Jurassic Park: Rampage Edition

While the sequel to the movie isn't out yet, it seems that sequels to the video game go on and on. Hem you get to be either Dr. Grant or (surprise!) a raptor. Save the dinosaur eggs from the tomes of evil or just munch humans. Yawn!

While the sequel to the movie isn't out yet, it seems that sequels to the video game go on and on. Here you get to be either Dr. Grant or (surprise!) a raptor. Save the dinosaur eggs from the forces of evil or not munch humans. Yawn!

Still No Movie Sequel, But You Can Return To Jurassic Park.

Judging by the blockbuster success of the first Jurassic Park for Genesis, and the fact that the video release is right around the corner, it looks like Sega has another hit on its hands. Players everywhere just can't get enough o' them dinosaurs!

Jurassic Park: Rampage Edition plays exactly the same as the first game, with Dr. Grant running and jumping through the jungle and fighting off dinosaurs. Or, players can once again choose to be the Raptor, who runs, jumps, and fights off dinosaurs. While our early peek doesn't show anything new, we'll hold off judgement until we get a chance to really dig in and play through the game.

Enough with the dinosaurs! JP: Rampage Edition is another ploy to keep you interested in prehistory. Betcha it's simultaneously released with the JP videotape in October. Betcha.

The Park Never Closes

As Grant leaves Jurassic Park at the end of the first game, he sees InGen agents combing the area for dinosaur eggs. (They either want to breed the eggs or make a mighty big omelet.) In this game, you must stop the agents before they reach their goal, avoiding famished dinos along the way.

If you play as the Raptor, you have to get your eggs to safety (before someone makes a movie out of you).

The dinos remain the same. The Raptors, Pteranadons, Campys, and T. rex return, plus Gallimimuses that you ride in a fast side-scrolling stage. Even worse, you face a nastier species this time: Humans. Guards are everywhere, shooting, running, and throwing bombs.

Progressing through the six levels as Grant, you pick up various weapons like a deadly Flamethrower that blackens beasts to extra crispy, a buckshot-blastin' Shotgun, and a Machine Gun. Dr. Grant, meet the Terminator.

Strollin' Through the Park

Though similar to the last title, the graphics lack realism. All the characters look as .if they've been outlined in black crayon, making the game more cartoony. The backgrounds are nice; but they're too reminiscent of other Genesis forests. It's Flashback and Jungle Book combined.

The standard sounds won't send chills down your back. The humans' and dinos' death yells are very similar, and many sounds were ported over from the first title, so don't expect much.

The controls seem difficult because the dinosaur A.I: in this game is faster and more lethal than it was in previous versions. Raptors don't just roam aimlessly waiting to get shot -- they pounce and slash at you. Getting Grant past the dinos will take a lot of shootin' and scootin'.

Extinct?

Jurassic Park was a great title on many platforms. This attempt to cash in on the movie's fame, however, is side-scrolling mediocrity. Plenty of work for the thumbs, but none for the brain. If that sounds like you, then Park it here.