Do they have rabies or what?
Raving Rabbids is definitely not your standard Rayman game. There isn't any consistent platforming in the entire game. Instead players will enjoy 75 different mini games. Developers did make it known that some of the 75 games would just be variations of each other (such as different levels or degrees of complexity). The mini games will also vary fairly drastically in scope as well. Some could easily be independent games of their own while others may fit well in a game like Wario Ware.
The single player mode will play out as a series of tasks Rayman must complete in order to please the Rabbids. These tasks are the mini games. Once completed, each mini game can be played at will from the main menu. Some of them will also feature multiplayer modes. There were seven games on hand at the press event...
- Cow Milking - Players hold the remote and the nunchuck as if they were the utters of a cow. You then quickly move them up and down to simulate the milking motion. The goal is to fill the bucket as fast as possible. It can get extremely tiring. This game had a two player mode as well.
- Cow Toss - The objective is to throw a cow as far as you can. It is very similar to most shot put simulations, only replace the shot put with a cow on a chain. You swing the remote like you would a lasso and then hit the button at the correct time so that the cow flies in the correct direction. It wasn't hard to swing the cow at an incredible rate, but pressing the button at the right time was near impossible when it was going that fast.
- Close the Outhouse - Here you simply use the pointer feature of the remote to slam outhouse doors closed as fast as possible. Inside each outhouse is a Rabbid. It's a very strange idea. If you don't close it fast enough you get shot with a plunger. It was fun in small doses.
- Singing Rabbids Memory Game - This game was your standard Simon style memory game. Four rabbids are on the screen and they sing in a random order. You must use the pointer to click them in the same order afterwards. This one could definitely make for some entertaining high score runs.
- Dancing Rhythm Game - In this game you use the nunchuck and the remote in a drumstick like motion. Rayman (or whichever character is selected) stands in the center of a stage. Rabbids come out from either side and approach him. At the precise time they arrive you much swing the corresponding part of the remote. The song used in the demo was “Girls Just Want to Have Fun" by Cyndi Lauper. It was fun but somewhat hard due to the techno beat that was being played in the room. There was a two player mode for this game as well.
- Carrot Juice Bartender - The goal of this game is to fill up the rabbids' goggles with carrot juice before they reach the bar. This is done in a first person view. The pointer is used to aim the carrot juice while the nunchuck is used to pump. Depending on how fast you move the nunchuck up and down the flow of juice will increase and decrease. The feedback was very satisfying and realistic.
- Western Plunger Shooter - This was probably the most extensive mini game shown off. It plays out as an on rails shooter. As you approach different areas you must use the pointer feature of the remote to shoot rabbids before they attack you. Incoming plungers can even be shot out of the air. In order to reload your plunger gun you simply shake the nunchuck attachment. The experience is enough fun that it could easily be fleshed out into an entire game of its own. It had a great shooting gallery feel. Depending on what objects you may shoot besides the rabbids, different things would happen. This was easily the most entertaining mini game shown.
It's important to understand that Raving Rabbids will not be your standard Rayman game. Those who were expecting a classic platformer may be disappointed, but that doesn't mean this game isn't any fun.