Rabi-Ribi effectively combines the enjoyable exploration of the “MetroidVania” genre with the frantic action of the bullet-hell genre, to make an enjoyable game, despite its frame-rate issues and a forgettable story.
Rabi-Ribi
Developer: CreSpirit
Price: $17.99
Platform: PC (reviewed)
MonsterVine was provided with a PC code for review.
The concept of Rabi-Ribi is one that I never imagined I’d see. An exploration-based platformer (thus the term “MetroidVania”) based around anime-style Rabbit-girls is definitely something to behold, as it’s as odd a mix as any. Nonetheless, the game does its diverse concept rather well, as it proves to be a fun and unique experience.
Rabi-Ribi‘s story is its weakest point, as it is can be both difficult to follow, and easy to forget. You play as Erina, a rabbit who becomes a young girl through unknown circumstances. As a young girl, Erina still retains her rabbit ears, and her tail, making her stand out amongst the game’s other characters. There are even some funny moments where, teleported into the real world, Erina is chased by fanboys for her fantastic “cosplay”. Eventually Erina meets Ribbon, a small fairy, and they decide to work together to find Erina’s master, and the reason she was transformed.
The game quickly becomes chock-full of characters, but very few of them are memorable. As a result of this, the main plot becomes diluted. With so many characters, who often do very little after battling and befriending them, it becomes increasingly difficult to keep track of which characters are important, and where exactly the story is going. In addition to this, almost every single character mainly speaks in the third-person, making the dialogue somewhat jarring to take in. Overall, the story and characters feel difficult to become invested in, as they’re both basic, and forgettable.
Rabi-Ribi‘s gameplay on the other hand is thoroughly enjoyable. Clearly inspired by games like Super Metroid and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Rabi-Ribi is full of world-exploring goodness, with exciting boss-fights and new items littering each area. New concepts and abilities are constantly introduced, which keeps the game feeling fresh and exciting as you play. These unlocked abilities let you explore new areas of the map, which often yield new items and upgrades. This is the part of the game that truly captures the essence of “MetroidVania”, as exploring is fun and addicting when you don’t know exactly what you’ll get for your efforts.
Combat is just as enjoyable as exploration, with the boss fights especially standing out. Boss fights are where the game transitions into the “bullet-hell” genre, as bosses shoot stars, lasers, orbs, and countless other projectiles at you, often with unrelenting speed. The battles never feel too difficult however, as its often easy to figure out enemy attack patterns. This adds a layer of strategy to the game, as you become accustomed to each boss’s fighting style. Even dying can be beneficial, as pinpointing where you went wrong, and how you can fix your missteps, is immensely satisfying. Each boss fight has its own quirks and strategic elements, which makes them a highlight of the game.
Outside of boss battles, combat is normally fast and fluid, which keeps the game moving at a quick pace. Fighting is mainly done by simultaneously using Erina’s hammer and Ribbon’s projectiles, similar to the “Familliar” system in Symphony of the Night. The hammer is very effective in combat, especially as new abilities are learned. Eventually, the hammer lets you roll around in a manner not unlike Sonic the Hedgehog, which makes exploration even faster, and easier. Ribbon’s projectiles are upgradable as well, with special abilities like healing power and consistent energy beams standing out as some of the more enjoyable upgrades. The only problem with how the game plays is its random frame-rate drops. Visually-heavy areas in the game are unfortunately prone to frame-drops as well, but occasionally, for seemingly no reason, the game’s frame rate will slow down excessively, for up to a few minutes. This can be off-putting, as it makes the otherwise tight controls feel slow and sloppy.
Rabi-Ribi‘s visuals are superb. The NPC and player sprites all look like the characters they represent, and bring a lively feeling to the game. The settings are all diverse and interesting, which makes exploring them all the more enjoyable. The art for the characters, used in special attacks and certain scenes throughout the story, are also great. Each scene has a nice amount of detail, and achieves the style its aiming for. There’s obviously a lot of fan-service in the game and its art, but it fits the plot’s tone, as could be expected from a game about anime-styled Bunny-girls.
The music and sound in Rabi-Ribi are more than exceptional. The game is full of retro sounds, meaning there are plenty of bleeps and bloops to satisfy even the most nostalgic player. The best part of the sound, however, is the music. The chiptune soundtrack is full of memorable and catchy tunes, many of which feel inspired by music you’d hear in Sega Genesis or Dreamcast games. It’s a remarkable soundtrack, and one that’s worth listening to even after you’ve finished the game.
The Final Word
Rabi-Ribi is a thoroughly enjoyable take on the “MetroidVania” and “bullet-hell” genres. The game more than makes up for its frame-rate issues and less than memorable story with its fun and rewarding gameplay, vibrant visuals, and whimsical soundtrack. If you’re a fan of exploration and platformers, this is one game worth hopping into.
– MonsterVine Rating: 4 out of 5 – Good
