Worms used to be in 2D. It worked (and it worked brilliantly) because it was simple. Worms 4 works the same way (blast the hell out of every other worm on screen using a ludicrously entertaining arsenal) and the same randomly generated level-slash-arena design, but it's in 3D. And it doesn't work very well at all.

Like Worms 3D and Worms Forts, Worms 4's biggest problem is its flawed perspective. Heaving the camera around to get a view of your enemy wastes the limited time each worm has to attack, plus it often gets stuck or blocked by scenery. The first-person aiming helps, but the controls remain annoyingly twitchy. And once you've fired your missile, banana or inflatable Scouser, you can't rely on getting the best view to appreciate the explosive consequences, because the camera rarely gets a good angle. Disappointing, after all the hard work. Then there's the Weapons Factory, where you've supposed to be able to create your own arsenal. In reality it's nothing more than a limited amount of options enabling you to design what a weapon looks like, not specifically what it does. Rubbish.

With its uninspiring levels, weak story and challenge modes and that erratic camera, Worms 4 simply confirms, hopefully once and for all, that the classic Worms gameplay just doesn't work in 3D.

Graphics 60%
Good looks and funny animations.

Sound 40%
Weapons lack any real KAPOW!

Gameplay 40%
Clumsy, cluttered and no fun at all.

Lifespan 50%
Lots to do, but nothing essential.

Overall 50%
Worms in 3D loses all the simple, effective punch of the basic 2D approach - another step back for the once great series.