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With Nintendo's focus on the non-traditional gamer in the DS, companies have finally committed themselves to decidedly non-traditional games. Most notably, the "games for girls" subgenre has gotten a boost lately with a few legitimately good titles (Nintendogs, Princess Peach) that also appeal to a distaff audience. Separating itself from the pack is The Rub Rabbits, a follow-up to the hit Feel the Magic. Explaining the whole deal behind the newest love story from Sonic Team is a little tough, so I'll throw on some Sinatra to for some inspiration. The first time I saw Feel the Magic, I was a bit nonplussed. Why should I care about a minigame collection, let alone one that looked a bit girly? But every time I walked by the DS aisle, I saw it. Every time I talked to someone about DS games, I heard about it. My resistance wore down...I fell, and it was swell.
The Rub Rabbits is nothing too different from Feel the Magic: you're a big and brave and handsome Romeo who falls in love at first sight. For the rest of the game, you're fighting for her love. It's a very basic, kind of sweet plot with a few bizarre twists here and there, but you'll want to hang in for the duration. Walking hand in hand through the sand and water with the quirky love story is the great visual style. Even though models are still basic and tend to invoke iPod commercials, graphics overall have been improved. Better textures, better animations, everything comes together for an excellent presentation. On the other hand, gameplay is solid throughout The Rub Rabbits. Tapping, scratching, rubbing, yelling, breathing, and whatever else you can think of to do to your poor handheld...the game will ask you to do it. However, the game's biggest weakness (for fans of the prior title, at least) is in its length--although it's better than the lazy afternoon Feel the Magic turned into, it's become evident that there's only so many ways to use all the capabilities of the DS before you run out of ideas. That's the rub, though. (no pun intended) Even though The Rub Rabbits is leaps and bounds over its predecessor, and weaves a unique tale with amazing style and grace...playing the game will give any Feel the Magic vet a fit of deja vu.
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