"Review From an Old-School Rampage Fan"

I am a huge fan of the original Rampage game, but never really got into the World Tour and Universal Tour versions. When I read the reviews for this game, I thought "well, it looks a lot like 'World Tour', and it's been getting low reviews, but it's only $25 (Canadian). And it's Rampage! Why not?" (note to video game producers: price your games reasonably and people will buy them)

Boy was I pleasantly surprised with this gem. The old Rampage feel that was lost, IMHO, with World/Universal Tour is back!

Graphics 10/10

The graphics are absolutely superb in this game. Buildings crack, windows chatter, and debris flies everywhere, just as it should in a game like this. So many little details really make the game shine, such as the police cars driving onto the scene, then swerving to a stop as a cop jumps out and starts shooting. Smash a sporting goods store and soccer balls fly out the windows. And it's really impressive when you burst a water pipe and water spills out down the side of a building, or if you start a fire and smoke and flames pour out of a highrise.

The monster animations are smooth and varied. Cal the Squid climbs up buildings in an eerie tentacle dance, and Lizzie's got some nasty looks to give to those pesky marksmen shooting at her. The graphics just could not be better.

Sound 8/10

The game really gives you the impression that buildings are being shattered to pieces with the sound effects. The many little sound effects from the dying siren of the cop car after you kick it to the Arnold Schwartzenegger-esque soldiers shouting challenges to you really give this game it's charm. The quips the people make as you eat them can get a little repetitive, but it's nice that they at least varied them by what country you're in.

"You can't eat me! I'm a *lawyer*!"

Controls 7/10

The controls for the game, on the GameCube at least, take a little getting used to due mainly to the fact that you have two punch buttons and to the fact that punching works a little differently when you are on the street than when you're on a building. It can be a little ackward climbing onto buildings sometimes. I've also noticed that when two players are playing and they are far apart on the block, sometimes you can't climb the buildings near the edge of the screen.

It also takes a little getting used to now that the game is no longer just a side-scroller. You can walk the depth of the block now. This adds more to the game, for sure, but it can sometimes be hard to judge where you should be when you want to attack certain things (helicopters especially).

But the game does give you a good variety of attacks and special attacks, which is really nice. It's not just repetitive punching.

Gameplay/Fun 10/10

This game is everything a game about being a giant monster smashing a city should be. It's very satisfying to lay waste to a city in this game. And with thirty (yes, 30!) different characters -- each with their own strengths, weaknesses, and quirks -- to unlock and play, there's something here for everyone. One of the best parts of the game is all the traffic. You can now pick up cars and toss them around into buildings!

This is just the game I've been waiting for. Old-school Rampage feel updated with more variety and better graphics/sound. If you loved the old Rampage but felt that World/Universal Tour was lackign something (or even if you loved the later incarnations), you absolutely give this game a try. It has all the building-smashing satisfaction of the original...and more!

P.S.: The original Rampage and Rampage World Tour are included on the disc and are immediately playable!

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 05/01/06