Family Video Game Reviews for Parents

Rayman Raving Rabbids
Publisher: Ubisoft
Official Site: www.ubi.com

ESRB Rating: E
Reviewed Platform: Wii
Available Platforms: Wii, PS 2, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, PC

Overall: B
Violence: B-
Sexual Content: A
Language: A
Alcohol/Drug Use: A

What is this game about?

Usually telling parents what a game is about is easy, but not in this case. The Rayman franchise has been around on various game systems since the middle 1990s, but this one is a clear departure from its historical roots. The main character Rayman is having a picnic when a bunch of little bunny-like creatures appear and capture him and his friends. Called "Rabbids," they force Rayman to entertain them through a series of amazingly random "minigames."

Is it fun to play?

The above-mentioned plot is purely for the purpose of getting to the minigames, making this a far better party title than an individual player game. But parties are what the Wii is really made for, and this game adds to the festivities.

Cartoon violence is rampant (or should we say "rabid") in this game where you toss, shoot, and even bowl over the little bunny-like critters. Yet, it's hard to take anything too seriously because the rabbids appear to be having a great time -- and so will you when you square off against them in various contests.

To give an idea of just how random these challenges are, imagine a game similar to Whack-a-Mole, only in this case you're after the rabbids who are sitting in outhouses. Each one slowly opens his door and is aiming to shoot you. Using the Wii remote, you need to "slap" the door shut before it gets too far open. Needless to say, the doors start opening increasingly faster and you need to be quick on the draw or you get a plunger in the face.

Plungers? That's right. The rubber suction cup devices are the ammunition de rigueur in this game, adding to the comic relief and making the idea of aiming and firing a lot less impacting. Many other games don't involve any shooting. For instance, one is called "Bunnies Can't Slide," which is best described (at least for those familiar with the sport) as curling with bunnies. An ice covered service is used to slingshot the characters with the idea of getting your target closest to the center. But watch out for the cows.

Cows? Yes, these are one more random element, and contribute to what might be my favorite minigame: The cow toss. Here you swing the Wii controller (make sure that's wrist strap is on tight) and twirl a cow like a medieval flail. Letting go at just the right time sends the animal in a forward direction, and hopefully you will break a record with your distance.

The game offers the usual unlocking functions, giving you incentive to keep playing. When we first tried the game with our testers as a single player, they seemed to get bored quickly. However, sharing the remote in "History Mode" (which is the section of the game where you can unlock more minigames through advancing your skills) seemed to increase interest. Our testers enjoyed working together to unlock more games.

Once you have a library of minigames available to you, you can return and play many of them as multiplayer games. Some offer a true two-player "versus" option, while others are sequential multiplayer games where each person takes a turn with a single Wii remote. The game keeps track of up to four players' scores in this situation. High scores can also be uploaded to the Internet and compared with other players (a function we did not test).

What do parents need to know about Rayman Raving Rabbids?

Although much of this game involves cartoon violence, it's done on such a fantastical level, that most families with older children and teens won't have too much to be concerned about. The game's E rating includes the descriptors "Cartoon Violence" and "Crude Humor."

Regarding the "crude humor," the only noted example was a certain love of toilets (and plungers) in this game. Aside from the earlier mentioned outhouse door slamming minigame, in between his challenges, Rayman likes to rest on his toilet and think about the day. There's no indication that he's doing anything there, no clothes are removed, and no sounds attributed to usual toilet activity are heard. He just uses it as a place to sit. Each to his own...

Otherwise, this is yet another fun party title for the Wii. I didn't find it quite as immediately engaging as some of the other recent party titles, but it certainly kept our group happy for hours once they got into the play.