C64 ~ Rampage Review

Overview

Rampage is about big big monsters/beasts who have nothing better to do other than roam around the US destroying everything in sight. Why? Maybe they're lost, can't find their way home and are acting purely on their instincts. Maybe because they're angry about themselves and everything around them. Whatever the reason, it's up to you to see their job through.

Gameplay

In Rampage, you take control of either George the Gorilla (King Kong), Lizzie the Lizard (Godzilla) or Ralph the Werewolf (Wolf-Man). With your selected beast and your 2 other beast buddies, you take them through each level destroying all the buildings in sight. Sound fun? I won't deny it is! To destroy buildings, you climb up on the side of them and smash the windows or edges of the building with their fists. Once a building is smashed up enough, it will come collapsing down into the ground like the Twin Towers on 9/11. Getting in your way are the military and police forces; helicopters, tanks, police, troops shooting at you from inside the window. Don't despair, if you're co-ordinated enough, you can smash them too! To regain your energy, eat stuff hanging at the windows; cactuses, bottles of poison, TVs, people including the troops as well, these guys have a pretty weird diet. It's all rampaging and pointless fun. But it's not easy. These beasts aren't invincible and when all their energy is depleted, they shrink, turning back into humans! The other 2 computer controlled bozos do more to hinder than help. Wandering off the screen, climbing up buildings not smashing anything, not sharing food and worst of all, deliberately hitting each other including yourself!!! You'll want to hit them yourself for self defence or just to get rid of them seeing you're better off without them. Better still, I suggest you grab two other people for some 3-way action. That's right, this game has 3 player mode! Two on the joysticks, one on the keyboard. The controls are quite sluggish, especially when trying to climb buildings. I found the best way to climb them would be to walk to the edge, then immediately push up.

8.5 out of 10

Graphics

I would say the graphics were excellentay if the buildings weren't all so plain. They're all just rectangular shaped with differing colours. The backgrounds on the levels are black outlines of recognisable US buildings and skyscrapers to nicely show which city you are in.

4.25 out of 5

Sound and Music

The menu music is a depressing tune and best be forgotten. Sound effects are quite well done; guns shots, booming and banging crashing sounds adding to the already busy atmosphere. It would've been nice to hear moans and grunts of the beasts to make the game funnier.

4.25 out of 5

Game Design

Level after level, it seems it's more same looking buildings in different sizes, numbers and position, with some buildings behind others for a 3D touch. As stated on the box, over 50 different levels, the latter levels I doubt you'll ever face unless you are really really really good.

3 out of 5

Longevity

If you play alone, you won't get far seeing those 2 other bozos spend more time bullying you and clowning around than demolishing buildings. Play the 3-player mode if you want the most out of this game. I find it hard to imagine anyone completing this game without cheating.

3 out of 5

For: get to floor entire city blocks, well done sound effects, colourful graphics, lots and lots of levels to demolish, 3-player mode.

Against: computer beasts clowning around and bullying you, plain graphics, levels too similar, too hard.

Rampage had a somewhat original idea back in it's time; big beasts from the movies destroying entire cities. On 1 or 2 player mode, the computer beasts act like beasts. To get the job done right, you're gonna need 3 human brains. And please, be nice to each other.