Worms 2

Worms 2 is a great game, but unfortunately doesn't work on new PC like my old CD version. System: Windows 10 CPU: Intel Core i7 920 2,88 GHz GPU: Asus GeForce GTX 970 OC Strix DirectCU II 4GB

Microprose who published Worms 2 used to be one of the best game companies back in the C64 days. However, this game serves as an example of their drop in dedication to quality (Klingon Honor Guard is another one). To start off, Worms 2 is a fun game, especially if you play it against another player which can be done on the same computer. This variation on the old “Gorilla Basic” formula with a ton of unique weapons is novel and makes it a lot more entertaining. Nothing is more fun than launching an exploding sheep at a worm and blowing him up or sending him to a watery grave. The random landscapes and the ability to create your own add infinite replay value. Then why am I scoring it so low? One reason….the computer cheats like no other game I have EVER seen!!!! If you are not fortunate enough to have others to play with, then you can play a campaign mode against the computer. This is flawed in so many ways I will break down. 1: The computer ALWAYS goes first. How in the heck is that fair? Yes, you start off the missions with more worms than the computer, at least in the early stage, but in many of them, the computer kills one or two of your worms before you can go, so that does not help you much. 2) The cheating gets worse and worse as you go on. I understand as the game goes on it should become more difficult. However, the computer worms are able to pull off incredible (some would say impossible) shots, firing a bazooka into the wind from the other side of the screen across obstacles and not only hit your worm, but do so in a way that blows him into mines which cause further damage. Best of luck pulling off such a shot even 5% of the time or even coming close, yet the computer does it repeatedly. With this being said, even if you have five worms left to its one, you cannot consider yourself to be having an advantage as he can tag your worms as if they were right next to him, while even shots that you swear should hit, somehow miss. a) I cannot confirm this, but this last part, yes, shots you fire that should easily hit and kill, somehow miss, cluster grenades strike dead on and yet somehow fail to do much damage. Is it cheating or just bad luck? Considering the way the computer plays, I’d be inclined to say cheating. b) That said, the physics are really wonky for the player. Fire something into the wind and it seems to be unpredictable, it should go further, but sometimes even with a strong wind, it still does not go as far as it did when the computer does it. 3) The campaign game itself is pretty lame on many of the missions. Such as one of them where your worms only have pistols, shotguns, and uzis and the idea is to shoot the platforms under the worms, dropping them into the water (instant death). This is incredibly boring, the lack of weapon variety is dull, and they repeat this mission several times throughout the campaign. Also the computer’s ability to exhibit superhuman marksmanship make these missions next to impossible to win without playing it over time and again. Frankly this game is the most fun when it starts you with a variety (preferably a full) allotment of weapons. Making it “challenging” by limiting your weapons and hiding the computer’s worms behind caves you have to blast into is a cheap way of making it more difficult, and generally gives the computer an unfair advantage. Frankly the computer cheating is so bad that it qualifies as consumer fraud. NO ONE buys a game with the plan in mind to play against a computer who has “cards up his sleeve” and Microprose and Team 17 had to know this and there is no way they beta-tested this with actual gamers or play-tested it and said “Gamers will be satisfied with this and really enjoy it”. My final score is therefore a one star – yes it cheats that bad and it makes me glad to say I get the last laugh and that Microprose and Team 17 went bankrupt as it illustrates the penalty for making games that rip off consumers. If you are fortunate enough to have friends to play with (ideally on the same computer), then bump it to a 3 (the physics are still really wonky). That said, if you can buy this game for $1, it is probably worth it for a diversion, but be prepared to be frustrated a LOT when playing the computer – buyer beware!

and 3 stars only for missing online multi...

As the title says, I could not get this download to work with Windows 10. A Pity, since the game itself is so much fun.

I understand that online play wont work given its age but disabling local networking/LAN play is quite 'suspicious'. Maybe Team17 forced them to do it in order to sell the game. Maybe Team17 don't want to affect sales of their modern consolized versions on PC (matchmaking is the worst ever fit for PCs).