Worms: Brilliant ideas, gameplay, and cute graphics to boot.

((Note: This is my first review, so I mightn't have done it correctly.))

Now firstly, make no mistake; Worms World Party is very similar to Worms Armageddon, apart from a few minor differences in game engine, a set of modes, different training missions, and many new different missions.

The cute, lovable worms are back to blow each other into bite-sized smitherines in the next of the worms series: Worms World Party!

Worms World Party uses a turn based engine, where both players take turns to move around a landscape and use wacky and wonderful weapons including exploding sheep, mad cows, skunks, grandma's that will mumble and walk around for a few seconds before exploding, and of course bazookas and grenades; (zooks n nades.)

The multiplayer and the single player for this game are two very different worlds, so there will be two split sections, describing each.

Single Player:
Single player for Worms World Party, (hereafter referred to as wwp), is the most commonly insulted thing for wwp, many say that besides it's new missions, and modes (only in games against computer players, or others humans using same computer), it is fundamentally the same game. Upon first inspection, this seems very true. The main qualm is probably that there is no new weapons. If it comes down to it, there probably isn't much need for new weapons; there are already a lot of them, what else is there to be added? There are a lot more missions including many difficulty levels of training missions and a all new time attack variety of missions, as well as an addition to the normal available missions.

Learning Curve
The learning curve for single player is easy. The controls are simple, it doesn't take long to pick up, and you will figure out all the weapons pretty quickly. It is just a matter of getting used to timing and angle of throwing weapons, and learning how to move properly. The ninja rope, a grappling hook type weapon will be of some use, and won't take too long to learn basic use, especially with the 'ninja rope training.'

Computer Opponents
The computer opponents are quite variable, with 5 levels of strength, (1, 2, 3, 4, and 5! How hard can that be to figure out?) they do not move around very much, but at high levels, are very good at aiming weapons, their use of a specific strategy, allows you to create your own that will work well against it. The AI can help you improve your 'worming' in different ways. Level 1, 2, or 3, might help you improve your firing weapons ability by going head to head with them in their own strategy, whereas you could improve other stratogies, eg. using hit and run tactics on a high level computer, it won't be easy to retreat to a safe spot from these well aiming opponents before your own time runs out.

Graphics
The graphics are not stunning, being 2 dimensional, but they make up for it in cuteness in my opinion. The use of bright, flamboyant colours, and cute graphics, (and they are cute!) of things like little sheep, the graphics have much charm. Comparing these graphics to the modern day, average graphics is like comparing cartoons, or anime to the Mona Lisa, they both can be excellent looking in their own category, but they are as different as the sun and moon. Saying one style is better than the other would be naive, (in my opinion.)

Sound
The sound also has a cute charm, from the 'Oy! Nutter!' to the theme song, they go hand in hand with the graphics style. There isn't much to say other than you really need to see and hear it to understand what I mean.

Replayability
This game is quite large, and it will take you a long time to finish all the missions, and/or to get the highest Deathmatch rank. Once you do, there is still a lot more fun to be had, like trying to take on as many computer opponents as you can, or playing many of the different minigames and modes with friends you could invite to worm with. Don't worry, thanks to the quick learning curve, they will be able to learn within minutes. If you haven't already, you must go onto wormnet for internet play after finishing all of this.

Multiplayer/Wormnet
Before you are able to go on Wormnet, you need the latest patch available from Team 17's website. (Link later on in this review.)

This is what the game is best at, multiplayer. Competing for fun in hundreds of minigames is what goes on in wormnet. There are games like Propers, Shoppers, BnGs (Bazooka n Grenades), RopeRaces, and many more less common ones.

Wormnet is easy to use, with a user-friendly interface. All you need to do is click the appropriate buttons, choose a name to be known by, then select a channel, where you can chat, join games, and host games. You will soon be off, playing pretty much free of lag due to the small amount of information needed to be sent, from having a simple game engine.

Learning Curve
The Learning Curve for multiplayer is a fair bit different, which is the reason the game didn't get 'A matter of minutes and I was good to go.' for it's Learning Curve rating. More mentioned about this in Ninja Rope section below.

Ninja Rope
Most online play revolves around the ninja rope. The ninja rope is difficult to get good at using, and until you get reasonably good at it, the amount of online games you can play is very limited. (However you can play BnGs, and most beginners choose to play these if they can't rope too well.) Getting good at the ninja rope is not hard at all, all you need is someone to teach you and/or a good guide. (Links to some guides listed later.) It is just that some people don't bother about helping new players, and so it takes them a long time to learn.

Minigames and Rules
There are a lot of minigames in wwp. Learning their rules is necessary, although hosts of games may change them slightly, they are all along the same lines, and should you fail to obey them you will usually be called a cow, short for coward, and be attacked by all the other players, regardless if they are breaking rules in attacking you. People are playing by these rules, because it is more fun for everyone. (Link to rules of common minigames will be listed later.)

Helpful Links
I have mentioned several things that probably should be looked at if you have decided to get the game, so here are some links to them:
http://home.iprimus.com.au/vahagn/sfx/ (A clan site where you can download maps, and view the rules for many minigames.)
http://wwp.team17.com/patch.html (Where to get the patch that is needed to play on wormnet.)
http://www.strategyplanet.com/worms/xrt/rindex.html (Guide to how to use the Ninja Rope well.)
There are many other websites dedicated to wwp, but you should be able to find them yourself by searching.