Rampart (SNES) Playthrough - NintendoComplete
215A playthrough of Electronic Arts' 1992 arcade-style strategy game for the Super Nintendo, Rampart.
This video shows both game modes. It begins with the original arcade mode, and Super Rampart begins at 19:30.
Rampart is an Atari arcade game from 1990, and it was a fantastic. Certainly better than Pit Fighter (https://youtu.be/es4PIsvy_No ) that had been released just a couple months prior.
Though the term didn't yet exist, Rampart might well have been the first example of the genre we now refer to as tower defense. In each stage, you begin by choosing your home castle and install some cannons, and then a fleet of invading ships will show up.
The object of each level is to destroy the enemy fleet, but while you're preoccupied sending your rivals to the bottom of the sea, they'll be busy destroying the walls of your keep. After trading fire for a bit, a cease fire will be called, and you'll be given a short period to rebuild - and possibly expand your territory - before enemy reinforcements arrive.
You do this by placing Tetris-style pieces around your castle. For the game to continue to the next round, you must have at least a single castle completely surrounded by walls, ideally with enough extra space inside to build additional cannons.
Things get more complicated later on with the introduction of a couple try-hard units, including a ship that can set fire to whatever it hits, and another that can unleash hordes of soldiers on your shores. Both of these are, of course, intended to hinder your ability to rebuild between rounds, and they're super effective.
The gameplay loop is pretty addictive, and the SNES cart stays true to the arcade original, even retaining the multi-player mode (though for two players only, alas), just like the excellent NES version (https://youtu.be/-jMVqZE5bHQ ).
Konami's Famicom remake (https://youtu.be/M_vGgDZ6ps4 ) was also good, but it's not really relevant here. I just wanted to mention it.
The SNES version is much more than a straightforward port, though. It includes a brand new mode, Super Rampart, that adds several new features to the game. The maps are much larger, bosses appear from time-to-time, and you get a few new weapons: you can exchange three reserve cannons for a monster cannon (capable of wiping out a ship in a single shot) or a balloon (for dropping propaganda pamphlets on a ship, compelling its sailors to fire on your enemies). Super Rampart also throws a ton of Mode 7 effects into the mix, and though they're unnecessary, they do look cool.
It's not quite arcade perfect, but the SNES version of Rampart is probably the best home conversion of the game thanks to the additional content.
Ready! Aim! FIRE!!!
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No cheats were used during the recording of this video.
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