“Watch out for the worm,” a sign cheerfully reminds you the first time you play Worm Run. It’s about the only advice you’ll need to play this precision runner, since that same worm — the game’s single dynamic adversary — takes up around a third of the screen, quickly devouring everything in its path.
Worm Run is an obstacle-based platformer of sorts, so your success in getting away from this giant furry annelid is heavily dependent on your ability to quickly clamber over whatever the randomly generated map decides to throw at you. Rather than use a virtual directional pad, the game touts all-swipe controls for moving Zeke, your one-block-high avatar. You'll swipe your finger across the screen to make Zeke run faster, while other directional swipes handle jumping and boosts from your rechargeable rocket pack.
It sounds fine in theory. All you have to do is outrun the worm and reach the furthest possible point you can before being swallowed up. That said, your boost energy recharges every time Zeke lands on a surface, forcing a short but speed-killing slide whenever you come into contact with a part of the map. Here’s the rub: the levels are full of small, jagged irregularities and other barriers that make navigation a constant exercise of momentum fits and starts.
Since you’re always getting caught on walls and edges, precision movement through complex spaces or narrow gaps becomes an increasing annoyance, even despite the relative responsiveness of the controls. You can collect gems from across the map or use in-app purchases to pick up more – they’re useful to revive yourself or buy support items, but with the exception of the wall-blasting drill, precise movement usually remains more of a chore than anything. Though fun conceptually, frantically making your escape here just misses the mark.
The bottom line. With finicky controls and frustrating stages, it's almost like Worm Run wants you to get eaten.
of 5
iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch running iOS 5.1 or later
Nice graphics, music, and personality. Fun premise driving the game.
Finicky swipe controls are not good for precision movement. Level geometry destroys momentum way too easily.
