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Rayman was a launch title for the Wii, and many of us are wondering, “what is keeping this game competitive with Zelda!?!?!” Rayman Raving Rabbids is a constant best-seller, and has been increasingly difficult to find on the shelf lately. The few new copies sell out usually within a day, and for what reason? Because we like to hit crazed rabbits with plungers? Evidently so….
Rayman has taken a break from his platforming adventures. Sitting quietly one day with his frog-like buddies, he becomes aware that something just isn’t right. When a psychotic looking bunny with a slob of drool on his face peers up at him from a hole in the ground, Rayman knows things are definitely not normal. Suddenly, a giant robotic bunny appears and drags Rayman off to an arena mimicking the Roman Coliseum. Rayman must beat the bunnies at their own game to get his friends back!
Rayman’s story is oh-so-simple…. but surprisingly is deliciously fun. Each day, Rayman must compete in 4 mini-games (trials). If he wins 3 out of 4, he is given the chance to play the final trial, in which he wins one of his froggy buddies back. After he wins the final trial, he gets to go to his cell. The cell has a few fun options, sitting on the crapper gives you time to review what you did for the day and allows you to play your favorite mini-games again. Looking up at the window gives you a nice surprise (don’t take my word for it… I dare you to look!), and the costume wardrobe allows Rayman to get funky in no time flat.
The mini-games are really the heart and soul of RRR. They are ludicrous and insanely hilarious at the same time. This game really uses the Wii controllers, so if you have the PS2 version, you are a sad loser. No offense, but really, the extensive use of the Wii controllers are what makes this game fun. I went to town throwing cows, drawing food to make rabbids fat, filling up masks with carrot juice, running around explosive gifts, and shooting plungers at rabbids. The best part (SPOILERS!) is making those stupid rabbids dance. DANCE RABBIDS, DANCE! They really do dance the disco like in those commercials. Believe me, after playing for an hour, I was dancing too.
The plot of RRR isn’t interesting enough. But who cares? The excitement of unlocking the new mini-games, each one with something new to offer, is the real money-getter here. The best part about the mini-games is that they are easy to pick up. The most difficult trials took a few attempts, but generally, they only take one try. There are instructions at the start of each mini-game, telling you the score you need to win and how to use the controls. The instructions are basic, but extremely efficient. I honestly cannot tell you how I think the PS2 players get anything out of this game, you really need a Wii to enjoy the mini-games.
RRR’s graphics are decent. They’re not as good as Zelda, but they aren’t bad either. Rabbids get close enough to really freak you out. They just look like cruel, half-mental, half-retarded, heartless, non-fluffy rabbits. Rayman looks pretty good for a character with no arms, legs, or neck to speak of. His motions are flowing enough, and his costumes are frickin’ awesome. If only everyone had the Rayman flair….
In addition to Rayman’s wardrobe, the rabbids also have several different costumes they can wear. This involves everything from flippers and snorkels to cowboy hats. Surprisingly, the rabbids also have a variety of weapons. I know the plunger is the most heavily advertised weapon, but there are metal strainers, cheese graters, sticks of dynamite, and weiners. That’s right, a rabbid could flail you with an Oscar Meyer weiner. How frickin’ lame are you if you succumb to the power of a hot dog!? Wait… I am writing to college students and office nerds right? Oooops…….
Besides the story mode, RRR has a multiplayer. Up to four players can get together and play minigames, and of course, the highest scoring player wins. Smashing rabbids together can really be fun, and the laughs that players will get out of it together makes Rayman one of the better multiplayers available for the Wii at this time.
Another game mode gives players the opportunity to play their favorite mini-games again for a high score. Boasting about your Rayman scores may sound nerdy, but it often takes some mad skill to get to the top.
RRR doesn’t really have a soundtrack to speak of. However, the music is still quite memorable. The music for the cut scenes has been well written; perfectly complimenting the story. For example, watching the bird in the window has peaceful, slow music. That is, until you get pooped on! (You don’t think I’m serious? You just wait….)
Also, the occassional “BLLLLAAAGHHHHH” screamed by a crazed rabbid is frightening, but fitting. Lastly, the disco music pays homage to many familiar tunes, although they skirt around the actual song just enough to avoid copyright infringement. The music is very Saturday Night Fever; I expected a John Travolta rabbid to come out any second a-blazin’ in a white suit…..
A concern to some console fans is if the Wii remote and nunchuk are consistent enough to play the game effectively. Making sure the sensor is in the right place and configured correctly is important, but players need to make sure that nothing is blocking the sensor from reading the actions of the controllers. Some of the mini-games require lightning fast reflexes, and the Wii does a remarkable job keeping up. There is one game in particular where you must draw over the outline of food to feed it to the rabbids, and the Wii remote handles the job with exceptionable precision. RRR also makes exceptions for the difficulty of drawing and aiming with the remote, so it seems to accept an accuracy of around 80% for most games.
Rayman is also a fairly short game; once you’ve completed the majority of mini-games, it basically becomes a show-your-friends/party game. The replay value is fairly high because it is easy to pick up and play, and the other game modes push you to become the best rabbid slayer on the planet. I’m disappointed that Wii does not have anything like Xbox Live in place, because slaying rabbids with other people would also be really fun. Here’s hoping something develops in the future!
Despite a somewhat weak plot (providing just enough back story to set the game up), Rayman Raving Rabbids really is fun. The mini-games have moments where you can do nothing but throw your head back and laugh, and additional multiplayer action will make even Mario Party sit and collect dust. Honestly, the drive to continue playing the game is asking yourself what could possibly come up next.
Although not as polished or as famous as Zelda, Rayman is easily the second gotta-have game for the Wii at this time. It displays the power of the Wii controllers better than any other game as of right now until Wario Ware is released. If you’ve played the PS2 version, you’re simply missing out. Spinning an analog stick is nothing compared to lifting the remote over your head preparing to wrangle some darned rabbids. Invest in your self-esteem by adding Rayman Raving Rabbids to your party list…. if nothing else, it’s an excuse to have your nerdy friends over for some hot dogs and rabbid-smashing fun!
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