(Micro) Game Review: Worm Madness

(A note about a game I reviewed a couple of weeks ago-Backyard Buzzing's aforementioned bug [heh] only applies on sites other than the site that the game was produced for. In effect, the versions on other sites are essentially gameplay demos, while the version on the main site is intended to be the main attraction, and the only place where you can play the full game. However, the bug creates a spot where you can't play past, and ironically enough it's about where gameplay starts getting boring, so I consider the bug to be a plus. Just a little FYI.)

Worm Madness is a game where you play as a worm [/captainobvious].

The game is pretty much pure joy. Difficult pure joy, but pure joy nonetheless.

You play as a worm that tunnels the way sharks swim, and leaps in a way that is very reminiscent of a jumping fish or shark as well. You eat most bugs, which gives you points, and there are burrowing creatures (which my kid brother insists are named "pollywogs") which you can eat to restore your health.

What makes it pure joy is that the controls are so easy and intuitive that they almost don't exist. Essentially, you guide your worm with your cursor, and hold down on the left mouse button and pull the mouse further away to increase the worm's speed. It takes me far more time to explain than it does to understand or do it. It's just that easy.

Nice graphics can go a long way, but for a flash game, pure joy in gameplay goes a lot further.

(Boo on the developing site, by the way, for adding a bug to the distributed version that keeps enemies from respawning after you restart, even if you restart at the beginning. That kind of tactic to force traffic to your site is basically the flash game site equivalent of AOL installers, telemarketers, or persistent spammers.)

-Signing off.