The Worms franchise has more or less stayed the same across its 25-year history, so it was due a shake-up. Worms Rumble is an offshoot that ditches the strategic turn-based gameplay in favour of more immediate, real-time action. Fans may well wrinkle their noses at this, but honestly, it works better than you might think.
Up to 32 players can join Deathmatch, Last Squad Standing, or Last Worm Standing, the latter two akin to battle royale. After customising your squirmy character, you'll quickly be dropped into a game thanks to speedy matchmaking, and will have to survive in intricate 2D maps. Worms move faster and have a rolling "sprint" to evade damage, but they retain some of that familiar floatiness in the air. There are lots of useful hidden passages, though wriggling into them is the only time the controls feel a little imprecise.
The action itself works well, however. Aiming with the right stick, you'll use some classic weaponry (bazooka, sheep, banana bombs) and some new ones (sentry launcher, rocket shield, hammerhead) in tight environments. You'll spawn with a basic firearm but coloured crates contain more powerful guns, as well as healing and shielding items. All the weapons are fun to use, especially with great support of DualSense's triggers, though balancing isn't quite right yet. Some guns will get you much further than others.
Completing matches earns you XP, and as you level up your character and each weapon, you'll unlock more cosmetics. It's a very simple structure, but the game is fun and frantic enough to keep you hooked. With just 10 weapons and three maps, it feels a little barebones at launch, although this will undoubtedly be supported over time. What's here is a great start, and well worth checking out for some simple multiplayer mishaps.
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Comments 23
Looks fun enough tbh. Is there pass the pad 2 player? I havn't played Worms since 1996. And I only have one PS5 controller.
@kyleforrester87 This is purely an online multiplayer shooter, no local multiplayer options.
I really miss the fully destructible environments. It's just not worms if I can't trap someone in a giant crater with a holy hand grenade
@Quintumply
@Quintumply no local multiplayer? That's just downright f****** stupid for this type of game. I'll give it a go but I suspect I'll be quickly back on the old Worms game instead
@carlos82 @kyleforrester87 Right now it's online matches only. Maybe local play will come later down the line? Games change a lot nowadays!
Its decent fun, but to be honest, with it being real time and so far out I find it hard to tell I have a humorous gun firing sheep and wonder more about what is my gun doing? Its fine, but I agree with other, if you could have 2-4 player local multi it would be a lot better. You could level that criticism at Fall Guys too though.
You know what always bothered me about Worms? The old woman is smaller than a worm but she's also the same size as a banana and I just don't know how to deal with this.
@johncalmc If you start questioning the practicality of Worms games you'll never get anything else done for the rest of your life
@Quintumply true, you'd just think that a game synonymous with local multiplayer would have the option. I'm still going to give it a go as it looks like fun with friends online
@carlos82 This is a purposeful change of pace, though. I understand what you mean, and local play would be a nice addition, but this is its own thing. I wouldn't go into this expecting Worms as you know it. Hope you're able to get some fun out of it
@Quintumply yeah but why
@johncalmc Honestly, John, I would let this one go. Let Worms have its tiny old ladies.
@Quintumply you know the priceless ming vase is the same size as the cow? It doesn't even make sense.
@Quintumply I've got some traditional Worms on my PS4 anyway so I'm looking forward to giving this a go actually
@johncalmc This has to stop
@Quintumply This is nothing to do with the comical size discrepancies in the Worms franchise, but my favourite attack was always the prod. Something radical about pushing a worm off a cliff to their death. Ruthless.
nope, turned based only for me
@kyleforrester87 @Quintumply @carlos82
Seriously WTF?
That's for the no local multiplayer. I'm ok w/ the Quick based looks like Smash w/ guns but it needs to have off line couch multiplayer, it's freakin' WORMS!!
I'm not involved in the size comparison conversation at all, have no knowledge nor interest.
I was initially skeptical, but I fired this up after hearing good things about it and I’m have great fun. Definitely has that, “Well, just one more” quality to it. It might not be a traditional Worms game but for my money it still has the same sense of silly, chaotic fun. There are plenty of the old style games, and more to come I expect, but there’s no reason there shouldn’t be room for something a little different.
As someone who isnt a massive fan of turn based strategic games this change of direction may be right up my street.
Certainly willing to give it a try anyway
I tried this during the beta and I just didn't have any fun with it...it was always someone camping the weapon spawns and the ones that died one time being left to the grinder again and again.
I tried this, it's not bad, but I'd prefer the traditional Worms gameplay. I also didn't mind the 3D Worms games on PS2. I think they had a remaster of those in PS3. Would be cool to see that come back.
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