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Lemmings (1991)

In February 1991, thanks to the duo Psygnosis / DMA Design (now Rockstar North , the authors of the Great Theft Auto series ... just to figure out who we're talking about), arrives on the screens of 16-bit home computer, and then for 8-bit console , What is probably the most famous puzzle game ever. I'm obviously talking about
Lemmings title many fans who gave sleepless nights and mornings full of yawns ... then we go to see what it is ...

I lemming (in Italian terms) are small arctic rodents, belonging to the same family of hamsters, especially common in polar tundra. Like all rodents have a high reproductive rate which, if favorable environmental conditions, may lead to a real population explosion. If there is such a sudden increase of the population hungry sorcetti begin to migrate in groups in search of sustenance.
In 1958 nature documentary White Wilderness , produced by Walt Disney , shows scenes of "mass suicide" where small rodents are thrown headlong into the ocean. The release of the film led to the spread of an "urban legend" that the lemming, in case of overcrowding, voluntarily put an end to its existence for the good of the community.
Despite this belief is without any scientific basis, the animals end up in the ravine they were carried along by the mass of individuals that move chaotically, it is up to the present day providing inspired programmers of DMA Design in the realization of this game is intended to become a legend.

Look Mom ... a lemming!

In the game the lemmings (here represented as small bipedal green hair, the pink nose and blue shirt) fall steadily to a maximum number for each level, a trap door that opens into the sky. Once you hit the ground they begin to walk to the right and continue until you encounter an obstacle that blocks forcing them to retrace their steps. The aim of the player is to get a certain percentage free Rodents, stated objective at the beginning of the level, the portal that leads to next stage. I emphasized the word free because sorcetti, consistent with the urban legend, will be undeterred in their gear, regardless of the dangers that threaten their safety. Without our intervention, the tender lemming, affoganti will end up in the mud or water, burned in the lava, burned by fire, splashed to the ground and so on in a pout- Purri of sadism and perversion.

The first two levels of Lemmings. Things are simple at first but gradually levels there will be sweating

To save the unsuspecting sorcetti the player can assign them special abilities (selectable from the bar at the bottom section of the screen) to open a road to the coveted goal. Depending on the skill

selected simply lemming "Walker" is transformed into:

• Climber: The lemming will climb any wall it encounters.
• Paratrooper : the lemming fall gently from any great height with a parachute, instead smasched to the ground as would normally happen. A lemming simultaneously climber and jumper is labeled athlete.
• blocker or trap: the lemming will stop in place preventing any movement in that direction to the other lemmings. Useful to block the road before a hazard.
• Explosive: The lemming will self-destruct five seconds after digging the ground around him. Before exploding into a distinctive cries like "oh, no!" which gave its name to the first expansion of the game.
• Manufacturer: lemming will appear on the steps which will build a scale (with an angle of approximately 30 degrees). Usually, the steps are 12 (it stops when it encounters an obstacle) and a sound effect warns the player when they're finished.
• Punch: The lemming dig horizontally through a wall. If the action is given when the lemming is not in the immediate vicinity of a wall, it will be wasted.
• Digger: The lemming dig through the ground vertically.
• Miner : the lemming dig diagonally through the ground.

course, to increase the strategic element of the game, you can not abuse different skills as they are available in limited numbers. As a last "bad luck" of small rodents we mark the time limit within which the level must be completed under penalty of immediate self-destruction.

Other commands allow you to increase and decrease the frequency with which lemmings fall through the trapdoor, to pause the game to reflect a bit 'and trigger the self destruction of ending the suffering of the little creatures (essential to sacrifice lemming blockers that they will never reach the exit).

A level and an arctic hell

Longevity Title is assured by ben120 levels that must be addressed in order to enjoy nice dela final screen, the first few levels are quite simple, preparatory to the use of different abilities, but went on in the game will be more complex to reach the coveted opening. The levels themselves, which occupy a single screen at the beginning, they will have man man forcing a larger slide the screen with a further increase of the difficulty in taking the situation under control, to facilitate such operation in the command bar, as seen from previous figures, there is a handy map with which to select the portion of the visible level. It meets the player a very easy system of password which will resume the adventure from the last level successfully.

Graphically the game is certainly not a miracle but it is very colorful and the animations of the small players are really state of the art. Speaking of graphics I must show you two levels dedicated to as many successes Psygnosis (many of internships are full of quotes, you find out which games are inspired!).

level inspired by Shadow of the Beast

level inspired Menace

Same for the sound, nothing spectacular but full of nice marches that accompany different levels ( London Bridge is Falling Down , rocking a wedding march, a piece of Swan Lake, etc.). The control system is excellent and given to the mouse which proves, as always, perfect for this type of games.

Before leaving with the inevitable movie, which give you an appointment the next article, I leave a couple of goodies:

• Amiga version of the game, with the ability to connect two mice to the jewel Commodore , allows two friends to challenge mode split-screen.
• If you want to know all the secrets of this game invite you to check this site (completely in English) edited by one of the programmers of DMA Design ... really interesting.
• A talented programmer has created a version of Lemmings completely in javascript and then playable with any browser ... click here to get started today to hear the funny animated by endless suicidal rodents.

Unfortunately, because of my ignorance polished, I was not able to contain my video in a single session of play as the DosBox , disrupts the acquisition whenever the video resolution varies. As the title goes from 320x200 to 320x240 screen between the goals and the game itself I found myself compelled to post a video each with six small the solution of its level of play ... force remain only 114 stage to be completed: o)

Levels 1 and 2

Levels 3 and 4

Levels 5 and 6