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If it wasn't already apparent, the Worms series doesn't depict the normal life of a wiggly insect who struggles to stay alive. In the video game world, and in Worms 2: Armageddon, these suckers are equipped with bazookas, kung fu skills and the ability to call on an air strike to take out multiple worms at once. This is ground zero, kids. You smile for a second and a stumpy worm will blow your squirmin' head off. You've been warned.
Strategically taking turns to destroy your opposition isn't always as simple as walking up to them and smacking them over the dome with a baseball bat (although you can be that blunt about it if you want to). Destroy bits of the level so the enemy falls off or stay protected from far away by unleashing a pack of angry animals onto their face. It's like nothing else you'll ever play.
It makes sense to begin with the heapful (35) of missions while taking a crack at the puzzlers within deathmatches. It's more than blowng everything up -- it requires rational thought. But the reward is a stack of green cash that can be spent on hilarious costumes or various artillery. Take your time to learn each weapon or you'll be blown away at how good some of the online competitors are. They've played Worms for years and if you're just starting out, it's better to be patient than to jump right in. Unless you like getting PWN3D.
When you're finally ready, grab your friends and assemble a mean worm-some with unique costumes to go into battle with -- locally or over the wire in races, fort matches and deathmatch battles to the end. And from the looks of it, more downloadable gear will be available in the near future, such as levels, weapons and costume updates.
And just like games have been doing as of late, Worms 2 uses just about every Xbox Live capability allowed for a downloadable game. With achievements, multiplayer modes and room for more to download, you have already bitten off enough. So chew that. Enjoy the booming soundtrack and crisp graphics, because Worms refuses to ever have it any other way.
Pros: Best weapons to date, crystal clear sound, easier control than previous Worms games
Cons: Sometimes sticks too close to previous titles, can slip off ledges too easily
GamePro Score: 4.5
The Info: Platform: Xbox 360 (XBLA), Publisher/Developer: Team 17, ESRB: E 10+, Players: 1-4, Price: 800 MS points ($10.00)
Related Links: Rock Band DLC. And weekly games. Did you see Question of the Week?
