Worms: Open Warfare

Worms: Open Warfare was released in 2006 simultaneously for the Nintendo DS as well, and although it shares graphical and audio elements with the PSP version, it plays noticeably differently. The two screens and stylus changed how the player enters moves and aims weapons – instead of an analog stick, touch or buttons take over, which changes the pace and feel of every turn. The bottom touch screen also serves for quick weapon selection and confirming moves, so the control scheme is reworked from the ground up compared to the console entries.

The DS version also relied on a different multiplayer technology: so-called single-cartridge multiplayer lets several players play together even with just a single copy of the game in one console, while the PSP version relied on wireless ad-hoc connections and required each player to have their own copy. For a group of friends without their own cartridges, this was an appealing advantage back in 2006, even at the cost of the DS version lacking the ability to build a completely new team from scratch in the editor – it only allows editing pre-made ones, which limits the degree of personalization compared to its sister version.

Period reviews described the difference between the versions as vast: while the PSP release was praised for clarity and smoothness, the DS version was criticized for clunky controls and different-feeling worm movement physics, so despite sharing the same core, the game felt like a different title built on the same assets. The DS screens' lower resolution also meant the player sees less terrain at once than on the widescreen PSP, which affects planning long shots and forces more frequent panning across the map.

The basic weapon set – bazooka, dynamite, sheep, holy hand grenade and the classic ninja rope – stays the same across both versions, so a player familiar with the original quickly finds what they need. The difference lies in how they get to selecting and using a weapon: on DS via a touch menu and stylus, on PSP via the traditional combination of buttons and stick.

Why play it: The DS version makes the most sense for players who want to share a single cartridge with friends on one console thanks to single-cartridge multiplayer and don't mind stylus controls – those looking for a smoother, more precise experience should reach for the PSP version instead.