Posted July 19, 2018
I've been a fan of the Worms series ever since I was a child beginning with my parents getting me Worms Forts Under Siege. The game was and remains fantastic, if not for the fact that GameSpy's been dead and you have to look for alternative solutions to play it online. Anyway, I was happy to see that the Worms games do have a presence on GOG, and that we have received W.M.D not two years after launch, not one, not a month, but on its release day on all platforms. And yet, it's the least desirable Worms experience here. And it's due to the fact that the GOG version of W.M.D was weakened and dampened shortly after its release thanks to what I think is its bitter rival. Two words.
Worms Armageddon.
What I will say here regarding W.M.D is not something I can confirm myself due to reluctance of obtaining it, but it does point out why I am reluctant.
While W.M.D's functionality, especially when it comes to maps and hats, is restricted to Steam Workshop (which I have yet to see a DRM-free friendly implementation of), Armageddon doesn't even care how you design its maps, graveyards or flags, the tools used to making them, etc. It simply has some restrictions in dimensions and formats, but you're not locked out of the customization because you prefer DRM-free.
Another gripe is that W.M.D from GOG requires Galaxy and only multiplayer between Galaxy users is supported. No Steam users can play with you. This is something that again, Armageddon excels in. It doesn't care whether you are Steam, GOG or even an original disc owner. All three can hop on and cause armageddon thanks to the WormNET servers which are still up even after two decades. Even GOG's passionate updates to revive the classic Star Wars Battlefront II pales in comparison to the fact that Armageddon's original CD owners are still able to join the multiplayer.
Team17 can impress us and do wonders. They can turn the disappointing W.M.D release into something worth it. But it's sad when a title from 1999 is able to outperform a 2016 title. Armageddon is admittedly dated, and it's clear with the lack of features like zooming, or the limits imposed on custom maps, or even the extra customization hats offer. But functionally, the multiplayer is done right, the customization is also done right, and no owner of the game is left behind.
I'd like Team17 to acknowledge in the next game what makes Armageddon solid even to this day, and try their best to offer it again. Otherwise, they will remain in a competition with themselves. Give me more reasons to play W.M.D than Armageddon.
I'd also like them to revisit 3D Worms and publish Ultimate Mayhem here. And maybe offer a mobile Worms without having in-app purchases. In any case, thank you for releasing your games on GOG, including Forts and Armageddon.
Worms Armageddon.
What I will say here regarding W.M.D is not something I can confirm myself due to reluctance of obtaining it, but it does point out why I am reluctant.
While W.M.D's functionality, especially when it comes to maps and hats, is restricted to Steam Workshop (which I have yet to see a DRM-free friendly implementation of), Armageddon doesn't even care how you design its maps, graveyards or flags, the tools used to making them, etc. It simply has some restrictions in dimensions and formats, but you're not locked out of the customization because you prefer DRM-free.
Another gripe is that W.M.D from GOG requires Galaxy and only multiplayer between Galaxy users is supported. No Steam users can play with you. This is something that again, Armageddon excels in. It doesn't care whether you are Steam, GOG or even an original disc owner. All three can hop on and cause armageddon thanks to the WormNET servers which are still up even after two decades. Even GOG's passionate updates to revive the classic Star Wars Battlefront II pales in comparison to the fact that Armageddon's original CD owners are still able to join the multiplayer.
Team17 can impress us and do wonders. They can turn the disappointing W.M.D release into something worth it. But it's sad when a title from 1999 is able to outperform a 2016 title. Armageddon is admittedly dated, and it's clear with the lack of features like zooming, or the limits imposed on custom maps, or even the extra customization hats offer. But functionally, the multiplayer is done right, the customization is also done right, and no owner of the game is left behind.
I'd like Team17 to acknowledge in the next game what makes Armageddon solid even to this day, and try their best to offer it again. Otherwise, they will remain in a competition with themselves. Give me more reasons to play W.M.D than Armageddon.
I'd also like them to revisit 3D Worms and publish Ultimate Mayhem here. And maybe offer a mobile Worms without having in-app purchases. In any case, thank you for releasing your games on GOG, including Forts and Armageddon.
