Team 17, the makers of the popular Worms series of games, has just unveiled their latest title: Worms WMD, which is short for Weapons of Mass Destruction, in case you weren't paying attention during the Bush years. The game is set to offer full on 2D graphics, channeling the look and feel of Worms: Armageddon, which is arguably one of the best titles in the series.
The series is over 20 years old, and has seen multiple incarnations in both 2D and lately, in 3D, in recent years. Worms WMD looks like a return to form with its hand-drawn graphics that are said to draw inspiration from anarchic cartoon characters like Ren & Stimpy.
One big feature that's making a return in Worms WMD is the classic ninja rope that allows players to traverse the game's maps unhindred—provided they're skilled enough to do so.
A brand new addition to the series is the inclusion of pilotable vehicles and turrets, which have been added to the map. The developers state that they don't want these vehicles and stationary turrets to be a foregone conclusion to matches, so they've made it so that while they can fire a barrage of shells, they can be very difficult to aim and require a lot of skill to use.
In addition to vehicles, there are also buildings that the worms can enter, which act like mini-fortresses. The developers state that these buildings serve as tactical areas of the landscape that play into the strategic strengths of the game. Once worms enter a building, they are hidden from view to everyone outside.
As with the game's previous incarnations, the maps are all procedurally generated and, in this case, redesigned to work with the game's new cartoon-influenced 2D art style.
The first preview of the game can be found on GameReactor, where they interviewed the developers and showcased some of its gameplay.
The game is set for release in 2016 for the Xbox One and PC.
The studio is also releasing Worms 4 for the iOS and Android in August 2015.
