Eternal Legend - Encyclopaedia Arcadia
Encyclopaedia Arcadia
Wild West Seymour-
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Platform AdventureCodemastersCPC1992
 

Seymour makes a comeback in his latest movie, this time with a western theme. The going is far from smooth, however; the film has been sabotaged. Seymour's task is to travel about his side-view platform-based world, hunting for the equipment necessary to shoot the rest of the movie. Simple object based puzzles must be solved by carrying items across the levels and using them in the right places. The later levels can be accessed by telling the "Game Genie" the right code.

 
Wipeout-
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RacingPsygnosisPC, PlayStation1995
 

In the year 2052, Formula 3600 high-speed antigravity racing is the sport of choice. Huge custom-built racetracks span cities across the solar system. High-speed craft hover a few feet from the ground, and when overtaking isn't an option, attacking is.

Wipeout features six tracks, playable at two speed classes and with four different teams to choose from. The tracks are the expected twisty-turney style, with the occasional leap over the scenery. They can be played in time trial or head-to-head mode, or the tough championship offers them up sequentially. Fail to qualify three times, and you're out. Dotted around the track are glowing pads which will either give a speed boost or dish out a random power-up like a shield or a homing missile, only one of which can be carried at a time.

 
World of Goo-
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Squishy Physics Puzzle2D BoyPC, WiiWare2008
 

Based on freeware internet phenomenon Tower of Goo, World of Goo expands the basic mechanics into a full adventure game. Each of the many and various 2D stages contains a suction pipe, a base structure, and a lot of animated goo balls. Picking up and dragging a goo close to the structure causes it to attach, creating an ever-growing network of spindles on which the other goo balls can climb. The goal is to get as many balls as possible to the exit pipe in order to complete the level. Difficulty comes in the form of physics - the squishy structures wobble and bend under their own weight - and the environment, liberally sprinkled with spikes and other hazards. To overcome such challenges, special types of goo are sometimes available with the ability to float, or be torn from the structure and re-used, or more.

 
World of Warcraft-
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Fantasy MMORPG TimesinkBlizzard EntertainmentPC2004
 

It has been four years since the bitter conflict in Azeroth ended. The scattered inhabitants of the contested continent have reached an uneasy ceasefire, and have started to rebuild their world. However, with so many races and ideologies in such a small space, nobody could begin to entertain the idea of "peace" in any real sense.

The return to Azeroth is a little different. No longer are you an omnipotent god-general sending sqauds of orcs to their deaths from the safety of a few hundred feet in the air; your feet are firmly on the ground, living and surviving in the hostile massively-multiplayer environment. After creating a character from the standard lore options (night elf druid, dwarven rogue, etc.) you find yourself standing in Azeroth with hundreds of like-minded players. What happens next is up to you. By undertaking quests or just venturing out into the world to slay computer-controlled beasts you can gain levels, learn new skills, and even develop professions. By meeting up with other players and banding together you can take on new challenges and slay ridiculously powerful demigods. Then loot and skin the corpse, turn the meat into delicious sandwiches, cure and work the remains into a fetching set of armour, and sell it to someone else back home.

Then go out and do it again.

 
Worms-
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Turn-based StrategyTeam17Amiga, Saturn, PC, Megadrive, SNES, PlayStation, Gameboy, XBLA1994
 

The game that started the phenomenon. It's a time of war, and worm has turned against worm in horrifying fashion. Teams of annelids line up on randomly-generated, mine-strewn 2D landscapes, and fight until only one side remains. Each player (human or AI) takes it in turn to control their team, moving and attacking with only one worm per turn. Among the more normal of their vicious arsenal are the wind-affected bazooka, the timed grenade and the two shot shotgun. Extra powerful weapons can be found in crates, including the exploding sheep and fragmentation banana bomb. Explosions not only send worms flying, they also blow craters in the land that can be used as foxholes. Dropping the enemy into the drink is a very effective tactic.

 
Worms 2-
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Turn-based StrategyTeam 17PC1997
;

A major graphical overhaul replaces the pixelated pink dots of the original Worms with exaggerated, cartoony forms in a bold and colourful world. The objective is the same as ever; Each team takes it in turn to move a worm and unleash destruction via the means of a limited arsenal. The traditional weapons (bazookas, grenades, dynamite, etc) remain, supported by all new ways of blowing holes in the landscape, including the Holy Hand Grenade and herds of mad cows. Levels are randomly generated each time, or may be drawn by hand to create customised battlefields. For the solo player, the AI puts up a strong fight and there are a variety of missions to attempt.

 
Worms Armageddon-
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Turn-based StrategyTeam 17PC, Dreamcast, PlayStation, N64, Gameboy Colour1999
;

A continuation of the Worms series, with more of the same party-style carnage. Graphically, little has changed since Worms 2. You take control of an army of cartoony invertebrates as they take it in turns to unleash violent and painful death upon each other. As usual, a large arsenal of weaponry is available that can be used to decimate the warring worms and the surrounding scenery. The emphasis is on destruction, with new weapons including the flaming sheep strike and the landscape-decimating meteor shower of the titular Armageddon. Or there are the single-player missions for the more reserved.

 
Worms Reinforcements-
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Turn-based StrategyTeam17PC1995
 

An add-on to beef up the PC version of the carnage-filled Worms. As well as adding one-player missions, there are new options for customisation such as choosing your worms' voices and creating your own levels.

 
Worms United-
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Turn-based StrategyTeam17PC1996
 

Worms and Worms Reinforcements in one handy pack.

 
Worms World Party-
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Turn-based StrategyTeam 17PC, Dreamcast, PlayStation2000
;;

Essentially the same as Worms Armageddon, but with greatly enhanced multiplayer elements. New features include the Wormpot, a collection of play styles that can be mixed and matched, and a large collection of multiplayer missions in addition to the new solo and training disciplines.


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