Stone Age Sport Evaluation: Xmas Lemmings

There was once a time when corporations would take their present video games, slap a Vacation theme on them, and put a bit one thing particular out on the planet for followers to take pleasure in. NiGHTS: into Desires did it with Christmas NiGHTS. I’m fairly certain there was even some Christmas-themed DLC for Mega Man: Powered Up on PSP. However for my cash, my absolute favourite sport to play through the Christmas season is Lemmings. Or, ought to I say, Xmas Lemmings? 

Again in 1991, the high-quality people over at DMA Design gave out a handful of free ranges, Shareware if you’ll, for Lemmings. They seemed and sounded nice, they usually continued making extra for quite a lot of years. Certain, you might have a look at it as them simply selling their then-upcoming launch Oh No! Extra Lemmings, however I wish to suppose this was simply the workforce doing what they beloved, spreading vacation cheer by means of exploding, suicidal rhodents. Or are Lemmings marsupials? I truthfully don’t know. 

Origins apart, I’m particularly speaking in regards to the unique 1991 Xmas Lemmings as a result of nicely, that is the one I had. I first found Lemmings through the Tremendous NES, the place you needed to transfer a cursor round a display with a d-pad. Hardly the worst factor on the planet, however a far cry from the smoothness of a mouse. So after I fired up this Shareware disc I received from… really I don’t know how I got here into possession of this sport. Bizarre. Anyway, I distinctly keep in mind firing it up and simply smiling from ear to ear. 

Let’s get the fundamentals out of the best way. In case you’re unfamiliar with Lemmings, which given how lengthy it’s been since that they had a correct new launch that I’m conscious of is a definite chance, the sport is all about not directly controlling a sequence of lovely little creatures that do nothing however stroll ahead. If there’s a pit of spikes in entrance of them, they’ll stroll proper into it. It’s as much as you to offer them with jobs so as to information them safely to a objective door. You may give them umbrellas to allow them to survive falling from nice heights. You may make them Climbers to allow them to scale partitions. Diggers, miners, builders, there’s all types of stuff you may make these critters do. It’s a sport all about planning and administration. And it’s actually enjoyable! 

Considered one of my favourite issues about Lemmings was its visuals. The environments have been all fantastically detailed, and the Lemmings themselves animated extraordinarily nicely. It is a sport that’s positively brimming with character, and Xmas Lemmings isn’t any exception. Levels are lined in snow, Christmas lights, and fantastically animated background parts like little toys swinging backwards and forwards, and these hilariously goofy snowmen that bounce up and down. Even the Lemmings themselves received in on the vacation spirit, exchanging their conventional blue garb for crimson santa outfits, full with wiggling hats! 

One other considered one of my favourite issues within the unique was its soundtrack. The unique compositions have been an absolute delight, however the remainder of the sport’s music was really enjoyable, high-energy takes on classical tunes. So after I booted up Xmas Lemmings for the primary time and a super-fun, VERY Lemmings-style rendition of Jingle Bells began taking part in, I used to be instantly hooked. 

At its core, Xmas Lemmings is simply extra Lemmings. It doesn’t introduce any new mechanics or do something revolutionary, it’s simply good quaint vacation enjoyable, and I am keen on it. I play it yearly round this time, and it makes me blissful each single time I do. I heartily suggest Xmas Lemmings. 

You possibly can play the sport on the Web Archive right here. 

Have a cheerful and secure vacation season, everybody!