Rabbids: Travel In Time 3D
Score: 73% ESRB: Everyone Publisher: Ubisoft Entertainment Developer: Media: Cartridge/1 Players: 1 Genre: Platformer (2D)
Graphics & Sound: If years of sci-fi have taught me anything, it is that time travel never ends well. Marty almost split his parents up, John Connor missed out on his childhood and Fry managed to become his own grandfather. Nothing good ever comes from time travel, which is exactly why someone at UbiSoft decided to give the already mentally unstable Rabbids their own washing-time machine. Raving Rabbids: Travel in Time 3D looks good, but won't convince you to buy a 3DS. Visuals are rather simple and feature few details, which actually hurts the game. The Rabbids' big draw is their personalities, which don't quite shine the way they should. You're guaranteed a few over-the-top animations and that iconic Rabbid scream, though characters are small and a bit out of focus. I completely understand that the decision was made in favor of gameplay, but I also wonder if UbiSoft could have scaled images up a little more. Environments are varied and fun. Earlier levels show a little more creativity, but then again, that could be due to the 3D dinosaurs. Rabbids 3D is one of the better 3D games in the 3DS's launch window. The effect is used primarily for added depth, which works with the level scrolling and other touches. There are moments when platforms become lost, though these instances are few. The only really annoying 3D effect accompanies death; the Rabbid zooms out at the screen and shatters it. It's cute, but doesn't work. The music is fun, but incredibly repetitive. The sounds are good for what they are, but they're nothing out of the ordinary.
Gameplay: After the Rabbids attack a time traveler for his rubber duck, Raving Rabbids: Travel in Time 3D drops players into four time periods full of platforming adventure. Unlike the Wii version, Rabbids 3D keeps the action confined solely to side-scrolling action where you guide your Rabbid through levels in search of more rubber ducks. I'm of two opinions in regards to Rabbids 3D. On one hand, I enjoy the throwback to traditional platformers, which are in short supply. Gameplay is as straightforward as it can get. You go from point A to point B with little variation in design. You'll come across a few other Rabbids (who you'll need to bop), though most of the time you're just jumping from platform to platform in search of rubber ducks. Your ultimate goal is to collect a specific number of ducks, which will unlock bonus levels and other rewards. Really, though, you're just pushing through levels, which is exactly the problem. Rabbids 3D's biggest issue is the lack of variety. Environments may change, but the challenges rarely do. Mechanics rarely evolve past what you see in the first area, which gets boring at the mid-way point. You always have the choice to go back and replay levels in Time Attack Mode; I rarely wanted to go back. The rewards, which include 3D status and customization options for your Rabbid, aren't that enticing.
Difficulty: I suspect I may not be in the game's target market. On the surface, Raving Rabbids: Travel in Time 3D has its fun moments, but is severely lacking in challenge. There are a few tough jumps and some confusing moments, such as instant kill obstacles that are indistinguishable from each other. At the same time, I was never presented with anything I couldn't blast through in a few minutes. In the hands of a much younger player, the lack of challenge seems to dissipate. Rabbids 3D is never super frustrating and actually slips right into the sweet spot for younger players. Even though there's nothing to really trip them up (requiring help from the family's resident gaming ace), there's still enough challenge to keep them engaged and happy.
Game Mechanics: The controls are simple, but the gameplay may throw a few players for a loop. For whatever reason, buttons are mapped in reverse of the norm. Usually, jumping is assigned to (B), though here it's assigned to (A). The flip-flip will only throw you off for about a level or two, but might lead to one or two deaths early in the game. However, there's very little to the game beyond jumping, so it's not like you'll have to take your thumb off the button much anyway. You'll occasionally run across other Rabbids who are also on the hunt for rubber ducks. There's always the ever popular "jump on the head" attack to get past them, though you can kick them out of the way if you'd prefer. Either way works and usually yields a new outfit for your Rabbid. Costumes are merely cosmetic so don't expect any new abilities from them. They're fun if you're into that sort of thing. I usually am, though most of the time I was content to leave my Rabbid decked out with just a fedora. Raving Rabbids: Travel in Time 3D is a fun adventure, though only because the sheer satisfaction of running through levels and feeling like a power gamer. If this is your sort of thing, it is a good, yet short-lived purchase. The low level of challenge makes it good for younger players. However, anyone looking for a challenging platformer should look elsewhere.
-Starscream, GameVortex Communications AKA Ricky Tucker
Related Links: Game Vortex's Review of Raving Rabbids Travel in Time on Wii
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