Overall Rating: 3.5 / 5
The hapless lemmings have foolishly marched off cliffs since
1990, with more than 5 million games sold and countless critters
meeting their demise.Disastrous 3D versions appeared to have buried
the series forever, but Sony has resurrected the green-haired
critters for this welcome PSP game.
After being dropped onto the screen one by one, your dim but
worthy mates will follow the leader until inevitably falling to
their doom. The player's task is to quickly assign jobs such as
blocking, digging and climbing to successfully guide as many
lemmings as possible to the exit.
Transforming a lemming into a floater enables them to use an
umbrella for a safe landing, while bombers can blow up obstacles,
bashers can dig horizontally and builders construct walkways.
Recognising the 15-year-old original offered the most engaging
and satisfying puzzles, this version borrows many classic stages as
well as introducing new challenges. There are more than 150 levels
set in a variety of environments, including deserts, dungeons and
sewers, all viewed using the traditional two-dimensional
perspective.
Players might miss the traditional mouse-based control, but
assigning tasks and exploring levels is simple, particularly with
the handy zoom. Purists might cringe at the pause option, which
allows players to assess the levels and even assign lemming
abilities at leisure without fear of them bumbling into trouble; it
certainly helps with pinpointing specific creatures in a chaotic
herd.
Some of the new levels are fiendishly tricky, for example,
orchestrating mid-air explosions to remove nearby obstacles
requires planning and precise timing. Fortunately, few solutions
rely on luck and players can tackle a different level if truly
stuck.
Players can create their own stages to swap with friends. The
level editing tool is a little unwieldy, but PSP's wireless
capabilities should ensure its success.
Endgame: Jaded gamers might scoff at the price tag (almost $80 Australian), but
this is an enthusiastic resurrection that will keep Lemmings
newcomers glued to the screen.
Source: SMH