Redneck Rampage
A hillbilly-themed shooter parodying rural life and FPS games.
Back in 1997, Xatrix Entertainment and Interplay dropped Redneck Rampage, a first-person shooter set in a made-up Arkansas town. It leans hard into hillbilly stereotypes, with ridiculous weapons and power-ups that poke fun at both the genre and rural life. The soundtrack features psychobilly and cowpunk acts like The Beat Farmers and Mojo Nixon. The game later got re-released on GOG and Steam for Windows and macOS, and it runs on source ports like BuildGDX, Rednukem, and Raze.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Xatrix Entertainment
- Publisher
- Interplay Productions, Logicware (Mac OS)
- Director
- Drew Markham
- Producer
- Chris Benson
- Bill Dugan
- Greg Goodrich
- Programmer
- Rafael Paiz; Barry Dempsey
- Artist
- Michael Kaufman; Claire Praderie
- Composer
- Mojo Nixon
- Reverend Horton Heat
- Beat Farmers
- Cement Pond
- Engine
- Build
Facts from the source article.
Did You Know?
- The game's plot involves brothers Leonard and Bubba rescuing their prized pig Bessie from an alien invasion.
- Bosses include Assface and the alien leader Queen Vixen.
- The Cuss Pack add-on required a $1 credit card payment to verify the buyer's adult age.
Add-ons and spin-offs
Redneck Rampage: Suckin' Grits on Route 66 is a 12-level expansion pack developed by Sunstorm Interactive and released on December 19, 1997, adding new locations, textures, and an ending. Redneck Deer Huntin' is a 1998 hunting game for PC using the same engine, developed by Xatrix Entertainment. Redneck Rampage Rides Again, the sequel released after May 13, 1998, includes 14 single-player levels, 7 multiplayer levels, new enemies, weapons, and vehicles such as motorcycles and swamp boats; its plot involves Leonard and Bubba crash-landing a UFO in Area 69 and battling aliens through locations like jackalope farms and Disgraceland.
Off-Road Redneck Racing, a 2001 PC racing spin-off by Rage Games and published by Interplay, uses the series' box art and voice lines but not the Build engine. Compilations include The Cuss Pack, an add-on with stronger language released July 16, 1997, available for $1 download; The Early Years, a limited version with the first five levels and eight multiplayer deathmatch levels; Possum Bayou, a limited version with the first seven levels and no multiplayer; Redneck Icechest of Value, including Suckin' Grits on Route 66; and Redneck Rampage/Redneck Rides Again Dual Jewel, including the sequel.
Reception
In the United States, Redneck Rampage debuted at number seven on PC Data's computer game sales chart for May 1997, then fell to 13th in June and to 17th and 20th in July and August. Reviews were mixed. Arinn Dembo of Cnet Gamecenter gave three stars, praising the psychobilly soundtrack and humor. Next Generation rated it three out of five, noting creative elements but conventional gameplay. Power Unlimited scored it 91%, highlighting extensive levels and slogans. The game was nominated for PC Action Game of the Year at the inaugural Interactive Achievement Awards.
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