''Super Mega Worm '' is an
action video game developed by
computer game developer
A video game developer is a broad term for a software developer specializing in video game development – the process and related disciplines of creating video games. A game developer can range from one person who undertakes all tasks to a large ...
Deceased Pixel. The game was first released for
Apple's iOS
iOS (formerly iPhone OS) is a mobile operating system created and developed by Apple Inc. exclusively for its hardware. It is the operating system that powers many of the company's mobile devices, including the iPhone; the term also includes ...
in August 2010.
In the game, players control 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 supported the game with free updates and a Christmas version of the game called ''Super Mega Worm vs Santa'' that was released on December 14, 2010. The game adopts a
retro video game style in its
sound design and graphics.
American DJ
Diamond Del Rio also remixed the theme song for the game.
Gameplay
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, the 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 projectile that is shot from the worm's mouth and an
Electromagnetic Pulse
An electromagnetic pulse (EMP), also a transient electromagnetic disturbance (TED), is a brief burst of electromagnetic energy. Depending upon the source, the origin of an EMP can be natural or artificial, and can occur as an electromagnetic fie ...
that shuts down any machines in the area around the worm.
The player can control the worm in three different ways: the first via the use of a slider, the second by tilting the iPhone, and lastly by using the D-Pad that was added in via a Patch.
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.
Development
Since the game was first released on August 26, 2010
it had 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.
Over time it had been given many updates, which 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 could be controlled with an on screen
D-pad or by tilting the
Accelerometer
An accelerometer is a tool that measures proper acceleration. Proper acceleration is the acceleration (the rate of change of velocity) of a body in its own instantaneous rest frame; this is different from coordinate acceleration, which is accele ...
. The game also supported the
iPad
The iPad is a brand of iOS and iPadOS-based tablet computers that are developed by Apple Inc. The iPad was conceived before the related iPhone but the iPhone was developed and released first. Speculation about the development, operating s ...
gaming unit, the
iCade
ICADE is the brand name by which two schools of the Comillas Pontifical University, located in Madrid (Spain), are known. It stands for '' Instituto Católico de Administración y Dirección de Empresas'' (''Catholic Institute of Business Administ ...
. Updates also added achievements which could be tracked though Apple's
Game Center, and made the game a universal app meaning it could run on both an iPhone/iPod touch or an iPad without the user having to buy two separate apps.
Deceased Pixel introduced the ‘Mecha Wojira’ paid
DLC for both the original game and the Christmas edition. This paid update gave the player a more powerful worm and an extra song. The DLC was made available through the app store for $0.99.
In order to celebrate the release of their new game, ''
Recess Riot
Recess may refer to:
* Recess (break), a break period
* Alcove (architecture), part of a room
* A setback (architecture) especially across all storeys (a recessed bay or series of such bays)
* Recess, County Galway, Ireland; a village
Music
* ...
'', Deceased Pixel made the game free for a limited time during October 2012.
Reception
The iOS version received above-average reviews according to the
review aggregation
A review aggregator is a system that collects reviews of products and services (such as films, books, video games, software, hardware, and cars). This system stores the reviews and uses them for purposes such as supporting a website where users ...
website
Metacritic
Metacritic is a website that review aggregator, aggregates reviews of films, TV shows, music albums, video games and formerly, books. For each product, the scores from each review are averaged (a weighted arithmetic mean, weighted average). M ...
.
Levi Buchanan of ''
IGN
''IGN'' (formerly ''Imagine Games Network'') is an American video game and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa distri ...
'' 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."
Chris Reed of ''SlideToPlay'' said, "There's not much to it, but its charm and high level of ridiculousness will keep you smiling the whole way through."
The website also included the game at number 34 in their list of the '50 Best
iPhone games of 2010'. Andrew Podolsky 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."
Furthermore, Jon Jordan of ''
Pocket Gamer
''Pocket Gamer'' is a video game website that focuses on mobile, portable and handheld games. The site launched in 2005 and is published and owned by UK company Steel Media Ltd. The site covers all major portable and mobile gaming formats, incl ...
'' said: "Despite some old skool charms and interesting controls, ''Super Mega Worm'' doesn't quite live up to its world conquering destructive tendencies."
The game was also recommended as an
Old-School game on its Holiday Buyer's Guide of App Store Games by ''
Joystiq''.
References
External links
*
Official Page for 'Recess Riot' by Deceased PixelOfficial Page for 'Super Mega Worm vs Santa 2' by Deceased PixelOfficial Page for 'Snake HD' by Deceased PixelMac App Store* {{moby game, id=/94727/super-mega-worm/
2010 video games
Android (operating system) games
IOS games
MacOS games
Ouya games
Single-player video games