Midway to Rampage on Wii and DS?

July 25th, 2006, 19:09 Posted By: wraggster

Source: Several product listings on major game retail and rental Web sites (see below).

The official story: "We can't comment at this time."--Midway rep.

What we heard: Though they may now hold respectable jobs and/or be pillars of the community, many gamers in their late 20s and early 30s grew up dreaming of laying waste to major metropolitan centers. These youthful fantasies came courtesy of Rampage, the Midway Games arcade classic that put players in the oversized paws of one of three giant monsters: the King Kong-esque ape George, the Godzilla-esque reptile Lizze, and the oversized werewolf Ralph. Its gameplay comprised climbing skyscrapers, smashing foundations, crushing military vehicles and eating any hapless humans which cross said monsters' path.

The title was a solid hit in arcades from its 1986 introduction well until the 1990s and beyond--a functional unit attracted crowds in San Francisco's North Beach district until it died in 2004. However, console versions of the franchise have had a rather spotty record. Rampage World Tour (PlayStation, Saturn, Nintendo 64, and Game Boy Color) garnered mediocre reviews when it hit stories in 1997 and 1998, as did Rampage 2: Universal Tour (PlayStation, N64, and GBC) in 1999, Rampage Through Time (PS), and Rampage Puzzle Attack (GBA) in 2001.

Besides a poorly received 2005 GBA port of the original game, the Rampage franchise lay fallow until this April, when Midway released Rampage: Total Destruction for the GameCube and PlayStation 2. Though the game also garnered a lukewarm response from reviewers, it now appears the revamped version of the monster mash will be making its way to next-generation consoles--and a certain popular handheld.

According to retail-posting product listings on CD Universe and GameFly, Rampage: Total Destruction is coming to the Nintendo Wii. Though neither listing had any details on the game, it is almost certain that it would take advantage of the next-generation console's motion-sensing controller, which would in turn transform adults pushing 34 into stomping, jabbering Gorgo wannabes in their living rooms. For those who would prefer to crush buildings on the go, GameFly is also listing Rampage: Total Destruction as coming to the Nintendo DS, Nintendo's dual-screen handheld.

So will Rampage tear it up on Nintendo's latest gadgets by year's end? Though Midway wouldn't comment, a source close to the publisher strongly hinted that both versions would be announced shortly. "It won't be long now, " he or she said, essentially confirming that Midway, having already announced Ant Bully for the next-gen console, is joining the third-party rush to jump on the Wii-wagon by year's end.

Bogus or not bogus?: Not bogus.

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