All New World of Lemmings
| Developer: DMA Design | Graphics: |
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| Publisher: Psygnosis | Sound: |
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| Year: 1995 | Difficulty: |
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| Genre: Puzzle | Lastability: |
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| Number of players: 1 | Rating: |
7/10 | |
Also known as Lemmings 3 or The Lemmings Chronicles (in the American PC version).
It was poorly received because it upset players’ expectations. I remember snubbing James Pond 3 for the same reason.
This time, you guide three tribes directly carried over from the previous game (the chosen themes are “Classic”, “Egypt”, and “Ninjas”).
The first noticeable change is the size of the lemmings—larger, perhaps giving a modern look with more polished animations, but also slightly reducing the field of view. This is offset by scrolling screens in both width and height.
Secondly—and more problematic, in my opinion—there are fewer lemmings displayed simultaneously (only ten), fewer commands on the action bar (five instead of the previous eight, identical across the three tribes). It’s clear the developers aimed to simplify things, offering features like turning a lemming around with a single click, jumping, restarting a blocker, and choosing the direction for digging or building bridges and stairs.
Paradoxically, these changes had the opposite effect. They require an adjustment period and more micro-management to control individual lemmings, making targeting harder, especially when the little pests bunch together. On top of that, commands sometimes lag or don’t respond at all. Another infuriating detail: lemmings can no longer cross stairs oriented in the opposite direction (see fourth image). Look pretty dumb, don’t they?
Secondary abilities, represented by icons, are scattered around the level (a shovel for digging, planks for building stairs…). You’re forced to collect them, and only the lemming which picks up the item can use it. This leads to solving levels in a single, predetermined way, clearly hinted at by the placement of these bonuses.
Notable additions include various creatures, some hostile, like a female lemming who strongly resembles Tex Avery’s pin-up and will drive your flock to distraction. Among the new tools: suction cups for clinging to ceilings, bombs, and grenades with rather unpredictable handling. There’s also a replay mode akin to The Killing Game Show, though its purpose eludes me.
It’s commendable to try to renew the concept, but over-smoothing the edges leaves you with an inconsistent game that neither delivers the simplicity and charm of the first nor the variety and cheekiness of the second. Nor does it really offer much room for thought, being overly linear.
A few tips: press “P” to pause, “right click” to identify lemmings carrying items, and “Escape” to restart a level quickly.
And if these lemmings still aren’t big enough for you, check out The Humans.
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