bit-tech Shopping: THQ Worms 2: Open Warfare for Sony PSP

Rating: 10

Time with product: 1 Month

Strengths: Crisp graphics, fun gameplay

Weaknesses: can be hard for newcomers

Summary: Worms 2: Open Warfare is a really good strategy game. It pretty much is a pick up and play title, as your skills will improve dramatically if you play this game a lot. The graphics are very crisp and clear for the PSP. Controls are not too bad in this game once you get a hang of them. Overall this game is very fun to play, especially if you have friends to play against.

Rating: 8

Time with product: 1

Strengths: Same core Worms gameplay, looks absolutely beautiful on PSP screen

Weaknesses: Not a ton of innovations

Summary: Worms Open Warfare 2 on the PSP is a spectacular rebound from the very poorly reviewed Open Warfare game. The focus here is very much on core gameplay and it really succeeds. You can just play a quick game, or get deep into customization and build your own team, landscapes, etc. It starts out fairly simple (and you might be a bit lost as you learn the weapons-- usually when they backfire and kill one of your own team!) but as with past Worms games, it gets very very difficult to beat the computer controlled teams as you get farther in. So expect some frustration if you want to play to the end. You can also play the game online, and there is apparently free downloadable add-ons for the game, although I haven't tried them yet. Despite all that, it IS still Worms. If you haven't played it already on the millions of other platforms some version of Worms has been released on, this is as good of introduction as any. Open Warfare 2 provides a lot of tweaks and various modes, but the game is still Worms-- if you like Worms, this is a very, VERY good version. If you hate Worms-- there's nothing here to change your mind. I was originally tempted to get this on the DS but I am glad I picked it up for the PSP-- the screen makes the game work so much better. I've since played the DS version and it feels much more cramped, and actually harder to control (it doesn't use the touchscreen much except in mini games). The PSP's wide (And very bright) screen just suits this game to a T; and makes this version the definitive version of a classic Worms game. The ability to zoom in and out fixes any issues you might have with seeing on the smaller screen (Compared to a console) Rated 4 stars-- it loses 1 star because at the end of the day it's still "Worms"-- although that is both a blessing and a curse. If you like the Worms games at all, pick up Open Warfare 2 immediately. (Be sure to get 2, not the original game!)

Rating: 8

Time with product: 3

Strengths: Cute graphics, huge assortment of weapons, modular play

Weaknesses: Campaign mode becomes incredibly hard

Summary: The entire Worms franchise is a take off of an old PC game named Scorched Earth. The basic idea features two opposing teams of tanks (in this case worms) who hurl weapons of mass destruction at one another until only one team is left alive. The premise has stayed pretty much stable while the array of weapons have increased.In this latest installment, our wormy friends take once more to the battlefield with a vast arsenal. There are many old favorites like the dynamite or bazooka, but some new weapons are added including animal bombs like sheep and bulls.The game is entertaining and the campaign mode is a lot of fun. You'll spend a lot of time trying to judge wind resistance and angle of descent, but in the end it's just hurling a bomb and praying it lands in the right place. This pull-the-pin and a prayer strategy only works for so long as the CPU gets very good at landing shots right on top of you. Too good IMO. Once you get past a certain point you'll need to either become very good at placing your shots or incredibly lucky.Worms 2 supports multiplayer and that's where you'll get the most bang for your buck. It's a lot more fun to blast friends to smithereens than cpu's. You can create your own team of worms and then customize them to some degree as to color and accessories. The graphics are cutesy and the worms all spout funny little phrases whenever they fire their weapons or die. Overall, this game is a great pickup. It's perfect to just pass the time and dosen't require that much concentration to play. Besides, there's always the off chance it'll help you one day adjust for windage when you need to throw a grenade.