Rayman Raving Rabbits (Wii)

Before I start I would like to make it clear that this isn’t one of those games that are just released for the Nintendo Wii; it’s also available on the Playstation 2 and on Windows PCs. However, you should definitely purchase it for the Nintendo Wii or not at all. You see, this game makes excellent use of the Wiimote in all of its mini-games. I’m pleased to say there’s something here for all the family.

"You've been a bad boy. Go to your bed without any dinner!"

Poor old Rayman is enjoying a nice picnic when a giant bunny comes along and kidnaps him, then locks him in a cell. As a prisoner all Rayman can do to entertain himself is take part in daily trials inside a coliseum with four smaller doors and one massive gate. Each of the smaller doors has a task (or “mini-game”) in it that makes use of the Wiimote. My favourite of which are the Dance tasks, which involve keeping to the beat of music using the Wiimote and Nunchuck to time the disco lights as bunnies go past. It sounds absolutely wacky and believe me it definitely is, but that doesn’t stop it being a fantastic game.

Once you complete three of the four tasks in a day the main gate is opened, allowing you to take on the main challenge of the day. But if you finish the fourth task as well then you’ll get either a music track for your cell or a new set of clothes which you can pick and mix with. What’s more is as you complete a day in story mode you unlock all of the tasks in score mode allowing to play them anytime and compete with others for the highest score. You can even play with another person at the same time on some of these tasks. The shoot-out tasks, where you fire at bunnies like a lunatic before they can kill you, and the dance tasks, where you can try to out-dance your partner, are definitely the best tasks for multiplayer competition.

"Could I possibly make this look any weirder?"

Does my view sound a little bias? Well, maybe it is seeing as I enjoyed the game so much but there’s not much room for expansion. What would have made it legendary is online multiplayer and an online highscore board but they’re certainly not necessary. Just make sure you get the Wii version for proper interactivity. All of the versions were released at the same time in Europe while Americans had the Wii version for almost a month longer – if that doesn’t show you that the developers want people to play this on the Wii then I don’t know what does. So go and buy this game, or at the very least rent it, and enjoy yourself.