Rabbids Go Home (Wii) - Review by Trent

Introduction

Rabbids I hear you grown and moan. Yes once again Ubisoft Montpellier brings another Rabbid game, but unlike past series instalments isn't another title plastered with the Rayman brand or a mini game series. Ubisoft has now decided it's time for the Rabbids to run free and explore the world in their own title. An action-adventure title which brings the crazy misunderstood Rabbids collecting items to build a pile high enough to go to the moon. Why the moon you ask? Well the Rabbids are probably mesmerised by the glow from the moon, but other than that they think it's their home.

Gameplay

Rabbids Go Home for the Nintendo Wii has a simple gameplay premises of controlling a trolley which is been used by some Rabbids for their master plan of collecting items. One is pushing the trolley (which luckily for you the gameplay gives the illusion you are this Rabbid) while another Rabbid picks up the junk and shoves it in the trolley and performs other moves (picking up stuff for the most part is automatic).

The game during the first few levels presents the player with a much simpler version of the final concept. Meaning all you have to worry about is moving the trolley around and single move which explodes some basic items. This BAAAAAWAH move works only on basic things, (also works as a simple attack for defending yourself) though in later levels you gain access to a power boost which removes obstacles more effectively.

As the player progresses through the game, you are rewarded with bonuses and other goodies. For example as you collect items and save your progress at the tuba Rabbid, you may be rewarded with a gift box which unlocks customizable options for your Rabbid.

The levels are fairly linear, and exploration is minimal on most sections. Though some areas have multiple paths to the destination or you can find out of the way areas which contain an abundance of items to pick up. So with 40 levels which the players can explore it might seem a bit too easy for some players, but others might be rewarded with laughter and enjoyment from the characterisation in the game from Rabbids and the Humans as well as other characters which come for the ride.

The levels are based around human locations such as cities, offices, airports, hospitals and other places humans like to occupy themselves at. The Rabbids see these human habitats as a great resource for items to get to the moon and the gameplay in these areas reflects that. Each level has an exclusive item which the Rabbids have their eye on to make their tower bigger. Some of these items have no features which the player can use, while others present unique gameplay changes within the levels such as the sick human tank in the hospital, allows the Rabbids to jump in 3 bursts of toxic fumes.

Another charming yet pointless feature which Rabbids Go Home presents is the concept of a "Rabbid in a Wiimote". You can shake and bake your Rabbid until his eyes and mouth is no longer in the right position. This feature is also where players will find the customization options for the title. You can use gifts which you find throughout the game to change the appearance of the Rabbid, alter his body shape and change his colours.

Disapoint however is Rabbids Go Home does indeed include mini games. At the end of each feet requirement is a star zone. This start zone either shows you some new features to your trolley OR a mini game. There are three mini games; a shake the Rabbid game, a mix a sound clip for your Rabbid game and finally a "Simon" like game using your Rabbid/Wii Remote. The mini games are disapointing because they offer little challange and are more boring then mini games in the past Rabbid games. A huge disapointment considering the quility of some of those last ones.

Rabbids Go Home uses one Wii feature which hasn't been touched for awhile, especially by third parties. That is the use of an extra channel for the game. Rabbids Go Home features a channel which provides a "Rabbid Expo" it looks to be similar to the everyone votes channel in terms of function.

Controls

The game controls quite smooth with the Wii Remote and Nunchuk, and motion control for the most part feels smooth and shows that the kinks in basic swinging and shaking of the remote has been ironed out from previous titles. Some problems with the control set up is the constant holding down of A to go a considerable speed (otherwise the trolley is only pushed gently). Otherwise the game controls in a quite simple and easy to understand way (aiming for throwing a Rabbid cannon + Z to fire), C loads up a camera mode and the control stick moves the trolley. These control choices make the game easy to get into, which makes the first "zone" of the game considerably easy, while going at a nice pace to experiment with the surroundings.

Graphics

Ubisoft has a few graphic styles in Rabbids Go Home for the Nintendo Wii. One of the major styles is the CGI cut scenes which for the most part have "Pixar quality animation" but at the same time dosn't reach that quality because of how much Ubisoft expanded the other characters (only the Rabbids seem to have the charm and life to them, while humans feel like dolls). Another disappointing feature of these CGI cut scenes is that they are compressed down so much you can noticeably see the compression on most of the scenes. It's still watchable and enjoyable, but does cut down the beauty of the animation which Ubisoft has perfected over the years.Once again cut scenes, but this time more sharper and charming is the style which gives basic outlines to the Rabbids in a 2D field. It looks charming and is used to demonstrate level openings in a cartoon fashion.

Finally the main game uses a graphic style similar to what the CGI cut scenes look like, while they are not as compressed as these. It lacks the sharpness and crispness which they provide. But at the same time, it gives charm and characteristics to levels and objects.

The game is notably light and cartoonish and has perfected the style which Ubisoft has been using since the original titles but with its own new spin, it uses then LyN engine which is a new engine with the only other game using it so far been Red Steel 2. This means that the game is much more polished graphic wise compared to the previous entries in the Rabbid series.

Sound

Once again players are greeted to the charm of the Rabbids gabbles but this title also has other characters such as humans, which the sound clips are phrases and lines voiced for the characters. These sound clips for the humans are charming and whity, presenting comedy relief for what the Rabbids are doing around them. One of these characters is "Santa Claus" which is really a guy called Joel who has what looks to be hamburgers in his bag. What sets off his magical lines? When your Rabbid attacks him, steals his clothes, and runs off giggling he will be forced to collapse in a heap of his tears. Wondering why the Rabbids are picking on him.

When it comes to music however the same deal applies from the original games, licenced music and some remixed gabble. Because the music tracks are mostly played around humans it gives the characters more characterisation because of that. Rabbids also have an annoying trumpet duet which plays once you have completed a level or loading something- sadly been the only music track which gets on my nerves.With the music tracks been catchy no doubt you will be humming the tracks after a few hours of playing.

Final comments

What we have here isn't a ground breaking game by any counts, but players will experience a well polished title from Ubisoft and a brand new adventure with the Rabbids. With a simple gameplay promise and the end result giving the play a good round of fun- it's a great title for players to experience if only once. The charm of the Rabbids and the titles action components give the player hours of playtime.

Pro: Brand new Rabbids Game, fulfilling title with lots of comedy and characteristics, shows off the LyN engine quite well, gives uses an external channel.
Con: CGI cut scenes compressed like no tomorrow, Rabbid "pipe slide" loading screen annoying to watch after hours of playing, some players might find the game to easy.
Final score: 8.9

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