My Bits and Bytes: Mom approved game
Rayman Raving Rabbids - by Ubisoft
This game looked like a must have launch title. I've loved the Rayman games and the colourful characters that inhabit the Rayman world, so it was only natural that the cartoon style of “Rayman: Raving Rabbids” appealed to me. If you're expecting a regular Rayman platformer, you can look elsewhere because this game has more in common with “Wario Wares” than “Super Mario.”
Unfortunately, crazy bunnies and their robotic overlords kidnap poor Rayman. To keep his new masters happy, Rayman is sent (over and over again) to an arena where going through different sections leads you to a new mini game. Most of these mini games last only two or three minutes but they are fun, challenging and will have anyone that is in the room with you laughing at what's on the screen and laughing at what you're doing with the Wii-mote.
The games have you using your Wii-mote and Nunchuck accessory as drumsticks (during a beat-keeping game), legs (when you have to race), guns, pencils (for drawing food that a bunny eats) or hands (to slap the bunnies upside the head). Some of the game mechanics overlap but the animations, graphics and sounds make this a small gripe because while you're playing, it doesn't matter because you're having so much fun.
Once you've unlocked certain arenas (or levels) in the game, you unlock new costumes for Rayman, new songs for your jukebox and easy access to the games you've just played for multiplayer fun. I would have loved to see an online leaderboard, but Nintendo has a long way to go when integrating the internet with their games.
Believe me, if any game can make my mom practically piss herself laughing and begging to have more tries MUST be good and clearly accessible to a broad audience (no pun intended). I guess this is Nintendo's strategy and if the games like this keep coming and keep me, my guests and my mom happy (when she comes over), then I say, bring ‘em on.
On the virtual console side of the Wii, it's been a really good month. Not only could you pick up “The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past,” “Contra 3: The Alien Wars,” and “Mario Kart 64” last week, but this week you can play the classic “Super Mario World” for only 800 Wii points (roughly $8).
For those of you who want different console news, make sure you download the Xbox 360 demos for Crackdown and NBA Street.
This game looked like a must have launch title. I've loved the Rayman games and the colourful characters that inhabit the Rayman world, so it was only natural that the cartoon style of “Rayman: Raving Rabbids” appealed to me. If you're expecting a regular Rayman platformer, you can look elsewhere because this game has more in common with “Wario Wares” than “Super Mario.”
Unfortunately, crazy bunnies and their robotic overlords kidnap poor Rayman. To keep his new masters happy, Rayman is sent (over and over again) to an arena where going through different sections leads you to a new mini game. Most of these mini games last only two or three minutes but they are fun, challenging and will have anyone that is in the room with you laughing at what's on the screen and laughing at what you're doing with the Wii-mote.
The games have you using your Wii-mote and Nunchuck accessory as drumsticks (during a beat-keeping game), legs (when you have to race), guns, pencils (for drawing food that a bunny eats) or hands (to slap the bunnies upside the head). Some of the game mechanics overlap but the animations, graphics and sounds make this a small gripe because while you're playing, it doesn't matter because you're having so much fun.
Once you've unlocked certain arenas (or levels) in the game, you unlock new costumes for Rayman, new songs for your jukebox and easy access to the games you've just played for multiplayer fun. I would have loved to see an online leaderboard, but Nintendo has a long way to go when integrating the internet with their games.
Believe me, if any game can make my mom practically piss herself laughing and begging to have more tries MUST be good and clearly accessible to a broad audience (no pun intended). I guess this is Nintendo's strategy and if the games like this keep coming and keep me, my guests and my mom happy (when she comes over), then I say, bring ‘em on.
On the virtual console side of the Wii, it's been a really good month. Not only could you pick up “The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past,” “Contra 3: The Alien Wars,” and “Mario Kart 64” last week, but this week you can play the classic “Super Mario World” for only 800 Wii points (roughly $8).
For those of you who want different console news, make sure you download the Xbox 360 demos for Crackdown and NBA Street.
