Rampage World Tour

Midway Games

Industry	Video games
Headquarters	United States
Products	Rampage World Tour

Rampage World Tour is an arcade game released in 1997 by Midway Games, serving as the follow-up to the 1986 title Rampage. Developed by Game Refuge with original creators Brian Colin and Jeff Nauman at the helm, it was subsequently adapted for platforms including Sega Saturn, Nintendo 64, Game Boy Color, PlayStation, and Microsoft Windows. This game was later included in the compilation Midway Arcade Treasures 2 and featured in the collection Rampage: Total Destruction.

Plot

After a catastrophic blast at Scumlabs, the monstrous trio George, Lizzie, and Ralph set out on a worldwide mission to demolish Scumlabs' facilities and personnel. In response, CEO Eustace DeMonic mutates into a creature himself and confronts them at a lunar base but is ultimately defeated. Subsequently, Dr. Elizabeth Veronica attempts to eliminate the monsters but inadvertently shrinks them aboard her spacecraft, leaving them miniaturized.

Gameplay

Players are tasked with leveling all buildings within each city while fending off military forces. Prolonged delays trigger jet bombings that terminate stages prematurely and reduce scores. Early stages feature a billboard that directs players toward various global regions; collecting "World Tour" power-ups transports players to international locations until every Scumlabs facility is destroyed. Exposure to purple radioactive waste temporarily transforms players into a formidable creature named V.E.R.N. The game proceeds until all Scumlabs-controlled cities have been eradicated.

The arcade version supports up to three players simultaneously. Although three-player support was intended for the PlayStation and Saturn versions, these ports only allow two players. The Nintendo 64 edition retains full three-player functionality.

Release

European distribution of the home versions was handled by GT Interactive. Shortly after launch, Rampage World Tour was showcased at Japan's JAMMA arcade exhibition but failed to generate significant interest and was never officially released in that market.

Reception

The arcade edition received criticism from Next Generation for its use of sprites rather than polygons, concluding that it primarily appeals to fans of the original but does not offer meaningful improvements.

Reviewers generally agreed that the console adaptations faithfully recreated the arcade experience, though the PlayStation and Saturn versions limit play to two participants compared to three in arcades. Critical reception was mixed: some reviewers commended it as an enjoyable revival featuring new gameplay mechanics and expanded levels, whereas others considered its 2D side-scrolling style outdated and monotonous for home play. Shawn Smith of Electronic Gaming Monthly praised its enhanced classic atmosphere, yet others felt its simplicity favored arcade sessions over extended home gaming. IGN noted that the series is better suited for brief entertainment rather than prolonged engagement.

Opinions in GamePro varied: one review highlighted the game's longevity due to special moves and power-ups despite minimal gameplay innovation; another criticized the Saturn port for not utilizing advanced hardware capabilities; a third described the Nintendo 64 version as repetitive with little fresh content. Next Generation echoed these views, stating nostalgia and visual appeal do not offset obsolete gameplay mechanics.

Charles Ardai from Computer Gaming World reported issues with performance and visuals when running the PC version in full-screen mode, advising use of a smaller window for optimal experience. He characterized the gameplay as straightforward but appreciated its monster movie charm absent from contemporary films such as Godzilla (1998 film).