Worms: The Directors Cut is the sequel to probably one of the best games of all time, Worms. This is Team 17's last game for the Amiga but they certainly finished on a high note and perhaps they will come back to the Amiga in near future.

Upon loading Worms DC either from floppy or your HD you will eventually reach the Main Menu. The menu is pretty good with you being able to move a hand grenade around the screen by hitting it with your pointer. It helps if your getting defeated all the time, so I didn't get using it much.

Before you even think of starting into the action, you'll need to go the Options. These options determine the settings but can be confusing to use esecially if you don't use the manual as the manual explains each option in detail.

The first Options screen allows you to choose how to place your worms, movement time, controllers, wind and the newest addition caverns of which your little worms can hid or swing around with the ninja rope. Screen 2 allows you to pick up the types of mines you want (how close you can get before they blow up), stockpiling of which I would keep ON as it lets you gather up the weapons in the previous round and use them in the next. The rest is to do with delay such as 1-3 turns before you get, Airstrikes, Homing Missiles, Teleports and plenty more available to use. The other 4 screens allow you to configure the number of available weapons, damage settings, when you get crates and the type of landscapes you want.

After making sure you have the settings you want then it's time to get some action. You can choose between Friendly which is best for practising, League has to be the hardest as you go up against many other players, and Practise which of course lets you get use to all the weapons.

You got the usual standard weapons with some new additions. The weapons include Bazooka, Homing Missile, Grenade, Cluster Bomb, Grenade Launcher, Shotgun, Uzi, Handgun, Fire Punch, Dragon Ball, Dynamite, Sheep, Airstrike, Teleport, Blowtorch, Drill, Landmines, Bungee, Ninja Rope, Girders, Kimikaze and the one you should never use Surrender.

The pick of the standard weapons has to be the Grenade Launcher which on impact causes multiple explosions injuring any worms in its path. For close range, finishing off it has to be the Shotgun as 2 shots from it will kill any worm on the brink of death.The Ninja Rope is very handy with many of the levels having roofs from which you can use to swing from one place of the map to the other. What better way to leave your friends than by leaving a gift, a stick of Dynamite.

The Special Weapons which become available when you collect a Weapon Drop are; Homing Pigeons which are like homing missiles in that they fly to the choosen worm you want dead and explode, Mad Cows which are very good when you have plenty of them as you can use them in a herd upon nearby worms, Holy Hand Grenade can kill a worm instantly and is used in the same way as a hand grenade, Banana Bomb Used in the same way as Cluster bombs except you have large bananas falling on top of you, Minigun my own person favourite can rip to shredds anything which gets into it's path, Baseball Bat which when used will smack the worm high into the air, Super Sheep are probably the best at taking out the enemy as you can control their movements and bring them straight to the worm you want dead and Boom, Sheep Strike is exactly the same as a airstrike except you have raining sheep, Old Woman are confused dynamite walkers who will explode after 10 seconds of launching them, Priceless Ming Vase was really quite suprising when I first used it as when I dropped it, it did nothing and then boom it exploded with bits and pieces raining down killing anything it hits.

Graffiti mode lets you quickly create a custom style landscape to battle on

The computer controlled worms are definitely far harder and they don't commit suicide like jumping on mines, but can easily hit you head on with the latest weapons and he isn't scared to travel from one side of the map to the next just to hit his intended victim. The best way to survive against him is to take cover underground or to use Homing Missles to knock him out.

Worms DC certainly provides a lot of entertainment and truely is one of the best games for the Amiga, although if you already have Worms you may be let down. If you don't, get it and now before you miss it.

Graphics 96% - "Superb highly detailed graphics " Playability 96% - "Gameplay that adds add to the addiction of the game" Sound 95%- "Those excellent samples in the first Worms are back and really make the game" Addiction 94% - "You'll find that you won't want to stop playing" Lastability 92% - "Really depends on how long you will last against your friends"

Overall 95%
"If you haven't got Worms, then get it."

Amiga Flame Star
of Excellence

If you want to get the game check Team 17's web site for full details or you'll find it in the shops:-

• Team 17

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