Rayman is a relatively obscure video game hero in America, but he is wildly popular in Europe. In fact, the original “Rayman” game, released in 1991, sold more copies in the UK than games like “Gran Turismo” or “Tomb Raider 2,” which sold well that year in America. “Rayman” still holds a record for the best-selling Playstation game of all time in the UK.
So, what is it about this strange character with no neck or arms that is so admirable overseas?
Well, first of all, Ubisoft, who publishes this game, has always been a solid company held in high regard by gamers because all of Ubisoft’s games are well planned with game play in mind. Second of all, the level design in the early “Rayman” games was fantastic.
Due to his early success, Ubisoft, a France-based video game company, made Rayman its mascot, thereby ensuring the company would handle the character with care. Ubisoft has handled Rayman well, as any games starring the character have received critical praise upon release.
He has been the star of no less then seven of his own games, but in the newest Ubisoft title, “Rayman: Raving Rabbids,” the (mostly) limbless hero takes a backseat to his co-stars, the “Rabbids.”
The Rabbids are a goofy-looking race of rabbit-type creatures who imprison Rayman during the opening movie of “Rayman: Raving Rabbids.” It seems the Rabbids don’t want anything from Rayman other than entertainment, and throughout the game, the player will have to do many different tasks to entertain a roman gladiator-style arena full of the rabbit-like creatures.
The game is played similarly to the Wii’s “WarioWare: Smooth Moves,” where the story progresses as mini-games are completed. Here, the mini-games are longer than in the Wario title, but many themes are the same. On the Wii, most of the games revolve around making the player use the remote in weird ways. On other systems players will have to do repetitive or odd motions with the controls, but nothing like the movement on the Wii.
Mini-games are the meat of “Rayman: Raving Rabbids,” and throughout those games, players will find a wide array of fun and innovative game types. Players will need to pull worms from a Rabbid’s teeth, steer a neuron through a Rabbid’s brain (to help it think faster), hold dance competitions with the bunny-things, shoot them with plungers, throw cows into the air, jump rope, and even close doors for Rabbids, as they are forgetful and the doors to their outhouse stalls seem to open too often. It’s all very silly and very fun.
Upon completing mini-games, you will need to play longer, level completing, mini-games (usually a plunger shooting game or a racing-while-riding-hog-creatures game), and upon a win, you will receive, of all things, a plunger, ta-da!
But, a plunger isn’t too bad, because as you collect a bunch of plungers through the game, eventually you can stick them all to the wall, in an effort to create a ladder in your holding cell and climb to freedom.
Some of the games in this collection can be played multi-player with friends, and all the games should at least be played and shown to friends, as “Rayman: Raving Rabbids” is much more fun to laugh at with others.
On the down side, while I found the rabbids humorous, I wanted to see more variety in the games. I would have also liked to see more boss creatures instead of just longer boss-style mini-games.
Also, the arena, used as the hub area where the player guides Rayman to each of his mini-games, is unnecessary. The arena looks good, but the Rabbids in the audience are poorly animated.
Overall it is a lot of fun, and the sure-to-happen sequel will probably iron out some of the bumps in this game.
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