Rampage

PRESS START

An Introduction To Today’s Game

Arcades used to be a magical place for me, back in that brief window during the 80s and 90s when home consoles simply couldn't reproduce what the arcade had to offer.

For me, there was no place better than Naughty Nick's in Stockton, CA. Pinball, pool tables, and multiple levels of arcade machines.

The allure of those games was so powerful it even made me forget about pizza. "Come back to the table and eat," I'd hear from my dad. Multiple times.

"But I'm about to beat Spider-Man!"

"Now," he would say sternly.

Damn you, pizza, I would think to myself. The greatest food ever, and I resented it for pulling me away from my games. Arcades did weird things to us.

One of those machines that always called to me was Rampage. My love for Kaiju icons like Godzilla, King Kong and Gamera would always pull me in to play a few rounds with George, Lizzie and Ralph.

Like a bowl of warm, crispy tater tots, or having breakfast food for dinner. Rampage is comfort food to me. The strafing helicopters, the destruction, the co-op madness. It never gets old.

So pick your monster and let’s jump into one of my favorite arcade titles ever.

BEHIND THE PIXELS

Let’s Dive Into The Game

At its core, Rampage is an action game that hands you control of one of three mutated humans-turned-monsters and sets you loose on an unsuspecting metropolis.

You can choose George (a King Kong-style gorilla), Lizzie (a Godzilla-like lizard), or Ralph (a giant werewolf), each standing tall enough to scale buildings with ease.

The objective couldn’t be more straightforward: reduce every building on the screen to rubble and move on to the next city. Armed with only your fists and a ravenous appetite, you climb structures, punch out their walls, and munch on anything (or anyone) unfortunate enough to get in your way.

The challenge in Rampage comes from surviving the onslaught of the city’s “defenders.”

As you pulverize high-rises, the military fights back with bullets, bombs, and tanks. Helicopters swarm and open fire, soldiers toss dynamite, and all manner of tiny adversaries chip away at your monster’s health.

Gobbling up civilians or food items (like roast chicken or fruit) amid the debris restores your health, adding a darkly comedic twist, your enemies are also your snacks.

Take too much damage, and your monster reverts to a puny, nude human form that shuffles off-screen in shame. It’s an unforgettable visual gag that had onlookers laughing and scrambling to continue with another quarter.

Graphically, Rampage is bright, bold, and cartoony, perfect for its over-the-top premise. The monsters sport expressive animations (say, George burping fire after eating a dynamite-toting soldier) and the cities have just enough detail to set the scene before you tear them apart.

The game spans 128 in-game “days” (levels) across cities all over North America. In truth, the stages don’t change much beyond the skyline backdrop, which means gameplay can become repetitive. But Rampage wasn’t about depth or variety, it was about the thrill of uncontrolled destruction and the novelty of playing the monster instead of the hero.

One of the smartest aspects of Rampage is its multiplayer. Up to three players could team up simultaneously, a big draw in 1986.

Cooperative play often turns into comedic competition: yes, you all share the goal of leveling the city, but there are only so many helpless bystanders to eat or bonus points to grab.

It’s not uncommon for teammates to start smacking each other around, knocking rivals off buildings just to snag that last tasty civilian. Those impromptu monster brawls and shenanigans give Rampage much of its charm and replayability.

Alone, you might tire of the smash-and-eat routine after a few cities, but with friends elbowing each other in front of the screen, the game becomes a riot. It’s a classic example of an arcade game where the social experience amplifies the simple gameplay, the more, the merrier (and messier).

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WHERE TO PLAY

• Emulation will be your best bet for tracking this down.

• Original machine prices and conditions can vary widely, I’ve seen prices from $2,000 to $4,000.

• Arcade1up released a Rampage edition home arcade in 2018.

GAME INFORMATION

Cover Art

RETRO NEWS

Here’s a quick roundup of the latest retro gaming news we’ve dug up.

• Namco’s Tokyo Wars Roars Back in a Stunning Home Port
  The classic 1996 tank arcade game has been faithfully revived by fans for modern PCs with full multiplayer support.
  Read more at Retro News

• Rare's Obscure Classics Get the Spotlight on Evercade
  Rare Collection 1 compiles lesser-known hits like Slalom and Snake Rattle 'n' Roll in a beautifully preserved cart.
  Read more at Time Extension

• Anbernic’s Budget DS-Inspired Handheld Now Up for Preorder
  A new sub-$100 retro handheld with dual screens aims to bring DS nostalgia to your pocket at a fraction of the cost.
  Read more at Time Extension

PREVIOUS POLL RESULTS

Fatal 4 Way: Who is standing alone at the end?

• Robocop - 28.57%

• RoboCain - 0%

• Terminator T-800 - 28.57%

• Terminator T-1000 - 42.86%

Reader comments from the poll:

(T-1000) “Yeah I’m sorry, it’s just there’s really no way to deal with a T-1000 easily. Every time they’ve taken one down there had to be a literal nuclear bomb or crazy liquid molten lava volcano to take one down. It’s one of the most broken concepts I’ve ever seen.” - Daniel

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GAME OVER

Why You Should Play This

Why play Rampage today? For one, it’s a tangible slice of arcade history that still guarantees a laugh. There’s something cathartic about toppling 8-bit skyscrapers and munching on hapless citizens that transcends generations, a pure, unapologetic kind of fun.

Sure, by modern standards Rampage can feel shallow and repetitive, especially if you’re flying solo. The gameplay loop doesn’t evolve much, and there’s no grand strategy beneath the chaos. But as a party game or a quick nostalgia fix, it holds up as an entertaining diversion.

Nostalgia is the real magic that Rampage delivers. If you dropped quarters into this game back in the day, firing it up now will likely put a grin on your face, especially if you have a buddy to compete with for high scores and most buildings destroyed.

Tracking down Rampage isn’t too hard (it pops up in various classic game collections and retro arcades), and it’s worth the trip if only to experience the quirky premise firsthand.

In the end, this game remains a charming reminder of an era when all you needed for a roaring good time was a giant gorilla, a few skyscrapers, and an appetite for destruction.

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