Super Mega Worm

Super Mega Worm is an action video game developed by computer game developer Deceased Pixel. The game was first released for Apple's iOS in August 2010.^[1] Since that time, they have gone on to design a OS X version^[2] of the game. In the game, players controls the Great Death Worm, Wojira, who has been sent by Mother Nature to destroy the human race. As players advance through the game, their worm can grow and develop new powers. Deceased Pixel has supported Super Mega Worm with free updates and a Christmas version of the game called “Super Mega Worm vs Santa” that released on December 14, 2010^[4] The game adopts a retro video game style in its sound design and graphics. American DJ Diamond Del Rio has also remixed the theme song for the game.

Gameplay

Gameplay of Super Mega Worm

In Super Mega Worm, the player moves the worm around under the ground and makes it blast out through the surface and land on humans, animals and man made machines destroying them. To keep the worm above ground, player can land on objects such as cars, tanks and helicopters bounce off of them up into the air. It is possible for players to bounce off many objects in a row building up combo's resulting in a higher score. For every object destroyed a multiplier is gained that will help in increasing the player's score. The worm's health decreases as the game goes on, in order to combat this the player can replenish it by eating animals that roam above ground. In order for the player to progress to the next level you have to eat a certain number of humans which increases with every level. As the player progresses through the levels, they can obtain power ups that will assist them in completing their objective, this also has the effect of enlarging the worm. The power-ups that the player gains access to consist of speed boosts, a fiery projectiles that is shot from the worms mouth and an Electromagnetic Pulse that shut downs any machines in the area around the worm.^[1] The player can control the worm in three different ways. The first via the use of a slider, second by tilting the iPhone and lastly by using the D-Pad that was added in via a Patch.^[4] The DLC that was released for the game, Mecha Worjira, allows the player to use a new playable character with a new skin and some new features, such as; no dying from hunger; infinite death beam; homing missiles; instant space jump and a special theme song. Another game was also released going by the name of Super Mega Worm Vs Santa which adds 15 levels, a boss fight with Santa, some new items, 3 new abilities and 2 new game modes.^[5]

Development

Since Super Mega Worm was first released on August 26, 2010^[1] it has gone through a variety of updates to improve performance and add new features.

Release

Super Mega Worm was initially released for iOS on August 26, 2010.^[1] Over time it has been given many updates which have added features such as new control schemes. Originally the game could only be played with a slider along the bottom of the screen which either made the worm move up or down but now it can be controlled with an on screen D-pad or by tilting the Accelerometer. The game also now supports the iPad gaming unit, the iCade.^[6] Updates have also added achievements which can be tracked though Apple's Game Center, and made the game a universal app meaning it can run on both an iPhone/iPod touch or an iPad without the user having to buy two separate apps.^[4] Recently, Deceased Pixel have introduced the ‘Mecha Wojira’ paid DLC for both the original game and the Christmas edition. This paid update gives the player a more powerful worm and an extra song. The DLC was made available through the app store for $0.99.^[5] In order to celebrate the release of their new game, Recess Riot, Deceased Pixel made Super Mega Worm free for a limited time during October 2012. ^[7]

Reception

The iOS version of Super Mega Worm has generally received mixed reviews from review sites. While Levi Buchanan of IGN stated "It’s absolutely bizarre – the humor and WTF scenarios are truly funny – but unlike so many other weird games, Super Mega Worm is actually fun to play for more than five minutes".^[1]

Chris Reed of Slidetoplay also states that "There’s not much to it, but its charm and high level of ridiculousness will keep you smiling the whole way through".^[4] Slidetoplay also included Super Mega Worm as number 34 in their list of the ‘50 Best iPhone games of 2010’. They called it ‘pure kitschy fun’, while also mentioning that ‘There’s not much to it, but its charm and high level of ridiculousness will keep you smiling the whole way through’.^[9]

Furthermore, Jon Jordan of Pocket Gamer states that "despite some old skool charms and interesting controls, Super Mega Worm doesn't quite live up to its world conquering destructive tendencies".^[10]

‘Super Mega Worm’ was also recommended as an Old-School game on its Holiday Buyer’s Guide of App Store Games by Joystiq^[11] Jeff Cannata also featured the game in his weekly podcast Weekend Confirmed.^[12]

References

External links

• Official website
• Official Page for 'Recess Riot' by Deceased Pixel
• Official Page for 'Super Mega Worm vs Santa' by Deceased Pixel
• Official Page for 'Snake HD' by Deceased Pixel
• iTunes Page
• Google Play Page