Worms Revolution

Lore & Background

Worms Revolution was announced by Team17 on March 30, 2012, with a completely new engine. On May 26, 2012, the company announced that Matt Berry and Dean Wilkinson were working on the game; Wilkinson provided the script, and Berry narrated as fictional wildlife documentary maker Don Keystone. The gameplay is based on the original 2D Worms games, but rendered with a new 3D engine, creating a 2.5D presentation. New to the series is a stronger emphasis on dynamic physics, with water now appearing in pools throughout levels rather than only at the bottom. Players can blow up the environment to release water and wash away opponents; being covered causes worms to slowly drown instead of instantly dying, though falling off the bottom of the stage still causes instant death. New weapons like the water pistol incorporate these water physics, and certain objects are affected by physics, with abilities such as Telekinesis taking advantage of it. Another new addition is the inclusion of four classes: Soldier, Scout, Scientist, and Heavy. Soldiers have all-round stats; Scouts move and jump quicker and fall further before taking damage but have less powerful attacks; Scientists produce better weapons and equipment and award a health bonus to teammates; Heavies are slow but have more powerful attacks and can take more damage. The game features single player, multiplayer, and online play, with up to four players online or local hotseat, as well as customization options for worm appearances, match rules, weapon loadouts, and stage appearances.

Reader's Guide

Worms Revolution represents a transitional entry in the series, blending the classic 2D turn-based tactics with a new 3D engine and physics-driven gameplay. The introduction of water physics and destructible environments added a new layer of strategy, allowing players to manipulate terrain and water to eliminate opponents. The class system—Soldier, Scout, Scientist, and Heavy—introduced role-based gameplay, giving each worm distinct strengths and weaknesses that affected team composition and tactics. The game was released on multiple platforms, including a PlayStation Vita version titled Worms Revolution Extreme that bundled all three downloadable packs and was included in a promotional bundle with the PlayStation TV system. Reception varied: IGN gave the game a score of 8.5, praising its fun gameplay and massive potential for customization while criticizing some physics objects. GamesRadar gave a score of 70/100, praising the strategic gameplay, customization options, and signature charm, personality, and humor, but criticizing the emphasis on physics and difficulty. The game's legacy lies in its attempt to modernize the Worms formula with physics and classes while retaining the core turn-based combat that defined the series.

Did You Know?

• Worms Revolution was rendered with a new 3D engine while keeping 2D gameplay, creating a 2.5D style.
• The game introduced four worm classes: Soldier, Scout, Scientist, and Heavy.
• Water physics were expanded so that pools of water appear throughout levels and can be released by destroying the environment.
• Matt Berry narrated the game as fictional wildlife documentary maker Don Keystone.