The Lemmings and Worms franchises are getting a little long in the tooth (do worms have teeth?), and both have seen some pretty forgettable experiments along the way.
But fans of each series will be happy to know that Team 17 Software's PSP versions of Lemmings and Worms: Open Warfare mark a return to each game's simple yet frighteningly addictive roots.
Lemmings tasks you with safely guiding your herd of green-haired suicidal rodents from one or more starting points to an exit, making use of a strict allotment of skills (digging, climbing, stair-building, etc.) to get around, over and through many a barrier and lemming-snuffing obstacle.
The further you progress through the game's 120 levels, the more each one becomes an intricate puzzle that requires much creative thinking to solve. Forget Brain Age, this game will give your prefrontal cortex a workout it'll never forget.
After the ill-fated Worms 3D, it's a relief to see Worms: Open Warfare (also available on the Nintendo DS) right back where the series began, with anthropomorphic annelids duking it out on a 2D battlefield with weapons ranging from machine guns to exploding sheep.
As with Lemmings, the visuals are bright and crisp on the PSP's wide screen, and the control scheme is close to perfect. While the computer-controlled opponents in Worms pull off way too many across-the-map bazooka shots with impossible accuracy, a little human ingenuity goes a long way toward turning your wriggling foes into fish bait.
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Bombs away for those pesky Lemmings. |
Where the new PSP versions of Lemmings and Worms fall short is in their ambition. Neither strives to do anything beyond the tried-and-true gameplay that's been around for a decade or more. Worms: Open Warfare in particular suffers from the lack of a deeper campaign game, and not having Internet multiplayer support makes my heart sad.
If Worms and Lemmings came packaged together on a single UMD and had slightly beefier content, it would be an absolute must-have. And imagine the bonus levels, with dynamite-wielding lemmings and suicidal worms! It is to dream.
As it stands, each game is rigidly faithful to its time-tested origins. For better or for worse.
BOTTOM LINE
Two throwbacks to old-school strategy and puzzle gaming get glossy updates on the PSP. Both are relentlessly addictive, but a lack of depth and new features keeps them from greatness.
WHAM! Rating: |
7 out of 10 |
ESRB Rating: |
E (Everyone) |
Official Web Site: |
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WHAM! Rating: |
7 out of 10 |
ESRB Rating: |
E 10+ |
Official Web Site: |
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