Complicated man that I am (or, at least I like to think of myself that way), I often forget that it's still possible to have fun with games that are not in the RPG or the strategy genre. A simple game based on a simple concept, like say, destroying everything, can really be fun if the right kind of mechanics are in place. I'm happy to say that this is the case with Rampage: Total Destruction. I'll list the twelve most significant points pertaining as to why this game is worth your twenty bucks.
1. It includes the original Rampage!-- I can't tell you how much money I spent in the arcades on the original Rampage. As it was a game geared to making more money via quarters, the difficulty level was ridiculous and it was impossible to survive. Indeed, your life-span only went as long as the amount of silver you tossed into the machine. So, when I found the original Rampage as a bonus gift with this game, I experienced somewhat of a thrill: I can keep playing without adding quarters! It was like finding a malfunctioning arcade machine in which you kept on getting continues...a gamer's dream come true. I got farther in an hour than I ever did in the arcades.
2. The illusion of 3D.-- For those who don't know, Rampage: Total Destruction is about monsters destroying cities. That's it. In the original Rampage, this was done by crawling on the sides of the buildings and punching or kicking away. In the newest version, your monster can actually crawl along the FRONT of the building. This adds a new dimension to the gameplay, and certainly helps to make the game look better.
3. A reward for any style of play.-- There aren't many games that actually allow you succeed in a task anyway you want. There really aren't. I find it sad that, as games supposedly get more and more advanced, they still do remain very linear for the most part. In Rampage: Total Destruction, however, you can go about your "business" any way you want. You can focus on breaking every particular window and finding the bonuses inside. Or, you can go crazy and break everything down, and even that can be done through various styles. You can choose to fight boss battles, or not. Are there tasks for every level? Sure. But if you want to ignore them, go ahead. And whether you go for high scores or not, the ultimate goal is still wreaking havoc to everything in sight. This allows two players to play at once, even if your partner isn't exactly the best of gamers.
4. Monster Development.-- Staying with the topic of there being a reward for those who want a little bit more than just destruction, taking your time and succeeding in the tasks that every level provides leads to your favorite gaining abilities. And these abilities aren't there until you turn the game off; they can be saved to every monster and even used in different game formats (like the vs mode, in which you see who can break buildings down the fastest). And with thirty characters to unlock, this leaves room for a lot to do.
5. But are they all that different?-- I've come to the belief that the benefit of having games with a host of characters to choose from isn't all that beneficial. I first came across this while playing Chrono Cross. The Suikoden franchise has no choice but to keep up their trademark. Radiata Stories also suffers from the same problem: Yes, there are so many characters, but are they really all that different? Can you really make completely new strategies out of all of them, like you would be able to do in Metroid Prime: Hunters? I think not, and such is the case with Rampage: Total Destruction. Sure, they have different strengths, some move and/or attack faster than others, they have different "traits"...but the gameplay with them all remains the same.
6. It's tough catching the puny humans.-- I'm in no position to judge the difficulty or ease of grabbing humans and throwing them live and hole into your mouth. Sorry, no experience. But I daresay that this very necessary ability in Rampage: Total Destruction could have used a little tightening. I'm not saying that it's impossible to grab people in windows and on the ground, but it should be somewhat easier. There were times when my monster would be clearly grabbing on an article, be it human or some other bonus, and somehow come away with nothing. This is all well and good when you're at full health, but when your energy is low and a army helicopter is about to unload it's clip on you...it's aggravating.
7. But when you CATCH them...-- And this is where we talk about the sounds in this game. In real life, there would be no humor among humans about to be devoured. But yes, this is a videogame, and we don't want real life. Hence, there's always a joke to be had with whatever human you happen to catch. Moreover, the atmosphere of the game is well supported by the sounds of cars, buses, helicopters; in fact, knowing the sound of a British Trolley is key for surviving in that stage.
8. More on the humor.-- There are plenty of games in which the developers THINK that they're funny. 99% of my games are made in Japan, and so their idea of humor rarely reaches my western mind. The good thing about Rampage: Total Destruction is that it is made by "westerns" and hence I had much to laugh at during my time of playing. To list all of the various points of humor in this game is impossible: it's sufficient to say that a lot of work and creativity was put into it. It gets to the point where I would want to do something that would cause me harm just so I can see my monster's reaction.
9. Graphics.-- Part of the reason why this game is so funny is because of the detail of facial expression on the monsters. This was an important aspect of even the first Rampage; in this installment, everything is improved. But more than that, of course. The enemy helicopters look threatening and modern. Explosions from the detailed tanks are well done. Buildings break down in such a satisfying way for the eyes. There's so much detail and so many things going on, and yet I came across no slowdown. Not one bit.
10. It's still fun with two players.-- Quite often, games that play well with one player don't do so well in two players. Perhaps this is why there are so few two-player games these days. I was concerned about this aspect, so I managed to get a female partner to play it with me as soon as possible. Besides the times when one characters activates a "RAMPAGE", the camera is very good about sharing space and adjusting to the movements of both players. There's never a case in which one monster runs out of something to break. And yes, it's very fun and possible to punch your partner if you please. This is probably more helpful in the vs mode, rather than the campaign mode, however.
11. FUN.-- Sometimes, I think we gamers are so advanced in terms of what we want in a game that we think ourselves out of ever enjoying a game again. As far as I'm concerned, a game that is FUN and which I can play over and over again with my friends is better than the vast majority of what is considered a "must have" these days. Rampage: Total Destruction fits the bill here. I have a hard time imagining anyone but humorless construction workers hating this game.
12. Get it.-- In conclusion, this is truly a game worth every penny that you spend on it. Isn't that a rare thing nowadays? Besides the occasional inability to actually grab things as a monster, I can't really find anything detrimental in Rampage: Total Destruction. The true party game, it's that simple dose of pure fun that we really shouldn't move too far away from too often. Plus, old school gamers will be happy to know that this game stays true to its arcade roots. Without quarters.
