game in the Worms series, and was released in 2001...
in 2001. There are both Single player and Multiplayer modes available with up to four players online or local hotseat.
Players take turns controlling their team of worms with the ultimate goal of taking out the opposing team(s). The player must act within a time limit before the turn ends.
Gameplay
Worms: Reloaded is a turn based artillery game, in which players command a team of up to four worms; during each turn the player controls a single one of his or her worms. In the standard gameplay, the objective is to eliminate all enemy worms and be the last team standing. There is also a "race" mode where the objective is to reach the end point in less time.When "Artillery" mode is not enabled, worms can move across the landscape. Movement is primarily accomplished through crawling and jumping, but items such as the jet pack and ninja rope can enable much faster travel and access to more terrain. The player has a preset amount of time to move or attack with the worm before the turn ends (5 to 90 seconds). Once the player uses a weapon, the "escape" timer starts, giving up to five seconds to move the worm to a safe position before the turn ends.
Reloaded features a wide variety of weapons, some based on real weapons and others imaginary. Some weapons fire in straight line, such as the shotgun, but many such as grenades and bazooka shells follow curved trajectories (from gravity and wind) and can attack distant targets behind obstacles. Several animal weapons such as the sheep and ferrets will move along the landscape and then explode. There are also several "air strike"-type weapons which are dropped from the sky towards the intended target.
A worm can be killed in two ways, either by having its health reduced to zero or by falling into the water below the landscape and drowning.
Weapons, utilities (such as jet packs and blowtorches), and health kits can be randomly airdropped into the level if selected as part of the game scheme.
Customization
As seen in previous Worms titles, customization stands as a prominent aspect of Worms: Reloaded. Each player can create his or her own team of Worms, choosing the name of the team and naming each of the team's four worms. Each team also selects a voice set, victory dance, grave marker, skin color, and wearable hats, among other features. Many of the voice sets are classics from previous titles.Players can also modify or create multiplayer game schemes, which define the gameplay rules and available weapons during matches. For example, the turn length can be adjusted, and the players can choose what objects may randomly spawn on the landscape. Additionally, Reloaded allows players to define the starting inventory of every weapon, and how long before that weapon becomes available for use. If weapon crate airdrops are enabled, more weapons will randomly drop to the landscape over the course of a game.
The game offers an in-game level editor, in which the players can draw terrain shapes and add basic features such as possible spawnpoints for objects. The game automatically fills the terrain's shape in with a landscape texture when the level is finished. Additionally, players can import full-color levels in image format.
While still flexible, the customization in Reloaded is simplified when compared to older PC titles. For example, Worms Armageddon
Worms Armageddon
Worms Armageddon is an artillery game/turn-based strategy game developed by Team17 and part of the Worms series. The player controls a team of up to eight worms in combat against opposing teams.- Gameplay :...
allowed the player to choose for each individual weapon how likely that weapon was to appear in a weapon crate. Reloaded does not offer any control over which weapons can appear in crates or how frequently. Likewise, players can no longer adjust the power of each weapon individually. Team size has been reduced from eight to four, and sudden death scenarios have been reduced.
Development
The game is largely based upon Worms 2: ArmageddonWorms 2: Armageddon
Worms 2: Armageddon is an artillery game/turn-based strategy game developed by Team 17 and part of the Worms series, released on July 1, 2009 on Xbox Live Arcade for 800 Microsoft Points. An expanded version of this game titled Worms: Reloaded was released for the PC on August 26, 2010...
(released on Xbox Live Arcade
Xbox Live Arcade
Xbox Live Arcade is a type of video game download distribution available primarily in a section of the Xbox Live Marketplace, Microsoft's digital distribution network for the Xbox 360, that focuses on smaller downloadable games from both major publishers and independent game developers...
in 2009), but is said to be an 'extended edition of the console versions of late.' Team17 released few details or media content concerning the title before release, and a press release is not available. A select group of the public were allowed into a European and Worldwide Beta, however both were under a non-disclosure agreement
Non-disclosure agreement
A non-disclosure agreement , also known as a confidentiality agreement , confidential disclosure agreement , proprietary information agreement , or secrecy agreement, is a legal contract between at least two parties that outlines confidential material, knowledge, or information that the parties...
(NDA).
On June 21, 2010, the official Team17 Twitter revealed that the beta testing phase had ended. The developers stated that the game would be released as a digital download only at a “very attractive” price.
The game was released on Steam on August 26. Two days before the release, Valve Corporation
Valve Corporation
Valve Corporation is an American video game development and digital distribution company based in Bellevue, Washington, United States...
announced that anyone who pre-ordered or bought Worms: Reloaded over the subsequent 10 days (August 25 through September 2) would receive a gift in Team Fortress 2
Team Fortress 2
Team Fortress 2 is a free-to-play team-based first-person shooter multiplayer video game developed by Valve Corporation. A sequel to the original mod Team Fortress based on the Quake engine, it was first released as part of the video game compilation The Orange Box on October 10, 2007 for Windows...
.
Team17 stated that a Mac OS X version was in development. The Mac version was released on Steam on May 17, 2011. Users of the Mac version can not play a multiplayer game with users of the Windows version of the game.
Reception
Worms: Reloaded has received generally favorable reviews. Its metascore on MetacriticMetacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
is currently 79, based on more than 20 critic reviews.
GameSpot commented: "The latest entry in the long-running Worms series further refines the 15-year-old formula and is one of the best yet", giving it an 8.0. Apart from that general praise, the game has received criticism on its user interface
User interface
The user interface, in the industrial design field of human–machine interaction, is the space where interaction between humans and machines occurs. The goal of interaction between a human and a machine at the user interface is effective operation and control of the machine, and feedback from the...
(UI). PC Gamer called the UI "ridiculously oversized" and AceGamez called the horizontal lists used in the interface "tiresome and very irritating".