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Lemmings 2: The Tribes

Gameplay

The screen consists of a part showing the level in which the lemmings walk and a part where the player can see the time remaining for a level and where he can choose skills to assign to a lemming. All levels have a name, a number of lemmings and a time limit. Unlike the original game, there is no small preview of the level, the player has to scroll the level to get an overview.

When the level starts, the entrance opens and lemmings start falling out for the player to guide to the exit. During this travel, the player can choose from a number of skills and asign them the lemmings. The number and type of skills varry per level but there is always a maximum of eight skills to choose from.

Skills

The following skills are available:

Archer: The archer shoots arrows which can be used to make platforms for the other lemmings to land savely instead of falling a great distance. Shoot the arrow towards a wall to get this result. It's also possible to block lemmings with an arrow by shooting the straight up so it comes down vertical.
Attractor: The attractor will play music, any lemming in a few steps of the attractor will start dancing in place until the attractor is released (ie. by making him jump using the jumper skill).
Ballooner: Sometimes, a level needs a strategy where a lemmings gets on a higher platform, the ballooner can do this. With the fan (see Other), the ballooner can be guided. Watch out for spikes and walls as this will pop the balloon.
Basher: The basher is used to create horizontal corridors through obstacles. When the basher reaches the other side of the obstacle, or when he hits steel, he stops bashing.
Bazooker: With the bazooker, the player is able to blast away parts of the level. The blast radius effects lemmings in a way that they are blown away a few steps. This can make lemmings land in unwanted places.
Blocker: A group of lemmings can be hold in one place by making one lemming a blocker. A blocker can only be removed by removing the ground underneath him or to explode him.
Bomber: The bomber leaves behind a bomb which will blow up after destroying part of the level in its surroundings. The blast radius blows lemmings into the air. They can land in unwanted places so take care.
Builder: Build diagonal stairs into the air with a lemming. When the lemming is out of bricks (he gets 12 bricks), the player can give him another set of bricks providing the skill isn't depleated.
Climber: Horizontal walls can be conquered with the climber. He keeps this skill throughout the level. If he hit's his head while he's climbing, he will fall down. If the height is to high, the lemming will die unless he's also assigned the floater skill.
Club Basher: Assign a lemming a club basher and he will bash a horizontal corridor through obstacles. When the lemming hits steel, or when he reaches the otherside of the obstacle, he will stop bashing.
Digger: Sometimes it's needed to dig through a platform, this skill accomplishes just that. The lemming will stop digging when he hits steel or when he's through the platform. If the platform is too high above the ground, the lemming will die when he falls through.
Diver: With this skill, a lemming can dive in water from great heights. This is great for a scout lemming. When he enters the water, he will swim to the shore and climb out.
Exploder: Unlike the bomber skill, the exploder skill kills the lemming to whom it's assigned. When assigned, a timer appears above it's head counting down to 1 starting with 5. For a more precise explosion, the lemming can also be made a blocker. Lemmings in the blast radius are blown away and are stunned for a few moments. In the classic tribe, other lemmings are not affected by the blast radius but a small crater is still left behind.
Fencer: The fencer makes a diagonal upwards corridor through penetratable obstacles. He stops when he's throught the obstacle or when he hits steel.
Filler: Any pit will be filled by the filler, but he has limited resources so he might be given more resources to completely fill a pit.
Flame Thrower: The flame thrower burns away any penetratable obstacles within a few steps. Lemmings aren't affected by the flame.
Floater: Any lemming given the floater skill can survive falling high distances. The lemming keeps this skill throughout the level.
Glue Pourer: Unlike the filler skill, a lemming made a glue pourer can create bridges. This is achieved by pouring on a platform with small endings. The glue goes over the edge until it reaches the bottom of the platform. If there is enough glue left, it will extend the platform with the height of the platform. The lemming has to be given additional resources when needed.
Hang Glider: The hang glider gives a lemming the opportunity to get down diagonally through the air. It is possible to use the fan to guide the lemming to a specific place.
Hopper: Make a lemming a hopper and he keeps hopping until he hits a wall or is given another skill.
Icarus Wings: As with the hang glider, the Icarus wings give a lemming the possible to cross distances through the air. Use the fan to guide the lemming.
Jet Pack: It's also possible to cross distances through the air with the jet pack, again, the fan can be used to guide the lemming.
Jumper: A lemming can jump one distance at the time with this skill. This can be used to cross small gaps or to stop an attractor from attracting lemmings.
Kayaker: Does a lemming need to cross some water, make him a kayaker and he will. When he reaches the other side, he will continue walking.
Laser Blaster: The laser blaster creates a vertical beam leaving a shaft above the lemming. It does not affect other lemmings.
Magic Carpet: When a magic carpet is given to a lemming, he will get a magic carpet and sits on it while floating in the air. With the fan, he can then be guided to another place until the magic carpet disappears.
Magno Boots: This will make a lemmings walk slowly on every solid surface, even upside down. To stop this lemming from using the magno boots, he has to be given another skill when not on a wall or a ceiling.
Miner: To make diagonally downwards corridors, a lemming can be assigned a miner. He will stop mining when he's through the ground or when he hits steel.
Mortar: To blow away penetratable obstacles, a mortar can be used. The lemming will set up a mortar and it shoots one time the way he's facing. Be carefull though, the blast radius causes lemmings to fly into the air and they can land in places where it isn't save.
Parachute: Just like the floater, the parachute makes lemmings float down great heights without dying. This skill is kept throughout the level.
Planter: Sometimes the lemmings need to get up higher, ie. to reach a platform. This can be reached by using the planter.
Platformer: A platformer gets 12 bricks which can be used to cross a gap. He will make a horizontal bridge and when he's out of bricks, will continue walking the way he's facing.
Pole Vaulter: The player has to make sure the lemming to be given the pole vaulter skill has much space ahead of him, in the air and on the ground. He'll be needing this to gain height and speed so he can use a large stick to cross a large distance.
Rock Climber: Unlike the normal climber, the rock climber can climb overhang to 45 degrees. This skill lasts throughout the level.
Roller: The roller keeps on rolling until he hits a wall. It's usefull to go down a ramp and cross a gap at the end of the ramp since it bounces up.
Roper: This skill is very usefull to reach high and low platforms. The lemmings gets a rope which can be shot using the cursor. The lemming can't shoot to far, he has a limited lenght of rope.
Runner: A runner keeps on running throughout the level. Can come in handy when time is low or to throw things (like stones / spears) further. To accomplish this, give the lemming the according skill while he's running.
Sand Pourer: The sand pourer starts pouring sand for a few seconds. The sand just falls on the ground and forms kind of a piramid.
Scooper: The scooper creates a diagonally downwards corridor. He will stop scooping when he gets in the open air or when he hits steel.
Shimmier: With the shimmier, it's possible to cross gaps by grabbing onto the ceiling and shimmier to the otherside. The lemming can't shimmier forever, so large gaps can't be crossed.
Skater: The skater is capable of crossing ice, he will keep this skill throughout the level.
Skier: The skier can be used to cross gaps. He will ski down a slope and jump when there is an upward ramp ath the bottom.
Slider: With the slider, it's possible for a lemming to go down walls and continue walking. This skill lasts througout the level.
Spearer: A lemming assigned the spearer skill, will throw a spear which in turn can be used as a platform when the throw is timed well.
Stacker: To build a vertical wall, a stacker comes in handy. The stacker has 12 bricks and continues walking when he's out of bricks. The player can make the stacker jump to cross gaps etc. He will jump the way he's facing when the player makes him jump.
Stomper: The stomper does more or less the same as the digger, it makes a shaft downwars until he hits steel or when he get's in the open air. Be carefull not to stomp over to great heights as the drop will kill the lemmings.
Super Lem!: The Super Lem! is used to go to any place in a level. He follows the cursor while he's flying. When he hits the cursor, or when he hits part of the level, he stops flying.
Surfer: The surfer can cross water, but he needs the fan to do this. If the lemming stays on the water too long, he gets tired and drowns.
Swimmer: A swimmer can cross water when needed. This skill lasts throughout the level.
Thrower: With a thrown rock, lemmings can be blocked, or some kind of platform can be build with severel rocks.
Twister: The twister is very usefull to create corridors which go in different directions (except straight up). Using the fan, a lemming who is a twister, can be guided to where the player wants him to go. When the twister get's loose from the ground, he stops twisting.

Elements

The lemmings can be hindered by one of the following elements:

Cannon: When a lemming walks by a cannon, he clims in and will be shot the way the cannon is facing. The player can control the place of the cannon with the arrows.
Catapult: The catapult acts the same way as the cannon, any lemming walking by will climb in the catapult and is catapulted the way the cannon is facing. The player can control the place of the cannon with the arrows.
Chain: The player can make a lemming jump onto the chain and make the chain go left to right faster with the fan. When the player wants it, he can make the lemming fall of the chain. This can be used to cross gaps.
Dinosaur: The dinosaur launches lemmings walking by with his tail, this can come in handy or can be very annoying.
Emptyness: The bottom and sides of the screen are the entrance to a big emptyness, any lemming entering this emptyness is never heard off again.
Ice: Lemmings can't walk on ice, unless they are skaters. If a lemming gets on ice, it stays on it until the ice is destroyed.
Obstacles: Normal obstacles in a level can be overwon using the various skills. They are just annoying.
Steam: Steam causes lemmings to be pushed away from it. Can be used to finish a level.
Steel: No matter what skill the player gives a lemming, steel won't butch. From times, steel can be a very irritating obstacle.
Trampoline: Any lemming falling on the trampoline will jump a distance and continues walking when he comes down.
Transporter: When a lemming walks by the transporter, he will be transported to another transporter in the level. It can by very annoying if the other side is in a pit or a dangerous place.
Water: Lemmings normally can't swim, so just avoid the water otherwise they will drown.

Traps

To make live even harder, several traps can be found:

Airlock: When a lemmings walks by an airlock, he will be sucked into the vacuüm outside. This will kill the lemming.
Bogeyman: The player only sees 2 red blinking eyes, when a lemmings walks by, he will be taken away or is eaten in place.
Bouncing tennisball: The bouncing tennisball crushes a lemming underneath it.
Claw: The claw grabs a lemming and kills is.
Crusher: Should a lemming step onto the red button, he will be crushed from above. A very painfull death.
Death pit: Should a lemming walk past the middle of the death pit, the sides will crush the lemming.
Dragon: Hiding behind a pile of stones, the dragon will come out when a lemmings passes by.
Flamethrower: The flamethrower just burns the lemmings to their death, try to avoid this trap.
Frog: The frog really likes lemmings and grabs them with his tongue and eats them.
Icemachine: To make instance lemming ice, they have to fall into the ice machine. It will spit out an icecube containing the lemming.
Killer tulip: Well, the killer tulip just hugs the lemmings to death.
Robot: The robot shoots bullets at the lemmings, most lemmings die in the process.
Shell: It looks harmless, but it will open its shell and take any lemming walking by inside.
Sucker: When a lemming walks underneath the sucker, he gets sucked up and dies.

Other

These controls are also available:

Fan: The fan turns the cursor into a fan, which can be used with several skills. The speed of the fan can be controlled bye the player.
Fast Forward level: Using the fast forward control, the time and speed goes faster. This can be used to speed up the level when the player is only waiting for lemmings reach the exit.
Nuke level: When al hope is lost on finishing the level, the player can nuke the level. This will kill all levels and gives the option to restart the level if not enough lemmings are saved. It's also used to end the level when enough lemmings are saved and the player does not want to save anymore lemmings. Also, use it to kill any remaining blockers when there are is no bomber skill (left).
Pause level: This control can be used to pause the game and scout the level to come up with a good strategy. With some strategies, the game must be paused to do simultanious actions.

Entrance / exit

Before the player can think up a strategy, it's essential that the player knows how the entrance and exit of a level look like.

Entrance: The levels varry in style, this makes the entrance look different from time to time.
Exit: Also the exit looks different from time to time.

Playing a level

With all the skills available, it's up to the player to assign selected skills to selected lemmings at the right time. In some levels, the timing is even more essential for a succesfull finish of the level. In other levels, you feel like you have all the time of the world.

Before the lemmings start falling from the entrance it's wise to pause the game and view the whole level so the player can come up with a strategy. When a suitable strategy is thought up, the player unpauses the game and tries the strategy.

Often, the player has to start all over again with a new strategy, making some levels a real challenge. But when the player finally finishes a level he can happily start a fresh level until the game is finished. When the player doesn't want to play anymore, he can save his progress to continue another time.

Talisman

After finishing a level, the player is awarded a bronze, silver or gold medal, depending on how many lemmings are saved. When the player finishes all levels from a tribe, he's give a piece of a talisman. This talisman will also be bronze, silver or gold. If any level is finished with a silver medal, the piece will be silver, if any level is finished with a bronze medal, the piece will be bronze. To finish the game perfectly, the player should finish every level with a gold medal, making a completely gold talisman.

Last edit: Tuesday, 2 October 2007.

Main source: own words.
Graphics: Lemmings 2: The Tribes, Amiga platform.

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Lemmings 2: The Tribes

Gameplay

Skills

Elements

Traps

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Entrance / exit

Playing a level

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Talisman