Lemmings

n/a

PC-9800 series Super CD-ROM²
Lemmings
System(s): PC-9801 VX, PC-9801 UX, Super CD-ROM²
Publisher: Imagineer Sunsoft
Developer: DMA Design Bandit
Licensor: Psygnosis
Original system(s): Amiga
Peripherals supported: PC Engine Mouse
Genre: Action
Number of players: 1, 1-2
Release Date RRP Code JP 1991-12-13 ¥7,8007,800 JP 1991-12-13 ¥7,8007,800 JP 1992-11-27 SSCD2003
Non-NEC versions 3DO Amiga Amiga CD32 Amstrad CPC Archimedes Atari ST CD-i CDTV Commodore 64 FM Towns Game Boy Game Gear IBM PC Lynx Macintosh Master System Mega Drive Nintendo Entertainment System SAM Coupé Super NES X68000 ZX Spectrum

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Lemmings (レミングス) is a very successful strategy game developed by DMA Design and published by Psygnosis for the Amiga in 1991. It stands as being one of the most ported games in history, seeing a release on dozens of platforms including the PC-9800 series and Super CD-ROM².

Gameplay

Gameplay screenshot from the Super CD-ROM² version.

The player's task is to guide a number of Lemmings to a goal within the time limit, trying to make sure they do not kill themselves from hazards or long falls during transit. Lemmings can be set to do certain functions such as digging or blocking, though the player only has a limited number of these skills in supply, which varies per level. Lemmings fall out from a trapdoor at a set rate, which the player can adjust to make the trapdoor release Lemmings at faster or slower rates (up to 99), but will be unable to lower the rate past the minimum assigned to the current level.

If the player successfully rescues a set percentage of Lemmings, which varies by level, they will be able to move on to the next level, otherwise they must retry the level. If the player finds themselves in an unwinnable situation, needs to get rid of remaining Blockers or simply wants to restart the level, they can select the Nuke'em button on the HUD, which will stop any more Lemmings from entering the level and make all remaining Lemmings explode, ending the level.

There is a total of 120 levels to complete, each of them categorised into four difficulty ratings with 30 levels each: "Fun", "Tricky", "Taxing" and "Mayhem".

The Super CD-ROM² version also includes a two-player mode with 20 levels. In this mode, the objective is to be the first player to safely guide Lemmings to their own goal. Unlike other versions that feature a two-player mode, both players share the same screen and all levels are squished to fit a single screen as a consequence. All Lemmings are the same colour as well, meaning both players can assign skills to the same Lemming, so it is a matter of whoever gets the Lemming to their goal. A player wins when they rescue more Lemmings than the other player.

Skills

Lemmings that have not been given a skill will be referred to as Walkers.

	Climber
	Allows a Lemming to climb most walls he runs into. This skill is permanent for the rest of the level, even if the Lemming is given another skill. When stacked with the Floater skill, the Lemming becomes an "Athlete".
	Floater
	Allows a Lemming to use an umbrella to survive falls that would normally kill a Lemming. This skill is permanent for the rest of the level, even if the Lemming is given another skill. When stacked with the Climber skill, the Lemming becomes an "Athlete".
	Bomber
	Makes a Lemming explode after 5 seconds, killing him and destroying part of the terrain around him in the process. The explosion will not hurt other Lemmings.
	Blocker
	Makes a Lemming stop moving and block other Lemmings from passing him. A Blocker cannot use any other skill (other than Bomber) unless another Lemming digs under him, becoming a Walker again.
	Builder
	Makes a Lemming build an upward bridge in front of him. He will lay down up to 12 bricks, after which he will shrug at the player before going back to being a Walker unless the player commands him to continue building. A Builder will stop prematurely if the bridge hits a solid object or he bumps his head on a ceiling.
	Basher
	Makes a Lemming dig horizontally through any suitable terrain that's directly in front of him, and will continue to do so until there is no more suitable terrain to dig through or he is given another task.
	Miner
	Makes a Lemming dig in a diagonally downward direction through any suitable terrain with a pickaxe, and will continue to do so until there is no more suitable terrain to dig through or he is given another task.
	Digger
	Makes a Lemming dig straight down through any suitable terrain beneath him, and will continue to do so until there is no more suitable terrain to dig through or he is given another task.

Production credits

PC-9800 series versions

• Programming by: Dave Jones
• Animation by: Gary Timmons
• Graphics by: Scott Johnston
• Music By: Brian Johnston & Tim Wright

Ported by BANDIT Inc.

• Programming by: Yoshihiko Kurata
• Music by: Hideya Nagata
• Directed by: Seiji Toda

Copyright (c)1991 PSYGNOSIS LIMITED

All right reserved. "PSYGNOSIS" and "LEMMINGS" are trademark of PSYGNOSIS LIMITED and are used with permission.

Copyright (c)1990 DMA Design

Copyright (c)1991 BANDIT Inc.

Source:

In-game credits

Magazine articles

Main article: Lemmings/Magazine articles.

Physical scans

PC-9800 series versions

PC-9801 VX, JP
Cover

PC-9801 UX, JP

Super CD-ROM² version

Super CD-ROM², JP
Cover
Spinecard

Technical information

ROM dump status

System	Hash	Size	Build Date	Source	Comments
?	CRC32 MD5 SHA-1			CD-ROM (JP)

References

Sega Retro has more information related to Lemmings