The Lemmings legacy began in 1985, when DMA Design created
the original Lemmings for the Amiga. It became an instant classic with its unique
puzzles and addictive gameplay. In the years following, sequels
and spin-offs began pouring out, not only for the PC and Amiga but for a
number of console systems as well. The series became diluted and
some of the later titles were as dumb as the lovable creatures
themselves. With the release of Lemmings Revolution, it appears
the series has come full circle by returning to its roots, simple,
addictive gameplay.
[Mission Impossible theme music begins]
[As Clarence sat comfortably in his favourite lawn chair, out on the
deck in his backyard with a brewsky in his hand, he was suddenly
startled as the mailman came around and dropped a parcel in his
lap]
Clarence: Whoa, you startled me Svenson. You know, that
mailbox I have out by my front door isn't there for decoration.
Svenson, the Mailman: Sorry Mr. Worley, it's just that I
thought you'd want this particular package delivered right to you.
It's from IMF you know.
Clarence: Ssshhh! Don't say that out loud Svenson, you
know it's supposed to be confidential.
Mailman: Ohhh right, secret agent stuff. Say, did you ever
talk to your boss about me? I think I'd make a great field agent. I
mean do you know how many dogs I have to fend off each and
every day?
Clarence: Get lost Svenson.
Mailman: Right.
[As the mailman shuffled off to the next house, Clarence quickly
unwrapped the parcel revealing an audio tape. Clarence reached
below his chair, grabbed his walk-man and placed the tape inside
the machine. Pressing the play button, he immediately recognized
Kittridge's voice conveying the following message:
"Good afternoon Clarence. Do you remember those green-haired,
blue muumuu-wearing Lemmings we first encountered back in
1985? They're back and I'm sad to report they're still as dumb as a
thumbtack. They keep getting dropped in the most precarious of
situations, and armed with the wits of Monica Lewinsky, they're
sure to meet their demise unless we do something about it
Clarence! Your job, if you choose to accept it, is to guide these
Lemmings through each and every level by helping them avoid
certain death. Teach them skills and assign them tasks that will
help them survive the perils and hazards of each level. Make sure
the Lemmings reach the hot-air balloon Clarence, it's their only
escape.
Besides the usual abilities such as Basher and Climber, you can
teach them new skills such as Anti-Gravity, which allows the
Lemmings to walk upside-down, and Trampoline. Teach and use
these skills wisely though, there's only so much time before it's too
late. The good news, there's usually more than one solution for
each scenario. So come up with as many ideas as you can
Clarence, more than one of them are sure to do the trick.
There also seems to be new Lemming types Clarence. Besides the
standard Lemming, there are two new species of Lemmings
available, Lava and Water Lemmings, which can walk across water
without injury or peril. Watch out though Clarence, there appears to be a
gang of boxing glove-wearing beavers out there just waiting to
knock those Lemmings into next week. Be sure to use the
Lemmings' special abilities to your advantage to avoid danger.
There are 100 scenarios or levels in all Clarence, so this task won't
be easy. The levels unfold in a pyramid fashion, so once you
complete one scenario, two new ones will be unlocked, allowing
you some choice and variation. If you get stuck on one, move on to
another and try to figure it out later. The first few levels will be
extremely simple, almost tutorial-like as you learn the particular
skills and attributes available at your disposal.
There's a catch here Clarence, all the levels feature towers, trees
and the like. That's right, objects that you'll have to rotate around
in order to view and avoid certain dangers, hence the name of this
mission, Lemmings Revolution. The mission will be easy to start
with Clarence, but will progressively get harder and harder until
you start pulling out your hair wondering if you'll ever figure out
the solution to this Lemming problem! Relax though Clarence, it's
all good.
This probably won't be the prettiest mission you've been on
Clarence, the visuals are all extremely basic yet relatively
colourful. Lemmings Revolution only supports resolutions up to
640x480, so the detail level certainly won't be there. It certainly
doesn't make use of the latest in visual effects either but this is a
mission that tests the mind, not the eyes. An added bonus to the
series is the ability to zoom into the action. This certainly helps in
assigning skills and tasks to particular Lemmings, a problem that
many people had in the original. In terms of audio, the original
sound effects seem to be re-used in Lemmings Revolution as you'll
instantly recognize some of the quips from the Lemmings like
'Let's go' and 'Oh no!'. The tunes, oh the tunes! You'll be annoyed
by them Clarence, very annoyed. I suggest you turn off the music,
it just isn't as clever or catchy as the original game.
The bottom line Clarence, get the Lemmings to the hot-air balloon!
And if you get addicted to Lemmings Revolution, it wouldn't
surprise me Clarence, the gameplay is as clever and rewarding as
ever.
P.S - The lemmings will self-destruct if you feel the mission is not
going the way you want it too.
P.P.S - Oh yeah, so will this tape, in 5 seconds!"]
[Clarence quickly tossed the tape into the swimming pool in his
backyard and as it exploded, it created a puddle of water around
him. As he placed the walk-man back beneath his chair, he was
startled again as the mailman appeared before him]
Mailman: You know Clarence, I'm not really a mailman,
I'm your arch enemy!
Clarence: Get lost Svenson.
Mailman: Right.
[As the mailman shuffles off to continue his deliveries, the ratings
begin to roll as the theme music slowly fades away]
13/20
11/15
27/30
17/20
0/5
7/10