The Night of the Rabbit

The Night of the Rabbit takes players on an adventure with the game's hero, Jeremiah 'Jerry' Hazelnut. Jerry is a typical 12-year-old boy in every way but one. During his last two days of summer vacation Jerry finds himself on a magical journey to the world of Mousewood. A place where creatures can talk and adventure is flourishing.

This point-and-click adventure game finds players controlling the actions of Jerry by interacting with his surroundings and conversing with other characters. These actions open up the world of Mousewood to discovery through clues and mysterious objects. After wandering into the woods, Jerry solves a few challenging puzzles and is introduced to a magical talking rabbit, the Marquis de Hoto. Shortly after this introduction Jerry is given an apprenticeship, fulfilling a dream that many of us have had; becoming a wizard.

Players are given the task of completing a variety of puzzles by correctly combining objects and materials Jerry has collected throughout his journey. Many objects are easily found with Jerry picking them up along the way and others will be more difficult to scrounge up. The importance of the character's conversations is pertinent in finding the more hidden objects with clues concealed in dialogue. Ignoring the chatter makes the game much more difficult as players will have to repeat scenarios they've already encountered; backtracking through the progress of the game.

Combining the correct objects together takes a certain level of intelligence. This brainpower is gained simply by spending time playing The Night of the Rabbit, working through the various tasks and breaking down each puzzle. At first it feels quite difficult because perhaps one is not accustomed to putting thought into enjoying a game. Figuring out the first few steps of a puzzle thus allows for a grasp of what is expected: thinking.

Take for instance an envelope. What will seal it? Spit, yes. Just not in the world of Mousewood. A sticker perhaps? No. How about snail goo? That does it. Through a process of elimination players may quickly solve such puzzles. However, getting stuck on a task is a common occurrence. Players may not have every piece needed to complete the puzzle. This often makes The Night of the Rabbit frustrating: being aware of what needs to be done, but not having the necessary items.

With each puzzle completed more mysteries will be revealed and worlds opened. At times the storyline seems to go in a million directions with Jerry's journal there as a guide. This journal is not hurtful to the game's storyline, but not helpful in solving many puzzles. Often, it just confuses things more and players may find it just as easy to do without. Journal or not, the storyline takes players through multiple worlds allowing for many creative scenarios.

The Night of the Rabbit uses over 50 hand drawn sceneries and around 40 animated characters. These hand drawn graphics will instantly draw players in; if not for their artistry than simply for knowing the time and effort put into creating the world of Mousewood.

The character's in Mousewood are clever little beings, each with their own loveable personality. As endearing as they are, it quickly becomes obvious that The Night of the Rabbit is geared towards children. Characters are humorous, but not hilarious. Darker scenes are scary, but not horrifying.

As such, The Night of the Rabbit will blur together with many other adventure games. It will be enjoyed by many and forgotten by more. Nothing about it will blow your mind, yet nothing is so terrible that it should be avoided. This should not sway die hard adventure fans, but advise those unfamiliar with the genre to take a peek at a different kind of average. The Night of the Rabbit is a game designed for all audiences in a genre rooted in gaming history. Plus, it feels good to be a kid again.

Megan Bethke, NoobFeed (@XboxBetty)