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Rayman Raving Rabbids rumors debunked [update 1]
When a game like Rayman Raving Rabbids has this much hype, the rumors go flying. It turns into a he said, she said ordeal and 1up has put that to an end. For those of you thinking that this is strictly a platformer, you are wrong friend. This, as Nintendo cleared up, is a mini-game collection. As 1up tells us: The single-player story mode does feature Rayman running around in third-person along the lines of a platformer in places, but these places are limited to the game's overworld hub set in a gladiator arena. There is no "gameplay" connected to these scenes -- they simply involve moving Rayman from one challenge to another, without camera control, watching cinema sequences and earning prizes like costumes. Next, the rumor going around that the FPS mini-game has the player changing directions with the analog stick is false. The game automatically moves you and you aim with the Wiimote. Lastly, Rayman Raving Rabbids has not been moved to release in 2007. It is considered a launch title and looks like it will be one of the best (right after Zelda, of course). [Update: Fixed a typo.]
More Raving Rabbids scientific facts
Those silly rabbids! Baths are for kids! These quarky scientific facts about rabbids always make us smile. Yet, with this video and the next, we find ourselves missing the old music. One of the main reasons we loved watching these 30 seconds of joy had a lot to do with the crazy rabbid screaming. Now, you can't really hear it all that well. It is drained out by rather annoying music. Annoying music doesn't mean we are done watching them. In fact, we have another Raving Rabbid scientific fact for you!
Speculating on the Virtual Console [Update 1]
Play-Nintendo has a "reliable list" (yeah, we know how those are) of games that are rumored to be on the Virtual Console. But it looks reasonable, and in fact, some of the titles are already confirmed by various sources. Their list is packed with classic titles, and some of them (oh, Castlevania, how we love you) are expected but still exciting, and others many of us still play on lazy Sunday afternoons (Ocarina of Time, anyone?) If this list turns out to be the real deal, we may have to take some extended breaks from our actual Wii games. A fanboy's life is full of difficult choices. Play-Nintendo also reports that their "source" confirmed five brand new games for the Virtual Console, but they couldn't reveal the details. We'll see. What are you dying to see? Frankly, we think Super Mario Bros. 3 is a necessity, if only because we know there'd be videos everywhere of fanboys reenacting scenes from The Wizard. If you could add any three games to this list, what would you choose? Full list after the jump.
Raving Rabbids confirmed for DS
Crazy, crack-addict-like bunnies (er, rabbids) are threatening the world and our limbless hero, Rayman, is going to save our butts. He was originally only going to come to the rescue of those owning a Nintendo Wii. Just in case a Wii can't be purchased (even though we know you all are going to get one, right?), Ubisoft has announced that Rayman Raving Rabbids (try saying that five times fast) will also be available on the Nintendo DS. This also makes us question how Raving Rabbids will work on the DS. Stylus punching furry tails action? Or just plain 'ol directional pad plus ABXY?
Rabbids to rave on other consoles after all
So much for Wii's Rayman exclusivity -- Ubisoft quickly shut down the spreading rumor that the new game, Rayman Raving Rabbids, would not debut on any other console until 2007. Supposedly, the game is set to hit "old and next-gen platforms" this year. But our moment in the sun may not be over yet. There's been a lot of talk about games for other systems being ported to the Wii, but this brings up a new twist: how will a game designed for the Wiimote handle on other consoles? Since all the publicity is centered on the Wii version, guess we'll have to wait to find out ....
Rayman exclusive to Wii until May 2007
We all knew that the Wii version of Rayman: Raving Rabbids is the main game, with ports of that version hitting other next-gen systems. What we didn't know, however, is that the Wii has exclusivity to the title for 6 months, meaning that the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions of the game will not be released until May of 2007. Rayman: Raving Rabbids is set to release in November of this year.
A couple more Rayman videos
With the Leipzig Games Convention going on, a couple more videos of everyone's favorite crazed bunnies have hit the intertubes and are among the best of the bunch. Well, they're all among the best of the bunch, so...I guess...well...take it as you wish. While our usual procedure is to embed the video into the post, since we've got two we must ask that you click the continue link and check them both out, embedded, after the break.[Thanks Marc!]
Rayman Raving Rabbids interview, new info revealed
A Nintendo magazine in France recently held an interview with the development team of the upcoming launch title Rayman Raving Rabbids. Thanks to a wily, bilingual forum poster (thanks, Jing_Ke!), we now have some new information. The story mode of the game is divided into fifteen game days. On each day, you wake up in jail, where you can enter the hub area "Rabbit Arena". This area gives access to five mini-games per day: four regular mini-games, and a boss battle. If you do well, the rabbits will reward you with various costumes or decorations. Another mode exists where you can play the mini-games freely, multiplayer if desired. The length of the games are discussed (much longer than, say, those found in Wario Ware), and they reveal that around seventy games will be in the final version. Alas, no classic platformer for us...are you disappointed? Hopefully, Sonic and the Secret Rings can fulfill those lingering desires to fall to your death while jumping to a platform inexplicably floating in mid-air.
Fresh Raving Rabbids scans
Two new scans have hit the net for Michel Ancel's latest title Rayman Raving Rabbids. The scans, which look like they could be from a German Nintendo Power or some such other magazine, depict a sad, imprisoned Rayman, along with his purple, dance-loving, alter-ego escaping from several bunny UFOs on the wings of a hawk. It looks as if we get a peek at one of the game's many minigames as well.In what appears to be some sort of disgusting peeping Tom exercise, we assume Rayman must quickly open doors to bathroom stalls where bunnies are trying to "do their thing." We're sure this minigame will end up being a lot more fun, and less disgusting, once we actually see it in action.Honestly though, why are the bunnies holding plungers if there is obviously no plumbing?
Raving Rabbid scans and article
Some scans from what we're assuming is the latest issue of Nintendo Power have hit the net and there is a rather lengthy, screen-filled article centered around Rayman and these "raving rabbids" we keep hearing so much about. In the article, it's confirmed that the game plays more like a collection of minigames huddled around one central platforming theme, as opposed to a game that is nothing but platforming. Ancel feels that taking this approach allows him to maximize the different uses of the Wiimote. The article also begins to mention what we are assuming is some ability to share trial times and records online, but the page continuing that paragraph seems to be missing from the spread.[Via Go Nintendo]
Bunnies do not value privacy
The facts just keep on coming. As the latest video to shed light on Rayman's furry, crazed captors, this little humdinger shows that these bunnies lack basic knowledge of privacy...or just enjoy making us feel uncomfortable. Come on, we did not want to see that!He better have washed his hands...
Raving Rabbids gets the preview treatment
Now that's one ugly bunny!Apparently the ruler of the cannibalistic humanoid underground-dwelling bunnies (see: rabbids), this dude is not a member of the Rayman fan club. As such, Rayman must utilize the power of appeal and gain popularity in the underground society in order to challenge the status of this hulking behemoth. During the preview, it's revealed that Michel Ancel's major inspiration for this game was the movie Gladiator. As such, Rayman will take part in over 70 different scenarios where he must entertain the bunnies, winning them over into his fan club. These different contests is where the versatility of the Wiimote most appealed to Ancel. By winning these contests, and in turn the admiration of these insane bunnies, Rayman can then unlock items to customize his jail cell.
Bunny tries to milk prancing cow
We're just loving these little bunny factoids that keep popping up. First we found out that bunnies can't play soccer. After that, we were plunged deep into the dangerous bunny underworld of high stakes street racing to take a look at their inability to properly clean. And now, we see the above bunny attempt to extract succulent milk from the udder of a cow.Do bunnies even drink milk, anyway?[Via Go Nintendo]
Top five tips we turned down this week
Every day, Joystiq receives innumerable tips from people eager to guide our way through the world of video game news and culture. Most of the time, everything goes swimmingly: an interesting link pops up, you let us know, and we write it up. Sometimes, it doesn't go so smoothly.When we reject a tip, it may be because we've already reported on the story, or because the content of the tip isn't right for Joystiq. Other times, the rejected tip is dead wrong. Usually this is the fault of the source, not the tipster. Very often, rejected tips are also ones that, for whatever reason, make us laugh. This post is dedicated to the tipsters behind the tips that we didn't use this week.
Partial Wii launch lineup revealed
According to numerous reports, Nintendo Power has confirmed six Wii launch titles: Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors (Square Enix) The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Nintendo) Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (Nintendo) Rayman Raving Rabbits (Ubisoft) Red Steel (Ubisoft) Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz (Sega) While this list will surely double -- or even triple -- in size as we draw closer to the console's launch, one game that will likely slip out of the launch window is Super Mario Galaxy. Link and Samus will just have to hold it down until the plumber returns in 2007.
Ubisoft character could be drafted for Smash Bros. Brawl
GoNintendo.com has picked up a new rumor that has fans speculating about an Ubisoft-branded addition to Wii's Super Smash Bros. Brawl. When developer Masahiro Sakurai unveiled SSBB at E3, he suggested that, besides the already confirmed Solid Snake, other third party characters would be a definite possibility. Now, you can add Ubisoft's Jade (Beyond Good & Evil), the Prince (of Persia), Rayman, and Sam Fisher to that list of 'possibilities.'Do you think third party newcomers will cramp SSBB's Nintendo-style?
Rabbids can indeed rave
As impartial observers, we'll need to scientifically verify the truth of this statement. Regardless, it's quite a bizarre advertisement, and one right in line with what you'd expect from the rather quirky series head honcho, Michel Ancel. Rayman: Raving Rabbids is currently slated for launch.[Update: Experiments have yielded conclusive test results; bunnies are completely unable to play soccer. Further studies involving dancing, we leave to the reader.]
Michel Ancel discusses Raving Rabbids
Michel Ancel, whom's past contributions to the gaming world give him near-godlike status, recently sat down with the resident Wii guy Matt over at IGN and discussed the upcoming Rayman: Raving Rabbids. The focus of the title, which is more humor-based rather than an epic tale of lost civilizations or some such other conflict, is about "Love and power!" Michel even goes on to discuss, rather in-depth, what the control scheme on the launch title will be. With the nunchuk attachment dictating movement, rolling, and jumping, the Wiimote will be utilized to fight, ride animals (such as that spider), and...dance. No, that isn't a joke.
Rayman Raving Rabbids announced
Our earlier reports of a Rayman ressurrection left you all without a name for the game or any kind of information on the premise of the title. Well, the game has now been dubbed Rayman Raving Rabbids and some tidbits of information have been placed on the table. The premise of the title revolves around a group of uncontrollable bunnies whom threaten the very existence of Rayman's world. It's obviously up to him to stop them, through new abilities and the help of friends. When asked to comment on the project, Sir Ancel said "After wrapping up Peter Jackson's King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie, the team here in Montpellier sat down to talk about having some fun with Rayman and his universe. We are running into a bit of a problem, though, because our game has been invaded by thousands of raving mad and vicious bunnies, who have apparently been preparing this assault since the very first Rayman game. We are now sending an SOS to all motivated gamers to help us get rid of them as fast as possible!" I don't know about you fine readers, but this game is in my top 5 anticipated titles for E3. I cannot wait to get my hands on this and see in what ways Michel is going to push the envelope and improve upon what is already one of the greatest franchises in gaming history.
Ancel to bring Rayman 4 to PS3, 360, Revolution
Ubisoft has confirmed what their leaked release schedule already told us last month: Rayman 4 is coming to current and next generation console Holidays 2006! Their press release doesn't specify which consoles that includes, but the leaked schedule lists PS3, Xbox 360, Revolution, PS2, and Handheld platforms. The project is under the care of (Sir?) Michel Ancel, the lead designer at Ubisoft's Montpellier studio. Ancel not only created the original Rayman series, but worked on the critically praised Beyond Good and Evil and the impressive King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie. Ubisoft bossman Yves Guillemot said, "Rayman is one of the brands that encapsulate Ubisoft’s ability to create characters and universes that appeal to all kinds of players ... We are expecting this new Rayman video game to sweep players off their feet."[Via Revolution Fanboy]
