From: tpehrson@javelin.sim.es.com (tim clinkenpeel)
Subject: [SNES:Clinkenreview> RAMPART
Reply-To: tpehrson@javelin.sim.es.com
Organization: Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 23:40:43 GMT

 _ 
(_ l i n k e n r e v i e w
------------------------------------------------- reviews follow this format:
gameplay is summarized in a short paragraph.  next, highlights and faults are
compiled in the various pertinent areas.  in conclusion, an overall rating is
given on a scale of 1 to 10--see the rating guide at the bottom of the review
for further details.  i do not rate individual areas and average them, as the
good does not always count against the bad and vice versa.  -----------------
old reviews  are  kept  on  file  and  may  be  requested by sending mail  to
tpehrson@javelin.sim.es.com  with  the text 'review request: <string>' in the
subject.   all  reviews  with  titles  matching  <string> (wildcard)  will be
returned, or use "all" to receive all reviews.   my reviews are  my  opinion,
written  with  no  intention  to  neither  appease  nor  offend any person or
corporation.  ---------------------------------------------------------------

the object of Rampart is to survive and advance to new levels.  the game
consists of two alternating 'waves': 1. building/rebuilding your castle(s) and
placing earned cannons, and 2. destroying enemy ships (and other occasional
'baddies' in super mode).  ships fire back and wreak havoc on your
fortress(es), necessitating the reconstruction stage.  to secure a castle you
must completely surround it (no gaps - no even diagonally) with random
tetris-like shapes within a given time limit.  as mentioned, there are two
modes: normal and super.  normal is true to the arcade original, and super
adds a few unique elements in an effort to spice up the game.

despite some very poor programming on the part of electronic arts, the basic
fun elements of rampart still shine through.

game type:  strategy/skill
number of players:  1 or 2 (two player game is versus only)
continues:  3 per level (resets each time a level is gained) 
            password continues (gripe: regular mode is selfish with
                                passwords, whereas super dishes them
                                out _every_ level)

first, let us discuss the basic differences between the two modes, one and two
player games.  super mode has 'boss' and 'bonus' levels; the boss levels are
well implemented but have some minor problems.  the bonus levels are pretty
much finger-fodder as the sole purpose is to acquire as many (trivial) points
as possible.  the normal mode map is viewed from directly overhead
(bird's-eye), whereas the super mode uses the good ol' mode 7 to slightly
'skew' the view and give the appearance of perspective.  looks nice, but makes
it a little more challenging to aim.  finally, super mode allows you to trade
three cannons in for either a super cannon, which is really only useful in the
versus mode, or a one-time propaganda dropping balloon, which i failed to see
the point of.  oh, super mode also allows the ships to carry super cannons,
which is hell.  super cannons leave fires behind which eventually burn out,
but otherwise cannot be built on.  they can also be shot out, but you usually
have your hands full with ships blasting away your castles, sailing up to the
shore and letting loose hordes of ground troops (which will destroy
unprotected castles and generally get in your way).  two player games are
pretty lame.  there are no ships, your sole enemy is the other player.  fun
for a while, but gets boring fast.  what this game needed to push it from
good to excellent was a two-player cooperative mode.  *sigh*.

the game control is adequate, but could have been improved to be more
'user-friendly' without significant effort.  gripe #1: when holding down the
'speed scroll' button (maps are larger than a display screen), the crosshairs
wig out to nearly off the screen in the direction you are pushing.
auto-centering would have been nice.  gripe #2: each sequence begins with an
annoying map rotate & scale (spins in), and always plants your crosshairs down
in the center of the map, regardless of where your home castle is.  precious
seconds are lost scrolling back to base.  gripe #3: the crosshairs never align
directly on a ship.  they are either above to the left or right or below to
the left or right.  although firing to any of the four positions usually
constitutes a hit, i think it's goofy.  lastly, gripe #4: the ships are free
roam about after 'cease fire' is called.  an unfair advantage and quite
frustrating, especially since they often don't start moving until after 'cease
fire'.

graphics are poor.  although this is not an important element in this game, i
see no reason why they couldn't have spent some energy in this area.  it
appears they just settled for being barely above 'functional'.  in the case of
the 'cannon barge' (a 'boss') sinking 'animation', it's just pathetic.  the
sinking sequence is about 5 frames, which are hardly more than just waning
rectangles.  the clencher is the frames draw on the screen so damn slow that
you can watch the previous frame wipe and the new frame redraw.  makes me
wonder if the game was programmed in BASIC, or at least this particular
part.

the sound is very adequate and does include speech, which is crisp and 100%
audible.  music is minimal.  it certainly is in no way obnoxious--this is
scores a plus from me. 

the fun-factor of this game rates high in my book.  i never really got 'in' to
the arcade game, but i certainly did get into this cart.  i ended up keeping
it an additional two days beyond the rental agreement.  i will be purchasing
this game; however, i don't recommend it for everyone.  i think it is probably
only appealing to a certain breed of gameplayers, so i think it would be wise
to preview it before you buy.

the longevity outlook for this game is high.  although i'm not sure how many
levels the game packs, i believe there is likely plenty.  i made it to level
15 and i expect there to be at least 50.  as always, i did not have the manual
so perhaps a helpful clerk could offer enlightenment.  or maybe even the back
of the box states round quantity -- i don't know.  the skill level is a nice
gradual increase; a goodly pace that is also not too sloth.  i do; however,
feel that the kraken boss was a little out of place on the difficulty scale --
a few levels too early in the game.  no biggie.  the only minus on the
longevity scale is there is little level-to-level variation.  it's just a
matter of more challenging island shapes and more ships in the enemy armada.
the bosses sprinkled throughout super mode help, and overall i find the game
compelling enough as is.

an endgame sequence?  who knows?  when you loose there is a walk the plank
scene (in two player mode the winner controls the knight pushing the sword
into the unfortunate's back; simple-minded fun at best), although i preferred
the guillotine in the coin-op, albeit censored (no rolling heads--drat!).
perhaps it's my fetish for sharp objects severing body parts that eclipses
simple asphyxiation.
 
OVERALL RATING:  8.0  (for the game... i'd give EOA a 3.0 for their
	lame programming).  rent before you buy, unless you were a rampart
	fan before it made it to the home systems--in which case you are
	safe to obtain outright.
	       
+--rating-scale----------------+
| <2  complete trash           |
| <4  not worth the bother     |
| <6  possible cure for ennui  |
| 6-8 merits rental            |
| >8  worthy of purchase       |
+------------------------------+

--reviews-in-existence---------------------------------------------------
adventureisland.rev	contra3.rev		rampart.rev
bartsnightmare.rev	krustysfunhouse.rev	smartball.rev

--upcomming-reviews------------------------------------------------------
'super' smash t.v.
zelda ]I[ : a link to the past
the addam's family
street fighter 2
-- 
	       there is no religion when a man has  good curry
				       -
      tim clinkenpeel: aberrant analytical skeptical agnostic idealist.
		     -- i exclusively represent myself --