Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Worms Blast takes the familiar bubble-matching formula and injects it with all the chaotic charm of the classic Worms series. Instead of firing colored bubbles, you man a small boat and lob an arsenal of weapons—bazookas, grenades, dynamite sticks—at a cascading hexagonal grid of blocks. Holding down the fire button charges your shot, mirroring the power-gauge mechanic of the artillery-based Worms games. This gives each shot a satisfying weight, letting you judge trajectory and force before letting loose, which is crucial when you’re aiming to connect clusters of matching colors.

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Unlike most puzzle titles, you’re not fixed in one spot. Your boat slides left and right along the bottom of the screen, forcing you to think on your feet as you dodge falling debris or stray heavy objects that can smash your vessel if you misfire off-screen. Blocks don’t sit behind walls in single-player mode, so every missed shot can create new hazards or open opportunities for giant chain-reaction clears. Rainbow blocks add another layer of strategy, acting as wildcards that can turn the tide when used in the right cluster.

The single-player “Puzzle Mode” showcases a wide range of objectives beyond simple block clearing: sometimes you’re tasked with toppling specific shapes, other times you must avoid hostile moving blocks or protect floating targets. This variety keeps the challenge fresh and forces you to adapt your weapon choice and firing strength on the fly. The tournament and multiplayer modes ramp up the action further, letting you blast through barriers and fire directly at opponents’ boats whenever the dividing walls open. It’s a head-to-head twist that transforms what could be a meditative puzzle session into a frantic race to outscore, outlast, and outblast your friends.

Overall, the gameplay loop in Worms Blast balances thoughtful puzzle solving with the anarchic fun of an artillery duel. Whether you’re mapping out an intricate chain reaction in single-player or duking it out across split-screen arenas, there’s enough depth and unpredictability to keep you coming back for just one more round.

Graphics

Worms Blast retains the bright, cartoonish aesthetic that’s become synonymous with the Worms franchise. The hexagonal blocks are vividly colored and glow subtly when they’re part of a valid match, making it easy at a glance to plan your shots. Animated splashes and explosions are crisp and punchy, lending real oomph to your weapon impacts. Even after dozens of levels, it never gets visually stale.

The game world is rendered in cheerful 2D with smooth scrolling backgrounds that evoke a sunlit ocean horizon. Your little boat bobs realistically on the waves, complete with tiny splashes and recoil animations whenever you fire. Special weapon effects—smoke trails from rockets, shrapnel dispersal from grenades, and the fiery bloom of dynamite—are all well-polished, providing clear feedback on distance and power.

UI elements are clean and unobtrusive: your current weapon, power gauge, and remaining lives sit along the edges without cluttering the playfield. Pop-up score counters and combo notifications are animated with playful “pop” sounds, reinforcing each satisfying block break or chain reaction. Even the multiplayer arenas maintain high visual clarity, ensuring you can track opponents’ shots and hazards with no confusion.

While Worms Blast doesn’t push any graphical boundaries, its art direction and animation polish more than make up for it. The visuals perfectly complement the game’s fun, fast-paced spirit and ensure every shot feels alive.

Story

True to its puzzle-game roots, Worms Blast offers little in the way of a traditional narrative. There’s no branching storyline or character arcs to follow—your only quest is to conquer increasingly challenging block formations and outmaneuver rival worm captains. For fans expecting epic worm warfare, this might feel like a stripped-down experience.

That said, the game peppers in enough Worms flair to maintain the series’ trademark humor. Little worm avatars peer over your boat’s rail, and upon completing a stage you’re greeted with silly animations of them celebrating—sometimes wearing sunglasses, sometimes dancing, sometimes getting soaked by their own misplaced dynamite. It’s a wink to longtime fans and lightens the puzzle grind with a bit of slapstick charm.

Ultimately, the “story” of Worms Blast is one you create yourself: each set of levels unfolds as a new mini-campaign of block-blasting mayhem. If you approach the game seeking a narrative, you’ll find more joy in the emergent stories of your best chain reactions, last-second comebacks, and multiplayer upsets than in any scripted plot.

Overall Experience

Worms Blast succeeds by merging two disparate genres—tile-matching puzzles and artillery combat—into a surprisingly cohesive package. The core loop of charging shots, targeting clusters, and watching glorious chain reactions is always rewarding. Add to that the tension of boat movement and the threat of falling hazards, and you’ve got a puzzle game that demands both quick thinking and precise aim.

Multiplayer brings the fun into overdrive. Whether you’re trading well-placed shots with a friend on the couch or duking it out in a local tournament, the frenetic pace and unpredictable block layouts make for highly replayable face-offs. Each match feels unique, thanks to randomized puzzle configurations and the ever-present risk of dropping a heavy block onto your opponent’s boat.

Casual puzzle fans will appreciate the accessible learning curve and forgiving single-player mode, where mistakes seldom result in a total wipeout. Meanwhile, seasoned Worms veterans can dive into harder puzzles and strategic multiplayer modes, where map control and weapon selection become crucial. It strikes a fine balance, ensuring both newcomers and series aficionados find something to love.

Overall, Worms Blast is an engaging, well-designed spin-off that stands on its own merits. Its playful graphics, nimble controls, and inventive level designs make it a must-try for anyone looking for a fresh twist on puzzle action or a lighthearted addition to their multiplayer lineup.

Retro Replay Score

6.7/10