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Worms launch assault on App Store, available for five bucks
If your appetite for caecilian destruction hasn't been satiated by the recently released Worms 2: Armageddon, you'll be pleased to know that you can now get your fill on the go with the even more recently released Worms app for the iPhone and iPod Touch. For $4.99, it sounds like a nice little package. There's four-team multiplayer, unlockable items and over 50 challenges for the lone wolves among us to explore. Best of all, you can still customize your team names -- just keep it classy, folks. Your Weather app is watching.
Team17 announces Alien Breed Evolution, teases imminent iPhone Worms
Developer Team17 loves its Facebook page. This morning the company announced a "retro modern remake" of Alien Breed, one of its games from way back in 1991. Alien Breed Evolution is an Unreal Engine 3-powered shooter, which can be played solo or co-op later this year. A representative for Team 17 tells us that a video of the game should be released in two to three weeks. Team17 also teased that iPhone Worms "looms... not long now." There is currently a tentative date, but the developer is awaiting the go from Apple. Like a good Worm, though, Team 17 has everything locked, loaded and ready to fire when ready.
XBLA in Brief: King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match, Worms 2: Armageddon
Another twofer this week, as XBLA adds a fighting game and a turn-based strategy game to its ever-growing ranks. From SNK's huge library of fighting games, we have King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match. The XBLA version includes online play and will set you back 800 ($10). Meanwhile, Team17 has dropped the sequel to the XBLA version of Worms, which is titled, appropriately enough, Worms 2: Armageddon. The game brings lots of new features to the table -- as well as some old favorites -- and also costs 800 ($10).Watch the latest episode of XBLA in Brief and see which one is screaming for your hard-earned cash.Download the trial version of King of Fighters '98 Ultimate MatchDownload the trial version of Worms 2: Armageddon [iTunes] Subscribe to X3F TV directly in iTunes.[Zune] Subscribe to the X3F TV directly.[RSS] Add the X3F TV feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically.[M4V] Download the M4V directly.
Worms 2 details, new screens fresh out of the can
click to explode Just shy of its official release on Xbox Live Arcade, Team17 has dropped plenty of details and a big ol' pile of screens for Worms 2 Armageddon, out tomorrow for 800 ($10). First up, there are lots of new weapons in Worms 2, some of them are brand new, while others are returning favorites from other installments in the series. Fans will be happy to know that the Concrete Donkey is back (as is his nemesis, the Buffalo of Lies[?]). The game also includes bunker buster bombs which, true to their name, are used to take out cowardly worms that have burrowed deep, deep out of harm's way.As we've mentioned before, the game also brings persistent fire, which is utilized in weapons like napalm and the petrol bomb. The game includes a handful of new modes too, such as Fort Mode -- which sets each team's worms in opposing bases instead of placing them randomly -- and Rope Race Mode. Another addition that might not sound too sexy but, trust us, it's important: Host migration for network play. The game also introduces vertical levels, which are tall and narrow, as opposed to the traditional wide levels.All in all, it sounds like Worms 2 Armageddon is packing plenty of punch. Check out new screens in the gallery below and two trailers after the break.%Gallery-67104%
Team17 working on Worms for iPhone [Update]
A video posted over at Pocket Gamer seems to show off a very early build of Worms for the iPhone. The video is pretty brief, though it still manages to impress us through some slick visuals and competent controls. Whether or not this is real, know that we want it to be real. We've put in word to both Team17 and EA's mobile division (which was rumored to have acquired the license). EA got back to us to say that the company "does not comment on rumor and speculation." While we wait on Team17, you can head past the break and watch poor Harlequin catch a rocket to the face. Update: We've spoken with a source at Team17 that has confirmed the video past the break is authentic and something the team produced in-house, choosing to sneakily unload it onto the 'nets, rather than send Joystiq a press release. Our contact said that Team17 has actually moved to self-publish games in the digital distribution space, so it no longer needs to rely on partners get its products out there. So, in short: Worms on the iPhone is real, Team17 is doing everything, and there isn't any planned release date as of right now.
Worms wriggles onto Euro PSN on Easter
One might usually think of bunnies or egg hunts when it comes to Easter; however, this year you'll be thinking of Worms. We're talking about the turn-based combat title from Team17 Software. Worms will be heading over to European PSN stores on Easter Sunday (April 12). The game is already out in the US and can be bought for $12.99. The European version will be similarly priced at £7.99/€9.99.
Rumor: EA may obtain Worms mobile license
Mobile Entertainment reports it has documentation that "suggests" EA will become the exclusive global distributor of Worms on mobile platforms starting June 1. THQ Wireless currently holds the license, but given the publisher's shakeup in its mobile division earlier this year, this license transfer revelation sounds probable. EA knows what it's doing in the mobile space, and given its affection for the iPhone, we have some high hopes and expectations if the mega-publisher does indeed take over the license. [Via Edge]
Trophies: Worms
They may not have spines, but they do have grenade launchers. Worms is coming to the PlayStation Network! View Trophy List | Visit Trophy Portal
First images dug up of new Worms on XBLA, PSN
Team 17 has revealed on its Facebook page some images and details about its double-barrel offering of Worms on PSN and XBLA. With the OFLC outing both games last week, the studio didn't see the harm in showing off avatar support and vertical levels for the XBLA version, which is now apparently being called Worms 2: Armageddon. The PSN edition of Worms -- which is an "expanded" port of the original XBLA game -- features "vastly" improved physics and displays in 1080p. We should have hands-on time with both titles at GDC and hopefully get a release window by then. [Thanks, Benvio] %Gallery-46744% %Gallery-46745%
OFLC outs Worms Armageddon Decade for XBLA [update]
A listing appearing on the Australian Classification Office website has revealed that another Team 17 Worms title, Worms Armageddon Decade, may eventually inch its way to the Xbox Live Arcade. The Armageddon Decade rating appears to have been applied for by Microsoft, which probably means this Worms edition will be an exclusive XBLA release and is a different project than the PSN's upcoming Worms. If the awesomeness that is Worms Armageddon is anything to go by, the XBLA's special Decades edition should be one of the most enjoyable Worms titles to date. That is, if Team 17 doesn't skimp on the weapon selection. Update: Team 17 just informed us about the differences between the upcoming Worms games. The PSN edition will be an enhanced version of the XBLA release, including more weapons, additional levels, new audio and 1080p support. The XBLA release of Worms Armageddon Decade (which we're told is subject to a name change) will be a "vastly expanded edition" of the original XBLA Worms, that will include weapons and features from Worms Armageddon as well as other brand new content. More details to come. [Via GamerBytes; Thanks Ryan!]
USK diagnoses PS3 with a severe case of Worms
The Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle (or USK, for those who are terrified of lengthy, foreign words), Germany's game rating organization, isn't traditionally known for bringing us the hottest scoops. However, a recent listing on their site perked up our ever-attentive ears -- they recently stamped a Freigegeben ab 6 Jahren gemäß § 14 JuSchG (restricted for those below the age of six) rating to a PS3 version of Worms. Given that the genre of said listing is "Arcade", we think it's safe to assume that they're referring to a PSN port of the XBLA title. This isn't a particularly surprising turn of events -- Worms has sold over half a million on the XBLA, and its done so over the course of about two years. However, Team 17, the game's developer, hasn't formally announced the PSNified title. Assuming the USK hasn't got its wires crossed, we should be hearing more about the port fairly soon.
This Wednesday: Something burrowed, something blue, something old, nothing new on XBLA
As expected, a trio of new, er, old games has joined the Arcade Hits lineup as part of this week's Xbox Live Arcade update: Worms (something burrowed), Feeding Frenzy (something blue) and Ultimate MK3 (something, well, old). Each game has been discounted to 400 ($5). And, as you may have gathered from the headline (if you made it to the end), there are no new releases on XBLA this week, ending a 26-week release streak that began on May 7th (according to our stat boy's research*). Perhaps the hiatus is intended to build anticipation for ... something big? (Our best guess: We're in store for "something giant," as in the Giant Avatar game, A Kingdom for Keflings -- NXE is just one week away!) *If we got that wrong, blame the intern! Update: CarpeD1em500 brings up a good point. If you pre-ordered Nuts & Bolts you may have received a download code for Banjo-Kazooie on XBLA, which is available to you now. The game should be released to the public on or around November 26th. And, oh! We almost forgot: The Street Fighter "table" is also available for Pinball FX today!
Team17 confirms Alien Breed resurrection
No longer slave to its garden variety artillery game, Team17 has pledged to revisit its classic Amiga series, Alien Breed, based on the popular Alien film franchise a totally original idea. The upcoming sequel (or perhaps remake) was confirmed with a new logo, above, first posted on videogaming247. Late last month, Spong published an exchange with studio head Martyn Brown, which indicates that Alien Breed will be a self-published, downloadable title. We're speculating that Xbox Live Arcade, PSN, and PC are the likely targets, with WiiWare a distant possibility. "We're doing it with a budget far in excess of anything that has been spent anywhere on a digital title to date," Brown reportedly said. Alien (the New) Breed is expected for release within the next 12 months.
New demos on Nintendo Channel: Timely Worms demo and others
Nintendo has added a new set of DS demos to the Wii Nintendo Channel, which in general is a happy development. However, the particular titles that Nintendo has chosen to advertise may not be of interest to you, with one possible exception. Without a doubt, the highlight of this week's offerings (online until June 8) is a Worms: Open Warfare 2 demo. Try it out right now, and if you like it, you can pick it up for $10 at Gamestop! We're personally interested in the Cake Mania 2 demo, but other than that, it's Disney's show. If this were TV and you were 12, that would be great, but in terms of DS game content? Not so awesome. Hit the break for the full, fully underwhelming list.
There's more to Worms than not being online
The majority of coverage for Worms: A Space Oddity has focused on the lack of online play (including the title and first sentence of this post). However, lots of Worms games have been offline-only (if only because so many of them predate online capabilities in game consoles), and fixating on that disappointment draws attention away from the other aspects of the game, which include: the whole game. Four new trailers for the game focus on the game's new or updated weapons, like the Robo-Sheep seen here. The Robo-Sheep is like a regular sheep, but robotic, because it's more sci-fi that way. Also you can move the Wiimote up to make it jump before exploding.
Worms: A No-Online Oddity
Some of you might have noticed the absence of Worms: A Space Oddity in our "awesome games that you forgot about" list; that omission was deliberate (and not an ironic "awesome game that we forgot about"), as we'd heard rumors that the strategy title's promised Nintendo WiFi Connection support had been cut. No online? No sale. IGN Australia confirmed in a recent preview that developer Team 17 has left out the online multiplayer and WiiConnect24 downloadable content features we were looking forward to. The hands-on impressions also has details on the level editor and new weapons, but those points seem overshadowed by the missing online support. Why wasn't this a high priority item on Team 17's docket? And what reason would any level-headed gamer have to purchase A Space Oddity over the online-enabled, $20-dollars-cheaper Worms: Open Warfare 2 on the DS? %Gallery-11246%
Wii Worms not getting online multiplayer
Worms: A Space Oddity for Wii will not include online multiplayer like developer Team17 had previously announced. ShackNews confirmed the info with THQ and the publisher put some great spin on the situation saying, "Worms: A Space Oddity is a social gaming experience that is best enjoyed locally, in a party-game atmosphere with other players." Take that online-enabled Worms Open Warfare 2 on DS and PSP! Hey, Worms on XBLA -- online play is so last-gen! So go find yourself some real life friends and enjoy Worms: A Space Oddity on Wii in March.
Worms: A Space Oddity screens wriggle to the surface
We love us some Worms, particularly those of the superior 2D variety, so news that the Wii would be getting its very own title dedicated to the soft-bodied invertebrates raised spirits somewhat in the NWF dungeons. These new shots of Worms: A Space Oddity follow up from October's lone trailer (which you can view after the post break), and certainly live up to the "Space " bit in the title; those green worms look reassuringly Martian. All being well, the antagonistic annelids should be touching down on Earth around next March, though considering its cheapness on PC and Xbox Live Arcade, anyone else think a budget price might be in order here? %Gallery-11246%
Worms downloadable content arrives every other Friday
Those with the PSP version of Worms: Open Warfare 2 will want to boot up the UMD and head into Infrastructure mode. The critter-filled action game has new downloadable content, and will continue to get new expansions, every other Friday into November. Each update will feature one additional map and landscape each. However, the first update included six flags (Yin Yan, Shotgun, Victory, UFO, Pointing and Peace) and four landscapes (Winter, Tugboat, Robot and Race). It's a nice, free way of extending the life of your game.
Metareview: Worms: Open Warfare 2
The recent Worms: Open Warfare 2 only has a few major reviews under its metaphorical belt thus far, but if the current scoring trend continues, the title will take its place among some of the most beloved titles on the system. The latest Worms installment has racked up some high praise and has already snagged the 20th slot on Metacritic's list of the highest-ranked DS games. Of course, as more reviews roll in, all of that could change -- but for now, things are looking good for the wiggly warriors. IGN -- 87%: "Worms: Open Warfare 2 is a massive upgrade to the original game, so much so that it really should have been its own brand instead of "Number Two" of the 2005 release. Awesome single player campaigns, fantastic multiplayer support, and some unexpected treats specific to the unique features of the handheld. It absolutely trounces the first game in every category and finally gives the Nintendo DS the true Worms experience." 1UP -- 90%: "The first Open Warfare squashed the prolific series' typically sharp and colorful visuals into a fuzzy mess, and offered essentially one mode (skirmish). Open Warfare 2 simply blows it away with the first truly engaging Worms single-player campaign, an absolute bounty of customization options, the deep multiplayer we've come to expect from the series (with Wi-Fi this time), and even some entertaining DS-specific minigames. This is truly a Worms to be excited about, with portability that plays to the strengths of the series."
