Rayman Raving Rabbids (Wii) Review

Rayman Raving Rabbids (Wii) Review

The story in Rayman Raving Rabbids (the fourth game in the Rayman series) goes as thus: It's a beautiful day outside so Rayman decides to head out to the park to have a nice picnic with his good friends, the Globoxes. Unfortunately for them, some crazy bunny-like creatures -- known as rabbids... and they're raving -- come and crash the party, kidnapping all the globoxes and Rayman himself. Our lead character is tossed into a prison cell, only to emerge in a Gladiator-like arena, participating in some crazy events to amuse and entertain the growing crowd of rabbids. Sure, the game is technically a part of the Rayman series, but it is those nutty (and occasionally screaming) raving rabbids that steal the show.

Not a Platformer / Adventure Game

Unlike other Rayman titles in the past, Raving Rabbids is not a platformer. You will not head out through a lush 3-D adventure nor will you go hopping around in a 2D world. Instead, there are seventy different mini-games to be enjoyed. In the main Story Mode, these games are organized in groups of five. Knock on your jail cell door and a huge rabbid will escort to the arena where you are presented with four gates. Enter each one to participate in the mini-game within. After successfully completing three of the four events, you are offered a "boss" event, which is typically first-person-shooter type game where you launch plungers at the rabbids. There's plenty of variety to enjoy, and to complete the entire story mode -- depending on how well you do -- will take about 10 hours or so.

Beyond that, there is the Score Mode where you challenge for the highest score on any of the events you have unlocked thus far. This is also where the multiplayer action comes into play, though the majority of events are turn-based, rather than of simultaneous gaming variety.

Can't Stop Laughing

The premise may not be particularly innovative, but those raving rabbids are absolutely hilarious. They make the funniest expressions as they scream and yell at you, they yield some strange weapons, and some of the events will have you in stitches. For example, in "Bunnies Can't Close Doors", the rabbids are sitting on toilets in outhouses, but they neglect to lock the door. Each door slowly opens in succession and you must aim your virtual hand with the Wii Remote at the door, slamming it shut by shaking the Nunchuk attachment. If you allow the door to open the completely, the awaiting rabbid will shoot you with a plunger.

In another mini-game, you spin Bessie, a cow, above your head by literally twirling the Wii Remote, launching the bovine wonder as far as you can by letting go (pressing A or B on the Wii-mote). And that's just the beginning.

Countless Mini Games, Something for Everyone

The mini games are hit and miss, but there are more hits than there are misses. Ubisoft has included a nice variety of genres in their mini games, from first person shooting (albeit with plungers instead of bullets) to racing (on a warthog), speedy arcade action to strategic puzzles. There's even Dance Dance Revolution-like rhythm games wherein the rabbids perform cover versions of "Girls Just Want to Have Fun", "Hip Hop Hooray", and other hit songs. There is literally something here for everyone, and that could be part of Rayman Raving Rabbids biggest appeal: that everyone can get a good laugh out of this game, playing something familiar yet totally different.

That Looks Familiar

While playing Raving Rabbids, you'll come across several elements that are blatant spoofs or references to popular culture. In some of the rail-based shooter mini-games, you'll encounter rabbids that wear night vision goggles and other gear that look a little too much like Sam Fisher from Splinter Cell fame. You'll also find allusions to Superman, Wild Wild West, Far Cry, Star Wars, and Halo.

Rayman Raving Rabbids (Wii): The Final Word

The Good: Good variety of games, absolutely hilarious rabbids, great use of the Wii motion sensitive controller.

The Bad: Graphics are sub-par at best, Story Mode is a little short, multiplayer implementation could have been better

The Ugly: The rabbids can be pretty ugly -- you pull worms out of their teeth in one task -- but it's just too funny; they're ugly in a good way

Who's It For? Everyone. Young children may need some help with controls as each mini game is played differently

Conclusion: A great party game for the Nintendo Wii; you won't stop laughing

Also Available For...

Rayman Raving Rabbids is also available for the Xbox 360, PC, and PlayStation 2, though it's the motion sensitive controls that make RRR such a hit for the Wii. For a more traditional platformer approach, have a look at the spin-offs on the Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance.