advertisement

THE WORMS HAVE BEEN fighting for years now, and we with them. From their humble beginnings in 2D they have evolved into full 3D combat that still produces some of the most addictive multiplayer gaming around. Whether or not you like the shift to 3D it is here to stay, as the latest in the series amply shows. Worms 4: Mayhem is the latest game in the series, and looks to be a return to basics after the rather adventurous Worms: Forts Under Siege.

That suits us just fine, as it is when the Worms are concentrating on destruction that they seem to be at their best. The multiplayer mayhem and single-player shenanigans are spread over five themed zones - Jurassic, Camelot, Arabian, Construction and Wild West – and, throughout the enlarged landscapes, the entirely destructible scenery is back with even greater effect.

In single-player modes there's even more beyond the day-to-day business of destroying worms. Through the 25 missions, you're also charged with objectives such as recovering items or smashing scenery. All the single-player maps are available to play in multiplayer mode, along with a further set of 20 multiplayer-specific maps.

And for the first time in any Worms game, you can let your imagination run riot and create your own weapons. Using a genius device, the Weapons Factory, you'll be able to create your own weapon and enjoy the freedom to annihilate your opponents in your own unique way. Want to make exploding chickens or toilet bombs? You've got it.

In addition, new weapons have been added to the existing armory. These are just some of the new weapons:

• Fatkins Strike Our chubby missile plummets to the ground, causing craters of devastation before exploding and decimating any worms within range.

• Flood Just fire this new world-altering weapon to usher in a massive storm cloud and torrential rains, causing the water level to permanently rise. Any worm standing on this flooded area will instantly drown. Worms that were previously on high ground may now be a little closer to the water than they wanted to be.

• Inflatable Scouser Our lovable Liverpool native brings a new strategy weapon. When fired, our scouse friend wanders across the landscape towards the enemy worm, grabs it and inflates, slowly climbing into the sky up to a set height or until he collides, bursts and drops his passenger back down to the ground inflicting fall damage or a watery death.

• Poison Arrow Fire the poison arrow, watch it fly through the air and embed in the first piece of landscape (or worm) that it meets before exploding into a cloud of poisonous gas, inducing vast amounts of invertebrate vomit.

• Sentry Gun If this metallic mechanical marvel detects an enemy moving nearby it will swing round, automatically target them and unleash a flurry of bullets in their direction.

• Sniper Rifle You can stay as far away as you like, the opponent worms may think they're safe... but aim the gun, zoom right in to the enemy to make sure they are on target and BANG!!! Pick them off easily from a distance.

• Starburst Rocket What happens when you strap a worm to a firework and ignite the fuse? Well, you get the Starburst – a new way to sacrifice one of your worms for the common good. Fly your worm around the landscape until he finds a target. Fly down to the enemy and upon collision, the rocket explodes in shower of sparks, blasting any nearby worms into the distance.

The customisation options don't stop at crafting new weapons. Another first is the ability to customise your worms, choosing their hair, hands, faces, glasses and dying words – all with Worms' trademark humour.

With bold levels, an improved 3D camera and animation system, a stunning arsenal delivering comedy kabooms, the loveable, customisable, yet entirely destructible, worms will be back in force when Worms 4: Mayhem releases later this month.

Show me the screenshots!