Worms

n/a

Mega Drive NTSC-U NTSC-J PAL
Worms
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Saturn
Publisher: Ocean Software (US/EU) I'MAX (JP)
Developer: Team 17 East Point Software
Distributor: Roadshow Interactive (AU) Ecofilmes (PT) Tec Toy (BR)
Sound driver: SCSP/CD-DA (7 tracks)
Peripherals supported: Team Player Shuttle Mouse
Genre: Active Simulation (アクティブ シミュレーション), Action
Number of players: 1-16
Release Date RRP Code EU 1996-08-08 MK-1198-50 UK 1996-07-25 £39.9939.99 MK-1198-50 AU 199x JP 1997-03-04 ¥5,8005,800 T-22405G US 1996-06-27 T-16403H EU 1996 T-16403H-50 DE 1996 T-16403H-50 PT 1996 SJ0303X UK 1996-01 £44.9944.99 T-16403H-50 PL 1996 219zł219 BR 1996-10 193206
Non-Sega versions Amiga Amiga CD32 Game Boy IBM PC Jaguar Macintosh PlayStation Super NES

Worms (ワームス) is a turn based strategy game developed by Team 17, and was originally published by Ocean Software for the Amiga in 1995. It is the first in a long-running series of Worms games, and was ported to a variety of platforms, including the Sega Mega Drive and Sega Saturn.

Gameplay

Gameplay screenshot from the Saturn version.

The game involves players controlling a team of worms supplied with a variety of different weapons, and the aim is to eliminate all the enemy worms on a 2D playfield. Each team has a total of four worms, and up to four teams can fight against each other, leading to a total of 16 worms on the terrain.

Teams take turns to move one of their worms, using their arsenal to move around and to deal damage to enemy worms within the alotted turn time. Worms are killed by reducing their health points to zero, dropping them in the water, or launching them off the left or right edges of the map. Additional weapons may also be provided during rounds in the form of crate drops, however they can be destroyed if shot at.

The round ends when only one team remains on the landscape, and a team will win a match when they win enough rounds. Depending on the game settings, a round can go into Extra Time if it takes too long to determine a winner, with all remaining worms having their health reduced to one, making any damage fatal. Players can play League games, where stats are tracked, or Friendly games that don't affect stats.

Worms was revolutionary at the time due to its use of randomly generated and fully destructible landscapes; an explosion for example will leave a round crater, thus limiting the area worms can stand on and potentially creating the need for a different strategy.

Weapons

	Bazooka
	A basic projectile weapon that fires an explosive shell with variable firing power at any angle, dealing up to 50 points of damage. The shell is affected by wind, so players will need to take the wind into account when using this weapon.
	Homing Missile
	A projectile weapon fired like the Bazooka, however it can lock on to a designated target and will fly directly towards it in an arching path even if there are obstructions in the way. If it doesn't collide with something, it will orbit its target then lose its lock-on and fly off in a direction. Additional Homing Missiles can be found inside crates. This weapon is not available in the Mega Drive version.
	Grenade
	A basic throwing weapon that can be thrown with variable power at any angle, dealing up to 50 damage. Before throwing, the user can set the fuse time between 1 and 5 seconds, and how strong the Grenade's bounces should be. Unlike the Bazooka, it is not affected by wind.
	Cluster Bomb
	A Grenade-like weapon that is used in the same way, including setting the fuse time and bounce setting. The Cluster Bomb differs from the Grenade in that the explosion is weaker, however releases several clusters that explode upon contact. The amount of damage depends on how many clusters hit the target. Additional Cluster Bombs can be found inside crates.
	Shotgun
	A firearm that shoots in a straight line and has two shots. After firing the first shot, the user can use their remaining turn time to move around and take the second shot. Each shot does up to 25 damage.
	Uzi
	A firearm that fires 10 bullets at a fast rate, each bullet dealing 5 damage up to a maximum of 50.
	Fire Punch
	A close-combat weapon that makes the user leap into the air with a punch, cutting through terrain and hitting any worm, dealing 30 points of fixed damage.
	Dragon Ball
	A close-combat weapon that makes the user launch a fireball directly in front that will send any worm flying in the fireball's direction, dealing 30 points of fixed damage.
	Dynamite
	A stick of Dynamite that is simply dropped in front of the user. It has a powerful explosion that sends worms flying, dealing up to 75 damage. Unlike most other weapons, the user is given 5 seconds to steer clear of the Dynamite before it explodes. Additional Dynamite can be found inside crates.
	Mine
	An explosive that is dropped in front of the user. It can be placed as a hazard to protect tunnels, or placed directly on top of a worm as a less powerful substitute for the Dynamite, with the user having 5 seconds to steer clear. It can deal up to 50 damage. This weapon is not available in the Mega Drive version.
	Airstrike
	A remote weapon that drops a group of missiles from the sky on a designated target. Additional Airstrikes can be found inside crates.
	Teleport
	The Teleport allows the user to teleport to any empty space they can fit into, however ends their turn. Additional Teleports can be found inside crates.
	Blowtorch
	A digging weapon that can be used to make tunnels through the landscape, making it a useful tool for Darkside play. It can also burn any worms that are in the way, with diminishing returns for each hit.
	Drill
	A digging weapon that can be used to dig directly downwards, drilling a hole into the landscape. It can also hurt any worms that are in the way, with diminishing returns for each hit.
	Ninja Rope
	This weapon can be fired into the terrain, after which the user can then swing around. This weapon is not available in the Mega Drive version.
	Bungee
	When selected, the Bungee will be used when the user walks off a ledge and the falling distance is high enough. The user can then swing around and can cut the rope at any time by pressing the fire button to make a safe landing or to fly in a direction This weapon is not available in the Mega Drive version.
	Girders
	Allows the user to build a Girder nearby, which can be used either as a defensive barrier, a makeshift bridge or an aid in Grenade bouncing. The Girder's angle can be adjusted. This weapon is not available in the Mega Drive version.
	Kamikaze
	Makes the user fly in a straight line in the direction they are facing, knocking any worm out of the way for 30 damage. For the first few seconds of flight, the user can even cut through the terrain, however they will eventually explode, instantly killing the user. As worms will die from using this weapon, it is best used with worms who are at low health.
	Prod
	A close-combat weapon that makes the user poke any worm standing in front. This weapon does no damage by itself and is merely for humiliation, however can be used to push an enemy into water or a mine.
	Skip Go
	Simply ends the user's turn without attacking.
	Surrender
	Using this makes the user's team forfeit the current round.
	Exploding Sheep
	A farmland animal that will run and jump around the landscape once deployed. The user can manually detonate the sheep after deploying it, but will detonate by itself after 20 seconds. It is as powerful as the Dynamite, dealing up to 75 damage. This weapon is normally only available in weapon crates, and replaces the Mine on the weapons panel when collected in the Saturn version. The Mega Drive version lists it as a separate weapon instead.
	Banana Bomb
	A throwing weapon similar to the Cluster Bomb, however the initial explosion and the banana clusters are much more powerful, having the same power as Dynamite and dealing 75 damage per explosion. The user can set the fuse time and bounce setting. This weapon is normally only available in weapon crates, and replaces the Cluster Bomb on the weapons panel when collected in the Saturn version. The Mega Drive version lists it as a separate weapon instead.
	Minigun
	A firearm that fires more bullets at a faster rate than the Uzi, and can deal serious damage if all of the bullets hit the same target. This weapon is normally only available in weapon crates, and replaces the Uzi on the weapons panel when collected in the Saturn version. The Mega Drive version lists it as a separate weapon instead.

Versions

While the gameplay is largely the same between the Mega Drive and Saturn versions of Worms, the Saturn version benefits from a number of enhancements from the IBM PC version, including graphical upgrades, an in-game soundtrack, and FMV cutscenes. The Mega Drive version is more similar to the Amiga original in presentation, however is held back by limitations of the 16-bit hardware. The Mega Drive version is also missing some weapons, and only has four landscape themes.

Production credits

Mega Drive version

• Programming: Francis Little, Gavin Harwood (East Point Software)
• Project Manager: Martin O'Donnel (Team 17)
• Graphics: Andy Davidson (Team 17), Roy Stewart (East Point Software)
• Audio: Bjorn Lynne, Andy Severn (Team 17)
• Design/Concept: Andy Davidson (Team 17)
• Creative Director: Martyn Brown (Team 17)
• Q.A.: Phil and The Wolves (Team 17), Ocean Q.A. (Ocean)

Source:

In-game credits

Saturn version

• Coding+Add.Design: Pieter Opdam, Gary Symons
• FMV+Add.Coding: Karl Morton
• Concept+Design: Andy Davidson
• Sound+Music: Bjorn Lynne
• Graphics: Rico Holmes
• Add.Graphics: Simon Butler
• FMV Animation: Cris Blyth
• Add.Animation: John Allardice
• Testing+Qa: The Wolves
• Production: Martyn Brown

Source:

In-game credits (JP)

Magazine articles

Main article: Worms/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Saturn FR print advert

Print advert in Consoles + (FR) #51: "Février 1996" (1996-0x-xx)

Print advert in Mega Force (FR) #48: "Mars 1996" (1996-0x-xx)

Print advert in Velikiy Drakon (RU) #60: "xxxx xxxx" (2002-09-05)
also published in:

• Velikiy Drakon (RU) #61: "xxxx xxxx" (2003-02-07)

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source GamesMaster (UK) 64 №39, p42/43

	64
Based on 1 review

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score 1700 igr dlya Sega (RU) 60 Consoles + (FR) 85 Cool Gamer (RU) 80 Computer & Video Games (UK) 25 Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 2 (RU) 80 Hobby Consolas (ES) 88 Joypad (FR) 85 MAN!AC (DE) PAL 69 Mega Force (FR) PAL 90 Mega Fun (DE) PAL 87 Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL 79 Player One (FR) PAL 92 Sega Magazin (DE) 87 Sega News (CZ) 87 Sega Power (UK) PAL 78 Sonic the Comic (UK) PAL 85 Tricks 16 bit (RU) 87 Video Games (DE) PAL 70

	79
Based on 18 reviews

Worms

Mega Drive, EU
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, UK
Cover

Mega Drive, CZ/SK (DDC Agency)
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, AU

Saturn version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source GamesMaster (UK) 86 №39, p62/63

	86
Based on 1 review

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score Consoles + (FR) 89 Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U 86 Fun Generation (DE) PAL 100 Game Players (US) NTSC-U 94 GamePro (US) NTSC-U 55 Game Informer (US) NTSC-U 64 Hacker (HR) 89 Intelligent Gamer's Fusion (US) NTSC-U 83 MAN!AC (DE) PAL 76 Maximum (UK) 50 Mega Force (FR) PAL 92 Mega Fun (DE) PAL 88 Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL 87 Next Generation (US) NTSC-U 75 Player One (FR) 94 Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J 52 Saturn+ (UK) PAL 91 Secret Service (PL) 65 Sega Magazin (DE) 88 Sega Power (UK) PAL 60 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 93 Sega Saturn Magazine (UK) PAL 90 Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J 63 Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J 72 Total Saturn (UK) PAL 89 Última Generación (ES) 80 Video Games (DE) PAL 85 VideoGames (US) NTSC-U 80

	80
Based on 28 reviews

Worms

Saturn, JP
Cover
Spinecard Disc

Saturn, US
Cover
Disc Manual

Saturn, EU
Cover
Disc

Saturn, DE
Cover
Disc

Saturn, PT
Cover
Disc

Saturn, BR
Cover

Technical information

Main article: Worms/Technical information.