Lemmings

"Pretty good, but could have been better"

Introduction

Lemmings is an absolute classic game series, and it is interesting to see how it handles on different systems. For anyone who doesn't know, each level involves having to save a number of lemmings from certain doom by assigning them skills.

* Gameplay - 5/10

The gameplay rather pales in comparison to all other versions of the game, but bear in mind that this is the Nintendo Gameboy black and white we are talking about here. The levels are attractively designed, but there are some features that can be really annoying, such as the fact that you cannot build off a downward slope, and there is a limit to the number of builders, bashers, miners and diggers you can use at any time, which can be frustrating, and there seem to be invisible points in the levels, where you have to start bridges and tunnels from, meaning the lemmings may walk forward a few steps before actually doing anything.

Some of the screens are very fun to play, but the gameplay does wear quite thin towards the end, due to the number of screens that are recycled. On the Mayhem section, for example, the last nine levels all take place on recycled screens, and the final level really is too easy. Also, this version has a mere 100 levels.

* Story - 7/10

There is no story really, other than that you need to save the lemmings, and there doesn't really need a story. This is a puzzle game, simple as that.

* Graphics/Sound - 7/10

The grapics are actually quite impressive for the system, as is the sound. There are a mere eight tunes compared with the usual 15 - 17 (9 if you count the music that plays when the game is paused).

* Play Time/Replayability - 6/10

This game may actually take you some time to complete. Though there are a number of levels that are recycled or too easy, there are some where the solutions can be quite complex (I actually got stuck on Level 21 of Taxing for some time. However, the tougher levels may have a tendency to try your patience a little too much.

* Final Recommendation - If you like to take your time over games, or are obsessed with Lemmings, then buy. Otherwise, rent. This is a good game, but not as fun as later versions.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 09/25/04