Older gamers will be familiar with how Lemmings works but if you're new to gaming then you may not know what the fuss is about. Essentially, Lemmings is a puzzle and strategy game. At the beginning of each level, a crowd of Lemmings leap out of a start door and march blindly towards the end of said level. Unfortunately, there are some obstacles blocking the Lemmings from reaching the end. For example, one of the levels may have a large wall that needs to be scaled, meaning the Lemmings builders will have to be broken out to allow them to climb and reach the exit successfully. You're only given a certain amount of tools per level, and the idea is to save as many Lemmings as possible. Each level has a minimum amount of Lemmings that must be saved or you'll fail. The good news is that the game is still extremely addictive, even if you've played these levels a couple of times over.
Like the PSP version, except on the PlayStation 2.
Just like the PSP version, the PlayStation 2 game has been rebuilt from the ground up. This means that while the level design is the same (and the strategy remains the same) the environments are a lot more colourful and clear, which makes it a lot easier to plan your strategy, not to mention that it also brings Lemmings into the 21st Century. The game includes 120 levels which are split up into four categories, and there are also a bonus thirty-six brain twisters that are really only recommended if you complete the first 120 puzzles. If you have a network adapter you can also go online and download other puzzles.
To differentiate itself from the PlayStation Portable version, the PlayStation 2 port includes support for the Eyetoy. If you select the Eyetoy option from the main menu you're taken to an entirely different part of the game, so you'll need to save your progress before doing so. The Eyetoy support lets you play through twenty specially designed levels where you use your body to guide your Lemmings to safety, so rather than getting a builder to build a bridge you can actually use your body to become the bridge. It's actually a very clever idea, but takes a little bit of getting used to before it becomes second nature. The first five levels are unlocked, but you'll need to complete these to unlock more areas. Once you're finished with the Eyetoy part of Lemmings you'll need to quit to the main menu, which basically resets the entire game, so the experience isn't very streamlined.
Looks familiar?
One of the areas where the PlayStation 2 version excels over the PSP game is in the controls department. You use the shoulder buttons to select the tools for your Lemmings and you select your Lemmings with the analog stick, which is much easier than the nub on the PlayStation Portable. Both controls schemes pale in comparison to using a mouse, but the controller makes it much easier to select your Lemmings. One of the more subtle additions to the new versions of the Lemmings games is the ability to fast forward the game speedily, this makes it much easier to breeze through the easy levels; although you need to be careful not to fast forward too quickly.
Visually the game looks identical to the PSP version, so it's very colourful and very inviting. You can zoom in rather closely on your Lemmings and the levels and there are quite a few small differences which make the levels look so good. The developer of Lemmings is also behind the Worms titles and you can definitely tell, the two games look rather similar. The sound in the game is from the PSP version which was upgraded from the previous titles. You're going to have to be an extremely keen fan to notice the difference and we had no issues with the music; even though it does get a little repetitive at times.
Where are the Eyetoy pics?
In terms of content, there are plenty of challenges to keep you going. If you manage to go through the 120 original puzzles then there are brain teasers and a bonus twenty Eyetoy levels to play through. If you still want more Lemmings action after you've completed all these puzzles (Are you mad?) then you can jump online and download extra levels.
Lemmings for the PlayStation 2 is still a fun game, if you own the PSP version then there is no need to pick this title up, but if you want to play Lemmings at home then you'll be pleased to know that the game is still pretty enjoyable. The Eyetoy support is impressive, although a few more levels would have been appreciated. Team 17 were extremely cautious and stuck very closely to the tried and tested Lemmings gameplay, so if you're expecting a massive upgrade then prepare to be disappointed, otherwise Lemmings is a pretty fun game, sure they're cute but they're pretty damn useless.
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