Lemmings 2: The Tribes

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Name: Lemmings 2: The Tribes Year: 1993 Publisher: Psygnosis Developer: DMA Design Platform: PC Genre: Puzzle Total rating: 73.5% - rated 24 times rate now: please log in to rate Submitter: Res Added: May 24 2004 Warez status: Abandonware

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Author: Bokkie Date: May 09 2005 - 11:32 Score: 75 points

Sequels, you either love 'em or loathe 'em. Sometimes they can add on to what was a good idea or else ruin it by changing too much. Thankfully when Pysgnosis decided to make this sequel to the hit game Lemmings, they created what is, in my opinion, the best of the lemming games. Some purists might not like the new gameplay elements and ideas that were brought in that changed the "pure" puzzle element of lemmings 1, but they're a bunch of whiners, because Lemmings 2 is fun, fun, fun. Take a look at what I mean.

STORY
First of all they added a bit of a story this time which is always nice, especially if what you're doing in the actual game is linked into the plot. The story is about how the land of Lemmings is about to be destroyed or something and they need a saviour (ie: you) to lead the twelve tribes, through various hazards, to the lemming ark. There's even a little cutscene with grandpa lemming telling baby lemming the story.
Of course in computer games, having a story is only a secondary bonus but in this case it is a nice touch that takes you away from the sometimes pointless gameplay of the first. Whereas in the Lemmings 1 you never really knew why you had to rescue all these dumb lemmings, at least now you knew that they were in danger and needed you to help them out.

GAMEPLAY
How could anyone ever hope to improve the gameplay of lemmings 1? Quite easily apparently. Lemmings added a whole host of fun new gameplay elements that enhanced the game dramatically.

You now have twelve tribes. Instead of going through 100 plus levels with the lemmings all looking the same every time and levels looking about the same (there were only about four different looks), each of the twelve tribes has it's own look and their levels have their own challenges. The twelve tribes are: Beach, circus, highland, shadow, classic, space, cavelem, polar, sport, outdoor, eygptian and medieval. And so the gameplay of each is based on the tribe. For example, Beach lemmings levels are all set on the beach and have buckets and palm trees as decoration with empty cooldrink bottles as a hazard and a sandcastle as "home". Space lemmings levels are set in space and have metallic structures as decoration with "aliens" and airlocks as a hazard and a portal as home. Each tribe is truly unique and you'll soon find out which are your favourite tribes.

You now have 60 lemmings and 10 levels for each tribe. In keeping with the storyline, any lemmings that die in the level before, will not carry through to the next level. So if you only rescue one lemming of a tribe in the first level, you will only have one lemming through the other nine levels of that tribe which will make it virtually impossible to finish the levels. Once you have finished all ten levels of a tribe you will get a piece of the medallion in the centre of the map and an award based on how many lemmings of that tribe you saved. Again this adds to the gameplay as you have to weigh up how much easier having less lemmings is, with how much you want a good reward. Another good gameplay addition

You now have over forty skills. The first lemmings only gave you eight. Even though you still have a maximum of eight at once, having such a variety of skills brings in an extra challenge and new ways of doing things. There are pole vaulters, ballooners, hang-gliders, Superlems, planters, spinners and many more to keep your cranial muscles stretched to capacity. There is a also a blower that can be used at any time in any level and this is used to control the speed and direction of certain skills such as the ballooners and hang-gliders. Using this is a challenge all in its own as often you have to execute split second manuveres to blow the lemmings in the right direction before they hit something and stop.

Gameplay is brilliant. The challenge level is well balanced with first levels been really easy and last levels really tricky. 12 different tribes add diversity of individual dynamics and challenges. New skills offer new ways of doing the same thing and are entertaining (just let a superlem fly into the wall to see what I mean). A reward system means that letting any lemmings die will have consequences. All in all I would have to say that not many offer gameplay as challenging but at the same time as fun as lemmings 2.

GRAPHICS AND SOUND
Due to the fact that the lemmings on the screen are so small, and therefore lack detail, the creators seem to have put extra effort into the backgrounds and scenery of the game. From the bright happy sun of the beach to the simple shiny metals of Space a lot of thought has clearly gone into creating a certain look for each tribe. Anything lacking in the graphics of Lemmings 1 has been added here. Of course it ain't got no vertex lighting or anything that requires intensive graphics power, but I like it like this. Simple but well executed and good looking the graphics are just perfect.

Thank heavens for soundblaster. I think we take it for granted nowadays, but back when lemmings 2 was created, it's cute sound effects and technoesque soundtracks were really cool. Whats more, they stand up pretty well, even by today's standards. The little "uh-oh" as the lemmings start coming out or the sucking and popping sounds of some of the hazards going to work all add that bit of charm to the game. Your feelings regarding the midi techno tunes will vary, based on how you feel about cheap sounding midi drums, but I enjoy them (and this is my review so deal with it). Soundblaster rocks and so do the Lemming 2 sounds. Give them a thumbs up and a round of applause for using sound the way it was meant to be used.

OVERALL
New story, better gameplay, better graphics, better sound effects, what more could you possibly want from a sequel? Lemmings 2 took the game to a whole new level of fun. You have a bit of a story so you could kid yourself that you were wasting hours playing towards some sort of goal. You have gameplay that's easy to get into but with a level of challenge that's tough to beat, with stacks of new ideas thrown in for good measure. And of course you have good graphics and sound to rest easy on your ears and eyes. Now it isn't often that a sequel rocks better than the original but this one sure does. In fact if you haven't played any lemmings games yet start on this one. (Or finish on it if you're the sort of person who likes to go from worst to best). Download it if you liked the original, download it if you've never played lemmings before, donwload it if you want have fun but for Bob's sake (why should "Pete" get all the glory) download it. Now.

FINAL CHALLENGE
Of course finishing the game in itself is enough of a challenge but try beating the game with at least silver medals for all of them and a minimum of 2 gold medals. I don't know if you can get all Gold medals but I sure can't. Good luck...

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By DoubleU - Dec 08 2011 - 17:55 I'm sorry, but I have to say it. The "final challenge" is to get at least silvers and a minimum of two golds? Seriously? The truth is that, by design, a gold what you get for saving the maximum number of lemmings on that level. If you cannot save a lemming, or if it requires luck or something insane - or even something the game designers never thought of, legitimate or otherwise - then it's not required for the gold. They can be extremely difficult, to be sure, but every last gold medal is possible without relying on chance or by cheating. Good luck; it can be done.

By Gurra991 - Jul 25 2009 - 10:54 Yep! obviusly Dosbox beacouse the other three (Lemmings 3, Lemmings and Holiday Lemmings) needs Dosbox to run...

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