Worms World Party
The final 2D Worms title before the series moved to 3D.
Worms World Party is a 2001 artillery turn-based tactics video game developed by Team17. It is the sequel to Worms Armageddon in the Worms series. Players take turns controlling their teams and using available projectiles, firearms, explosives, and equipment to destroy all opposing teams and manoeuvre across a specified and highly destructible map. It was the last two-dimensional title in the main series before transitioning to 3D graphics.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Worms World Party
- Developer
- Team17 / The Code Monkeys (PS1) / Fluid Studios (GBA) / Paragon 5 (N-Gage)
- Publisher
- Windows, Dreamcast / Titus Interactive / PlayStation, Game Boy Advance / Ubi Soft / Windows Mobile / JAMDAT Mobile / N-Gage / THQ Wireless
- Producer
- Lee Clare · Paul Kilburn
- Series
- Worms
- Platforms
- Windows / Dreamcast / PlayStation / Game Boy Advance / Windows Mobile / N-Gage
- Genre
- Artillery, Strategy
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Worms World Party was developed by Team17 after the release of Worms Armageddon. The company had originally planned to move directly to a fully three-dimensional iteration, resulting in Worms 3D in 2003. However, Sega approached Team17 and asked them to develop an online version for the Dreamcast, leading to Worms World Party. This is the first Worms game in which franchise creator Andy Davidson had no involvement since his departure from Team17 (he later returned in 2012).
Gameplay follows the side-scrolling formula of its predecessors: players control a team of worms, using a collection of weaponry to eliminate opposing teams. Worms can walk, jump, and use tools such as the ninja rope and parachute. The arsenal includes dozens of weapons, from longbows to bazookas, fireballs to Holy Hand Grenades, as well as special weapons like Armageddon (meteor shower) and the Concrete Donkey. Weapons can be collected from randomly appearing crates. The landscape is highly destructible, and maps may contain land mines and explosive barrels. Wind speed affects some weapons, and a Sudden Death mode raises the water level when time runs out.
The game was ported to Pocket PCs by JAMDAT Mobile on 3 October 2003. A port for the Gizmondo platform was cancelled due to the console's short lifespan. A remaster, Worms World Party Remastered, was released to Steam and GOG.com on July 16, 2015, featuring 1080p resolution and 60fps with new sound effects.
Reader's Guide
Worms World Party holds a mixed legacy within the Worms community. Upon release, it received generally favourable reviews according to Metacritic for the Dreamcast, PC, Game Boy Advance and N-Gage versions. However, the main complaint in individual reviews was that the game was too similar to Worms Armageddon, offering only incremental improvements. Some found it an improvement to an already good game, while others saw it as too derivative and not worthwhile for Worms Armageddon players.
The PC version received a 'Silver' sales award from ELSPA, indicating at least 100,000 units sold in the UK. It was ranked 30th, 70th, and 94th in PC PowerPlay's top 100 PC games of all time in 2001, 2003, and 2004 respectively. The N-Gage port was retrospectively listed by Pocket Gamer as one of the 20 best games for the gaming phone. The game was voted second runner-up for Mobile Game of the Year in the Golden Joystick Awards 2009 by about 1.22 million gamers. As the last 2D title in the main series before the transition to 3D with Worms 3D, it represents the end of an era for the franchise's visual style.
Did You Know?
- Worms World Party was the last two-dimensional title in the main Worms series before transitioning to 3D graphics.
- The game was originally developed because Sega approached Team17 to create an online version for the Dreamcast.
- A remastered version was released on July 16, 2015, featuring 1080p resolution and 60fps.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Worms World Party and who made it?
Worms World Party is a 2001 turn-based artillery tactics game built by Team17, following directly after Worms Armageddon in the Worms franchise. Players command small worm squads, taking alternating turns to fire weapons and deploy gadgets on a destructible battlefield.
How does a typical round of Worms World Party play out?
Each turn a player picks one worm and chooses a projectile, firearm, or utility item to fire at enemies or reshape the terrain. Because the map is fully destructible, a single shot can open new routes, drop opponents into gaps, or completely alter the battlefield layout.
What's the story in Worms World Party?
The campaign tasks your worm team with stopping a power-hungry antagonist from seizing control of the world. You battle through a series of escalating levels, culminating in a final confrontation that ends the villain's global scheme.
Why do fans consider Worms World Party a landmark entry?
It is the last mainline Worms title rendered in 2D before the series pivoted to 3D with Worms 3D. Many longtime players cite its refined top-down formula and chaotic destructibility as the peak of the classic Worms experience.
Can I still play Worms World Party today?
The original 2001 release was a PC title, but Team17 brought back a remastered edition on July 16, 2015, making the game accessible on modern hardware with updated presentation. The remaster preserves the core turn-based combat while refreshing the visual style.
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