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Rayman Raving Rabbids, developed by Ubisoft, is a title that came out of left field. It was a game that I knew little about when it was launched with the Wii in November 2006. Every trailer that I saw for the game only confused me more about what the title was actually about, or how it was even played.

A couple friends bought the game at launch and the word of mouth showed me just how great the game could be. I bought the game when Circuit City was running their $20 off sale on RRR. I began playing through the game, and it is one of the most fun and unique games I’ve ever played.

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First off, this is not your traditional Rayman platformer. It is essentially a series of minigames that follow a loose storyline. Rayman is captured, along with some friends, and it is his job to prove himself in several ‘arena’ type games to get his friends back. The minigames range from sports, workout games, precision, and dance. There are dozens of minigames and they all utilize the Wiimote and nunchuk in unique ways. The sports games are themed from various sports like Soccer/Football as well as others. The workout games are ones that will probably make you sweat. They require more fast physical activity like running with the controller or spinning it around your head like a lasso. The precision and dance games are some of the more enjoyable minigames.

The precision games are ones where you throw plungers at the Rabbids. It sounds a little ridiculous, but IT IS TONS OF FUN! I walks you around in a first-person view in different motifs like Wild West or Space levels. It’s a zany take on the first-person genre. The dance games are my personal favorite. I’m no dancer by any means, but it doesn’t take that much to be good at dancing.

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The dance minigame consists of varying difficulties and songs. There are 4 or 5 songs that I have unlocked and 3 difficulties to each. Trust me, it’s really hard in the later levels. You use both the Wiimote and nunchuk as drumsticks. Rabbids will come in from the left and right, and you have to drum down with either the wiimote or the nunchuk at the right time. The rhythm for songs varies between the genres, but once you get the basic rhythm; the game gets pretty easy/fun. From there, you can dance to your heart’s content–no previous dancing experience required.

Visuals: The visuals in the game are decent. Ubisoft really focused on the gameplay, but it has good graphics for having a cartoon-like art style. There’s a lot of detail in the little things, but the gameplay is really where the title shines.

Gameplay: If there is anything Rayman Raving Rabbids has on the traditional platformer, it’s gameplay. The controls are used so well and intuitively, so pretty much anyone can pick it up and play. The Wiimote and nunchuk work very well together in this unique outing on the Wii.

Replay Value: The game has replayability written all over it. The multiplayer is frantic and a lot of fun. Casual gamers and hardcore gamers can get into this game.

Wii Innovations: The utilization of the controller really adds to the game. Without the Wiimote and nunchuk, the game would simply be a more graphical WarioWare. The games are fun and immersive.

Verdict: If you want a game that’s simple and fun, this is your game. It’s very similar to Wii Sports in that way. You can pick it up and play really easily and have a blast. If you’re able to find a good deal on the title, it’s definitely worth the money. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a game that’s more engaging with the Wiimote/nunchuk and provides a long-lasting experience.