Play Lemmings 2: The Tribes Online

Summary

Lemmings 2: The Tribes on the Genesis keeps the original’s quirky charm while the hardware shave off a bit of visual polish and performance. Matt Furniss rescored the soundtrack, giving the familiar tunes a distinct Genesis‑era flavor thanks to the console’s sound chip. The game expands to twelve themed tribes—highland, cave, circus, Egyptian and more—each with its own look, though only the Classic tribe preserves the original Blocker skill for nostalgic players. Gameplay now offers over 60 abilities, from the eight legacy moves to 43 fresh tricks, though no more than ten appear on screen at once. An unlimited fan can be steered to boost Ballooners, Surfers or power mechanisms, and a fast‑forward button—borrowed from an aborted arcade version—lets you zip through tedious sections. Levels award gold, silver or bronze medals based on how many lemmings survive, and only a single lemming needs to reach the exit to advance, with survivors carrying over to later stages. Critics praised the Genesis port’s inventive level design and the game’s lively personality, even if the tiny lemmings made precise control a challenge. Scores ranged from 79% (CVG) to 88% (Hyper), and the title snagged the 1994 Codie award for Best Action/Arcade Game.

Storyline

In Lemmings 2: The Tribes, the twelve tribes of Lemming Island once lived joyfully and peacefully, but an ancient prophecy warns of a looming darkness that will cover the island. The only hope for survival is to leave the island using the power of the Lemming Talisman, a relic made of twelve pieces—one held by each tribe. The player must guide the lemmings to the island’s centre so the talisman can be activated and the doom averted.

Each tribe boasts its own distinct landscape and cultural identity, ranging from Egyptian deserts to circus tents and Highland hills. To reunite the talisman, the game requires the player to complete ten levels for each of the twelve tribes, gathering their pieces along the way. By reassembling the twelve fragments, the lemmings can finally escape their threatened home.