Rampart (video game)

Atari Games

Industry	Video games
Headquarters	United States

Rampart is a 1990 title developed by Atari Games and Midway Games that merges elements from the shoot 'em up, strategy, and puzzle categories. Originally introduced as an arcade video game utilizing trackball controls, it was subsequently adapted for various home platforms. The initial limited release occurred in the United States in October 1990, followed by a broader launch in early 1991. Distribution in Japan was managed by Namco.

This game is often cited as an early influence on the later-emerging tower defense genre that became prominent in the 2000s.

Gameplay

Players are tasked with protecting areas defined by walls surrounding castles and cannons. The gameplay alternates between two timed stages: combat and construction. During the construction phase, players repair breaches and expand their fortifications; the combat phase involves firing cannons to repel attackers. In single-player mode, adversaries consist of attacking ships, while multiplayer matches pit players against each other across river boundaries.

The match starts with an automated construction phase where the system erects a wall around one castle, granting control over cannons. Players then strategically place these cannons within their enclosed territory.

During combat, ships assault the player's defenses in single-player mode; in multiplayer, opponents target each other's fortifications. Players must anticipate enemy movement to accurately "lead" cannon shots. Combat concludes after a predetermined number of ships are destroyed or when time runs out.

Following combat, any territory lacking complete wall enclosure is forfeited along with its cannons. The player enters the building phase, using Tetris-shaped blocks to mend or enlarge walls around castles.

Each fully enclosed castle provides additional cannons for the subsequent combat phase (the home castle supplies two if space permits). Repairing damage is complicated by block size mismatches, which can hinder future placements.

The game ends if a player fails to enclose at least one castle during construction. Single-player mode features six preset levels; in multiplayer, survival and scoring determine victory. Winning players are rewarded with thematic animations depicting the defeat of opposing commanders. Cannons can be destroyed during play, and capturing bonus squares grants extra points.

Ports

Rampart was adapted for numerous systems including the Super NES, Master System, Mega Drive/Genesis, Atari Lynx, MS-DOS, Macintosh, Commodore 64, Amiga, and Atari ST. Distinct versions were developed for the Game Boy, Game Boy Color, NES, and Famicom. Bitmasters handled development of the NES, Super NES, and MS-DOS editions; although the NES version was initially slated for release by Tengen without official Nintendo licensing, it was ultimately published by Jaleco under license. Electronic Arts published both Super NES and MS-DOS versions. Most home conversions introduced enhancements to gameplay. The Japanese Famicom edition, released through Konami, features seven tutorial levels, three difficulty options, and a comprehensive two-player mode. An unofficial English patch for this Famicom version appeared in May 2017.

In Super NES and MS-DOS adaptations, cannons can be transformed into power-ups.

The arcade original is included in the Midway Arcade Treasures collection available on GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox, and PlayStation Portable, as well as in Midway Arcade Origins for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It also appears bundled with Gauntlet on the Game Boy Advance. A PlayStation 3 edition featuring online multiplayer functionality was released through the PlayStation Network on May 10, 2007.

Reception

In June 1991, Game Machine ranked Rampart as the seventh highest-grossing arcade table game in Japan.

Julian Rignall, writing for Computer and Video Games, awarded the arcade edition a score of 93%.

The Mega Drive adaptation received a 90% rating and a Hyper Game Award from MegaTech, which commended its exceptional combination of varied gameplay styles. Meanwhile, the Master System version earned an 81% score from Console XS. In 1993, Nintendo Power placed it fourth among the best Game Boy titles.

Legacy

Approximately ten years later, Rampart served as a foundational influence on the emergence of early tower defense games. These titles adopted key gameplay mechanics such as constructing defensive fortifications to protect territory and repairing them during intervals between assaults.

External links

• Rampart at the Arcade History database