A reference guide to the messages you get after completing a level based on how many lemmings you saved, and other awards / game-completion status that are based on the number of lemmings saved.
This is a work-in-progress. Contributions from any of the Lemmings games and ports are most welcome!
Lemmings (DOS)This covers the first-generation games up to Holiday Lemmings 1994.
Game CompletionEach level has a specified number of lemmings and number (expressed as a percentage) to be saved before you can progress to the next level.
The game is considered "complete" (you get a special end-game message) after you solve the final level in the highest rating.
Post-level messagesIn the table below, R is the required percentage saved to complete the level, rounded down to a whole number (eg. 40/60 = 66%).
Messages are quoted verbatim, including double-spaces, ellipses of varying lengths, and one case where the fullstop appears
after the space that should follow it
If more than one case applies, the lowest is taken, unless R=100 in which case you get the 100% message on solving the level.
% Saved | Lemmings | Oh No! More Lemmings / Xmas Lemmings 1991 / Xmas Lemmings 1992 | Holiday Lemmings 1993 | Holiday Lemmings 1994 |
= 100 | Superb! You rescued every lemming on that level. Can you do it again....? | WOW! You saved every Lemming. TOTALLY EXCELLENT! | Excellent! You've managed to save all of the little rodents! Now do it again! | Excellent! You've managed to save them all! Can you do as well next time? |
< 100 | You totally stormed that level! Let's see if you can storm the next... | What a fine display of Lemming control. Take a bow then carry on with the game. | An exemplary instance of rodent control. Now, onto the next challenge. | Very impressive. You're well on your way to becoming a Lemmings Master! |
< R+20 | That level seemed no problem to you on that attempt. Onto the next.... | More than enough .You have the makings of a master Lemmings player. | Well done. You've made it with plenty to spare. Now onto the next... | Well done. You've made it with plenty to spare. Now onto the next... |
= R | RIGHT ON. You can't get much closer than that. Let's try the next.... | Just made it by the skin of your teeth. Time to progress.. | That was close, but you made it! Onwards and upwards... | Whew! That was close, but you made it! On to the next challenge! |
= R-1 | OH NO, So near and yet so far (teehee) Maybe this time..... | Shame, You were short by a tiny amount. Go for it this time. | Just a tiny bit more effort on your part will get the lemmings home! | Just a tiny bit more effort will get the lemmings home for the holidays! |
< R-1 | You got pretty close that time. Now try again for that few % extra. | Getting close. You are either pretty good, or simply lucky. | Not bad, but you can certainly do a bit better! | Not bad, but you can certainly do a bit better! |
< R-5 | A little more practice on this level is definitely recommended. | We are not too impressed with your attempt at that level! | Try a bit harder...the lemmings are depending on you! | Try a bit harder...the lemmings are depending on you! |
< R/2 (rounded down) | Better rethink your strategy before you try this level again! | Yes, well, err, erm, maybe that is NOT the way to do this level. | Umm, maybe you'd better rethink your strategy a bit! | Umm, maybe you'd better rethink your strategy a bit! |
= 0 | ROCK BOTTOM! I hope for your sake that you nuked that level. | Oh dear, not even one poor Lemming saved. Try a little harder next time. | At this rate, the lemmings are not going to have a very happy holiday! | Uh-oh! Not a single lemming saved! Try harder, the lemmings need you! |
Lemmings 2 (DOS)Game completionLevel 1 of each Tribe starts with 60 lemmings, and lemmings saved carry over to the next level.
After each level (if you saved any lemmings), you are awarded a medal based on the number saved. This may be Gold, Silver or Bronze.
After level 10, you receive a piece of the Talisman. The colour is the same as the lowest medal you've achieved across the ten levels.
To complete the game, you must obtain a Gold piece of the Talisman in each of the 12 Tribes.
AwardsThe medal given is determined as follows:
T = the number of lemmings you start the level with.
L = the number of lemmings you can lose and still get Gold. This is specified in the level file, but hidden from the player.
G = T - L is the minimum number of lemmings you need to save for Gold.
S = G - T/2 (round up the result) is the minimum number of lemmings you need to save for Silver.
Post-level messagesWhere more than one of the cases below applies, the order of precedence is: 0 > Bronze > Silver > 1.
Saved (minimum) | Medal | Message |
G | Gold | Excellent! A gold standard successful rescue attempt. |
G-1 | Silver | That was a sparkling performance. |
G-2 | Silver | Nice one! But can you give that extra bit of effort? |
G-3 | Silver | You got a grade "A" for merit. |
G-4 | Silver | You obviously had few problems there. |
G-5 | Silver | That was a reasonably good go. |
G-6 | Silver | Do you think those were acceptable losses? |
S | Silver | That was a passable effort. Must try harder. |
S-1 | Bronze | A little practice might be what you need. |
S-2 | Bronze | Not bad, but not good either. |
S-3 | Bronze | That just wasn't good enough. They're relying on you. |
S-4 | Bronze | That wasn't very impressive was it? |
S-5 | Bronze | You saved so few that they are going to be very lonely. |
1 | Bronze | Uh oh. That was a feeble effort. |
0 | None | Oh Dear. You seem to have made this tribe extinct! |
Lemmings Chronicles / All New World of LemmingsGame completionLevel 1 of each tribe starts with 20 lemmings, and lemmings saved carry over to the next level. Some levels contain pre-placed lemmings that can be saved in addition to the ones you start with. To complete the game, you must save 50 lemmings in each tribe.
Post-level messagesIn the table below, T is the number of lemmings you start the level with, and E is the number of extra lemmings on the level.
Messages are written in the game's font which has no distinction between upper and lower case, and thus appears as all upper case.
Saved | Message |
>T if E>0, =T if E=0 | WELL DONE |
=T if E>0 | GOOD WORK |
>1 | YOU CAN DO BETTER ! |
=1* | THATS A BIT FEEBLE ! |
=0 | HARD LUCK |
* Takes precedence over other messages.
End-of-tribe messagesIf you saved less than 50:
CONGRATULATIONS !
YOU HAVE REACHED THE END OF THE (TRIBE) ISLAND WITH (N) LEMMING(S)
HOWEVER YOU MUST SAVE 50 LEMMINGS TO COMPLETE THE TRIBE
PLEASE GO BACK AND SAVE SOME MORE !
If you saved 50 or more:
EXCELLENT !
YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE (TRIBE) TRIBE WITH (N) LEMMINGS