Worms: Open Warfare 2

I'll get the ball rolling by pointing out that this is not the same game as the first Worms Open Warfare on the DS. That game was a terrible mess of a port, developed by a company who had no idea what they were doing. This time the job of porting the game to the DS has been given to TwoTribes, who have a great track record and an apparent love for the series, having themselves been responsible for porting Worms World Party to the Ngage, rather superbly I might add, some years prior.

Overall, Open Warfare 2 is a far superior product to the original Open Warfare game on the DS. You have much better multiplayer, a wider variety of weapons, and a wealth of customization options. This is the type of game you can toss in your DS and play for a few minutes on a quick bus ride or for a couple of hours on a trip. If you’re at all leary of picking up Open Warfare 2 after the lackluster opener to the series, don’t fret – this game is the real deal.

Worms: Open Warfare 2 is a terrific game. The gameplay is simple, fun and forever addictive, and it's coupled with chunky, colorful graphics and a multiplayer system which has served as the de facto model for many other titles. It incorporates the touch controls system and graphical capabilities of the DS so well that you'd never expect the series had been offered on any other platform. The only complaint that can truly be brought is that the concept has been done again and again. Even though the game plays like a dream and doesn't look or feel dated, veteran Worms gamers may find little here that they already haven't seen in previous titles, indicating that this may well be one of the last times Team 17 can use this formula successfully.

The Nintendo DS and its tiny screens may not be the best outlet for the classic Worms experience, but THQ and Two Tribes managed to bring it all together for the handheld gamers. 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.

It's pretty safe to say that at the end of the year when we look back that Worms: Open Warfare 2 will most likely stand out as one of the finest titles the DS saw all year. While it's easy to miss the game due to its release so close to some other heavy hitters, we hope that DS owners will find a way to give this game a try. The game is another great asset to an already stellar library for the Nintendo DS.

Worms: Open Warfare 2 is top-of-the-line strategy game entertainment. It’s so different from everything else that’s out there (outside of other Worms games, of course). If you enjoy the series, don’t wait for Christmas, your birthday or some other big day – this is a game to own now, before the crazy fall gaming months are here. And if you’ve never played a Worms game before, make this your first journey into the greatest multi-platform strategy franchise.

Worms: Open Warfare 2 is a well-made game and deserves the attention of any Worms fan. The impressive collection of modes and customizable options, including an extensive level editor, gives you plenty of play time out of this single UMD, and the amount of strategy that stems from the weapon set diversity is stellar. Finally, Worms just has a good sense of humor and the quirky animated cutscenes are a testament to this mentality. If you want a very good (though somewhat flawed) strategy game, this is certainly one to look out for. Just be careful of Super Sheep... they're vicious little critters.

Don't expect tons of innovations in this new part from the Worms series. The game is the same as years ago and I can only applaud that. This is the Worms I fell in love with and still have warm feelings for. Open Warfare 2 is an amusing total package that guarantees ours of gaming fun for young and old.

För en gångs skull bjuder Worms på engagerande uppdrag och märkligt underhållande pussel för ensamma spelare. Multiplayermöjligheterna är fortsatt suveräna.

Worms Open Warfare 2 nous promet de longues heures de rigolades et de batailles acharnées. Réussi dans tous les domaines, ce nouvel opus enterre littéralement son prédécesseur. Le titre parvient en effet à retrouver l'essence des vieux épisodes de la série, tout en modernisant un tantinet la formule. Il est évident qu'on ne parlera pas de révolution, mais il est clair que nous nous trouvons en présence d'un des meilleurs épisodes à ce jour.

Worms Open Warfare 2 nous promet de longues heures de rigolades et de batailles acharnées. Réussi dans tous les domaines, ce nouvel opus enterre littéralement son prédécesseur. Le titre parvient en effet à retrouver l'essence des vieux épisodes de la série, tout en modernisant un tantinet la formule. Il est évident qu'on ne parlera pas de révolution, mais il est clair que nous nous trouvons en présence d'un des meilleurs épisodes à ce jour.

Worms: Open Warfare 2 is a fantastic follow up that adds a bit more spit and polish and quite a few more game modes. This is a fantastic title - let's just hope Team 17 continue to remain in the 2D realm with this series.

Never mind that, though - this is still a damned fine Worms, certainly the finest of the two available on the PSP and definitely one of the best in the series period. If you have a PSP, you'll not do wrong to buy this game.

It’s Worms! At first, I wanted to just leave those two words as my whole review. After all, that’s pretty much all most people need to know about a Worms game. This is essentially the same game we have all been playing on PCs and consoles since 1994. The Worms formula has translated perfectly to the handheld here, but this entry feels a little less rushed than the last DS title did. The Campaign mode offers a little variety with slightly varied missions and even some boss battles, but if you’ve never liked Worms’ brand of zany, artillery-heavy 2D action, well, not much has changed.

The Worm's series has had a long history, but Worms 2: Open Warfare for the DS is quite simply one of the best versions - considerably better than the first Worms for the DS. From the dual-screen to the spare use of touch screen to slick Wi-fi modes, the developers have really streamlined this game into a very cohesive package.

The problems with the AI make things a little inconsistent and unrewarding and it would have been nice if we could have found someone to play against on the servers via Wifi. But there’s enough charm and fun to be had in the same old way that you can’t help but chuckle when you prod a helpless worm onto a mine and then into the sea…

Though the additions and adjustments to the standard Worms experience aren't game changing, the playful violence and light strategy still hold up.

Though the additions and adjustments to the standard Worms experience aren't game changing, the playful violence and light strategy still hold up.

I like the idea of a handheld Worms game. I just don't like what happened to this one. It's apparent a lot of time and energy was spent in making this a robust experience, what with the many modes outside of the campaign and all the customizable options that hearken to the franchise's roots. Dropping a banana bomb on someone and scurrying away is amusing no matter where it's done, but Worms on DS just doesn't give these moments quite the justice they deserve. The screen is too small for this kind of gameplay, and the multiplayer has been completely botched. You may not like hearing this, but Worms: Open Warfare 2 is probably better played on a PSP.

It's really a shame to see yet another Worms game receive this kind of treatment from Team17. The 3D renditions from 05' could always be attributed to the possibility that the series just doesn't translate well to 3D, but Open Warfare should have been so much better and there really is no excuse for this. It's just laziness. Fans of the series will be the most disappointed with this game, but are likely to be the only ones who might enjoy it as well. Quite honestly, you'd have to be a fan of the series to really enjoy Open Warfare and even then I imagine the interest would be fleeting at best. Wi-Fi support could have really saved this game and delivered an experience that fans would love, but as it is now, you'd have more fun re-installing Armageddon on the PC.