This winter sees the release of the latest game in our long running Worms series, Worms: Battle Islands, on PSP available from PlayStation Store. Worms: Battle Islands marks the third time that the series has made an appearance on the PSP, and the game is packed with content and great new features, some of which I’ll be talking about in this post.
Game overview:
The first thing to say about the game is that at its core it’s the traditional 2D Worms experience. It’s a turn based game where players use a mix of strategy and skill to move their army of worms about a landscape, and attack one another with a range of funny weapons (exploding sheep, deadly bananas, fully automatic sub machine guns, etc.) until the last team standing are declared the winners. The physics are much more solid in this version and the game features a sizable inventory of forty different weapons and utilities, leading to more complex strategies and a more rewarding experience.
Environments:
In this game the players can do battle in six different environments. Often in Worms games the game’s themes have taken a backseat to the gameplay, but in the previous PSP titles, the themes had scenes from wars at different stages of history, inspired partly by the number of first person shooters that had World War 2 as their setting at the time. During Worms: Battle Island’s development, the setting for these kinds of games shifted towards ‘modern’ conflicts, and again we were inspired by this, visually.
Multiplayer:
Worms: Battle Islands also features five multiplayer modes. Of course the classic way to play Worms is Deathmatch Mode, and that is backed up with the fan favourite Fort Mode. Introduced relatively recently to the series, the Racing Mode, which sees up to four players race their worms around a circuit-like map, also makes a return for this game.
Tactics mode:
Tactics Mode is where the game’s ‘Battle Islands’ name comes from. This new mode sees each player take possession of a secret island base. The player’s base has a number of smaller surrounding islands, each of which can be home to an item. These items allow you to implement a tactical plan before the game begins.
After these instructions are handed out, the round is played out like a standard round of Worms. If the player uses their abilities wisely, they should be able to lever an advantage, and when playing Tactics Mode online, the winning player gets to take something from their opponent’s island.
We included this new mode to add persistency, where there is something to play for and give some added meaning to the outcome of a match. In most cases, from one competitive match of Worms to the next, all the players are playing for enjoyment and perhaps a higher place on the leaderboard. When you play a Tactics Mode match your island, and by extension your achievements in the game, are at stake.
The game can be played by up to four players, either locally by sharing the same PSP, over a wireless ad-hoc network, or over the internet using an infrastructure network. The game has a lot of support for the latter option with a number of features such as leaderboards, friend lists, in-game messaging and downloadable content.
Hope this has got you excited about another round of Worms on PSP; we’ll be back on the PlayStation blog soon to talk about some of the customisation options in Worms: Battle Islands.


















16 CommentsAdd Yours
1
Posted on 21 October, 2010 at 2:02 pm by Forsinain42
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE make this one downloadable!
Posted on 21 October, 2010 at 2:11 pm by Mark Baldwin
Hi, it will only be available as a downloadable PSP title from the PlayStation Store this winter – thanks for your interest in the game!
2
Posted on 21 October, 2010 at 2:13 pm by LagunaHeartly
Looks awesome, love Worms.
Posted on 21 October, 2010 at 2:16 pm by Mark Baldwin
Thanks! Glad to hear that!
3
Posted on 21 October, 2010 at 2:13 pm by wbrinkman
Glad to see hardly any innovation in the 15 years this game has been around, well done.
Posted on 21 October, 2010 at 2:28 pm by Mark Baldwin
Sorry to hear you think that…
4
Posted on 21 October, 2010 at 2:15 pm by FULLMETAL56
The demo announced for 28 July for France never hit French PlayStation Store so without demo, lot of people don’t get a chance to try it…
Posted on 21 October, 2010 at 2:17 pm by Mark Baldwin
The demo will be released when the game is released this winter, so you will get a chance to try it then for sure, thanks.
5
Posted on 21 October, 2010 at 2:44 pm by Forsinain42
@Mark Baldwin Awesome! I’m getting annoyed at games that don’t do a PSN release! Thanks!
Posted on 21 October, 2010 at 3:03 pm by Mark Baldwin
You are welcome! As Team17 are mainly focussed on the various digital platforms now as both developer and publisher, the PSN release is a natural fit for us for Worms: Battle Islands PSP.
6
Posted on 21 October, 2010 at 2:48 pm by BellEvil
This WORMS game looks great! Any info about the price?
Posted on 21 October, 2010 at 3:05 pm by Mark Baldwin
Just checking on this now, not sure if this has been finalised yet tbh.
Posted on 22 October, 2010 at 9:14 am by Mark Baldwin
Hi – sorry, the prices aren’t final yet, will update as soon as we can. Cheers.
7
Posted on 21 October, 2010 at 3:13 pm by AaronSOLDIER
This is series is the best.
I want to buy Worms 2 Armageddon but heard it had quite a few bugs, any news on a patch?
Also, please don’t stop making these games!
Posted on 21 October, 2010 at 3:34 pm by Mark Baldwin
Thanks for the nice comments about the Worms series, appreciated!
Will check on your question about Worms 2: Armageddon PSN too.
Posted on 22 October, 2010 at 10:13 am by Mark Baldwin
Hi, just as a quick update, we are still in the process of gathering feedback on all aspects of Worms 2 Armageddon PS3, to see what, if anything, needs to be addressed by any potential future updates.
8
Posted on 21 October, 2010 at 3:22 pm by ENGCLM
Pleased to see another Worms title, unlike wbrinkman I don’t care about innovation.
Sure without it the industry may not always move forward at quite a pace but titles like God of War III, Uncharted 2 and Heavy Rain show that sometimes, doing something well can be equally great.
And having played nearly every Worms game ever, I can say you guys do things really well and deserve tons of credit for keeping the formula fresh and exciting.
Cannot wait to download this for my PSP Go!
Posted on 21 October, 2010 at 3:36 pm by Mark Baldwin
Thanks for your kind words of support about Worms, and for your interest in Worms: Battle Islands PSP, really good to hear!
9
Posted on 21 October, 2010 at 3:49 pm by ubersao14
could use an overhaul in my opinion, maybe even a worms 3D PSP? I’d say the PS2 version was a different kettle of fish and a great refresh for the series..
Posted on 21 October, 2010 at 4:12 pm by Mark Baldwin
Thanks – good to hear from fans of the 3D Worms games too.
10
Posted on 21 October, 2010 at 4:33 pm by Tecnoboy1
Any word of a new 3-D worms? I have great memories of 4 and forts under seige, I think I have about 100 hours clocked on them… each, I always used it with family and friends, double damage, super weapons- Carnage, I loved it, I couldn’t fault it at all, I’ve completed both their campaigns also.
Bravo, you guys are my heros!
(By the way, I got worms 3-D on XBOX for €7:99, absolute bargain!)
11
Posted on 21 October, 2010 at 4:56 pm by stoozing
Just got the ps3 version, always loved this game on my old PC, great its come to ps3. It doesnt need fancy 3d or clever upgrades to make it a fab game.
Is this version going to be PSP only, or will it come as a ps3 DLC one day?
My only request for innovation/upgrade on the PS3 Armageddon would be more voice packs, or the ability to create your own which you could do on the PC. I had a fast show, Friends and Young ones set which was hilarous.
Never got on with the first 3d version, too hard for my non PS3 playing friends who just wanted to have fun and throw sheep. And its a great easy family title at xmas, mother in law would be stuck on anything over complicated, there is always a niche for pick up and play uncomplicated fun games. We dont all want COD online levels of comlexity. Keep it up.
Posted on 21 October, 2010 at 5:28 pm by Mark Baldwin
Hi, happy to hear that you are enjoying the PS3 Worms 2: Armageddon and also about your enjoyment of Worms games as a fan family title at Xmas! Lovely stuff!
Worms: Battle Islands is indeed PSP only btw.
A speechbank editor isn’t really possible on PS3 tbh as there would be content/moderation issues, for what is a family title.
To give a blatant plug for some forthcoming DLC – with regards to your request about more voicepacks – there is a DLC pack (called the ‘Battle Pack’), which will include loads of new content, including new speechbanks, coming soon for the PS3 version via PSN.
Maybe we can come back and tell you guys all about the Battle Pack too in the near future…watch this space!
12
Posted on 21 October, 2010 at 6:04 pm by Little_Dinamit
Looks good! Love how the 2D style is done so it even looks better than 3D worms!
The new mode looks cool.
Also, kudos to whoever named a worm Phoo. XD
Posted on 22 October, 2010 at 9:11 am by Mark Baldwin
Thanks for that, glad you like the look of it!
Posted on 22 October, 2010 at 9:11 am by Mark Baldwin
Thanks for that!
13
Posted on 21 October, 2010 at 6:13 pm by BalramRules
WAIT!!
Itz not downloadable?!?! XO
WTH?!?!?1
Come on, this game doesnt even look like it’ll use a tenth of the capacity of a blu-ray disc?!?!
Posted on 22 October, 2010 at 9:13 am by Mark Baldwin
Just to clarify – Worms: Battle Islands PSP is to be available only as a downloadable PSP title, from PlayStation Network this winter.
14
Posted on 22 October, 2010 at 10:04 am by Royston99
Hey,
Love the Worms franchise (however, Worms 4:Mayhem wasnt that great imo), still got Worms1 and Worms World Party on PS1 (play on PSP via remote play). Any idea what file size this is going to be? Im stuck with the original PSP, and only have a 512mb memory stick, so am quite limited.
Cheers,
Royston
Posted on 22 October, 2010 at 11:00 am by Mark Baldwin
Just checking this file size query now for you, will update in a bit.
Posted on 22 October, 2010 at 11:53 am by Mark Baldwin
Hi, the guys have just let me know that Worms: Battle Islands PSP is 87mb on the stick. Hope this helps? Cheers.
15
Posted on 22 October, 2010 at 11:54 am by Royston99
Cheers for that, looks like a day-one purchase for me then!
Posted on 22 October, 2010 at 12:02 pm by Mark Baldwin
You are welcome – that is good to know too!
16
Posted on 22 October, 2010 at 9:42 pm by cthulhu85
I’ll buy this without a doubt
Nice entertainment when travelling and at work. Cheers for keeping it classic like we want it.
Posted on 25 October, 2010 at 12:16 pm by Mark Baldwin
Thanks for that, it has been nice to read a lot of these positive comments about Worms!
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