The Worms Bring a Whole New Dimension of Mayhem in Worms: Ultimate Mayhem (Review)

This game was reviewed on the Xbox 360.

Team17 returns to the third dimension in Worms: Ultimate Mayhem! Ultimate Mayhem is essentially a compilation of Worms 3D and Worms 4: Mayhem, taking the classic 90’s 2D turn-based strategy game and revamping it for the world of 3D. Our heavily armed annelids are packing our favorite goodies and going to town on their enemies. From diners to overpasses, construction sites to castles, you’ll once again be wreaking havoc with fan-favorite weapons such as the shotgun, exploding sheep, and the holiest of all – the Holy Hand Grenade. Can I get a hallelujah?

The story for Worms: Ultimate Mayhem is pretty loosely thrown together with just enough substance to say that there’s a plot.  The professor at Worminkle University decides to take his students on a field trip to see what the enemy is up to, and foil their plans at all costs lest his reputation be ruined; and we couldn’t have that, after all. After the enemies in your time have all been defeated, the Professor takes you back in time for even more fun!  You’ll take on medieval knights, powerful wizards, bandits in the Wild West, and more!

The controls are essentially the same, with the exception of an additional button that alternates the view from third to first person. This is how you launch weapons such as grenades, bazooka rounds or similar weapons that require aiming. While the first person mode button on a keyboard for the PC version isn’t too problematic, the button placement on the Xbox 360 (X button in the default configuration) makes it a bit funky to hold down while aiming and pulling the trigger. It would be preferable to have the third person shift rest on a bumper instead; however, once you get used to the controls, the game is pure enjoyment.

If you haven’t experienced Worms in 3D before (as some familiar with only the console versions may not have), then you’re in for a treat. While the game is in a 3D view from a third or first person perspective, it looks and feels like the old Worms that you’ve come to love.  Destructible environments make for plenty of fun when you sneak below your enemy worms from a floor down, raise up your bazooka, and take them out through the floor; a cheap shot – maybe, but effective – definitely. Are those baddies hiding in a room? Just remove the wall with some TNT and hopefully you’ll get them in the process as well! But be careful; turnabout is fair play and I’ve had the ground swept out from beneath me once or twice.

Many of the levels have objectives beyond just taking out the enemy worms. From destroying buildings, to stealing tools, and boss fights, there’s enough variety to get rid of the typical tedium that begins to settle in after playing four or five levels of a Worms game. If there’s one thing that this game doesn’t suffer from, it’s a lack of enjoyability.

Worms: Ultimate Mayhem, while highly entertaining, does have a few snags that can be frustrating at times. Worms have a tendency to get snagged on low-height objects like a plank of wood. This can cause the worm to hang up if you’re trying to cross a narrow plank bridge and can’t seem to get the little bugger to walk on top of it. A little tap of the jump button to try to clear this obstacle and “bloop!” right into the water.  The camera can be dodgy at times as well, sometimes getting hung up in awkward positions that prevent you from seeing what’s in front of you, and instead, giving you a nice view of where your belly button should.  While this doesn’t happen all the time, it’s frequent enough to be a noteworthy issue.

Worms: Ultimate Mayhem is a game that should definitely be in your collection if you’re an avid fan of the franchise. For those who don’t know it, or have heard of it but haven’t played it, it’s an interesting concept and one that’s executed well. The few hang-ups noted are far outweighed by the sheer fun that this turn-based game provides for hours on end.

Worms: Ultimate Mayhem receives a 4.25/5