Lemmings

"Izzy Wizzy Lemmings Get Busy"

The Story
Lemmings are little blue and green critters who mindlessly walk along the ground until the bump into something or die. If they bump into something, they turn around until they bump into something or die. To make a long story short, they're not bright. And now they're having a mass migration. They'll all die unless you come forth to save them!

Graphics
10/10 - Very colorful and detailed. Also varies. Some levels you can get grassy fields, others you get the inside of a pyramid, and others you get rocks floating above molten lava. There's a few levels with ''special graphics'' (borrowed from earlier Psygnosis games) that look awesome.

Sound
9/10 - The music is good. Some are happy-go-lucky tunes, some are more serious, but the occasional one or two is Dull City. The sound effects aren't bad either. You've got the little lemming voices like ''Oh no!'' when they're about to pop from a Bomber command or the ''Glub glub glub'' of them falling into water. But as with the music, you've got your occasional stinker. The ''boing-boing-boing'' of the lemmings jumping into the exit may bug you after a while.

Control
9/10 - You're a cursor. You simply move around the screen. Does it seem slow? Hold B and it'll go faster. You can use the ''Fast buttons'' or X and Y to select commands, and A is your ''Activate'' button. Simple and smooth.

Gameplay
10/10 - Lemmings come out of a trapdoor. You select commands, give them to the lemmings, they do it. You build bridges, bash through walls, dig through the floor, etc. to get to the exit. You can only use certain commands so many times. Sounds like an easy game, no? It's not. At first it's very easy. Then you notice your timing has to get really good to pull off levels. You also find more and more traps that kill your lemmings. You also find the game doesn't give you a certain command that would have made the level easier. For example, in one level you could have built a bridge up to the top of that cliff. You have no Builders. You have to do it another way. And that way of doing it is up to you to figure out. Sometimes you have to up the release rate to get all the lemmings to exit before time runs out. Oh yeah, I didn't mention you were timed before now, did I? Well, now you know. Keep in mind you can't up the release rate while the game is paused.

There's also a two-player mode. Wanna challenge a friend? Well, that's what it's there for. Is he/she one of those people that thinks they're the ultimate video gamer, but they've never heard of Lemmings, so you want to invite them over and mop the floor with them in this? You do that. Do you just want to play the levels for practice? Go right ahead. It's your game.

Challenge
10/10 - The game starts off easy. The first 12 levels are just to get you used to the commands. Then it get progressively harder. But the ''Mayhem'' difficulty setting isn't called that for nothing. You'll probably feel like banging your head into a wall halfway through it.

Replay
9/10 - When you get going, you might not be able to stop. There's also lots of levels calling for you to come over and finish them, so the game will probably keep you busy for a while. Other times, you may get frustrated that you can't pass a certain level and never want to touch the game again.

Pros and Cons
Good Points:
- Nice graphics.
- Great sound.
- It'll keep you busy for a while.

Bad Points:
- Inability to change the release rate when the game is paused.
- I'd rather they left it a ''Yippee!'' instead of a ''Boing'' when they jump into the exit.
- It's a bit too long for some.

Should I Get It?
If you like a challenge, have lots of free time, love puzzle games, are patient, or just want a good game, grab it. If you don't have much time and are impatient, this may not be your game.

Overall
I really like this game. It's the closest to the computer version of all three console versions both graphicwise and keeping most of the levels the same, but every time you finish a difficulty level you're treated to a cute little movie of the lemmings doing random stuff. This is my current favorite puzzle game.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 05/26/02, Updated 10/12/02