Plasmaworm


|

Now Released for Free by Digital Eel

The best way to describe Plasmaworm is: Snake on acid.

You remember Snake, right? If you're as old as some of us at Manifesto (pardon us while we look for the bedpan), you probably remember it as a little game that's been implemented for everything from the TRS-80 on up... and if you're actually young and probably way hipper than we are, you played it, and probably still do, on your Nokia mobile phone. Little worm crawls around a screen, you hit the arrow keys or directional keypad to change the direction in which it moves, it gets longer over time, and if you run into yourself or a wall, game over.

Pretty simple gameplay, but surprisingly compelling, given that simplicity.

Now imagine that same basic gameplay, with a whole series of powerups and randomly appearing obstacles you need to eat to get bigger and get to the next level, with trippy psychedelic graphics and a techno score that would probably be danceable except that you have to keep your fingers on the keyboard to play, which doesn't give you a lot of freedom of motion for dancing.

Rich says, "So what's different about Plasmaworm? Full 360 degree movement; single player, 2-player cooperative and 2-player deathmatch modes; shooter elements; powerups; boss levels (Fear the dreaded Plasmangler!); trippy trance music and sound effects AND you can create your own levels, "plasma" and music (Yes music!) using the built-in editors to share with other Plasmaworm players!"

This either is your kind of game or it ain't... But if it sounds like it might be, it's a quick download.

Player Reviews

User Reviews
3
out of 10
Not Recommended

Plasmaworm just didn't do it for me. I didn't care for the look and feel of the game, didn't understand some of the game's mechanics (what do those gun power-ups do anyways), and generally liked the version of Snake I played on my TI better. Now, you can adjust this for value, since the game isn't exactly expensive (and Digital Eel's other offerings seem more appealing). If you get Plasmaworm, give it a few minutes, but don't be surprised if I told you so. :)


by John Mc on Sun, 2007-02-04 16:55
9
out of 10
Inventive... I like it!

Very nicely done - I'm now addicted. My one negative comment is that the psychedelic background is too overwhelming even when you set it to 50% (please let me set it to 0). Otherwise it's just totally hypnotizing and fun.


by satanopoulos on Wed, 2006-09-13 20:45
8
out of 10
Very nice!

Very cool game, I'm really digging the sound and music. The visuals are psychadelic and hypnotizing, as is the gameplay, which will draw you into the zone pretty quickly.


by nabeel on Mon, 2006-09-11 16:09
8
out of 10
It is good amusement ...and good image?

It might not be fashionable. I think it should be. The atmosphere of this game is great. I love the psychotic 70's/80's version of weird sci-fi interpretation. It brings me back to the pre CGI sci-fi of Buckaroo Bonzai, Flash Gordon, first-trilogy-Star Wars, and other fantastically and imperfectly designed sets and costumes of the era. Even the flashing plasma/ interdimensional field/ whatever-it-is is reminiscent of the hand cut and fit blue screen window that all the video phones in the movies were. Post "perfect-CGI" is good style in my book. It does take a page from Douglas Adams, where taking advantage of the weirdness of modern science means adding common household items in the pulsing field of quantum plasma. I suppose this seemingly unlikely occurance is attributed to improbability.

As for the game I've gotten to Level 9 or something and I've also played the 2 player team version and I've generally had a good time seeing what was going to happen next. Only problem, I haven't figured out how to go back to the level using the password.


by meadowlarkb on Tue, 2006-09-05 05:29
3
out of 10
Slightly amusing, but doesn't grab me

I haven't gotten past level 4 or so, but I find that I don't really care. I tried different levels and found Hard too difficult due to control problems (not enough granularity of control with keyboard presses for my fingers anyway).


by bloo on Sun, 2006-09-03 06:13

Voice of the Masses

Plasmaworm

Plasmaworm Free (Again!)

costik
minipost Posted: Submitted by costik on Fri, 2007-10-05 18:10.
Posts: 1324
Angre?y

When we first launched, we were offering Plasmaworm as a short-term freebie; Digital Eel has decided to make it permanently free. You can get it here, and read more about the game on our page for it.

Cheap remake ›
 
Profile
login or register to post comments
» Add child product