Around a decade ago a well known and longtime favorite company in the arcades known as Atari released a new style of game known as Rampart. The concept of this unique title was to build up your ramparts around your castle(s) and defend them from pirate attacks. As each round passed the difficulty would increase and the player would frantically try to rebuild the walls before the time would expire and the pirates could come in. In the arcade it was like a cult craze as friends could play against each other as either the Red or Blue side. As the popularity grew multiple ports of the game appeared on both consoles and handhelds, but how does this newest release stack up against the original?
Graphics
The graphics for this title are very close to the arcade, probably the best port graphicwise to date. In the arcade between the building phases, during the attack period the castle walls should look like stone walls. In the Gameboy Color port though they don't and remain looking how they did during the construction phase. Another minor flaw if you can call either of them flaws is that the grassy ground texture is nothing more than green and white speckles. This aside the rest looks great. The cannons, cannon balls, ground units and ships look very good. When things get hit there is a small pop of an explosion and either leaves rubble or a ship that sinks. A lot goes on the screen in the later levels when multiple units, cannon fire, and ships are all taking shots at you as you retaliate which is something to see.
Rating: 4.0
Sound
The sound from this game is pretty much beauty to the ears, if you have heard the arcade game you know what I mean. All the arcade sound effects and music from the games have been digitized and sampled down to run on the Gameboy. The audio is pretty clear and really helps move the fun of the game along to better levels than if it wasn't there or greatly lacking. The only problem, again if it matters, is that the audio from the arcade game mixed digital channels which the Gameboy one does not so some effects play over things. As things get played over each other you get the impression that no priority was set to tell which sound to play. This I feel though is something you really would not even think of if you hadn't played the arcade original.
Rating: 4.0
Theme & Fun
The theme of the game is simple, defence and defensive strikes. In starting the game you pick a castle in an area and it is surrounded, and then afterward you get to place a few cannons. After these phases the fire fight begins as you have a limited time to sink all the ships. After this period given you have not taken out all the ships in the first round the last part of the cycle begins, the reconstruction phase. In this period you have a limited time to plug the holes in your wall with tetris like random pieces. If you are crafty and not picky you will be able to surround more castles with your ramparts. The cycle then restarts having you place more cannons given that you have been able to seal the holes, and if not your game is over. In the later areas you will be subjected to land assaults which do continue as you rebuild walls to stop you from sealing them. The game is pretty much a screw you type design where you nail someone else before they nail you which keeps the player coming back for more.
Rating: 4.0
Play Control
The play control in this game is pretty good, though I felt that moving the cursor seemed a bit too floaty if you held it for more than a brief amount of time. The controls are pretty simple an accurate as you really only need to use just one button and the pad for all your defense, offense, and rebuilding needs. I had noticed that if you use the other button though at times things such as cannon placement will get automatically done for you leaving out just a bit of the guess work. Overall the control mechanism is good.
Rating: 4.0
Challenge
This game is one of an increasing challenge since you can continue, but you can not save. With a game having so many areas to defend even though they wanted to keep the arcade feeling a save feature would have been welcome. In trying to build, rebuild, and attack with this game you will notice a sharp jump in difficulty as you progress through the areas. In the link up mode with a friend you will find that it is a kill or be killed type melee. Each with a castle, walls, and a few cannons you must try to level the others beyond the ability to repair in the time allowed. Like in the single player mode you can expand your territory, but be careful not to do it too fast as you could end up regretting it.
Rating: 4.0
Replay Value and Closing Notes:
Due to the unique nature of this style of game, and because of the option to go it alone, or take on a friend there is great replay potential. A word of advice though is to try it out before you buy it. A game like this game be a lot of fun for some, but a sheer nightmare for others. With that said, if you are a fan of the series though, this is the portable version not to miss.
I personally have never been a great fan of this style of game in the past. After playing it a bit it does seem to grow on people, and I do find that it is something I come back to now and again to play just to see what happens.
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