Dorkgasm Gonzo Is God

Rayman: Raving Rabbids
By
Jessica Riedlinger

            I do not claim to be a gamer in any sense of the word, but I, like anyone else, occasionally enjoy sitting down in front of the square box that seems to be the focal point of my living room and diverting my attention from reality with mindless video games. Rarely, however, does that diversion suck me in so completely that I feel an unnatural compulsion to explore every little detail from beginning to end. This twisted, evil little game has done just that, sucking away my life force with every second of game play. As horrible as that sounds, it has been a fun little trip down the road to oblivion.

            Rayman: Raving Rabbids for the Nintendo Wii has a simple enough premise. Taken by surprise while picnicking with a group of baby Globoxes, Rayman is kidnapped by a hoard of Rabbids that spring up from the ground. These dementedly psychotic looking bunnies imprison Rayman in an arena and force him to complete a seemingly endless string of bizarre challenges for no reason other than their own perverse amusement. Each day in the arena consists of four tests of skill ranging from ridiculously simple to moderately difficult. However, unless you have the patience of a Buddhist monk, some of the more exacting trials may result in a Wii controls embedded in the inner workings of your TV.

            Each of the challenges fit into one of four categories: bunny hunts, sports, challenges, and shake your bootys. Once you complete each contest, it becomes available for play in score mode. While this may sound straightforward enough, the creativity of the actual mini-games will definitely keep you amused, befuddled, and on your toes. With names like “Bunnies are bad at peek-a-boo,” “Bunnies don’t use toothpaste,” “Bunnies have a poor grasp of anatomy,” and “Bunnies have a soft spot for plungers”, you can certainly tell that the creators of this game have a truly warped sense of humor, but until you actually play this game you have no idea the extent of the depravity.

            At the end of each day, you are required to complete a gauntlet of sorts in which your aim with a toilet plunger is put to the test. Once the tribunal is successfully completed, you are taken back to your cell where all of the bonus materials earned throughout the day await you. These absurd amenities ranging from costume pieces to music to decor definitely focus on fashion, not function, except for the token toilet plunger awarded to you for each completed day in the arena. These toilet plungers will one day be your means of escape. I personally have not reached that goal as of yet, but I eagerly await what promises to be an extremely bizarre reward when I do.

            The graphics of this game while intentionally scant and crass are still decent, the skill level seems to pander to the abilities of a newborn chimp, but the overall absurdity and absolutely demented amusement value make it all worthwhile. Rayman: Raving Rabbids is definitely worth buying unless you are lucky enough to borrow a copy from a co-worker for an extended period. Little does she know that she may not be getting it back for quite some time.

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If you already own this game, Rayman: Raving Rabbids 2 promises to be even better!

Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 - The best bloopers are here