Redneck Rampage

Redneck Rampage
Cover art
Developer(s)	Xatrix Entertainment (Win) Logicware, Inc. (Mac)
Publisher(s)	Interplay (Win) Logicware, Inc. (Mac)
Engine	Build engine based on Duke Nukem 3D
Platform(s)	MS-DOS Mac OS
Release date(s)	Windows/DOS: NA April 30, 1997 EU 1997 Mac OS: NA 1999
Genre(s)	First-person shooter
Mode(s)	Single-player Multiplayer
Distribution	CD-ROM

Redneck Rampage is a 1997 first-person shooter game designed by Xatrix Entertainment and published by Interplay. The game features songs by Mojo Nixon, Reverend Horton Heat, Beat Farmers and other Psychobilly artists. As the name implies, Redneck Rampage has many hillbilly elements in it.

Plot

The game's plot revolves around two brothers, Leonard and Bubba, fighting through the fictional town of Hickston, Arkansas to rescue their prized pig Bessie and thwart an alien invasion. The brothers battle through such locales as a meat packing plant and a trailer park, and battle evil clones of their neighbors. Other than Leonard & Bubba, there are several types of alien enemies wielding various types of weapons. Boss enemies include Assface, the Alien Vixen and the Alien Hulk.

Gameplay

Like most first-person-shooters, it offers a variety of ways for the character to regenerate health or hit points. These power-ups consisted of the allegedly redneck related moon pies, pork rinds, beer and liquor. A small supply of each could be carried for future use (with the exception of pork rinds, which were used automatically upon being picked up). Each of these power-ups had distinct disadvantages: The more food the character ate, the more flatulent he became (represented by a "gut" meter in the user display), making it difficult to sneak up on enemies as the character would move forward and make a distinct fart sound frequently after eating. However, eating food did decrease the "drunk meter" slightly (see below). When drinking alcohol, the health was restored and as an added benefit the character became somewhat less affected by enemy fire (the proverbial bulletproof). This only worked to a minor degree, and the more the character drank, the less coordinated they became. This was measured on a "drunk meter" in the user display. Toward the high end of the meter, after consuming a large amount of alcohol, the character movements would become erratic and the user would have difficulty controlling the character as he moved in directions that did not correspond to the input on the keyboard. The ingame video would also become grainy and less viewable. At the maximum drunk level, the character would simply fall down, followed by the sounds of vomiting and the loss of all motor regardless of user input. All of these effects would pass after a few minutes as the character sobered up. During this time, the character can not use weapons and is essentially defenseless. The side effects of both power-up types forces the user to use them sparingly and gives another reason to avoid damage during gameplay. However, one other power-up, moonshine, gives the player increased speed for a brief amount of time, at the end of which both the "drunk meter" and the "gut meter" were reset to zero.

Add-ons and spin-offs

Cuss Pack

An add-on to the game was the "Cuss Pack" which added stronger language to the game. The add-on was available for download at Interplay's online store, but users had to pay $1 with a credit card to ensure that the buyer of the add-on was of adult age. The add-on was included on the CD for the Mac OS version.

Redneck Rampage: The Early Years

The Early Years is a limited version of Redneck Rampage, which allows players to play the first five levels. It also features eight multiplayer deathmatch levels.

Redneck Rampage: Suckin' Grits on Route 66

Redneck Rampage Rides Again

Redneck Rampage Rides Again is a 14-level sequel for Redneck Rampage, and includes new enemies and weapons, and vehicles, including motorcycles and swamp boats. After Leonard and Bubba crash-landed a UFO, they found themselves in the middle of the desert (Area 69). Along the way, they are hunted by aliens, and blast their ways through jackalope farms, Disgraceland, a riverboat and brothels.

Redneck Deer Huntin'

Deer Huntin' is a hunting game using the same engine as the previous games in the series.

Compilations

• Redneck Icechest of Value is a compilation that includes Redneck Rampage: Suckin Grits on Route 66.

• Redneck Rampage/Redneck Rides Again Dual Jewel is a compilation that includes Redneck Rampage Rides Again.

• Redneck Rampage: Family Reunion is a compilation that includes the original game, the Cuss Pack add-on, Redneck Rampage: Suckin Grits on Route 66 and Redneck Rampage Rides Again. Another edition of the Family Reunion contains only the original game and Rides Again.

• Gamefest: Redneck Classics includes original game, Redneck Rampage: Suckin' Grits on Route 66, Redneck Rampage Rides Again, Redneck Deer Huntin', Redneck Rampage Theme Windows 95 theme pack and Redneck Rampage Screen Saver.

• Redneck Rampage Collection includes all but Deer Huntin'.

Reception

Reviews for the title were mixed, but even the harshest reviewers were able to appreciate the game's energy and sense of humor. Arinn Dembo writing for Cnet Gamecenter gave the game three stars, and said it deserved "big points for its psychobilly soundtrack", "big points for being genuinely funny at times", and offered "good fun using a crowbar to beat aliens, 'Old Coots' and 'Billy Rays' to death".^[1] Redneck Rampage was nominated in the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences' first annual Interactive Achievement Awards in the category "Computer Action Game of the Year".^[2]

References

External links

• Interplay RR page
• Logicware RR page
• Sunstorm Interactive Redneck Rampage: Suckin' Grits On Route 66 page
• Interplay Redneck Rampage Rides Again page
• Redneck Rampage/Redneck Rides Again Dual Jewel page
• Interplay Redneck Deer Huntin' page
• Redneck Rampage series on MobyGames
• Mobygames: Redneck Rampage: The Early Years
• Redneck Rampage: Family Reunion on IGN
• Gamefest: Redneck Classics on IGN
• Redneck Rampage web ring contains strategy guides
• Totally Redneck Active up to date site with user made maps and level walkthroughs.