Worms 3D

Last updated

Worms 3D
Worms 3D cover.jpg
Developer(s) Team17
Publisher(s) GameCube, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2
Xbox
Mac OS X
Composer(s) Bjørn Lynne [1]
Series Worms
Platform(s) GameCube, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Mac OS X
ReleaseGameCube, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2
  • EU: 31 October 2003
  • NA: 11 March 2004 [2]
Xbox
  • EU: 31 October 2003
  • NA: 1 March 2005
Mac OS X
  • NA: 14 May 2004
Genre(s) Artillery, [3] strategy
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Worms 3D is a 2003 3D artillery [3] turn-based tactical video game developed by Team17 and published by Sega, Acclaim Entertainment, and Feral Interactive. It is the sixth installment in the Worms series, and was released for GameCube, Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2 and Xbox. Notably, the game was the first in the series to be fully 3D. Additionally, it featured several new weapons, with some weapon operations being substantially different from previous Worms titles.

Contents

Gameplay

PC version of Worms 3D featuring fully 3D graphics and familiar elements such as names, health values, and team colours. From top-left clockwise, the user interface comprises a scanner that locates worms and dropped crates; suggested view button, the selected weapon, and the health and team colour of the current worm; wind direction and strength; the status of the teams; and the amount of turn and round time left and the power gauge and vertical aim of the weapon. Worms 3D screenshot.png
PC version of Worms 3D featuring fully 3D graphics and familiar elements such as names, health values, and team colours. From top-left clockwise, the user interface comprises a scanner that locates worms and dropped crates; suggested view button, the selected weapon, and the health and team colour of the current worm; wind direction and strength; the status of the teams; and the amount of turn and round time left and the power gauge and vertical aim of the weapon.

The gameplay itself is mostly unchanged from its predecessors, with the exception of the three-dimensional view, which allows the player more freedom, and more possibilities, to complete the task at hand. Modes such as Campaign and Quick Match return from previous versions. The game also features a multiplayer feature, as well as the ability to edit and create teams. The objective of most of the matches is to eliminate the opposing forces' worms, whereas the Campaign mode gives the player sets of specific goals which they need to complete. The Campaign consists of 35 small missions in which the player has to utilise their worms to complete a certain task, like destroy enemy worms, collect a certain crate, or even unique missions, such as having to detonate 16 hidden landmines in a certain time. All of the missions give awards depending on how well the player does. Gold medals usually unlock bonuses as for example maps, challenge missions, information about weapons, or voice banks.

As in Worms 3D's predecessors, the worms continue to fight using a wide range of conventional or droll weapons, including rockets, explosives, firearms, and air strikes, whilst also traversing the island using utilities when those items are available. [5] The entire inventory is derivative of the game's immediate predecessors, but is noticeably simplified and lacks certain previously existed items, including digging tools such as the blowtorch.

In the Challenge missions, the player has to use a weapon/utility to collect targets that add to their timebank, which increases steadily. Getting a gold medal here unlocks maps or locked weapons.

Development and Release

The game was announced by Team17 in July 2002 as Worms 3'. [6] The following month, Activision purchased worldwide publishing rights to the title except for the PC version in South Korea, Taiwan and China. [7] [8]

In April 2003, the game was re-announced as Worms 3D. Activision was dropped as publisher for unknown reasons, with Sega instead purchasing the European publication rights, with an option for the company to publish in North America as well. [9] The game was shown off at Sega's booth at E3 2003, featuring two different maps for demonstration. [10] The game was eventually released in Europe at the end of the month.

On 15 January 2004, Acclaim Entertainment announced they had signed a deal with Team17 to publish the game and another upcoming Worms title (later confirmed to be Worms Forts: Under Siege [11] ) in North America. [12] and was released on all platforms except for the Xbox on 11 March 2004. [13] Acclaim was due to release the Xbox version later on in the year, however they filed for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy at the end of August 2004, and so left the Xbox version without a publisher until Sega of America announced they had acquired the North American publishing rights to it and Worms Forts: Under Siege in January 2005. [14] [15] , releasing on 1 March 2005, almost a year after the other versions.

The Macintosh version was ported and released by Feral Interactive, releasing on 14 May 2004. [16]

Reception

The Xbox, PC, and PlayStation 2 versions of Worms 3D received mixed reviews, [18] [19] [20] but the GameCube version received fairly positive reviews. [17] Its graphics and sounds were lauded. Despite this, most reviewers[ who? ] criticized the 3D camera system, that often places behind the objects in landscape with the worm being hidden in front of those and stiff controlling of the worm.[ citation needed ] Andy Davidson, the creator of the Worms franchise and who had already left Team17 before returning in 2012, [31] objected to the company's decision to develop a 3D Worms game. He argued that Worms and its mechanics were based on two dimensions only and that adding another dimension broke much of the mechanics. He said that rather than trying to "recreate" Worms itself, he would have preferred to start from scratch and build a 3D game containing the same qualities as the series. [32]

Worms 3D won the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association silver award, indicating that the game sold at least 100,000 copies in the United Kingdom. [33]

Related Research Articles

<i>Worms</i> (series) Artillery strategy computer game series

Worms is a series of artillery tactical video games developed by British company Team17. In these games, small platoons of anthropomorphic worms battle each other across a destructible landscape with the objective being to become the sole surviving team. The games are noted for their cartoony animation and extensive use of surrealism and slapstick humour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GameCube</span> Nintendo video game console

The GameCube is a home video game console developed and marketed by Nintendo. It was released in Japan on September 14, 2001, in North America on November 18, 2001, in Europe on May 3, 2002, and in Australia on May 17, 2002. It is the successor to the Nintendo 64. As a sixth-generation console, the GameCube primarily competed with Sony's PlayStation 2, Sega's Dreamcast, and Microsoft's Xbox.

<i>Crazy Taxi</i> (video game) 1999 video game

Crazy Taxi is a racing video game developed and published by Sega. It is the first game in the Crazy Taxi series. The game was first released in arcades in 1999 and then was ported to the Dreamcast in 2000. Gameplay is based on picking up taxi customers and driving to their destination as quickly as possible. Reception to Crazy Taxi has been mostly positive. It was ported to other platforms numerous times, including the PlayStation 2 and GameCube by Acclaim in 2001, and then Windows in 2002.

<i>Sonic Heroes</i> 2003 platform video game

Sonic Heroes is a 2003 platform game developed by Sonic Team USA and published by Sega as part of the Sonic the Hedgehog series. The player races a team of series characters through levels to amass rings, defeat robots, and collect the seven Chaos Emeralds needed to defeat Doctor Eggman. Within each level, the player switches between the team's three characters, who each have unique abilities, to overcome obstacles. Sonic Heroes downplays the action-adventure and exploration-based gameplay of its predecessors Sonic Adventure (1998) and Sonic Adventure 2 (2001) in favor of returning to the linear style of Sega Genesis-era Sonic games.

<i>Phantasy Star Online</i> 2000 video game

Phantasy Star Online is an online role-playing game (RPG) developed by Sonic Team and published by Sega in 2000 for the Dreamcast. It was the first successful online RPG for game consoles; players adventure with up to three others over the internet to complete quests, collect items and fight enemies in real-time action RPG combat. The story is unrelated to previous games in the Phantasy Star series.

<i>Skies of Arcadia</i> 2000 video game

Skies of Arcadia is a 2000 Dreamcast role-playing video game developed by Overworks and published by Sega. Players control Vyse, a young air pirate, and his friends as they attempt to stop the Valuan Empire from reviving ancient weapons with the potential to destroy the world.

In the history of video games, the sixth generation era is the era of computer and video games, video game consoles, and handheld gaming devices available at the turn of the 21st century, starting on November 27, 1998. Platforms in the sixth generation include consoles from four companies: the Sega Dreamcast (DC), Sony PlayStation 2 (PS2), Nintendo GameCube (GC), and Microsoft Xbox. This era began on November 27, 1998, with the Japanese release of the Dreamcast, which was joined by the PlayStation 2 on March 4, 2000, the GameCube on September 14, 2001 and the Xbox on November 15, 2001, respectively. On March 31, 2001, the Dreamcast was among the first to be discontinued. Xbox in 2006, GameCube in 2007 and PlayStation 2 was the last, in January 2013. Meanwhile, the seventh generation of consoles started on November 22, 2005, with the launch of the Xbox 360.

<i>Soulcalibur II</i> 2002 video game

Soulcalibur II is a 2002 fighting game developed by Project Soul and published by Namco and the third installment in the Soulcalibur series of weapon-based fighting games. It is the sequel to Soulcalibur, which was released in July 1998. Originally intended to be released on Sega's NAOMI board, the game was released on the Namco System 246 arcade board before being ported to the PlayStation 2, GameCube, and Xbox in 2003.

<i>Worms Armageddon</i> 1999 video game

Worms Armageddon is a 1999 turn-based strategy video game developed and published by Team17 as part of the Worms series. It was originally released for the Microsoft Windows operating system, and was later ported to the PlayStation, Dreamcast, Nintendo 64, and Game Boy Color. In the game, the player controls a team of up to eight earthworms tasked with defeating an opposing team using a wide range of weapons at their disposal. The game takes place on a destructible and customizable two-dimensional board and is characterized by cartoonish graphics and a unique brand of humour.

2001 saw many sequels and prequels in video games, such as Madden NFL 2002, NBA Live 2002, NBA 2K2, WWF Smackdown! Just Bring It, Capcom vs. SNK 2,Dead or Alive 3, Final Fantasy X, Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec, Grand Theft Auto III, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Myst III: Exile, Crazy Taxi 2, SSX Tricky, Super Smash Bros. Melee, Sonic Adventure 2, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3, and Virtua Fighter 4. New intellectual properties include Ace Attorney, Advance Wars,Animal Crossing, Burnout, Gothic, Black & White, Devil May Cry, Fatal Frame, Ghost Recon,Halo, Jak and Daxter, Max Payne, Oni, Onimusha: Warlords, Operation Flashpoint, Pikmin, Pro Evolution Soccer, Red Faction, Serious Sam, and Tropico.

The Creative Assembly Limited is a British video game developer based in Horsham, founded in 1987 by Tim Ansell. In its early years, the company worked on porting games to MS-DOS from Amiga and ZX Spectrum platforms, later working with Electronic Arts to produce a variety of games under the EA Sports brand. In 1999, the company had sufficient resources to attempt a new and original project, proceeding to develop the strategy computer game Shogun: Total War which was a critical and commercial hit, and is regarded as a benchmark strategy game. Subsequent titles in the Total War series built on the success of Shogun: Total War, increasing the company's critical and commercial success.

<i>Worms World Party</i> 2001 video game

Worms World Party is a 2001 artillery turn-based tactics video game developed by Team17, and is the sequel to Worms Armageddon in the Worms series. As with the previous games in the 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.

<i>Worms 4: Mayhem</i> 2005 video game

Worms 4: Mayhem is a 3D artillery turn-based tactics video game developed by Team17 and published by Codemasters and Majesco Entertainment. It is the eight installment in the Worms series, and the successor to Worms 3D. The game was released in 2005 for PlayStation 2, Xbox and Windows.

<i>Sega Soccer Slam</i> 2002 video game

Sega Soccer Slam, also known as simply Soccer Slam, is a sports game released for GameCube, Xbox, and PlayStation 2 in 2002.

<i>NFL 2K3</i> 2002 video game

NFL 2K3 is an American football video game released in 2002 for PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube. It was developed by Visual Concepts and published by Sega. It is the only NFL 2K game for the GameCube. The cover athlete features Brian Urlacher of the Chicago Bears, becoming the first cover athlete in the NFL 2K series besides Randy Moss.

<i>Worms</i> (1995 video game) 1995 video game

Worms is a 2D artillery tactical video game developed by Team17 and released in 1995. It is the first game in the Worms series of video games. It is a turn based game where a player controls a team of worms against other teams of worms that are controlled by a computer or human opponent. The aim is to use various weapons to kill the worms on the other teams and have the last surviving worm(s).

<i>Worms Forts: Under Siege</i> 2004 video game

Worms Forts: Under Siege is a 3D artillery tactical game developed by Team17. A follow-up to the previous Worms game, Worms 3D, Forts showcases new features. While the primary method of victory is to destroy the opposing team, victory can also be achieved by destroying the opposing "Stronghold", the most important building in the game.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Majesco Entertainment</span> American video game publisher and distributor

Majesco Entertainment Company is an American video game publisher and distributor based in Hazlet, New Jersey. The company was founded as Majesco Sales in Edison, New Jersey in 1986, and was a privately held company until acquiring operation-less company ConnectivCorp in a reverse merger takeover, becoming its subsidiary and thus a public company on December 5, 2003. ConnectivCorp later changed its name to Majesco Holdings Inc. on April 13, 2004.

<i>Worms W.M.D</i> 2016 video game

Worms W.M.D is a 2D artillery turn-based tactics video game developed and published by Team17. It is the nineteenth installment in the Worms series, and was released on 23 August 2016 for Linux, OS X, PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, and Xbox One. It was later released on 23 November 2017 for Switch, on 1 July 2022 for Stadia and on 11 April 2023 for iOS and Android. Its gameplay resembles that of Worms Armageddon more than subsequent installments, while adding new features that range from interactive vehicles such as tanks, to buildings that the worms can enter for protection. It is also notable for being the first major redesign the worm characters have received since Worms 3D.

References

  1. ↑ "Bjorn Lynne: "Worms 3D" music downloads". Archived from the original on 23 August 2015.
  2. ↑ Cove, Glen (11 March 2004). "Worms 3D Ships". Archived from the original on 12 August 2004.
  3. 1 2 "GameSpot Summary for Worms 3D". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 31 December 2007.
  4. ↑ Manual 2003, pp. 8–9.
  5. ↑ "Weapons guide". Team17. 2003. Archived from the original on 5 February 2005.
  6. ↑ "Worms 3 Official". 15 July 2002. Archived from the original on 28 August 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  7. ↑ "Activision Supports Worms Rights". 13 August 2002. Archived from the original on 28 August 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  8. ↑ "GameSpot: "Activision gets Worms"". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 9 July 2017. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  9. ↑ "Worms 3D Announced". 25 April 2003. Archived from the original on 13 August 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  10. ↑ "E3 2003: Worms 3D - IGN". 14 May 2003. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  11. ↑ "GameSpy: Acclaim Nabs Worms Forts: Under Siege! - Page 1". Archived from the original on 31 August 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  12. ↑ "Acclaim Brings Worms 3D to the States". 15 January 2004. Archived from the original on 31 August 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  13. ↑ "Worms 3D - News". Team17. Archived from the original on 6 December 2009. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  14. ↑ "More Worms burrowing into Xboxes and PS2s". Archived from the original on 31 August 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  15. ↑ "SEGA Announces Worms 3D and Worms: Forts Under Seige[sic]". GamesIndustry.biz . 6 January 2005. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  16. ↑ "Stop Fighting! Start buying! Worms is now shipping!". 14 May 2004. Archived from the original on 28 July 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  17. 1 2 "Worms 3D". GameRankings. Archived from the original on 14 May 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  18. 1 2 "Worms 3D". GameRankings. Archived from the original on 17 September 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  19. 1 2 "Worms 3D". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
  20. 1 2 "Worms 3D". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 2 June 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
  21. ↑ Martin Taylor (27 October 2003). "Worms 3D Review". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 17 July 2015. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  22. ↑ Davis, Ryan (10 March 2004). "Worms 3D Review - Nintendo GameCube". GameSpot . Archived from the original on 1 January 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  23. ↑ Davis, Ryan (23 March 2004). "Worms 3D Review - PC". GameSpot . Archived from the original on 1 January 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  24. ↑ Davis, Ryan (10 March 2004). "Worms 3D Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 1 January 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
  25. ↑ Davis, Ryan (17 May 2006). "Worms 3D Review - Xbox". GameSpot . Archived from the original on 1 January 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  26. ↑ Casamassina, Matt (24 February 2004). "Worms 3D - Nintendo GameCube". IGN . Archived from the original on 23 July 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  27. ↑ Cassamassina, Matt (18 May 2004). "Worms 3D - PC". IGN. Archived from the original on 12 July 2009. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
  28. ↑ Casamassina, Matt (24 February 2004). "Worms 3D - PlayStation 2". IGN . Archived from the original on 23 July 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  29. ↑ Clayman, David (4 March 2005). "Worms 3D - Xbox". IGN . Archived from the original on 24 July 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  30. ↑ Cohen, Peter (September 2004). "Worm Food". Macworld . p. 44. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  31. ↑ Dutton, Fred (2 April 2012). "Worms creator returns to Team17". Eurogamer . Archived from the original on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  32. ↑ Day, Ashley (30 March 2006). "The Making of Worms". Retro Gamer . No. 23. p. 29. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  33. ↑ "ELSPA Sales Awards: Silver". Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association. Archived from the original on 18 June 2010. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.