For some time now, the new Ubisoft mascots have been everywhere: at McDo, at Renault, in figurines, in pubs and soon in TV series... And every year, just before Christmas, they land warm on the shelves with a new video game that has revealed its weaknesses over the years. As if the marketing campaign had taken over development, as one exploits the seam of a good film by leaving sequels by the shovel. Because our dear Rabbids are not really spoiled by this new title which promised to be funny, with this history of time travel which places them at the source of the disasters of Humanity. A stupid idea of course, but which could allow our bunnies to renew their business. Unfortunately, we quickly feel the title was created in a hurry with an urgency of timing to respect... Thus, we land in a museum by the door of the toilets to walk in the aisles a roll of paper glued to the paw. A roll that also connects you to your partner if you play several, funny at first, somewhat annoying later if everyone wants to go their own way to survey the rooms. At the same time, there is not much to see in this museum: five predefined areas (running and flying races, shooting games, 2D platforms...), with five or six mini-games by zones, i.e. around thirty events to be discovered together; but beware, some are only playable with the Wii MotionPlus. Suffice to say that next to Wii Party and its 80 mini-games, The Rabbids: Back to the Past pales in comparison... And if at the time, the mini-games were innovative in their gameplay and frankly fun to play play, we now have the vague sensation of rapidly going around in circles. Admittedly, the body is sometimes slightly put to contribution (it is necessary for example to agitate the wrist to break bricks or to move the hands to fly), but the essence is done with the buttons of the Wiimote. Gone are the days when we had aches following the throwing of cows!
It was better before !
In this strange and somewhat deserted museum, all you have to do is braaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalloffught in front of a painting to see a magic washing machine appear which propels our rabbits back to the time of the work in question. So here they are at the time of the Pyramids, aboard the Titanic or the ship of Christopher Columbus, with Benjamin Franklin or Merlin the Enchanter. Fun in principle, yes, but once again, the developers of Ubisoft have not been at the end of their ideas, and suddenly, we find ourselves with a catch-all game and a scenario that fits on a Post- it. Humble and without too much logic, here we are with stones to throw to create a pyramid, floating balloons to catch in flight, suction cups to swing on the opposite team, crates to recover to increase the crash from 1929, bricks to break to create a path... Nothing too fancy or original either, especially since everything remains as approximate as it is repetitive. This story of the washing machine is then only a pretext to define the decor of a mini-game already seen. Frustrating. Alongside these mini-games, you'll also be able to break vases or swim in the museum's fountain (even though it's strictly forbidden to do so!), pick up clock-shaped coins and beat throwing or speed records... Mini-challenges supposed to extend the life of the software, but which ultimately have little interest: the challenge is ultra limited, the actions redundant and the goal not always very clear. On the other hand, if you like to customize your rabbit, know that a dressing room of period costumes is available to you, with wacky disguises that would make the Village People envious... Costumes to unlock as you progress. You will also find gifts hidden in the rooms of the museum, and in the mini-games, packages offering ephemeral superpowers (invisibility, rocket mode, wolf trap...) which are reminiscent of certain colored boxes of a certain Mario Kart. It's nice, yes in principle, now question originality, will have to come back... And if you get electrocuted on the security systems, don't panic, the Rabbids never die and you can persecute your critter at your leisure to enjoy the animation. You still need to have the motivation and the desire to try it... Because ultimately, the big flaw of The Rabbids: Back to the Past is to suffer from a considerable lack of rhythm – and not to be really funny in fact. Admittedly, some animations are funny and some good ideas are scattered here and there (the Venus de Milo!), but the humor has been largely revised downwards, and this pee-poo side is likely to displease the older ones. Let it be said, the Rabbids have never done in finesse, nor in lace, but it's even worse today. Also annoying, the AI has a furious tendency to beat you to the post in the "Race" mode which is necessarily played with 4 people... Something to spoil the fun of the game somewhat. Finally, this "Back to the past" lives up to its name when we take a look at the aesthetics...
