Worms 3D is a continuation of the popular Worms series of games, which involve you controlling a team of worms and basically use all sorts of wild and crazy weapons to eliminate the opposing team. The Worms games have been popular thanks to their simple yet addictive gameplay, the insane weapons on offer – from exploding sheep to bazookas – and because, quite simply, the good old 2D worms are immense fun to play, especially in multiplayer.

However, there have been many with the opinion that the move into 3D might not be good for the Worms franchise, and that the 2D versions were better. With this review, I will give you an honest verdict on how good the Worms game is, and although comparing it to the 2D Worms games is inevitable, I will also do my best to give you a review on the actual game, and not just how well it compares to previous titles in the series. Well, let's get started then.

Graphics:

In all honesty, the graphics are not something to shout about. They are decent, but nothing more. There is very little detail and the environments are somewhat bland, but you could argue that detail isn't something that matters in Worms games. Either way, you will not be wowed by the graphics, especially if you compare them to the likes of F-Zero GX or Soul Calibur 2. That said, the graphical style does suit the game, and the amount of visual humour is enough to make you forget how good the graphics are. Also, nearly all the scenery in the game is destructible, so that is also something to be commended.

Sound:

The soundtrack in the menus and so on is from the Junior Senior album, which actually sounds quite good and suits the game well, but the actual gameplay has less emphasis on music and more on sound effects, which are all the things you would expect – bazooka blasts, sheep noises, the swing of a baseball bat – and of course, the voices of the worms themselves, which are actually quite amusing to listen to. All in all, no complaints here.

Gameplay:

Ah, the much-disputed gameplay of Worms 3D. Is it as bad as some people say? The answer to that question, thankfully, is 'no'. The style of play is the same as in previous games – you have about one minute to control your worm, move it to a location on the map and take one shot at your opponent. Then your opponent moves one of his, and so on.

The game is very easy to pick up and play, especially with the Quick Start mode, which puts you in control of a team of worms in a random landscape with no objectives other than to defeat the other team. Apart from Quick Start, there are also Challenge, Tutorial and Campaign modes in the game. Tutorial is one I obviously do not need to go into with too much detail, so I won't, and instead will focus on the other two single player modes.

Challenge mode basically does what it says on the tin: you have challenges such as collect all the targets with your jetpack; shoot all the targets with your shotgun, or other such challenges, which you can unlock in the Campaign. Speaking of which, Campaign mode is the bulk of the single player, in which you can create your own team of worms and lead them through various missions, which can vary beyond just destroying the other team – for example, one level has you blowing up graves to find out which contain health crates and which contain enemies.

While we're on the subject of blowing things up, there is a great deal of weaponry in the game, ranging from relatively normal weapons like bazookas to the insane ones like exploding sheep and cows. Most of the weapons aren't too difficult to use, and the wide selection on offer means that each battle you have can be completely varied in strategy.

The game's multiplayer, however, is pure gold. Once you get your head round the menus, you'll be able to customise everything about your game. Trust me on this – if you can get three mates round for a multiplayer Worms tourney, you'll have an amazing time. Worms 3D is one of the best multiplayer games on the GameCube, right up there with the likes of Super Monkey Ball and SSBM, and I don't think I could give it a higher compliment.

However, sadly, Worms 3D's gameplay is not perfect, in the way that weapons such as the Bazooka and the Air Strike are far too powerful, and it can be easy just to take out your opponents with one well-aimed explosion. Also, with gadgets such as the Jetpack and Teleport, it's equally easy just to fly straight up to an opponent and shotgun him right in the face. But these are minor faults, and the gameplay in Worms is otherwise fantastic.

Playability:

Worms 3D is a great pick up and play game, and the Quick Start mode means you can have a fast twenty minute game if you want, or get stuck into Campaign or multiplayer instead. The controls take a little getting used to, but once you get the hang of them, you'll be double jumping, back flipping, and firing sheep all over the place.

Lifespan:

The Campaign mode can probably be completed in a few weeks, but the Challenges and multiplayer will keep you going for a long time.