If you're planning on seeing Rampage this weekend and are looking to get into the city-smashing spirit, you'll be happy to know that the classic arcade title has been turned into a free, web-based game in celebration of the movie's arrival.
In case you aren't a child of the '80s or simply missed the connection, Rampage the movie is loosely based on an arcade game that's been launched on oodles of platforms at this point and even received a sequel or two in the past 30-odd years. A spruced up version of the arcade classic, though, is now available for free at the film's official website. And, before you ask the answer is yes, you can turn off the sound and even pause the game in case you are looking for a way to appear like you're doing work at your desk while you are, in fact, destroying a city block as a behemoth monster.
The game allows players to take on the role of George the gorilla, Lizzie the lizard or Ralph the wolf, who easily has the most out of place name of the group. Honestly, it might be worth watching Rampage just to see if anyone actually calls the flying wolf "Ralph."
While there's a tutorial to learn how to play the game, the basic gist of it is that you are trying to score the most points by causing the most destruction. You do this by smashing buildings, pummeling your opponents and destroying the police and military who are sent in to stop your clears throat rampage. And, did I mention you can pick up and eat the humans if they become too much of a nuisance? There doesn't appear to be a competitive mode like in the arcade, so you'll just have to settle for trying to destroy the city in as many levels as possible before your health runs out.
Sadly, it does not appear that Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is a playable character, even though he's definitely featured prominently in the film. Based on what we've seen from the trailers, the movie looks to be about as "true" to the arcade game as one might expect. They've inserted a plot involving heart-of-gold scientists and evil corporations that turn normal-sized animals into kaiju, but then they all get dropped into a city where the animals must fight as the police and military attempt to restore order. There isn't a lot of source material to work with here, but we wouldn't be surprised if a few fun Easter eggs are snuck in for Rampage fanatics to enjoy.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to start circulating a petition to get The Rock added to the next Rampage game as a playable character.
