Rampage World Tour Review

I have fond memories of many video games throughout history that I played when I grew up. Some games are based purely on nostalgia, some because of fun times with friends, and some because of how annoying they were to play. I will talk about one of those games today in my Rampage World Tour Review. Is it quite as good as I remember? Well, not entirely, but there’s still some fun to be had here.

Same Formula

Rampage: World Tour is the second game in the series, released in 1997, 11 years after the first game in 1986. There isn’t much that has changed after those 11 years. Rampage: World Tour is similar to the original game in almost every way. The graphics have improved significantly, and the levels are more extensive, but it’s still the same addictive formula. You’re still choosing one of three monsters to destroy as much as possible in a given location. The big difference is that now there is a little bit of a story to accompany all this destruction.

Story

The story begins with our three main characters (George, Lizzie, and Ralph being mutated into giant monsters. They become enraged at the company producing the goo that’s mutating them and start destroying everything in their path worldwide, hopefully destroying the plants that manufacture this goo. It’s a relatively simple story, but what more do you need with a game like this? You’re causing destruction worldwide, and that’s all you need to know.

Presentation

The game looks pretty good for a 1997 video game. The graphics have improved from the original 1986 version, but the game retains the same feel as the original, with its 2D action style that made it so popular. There are some impressive effects when you demolish a building or set it on fire. I also thoroughly enjoyed that your monster pukes when he eats something that doesn’t agree with them. The sounds are equally good, with things like air raid sirens, explosions, and things of that nature pulling you into this wasteland environment from all the carnage you’re causing.

Gameplay

The gameplay is another thing that sticks to the original formula. Your monster can now kick, which helps destroy buildings and ground vehicles much more easily. It’s also nice to transition between that and punching to plow through cities faster than ever. This is important because citizens will evacuate the city if it takes too long. You can also perform many new maneuvers, including jumping on a plane and using its weapons, bouncing off buildings, and more. It’s cool to figure out all these little extra things you can pull off, and it gives you the incentive to keep going through the game.

Final Thoughts

Rampage: World Tour took a successful formula and brought it into a new era in 1997. The game didn’t take many chances to innovate in a meaningful way, which ultimately hindered its performance in the gaming landscape of that era. It’s still a fun action game to play with a friend or two, and it will keep you occupied for at least a little while. Unfortunately, the repetitiveness of the gameplay makes it challenging to play this game for more than an hour or two at a time. It’s not the best game in the series, but it’s worth a look if you haven’t played it before.