Rampage (1992-)

• Developer: Atari

• Publisher: Atari

• Genre: Action

Rampage for the Atari Lynx was developed by Atari Games and published by Atari in 1992. The game was originally an arcade title released in 1986, known for its unique premise of controlling giant monsters wreaking havoc on cities. The Lynx version brought this chaotic action to a handheld platform, allowing players to experience the thrill of urban destruction on the go. Rampage had already seen ports on multiple platforms, including the NES, Commodore 64, Amiga, and Game Boy, but the Lynx version stood out for its faithful adaptation of the arcade’s gameplay and visual style.

The game’s concept centered around three monsters—George the giant ape, Lizzie the giant lizard, and Ralph the giant wolf—who must climb buildings, destroy property, and avoid capture by the military. The storyline was minimal, emphasizing action and destruction rather than narrative depth, reflecting the arcade origins. Its inspiration came from monster movies such as King Kong and Godzilla, giving players the experience of living out the fantasy of towering over a city and causing widespread chaos. The Lynx port preserved the humor and exaggerated action of the arcade original, maintaining its appeal for fans of over-the-top arcade games.

Gameplay involved maneuvering the monsters through various cityscapes, smashing buildings, eating civilians, and avoiding projectiles fired by military forces. Players had to manage their health as attacks from tanks, helicopters, and soldiers could reduce their monster’s strength. The Lynx version retained the cooperative two-player mode, allowing two monsters to simultaneously battle through levels, which added a social element to the handheld experience. Despite the smaller screen, the game managed to deliver large, detailed sprites and smooth scrolling, giving a sense of scale and maintaining the intensity of the arcade action.

The soundtrack for Rampage on the Lynx consisted of energetic, fast-paced music tracks and sound effects for building destruction, monster roars, and military attacks, supporting the frantic pace of the game. There was no prequel, but the title would later spawn sequels such as Rampage World Tour and Rampage 2: Universal Tour, which expanded the roster of monsters and locations. Promotion of the Lynx version highlighted its ability to deliver arcade-style monster mayhem on a handheld device, emphasizing the cooperative gameplay and destructible environments. Reception was generally positive, with praise for its faithful adaptation, fun multiplayer, and the novelty of controlling massive monsters, though some critics noted the difficulty in managing multiple threats on the smaller screen.

Images from MobyGames