Publisher: Eidos Interactive Developer: Crystal Dynamics
*This review is based on the PS2 version.
Whiplash is the story of a rabbit (Redmond) and a weasel (Spanx), both of whom are trying to escape from an animal testing facility. The pair are linked at the foot by a chain. The game is a crazy romp through the facility, in an effort to not only get out, but to shut the entire place down.
There were a lot of questions surrounding the game, as people weren't sure just how bad it would be. It involved a weasel, and his only weapon is a rabbit chained to his foot. He whips things with the rabbit, and many figured that this would upset the animal rights people. There are several other things in Whiplash that just aren't right, and I have absolutely no idea how this game got an "E for Everyone" rating. (Not that I'm offended by that, but I'm just surprised.)
Gameplay: 7.5
Whiplash involves a wild run through this testing facility. You play as both characters, although you're technically only controlling Spanx (the Weasel). While playing as Spanx, you're using Redmond (the Rabbit) as your weapon. If you need to attack something, simply whip the chain, and Redmond goes flying. It's fun whacking things with the rabbit for the first few hours, but I did wish for a bigger variety of weapons later on.
Redmond can also be used as a flaming weapon (when you set him on fire) or as circuit breaker (when you jam him in an electrical box). If there's gears turning in something, simply click on the "Use Bunny" button to throw Redmond in to jam the machine. If you need to float someplace, simply stick Redmond's mouth up to a helium tank, and he's an instant balloon. He's really an all purpose rabbit. (Again, I'm not sure how this game got an E rating...)
The game plays pretty straightforward. You simply run around every room, whacking everything you can. The more damage you cause, the better. While you're making your way around the place, you're also setting free the other animals. Other than that, there's not much else going on. As you're running through different hallways, you're dodging security cameras, lasers, and inept guards. You can beat guards and scientists with your rabbit, but you never fully destroy them. They'll "fall asleep" and get back up in a few minutes.
The fighting is basically just a bunch of button mashing. While you are able to learn a few multi-button combos in the game, you spend most of your time quickly smashing things with the same button. It's much quicker and easier. One little annoyance I do have about that involves opening doors. Many of the doors in the place require that you throw Redmond into the machine, then tilt the control stick back and forth for a long time. It's very repetitive, and annoying as well, mainly because it doesn't always work right and you end up having to start over. It caused me to turn the game off and stop playing on more than once.
Graphics: 8
The graphics were good throughout most of the game. There were a few glitchy spots with bad camera angles (particularly while flying), but other than that, the camera did what it was supposed to. The cutscenes were good looking as well.
Sound & Music: 7.5
The music was kind of blah throughout the game. I did enjoy listening to the rabbit ramble on about how he was being mistreated. It was odd, however that Spanx never really said a word. (If he did, I didn't notice.) The voices and sound effects were well done, however.
Story: 6
The story was simply that the pair were trying to get out, and take the entire place down along the way. There wasn't much more to it than that, and nothing really seemed to happen to progress the story along.
Replay Value: 7
The game might be fun to pick up and play, just to watch a few of the fun cutscenes. Other than that, the gameplay itself is just a little repetitive to play on a regular basis.
To buy or to rent?Well, it's definitely an unusual title to own for the collection, but if you're unsure, rent it first. While I'm glad to own it, it may not be something for everyone.
Overall: 7.1
Overall, the game has a great concept, with a number of funny scenes. Unfortunately, that is all that keeps it running. The gameplay gets old fast, and you spend the bulk of your time doing the same thing over and over again. It's definitely fun to play and watch, and I'd like to recommend that everyone try it at least once.
Additional Information:
Genre: Action/Adventure
Players: 1
Memory Required: 182K
Rating: E (for Everyone)
Extras: None
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