The version of Worms you never saw...

Worms 2 was a great game, wasn't it? Added so much to the original formula didn't it?

It was a good game but as for adding anything to the original, I think not. You see Worms isn't a PC game, far from it in fact - originally it was developed for the Amiga by one man, Andy Davidson. Team17 bought it from him and the rest, well you know the rest.

Around Christmas 1996 a version of Worms was released that perhaps you never had the privilege to play - Worms: The Director's Cut. It was only available on the Amiga, it was a kind of good-bye from Andy and Team17 to a platform that had served them so well over the year. Even then, it would only work on AGA Amiga's - 1200's and 4000's, so even a good part of the Amiga community couldn't get their hands on it.

Those who could play it, myself included found the finest version of Worms available at the time and arguably the best version of Worms ever made.

The original version was great but there was so much more that could have been added to the formula, Worms: DC added everything you could have possibly dreamt of. Weapons wise, the Super Sheep, Nuclear Test, Grenade Launcher (later renamed the Mortar and made useless), Mad Cows, Old Woman, Postal (Mail) Strike, Mine Strike, Handgun, Ming Vase, Baseball Bat, Homing Pigeon, Holy Hand Grenade, and Sheep on a Rope were all added (I've probably forgotten some).

Basically all the finest weapons that were apparently new in Worms 2 - everything else and the new weapons in Worms: Armageddon were just big disappointments and not at all usable. For some strange reason the Sheep on a Rope was removed - it allowed you to rope a Sheep across the landscape, which in my opinion is rather nice thing to be able to do. Maybe WWP will add in back in.

The custom landscape options had been improved (yes, you could import stuff from graphics packages in the original Amiga Worms), the colour limit was now 16 (it is actually surprising what you can do with that limited palette), background landscapes were supported (you know the bit that is revealed when digging) and also custom mountain sets. Funnily enough, even in Worms: Armageddon you can't do half this stuff.

Cavern levels were introduced, along with multi-swing ropes - are you beginning to realise just what a limited upgrade Worms 2 actually was? Aside from the better graphics they is nothing in that game which is any better than what was available in Worms:DC.

As far as options go, the game was certainly more customisable than the limited W:A but it wasn't quite as full blown as W2. Points damage could be altered in 5pt steps, up to a maximum of 100, while blast force etc. was altered via a star system (like W:A). Really it was the best of the options systems used throughout the Worms series, being more balanced than either W2 or W:A, we can but hope WWP reintroduces it.

Worms: The Director's Cut was the ultimate multiplayer version of Worms, nothing has really been added to that side of the game since. Of course Worms 2 brought internet play (which was kinda available for PC Worms1 if I recall correctly) and introduced another side to the game. But as far as the original concept of Worms goes, this version took the game to its limits.

//agi. [agi@fsmail.net]