Rabbids Go Home

Did You Know?

• The game's music was performed by Fanfare Vagabontu, a Moldovan Romani brass band, and inspired by Romanian folk music.
• A 12-track soundtrack was released on the iTunes Music Store on November 17, 2009.
• The premise was loosely adapted in the second season of Rabbids Invasion.

Gameplay

In the Wii version, the player controls a team of newlywed Rabbids pushing a shopping cart through human locations such as malls, hospitals, and airports. The objective is to collect enough items to grow a pile by 1,000 feet per level, with the minimum requirement being to retrieve the Xtra Large Stuff and deliver it to a toilet at the level's end. Additional collected items unlock figurines, tattoos, tools, accessories, and challenges based on the player's score. Some Xtra Large items alter gameplay, such as a jet engine that triples the cart's speed or a quarantine bed that allows floating and gliding. Collector Rabbids are placed throughout levels, letting the player deposit collected items. Health is represented by light bulbs, starting at three and expandable to six; losing all bulbs or falling into a void sends the Rabbids back to an automated checkpoint.

Plot

After the events of TV Party, the Rabbids grow bored of Earth and decide to build a pile of junk to reach the Moon, which they mistake for a giant light bulb. Two Rabbids take a shopping cart and begin gathering human objects from the city, transferring their haul through the sewage system via toilets to add to the growing pile. As the pile rises, humans revolt and form the Verminators to exterminate the Rabbids and reclaim their stolen belongings. At the game's end, the Rabbids still cannot reach the Moon, so the humans bomb the pile with time-delay explosives, launching it into space. The humans celebrate briefly but panic as the junk falls back, leaving the city in ruins. Meanwhile, the Rabbids celebrate in space, caught in the Moon's gravitational orbit.

Development

Development of Rabbids Go Home spanned three years. The team created a coherent storyline to keep the Rabbids fresh within an adventure game, portraying them as emotions pushed to the extreme while humans were designed as their opposite—overthinking and emotionally restrained. Jacques Exertier described the clash between the two as an allegory for internal decision-making debates. The visual setting was inspired by the mass-consumption boom between 1945 and 1975, using simple colors and geometric shapes to caricature sterile human environments. Ubisoft Montpellier developed a proprietary engine called LyN for the game. Announced on April 9, 2009, the game was later re-rated 12 in Europe after Ubisoft denied a rumor of a recall due to inappropriate language.

Reception

The Wii version received generally favorable reviews. Pedro Hernandez of Nintendo World Report praised its inventive Wii Remote uses, accessible gameplay, customization, soundtrack, and humor, but noted repetitive gameplay and inconsistent framerate. NGamer UK found the Rabbids capable of a full game without Rayman, calling it witty and fun. GamesMaster UK described it as witty and energetic but not particularly smart. Matt Casamassina of IGN said it was more inspired and ambitious than Rayman Raving Rabbids. Chris Scullion of Official Nintendo Magazine UK called it the funniest game on the Wii, with tight controls and a fantastic soundtrack, though too easy. Aceinet of GameZone highlighted its humor and ever-changing gameplay. Aaron Koehn of GamePro noted its odd tone but found simplicity tiresome. Dan Pearson of Eurogamer said the Rabbids' enthusiasm could be draining. Annette Gonzalez of Game Informer praised animations but found sequences repetitive. Matt Leone of 1UP.com valued the licensed soundtrack and customization. Nintendo Power called it a step in the right direction despite difficulty issues. Tom McShea of GameSpot liked the character creator and unlockables but found early levels too easy and repetitive.