Few people dislike rabbits as they are cute creatures living a quiet life. There are, of course, the odd exceptions of Elmer Fudd, the shotgun-wielding farmer, and the array of creatures in Barry the Bunny. They hate him for unknown reasons and will stop at nothing to kill him.
Developed by lightUP and published by Ratalaika Games, this is a colourful 2D platform title. With a mixture of basic mechanics, traps and simple stages, this is great for both beginners and veterans of the genre.
Barry the Bunny harks back to the genre’s heyday.
The game revolves around Barry, who is a simple rabbit and a builder bunny! This odd skill comes in very handy as his world has been overrun by dangerous creatures. Using his hammers as weapons, you must hit each one to clear your path. He uses his building skills to create bridges to save each trapped rabbit on every stage. Now, you may wonder how a rabbit can’t leap a small gap. I certainly did! But I let this slip as I allowed the retro gameplay to wash over me.
Comprising four worlds that have many stages, you must collect hammers, carrots, and three logs before you exit each level. The logs are used to build the bridges to save each stricken rabbit. This goal can be ignored if you wish, but doing so removes much of the fun to be found. The gameplay lacks complexity, and though more elements are added to the latter stages, it never stretches you.
Traps and an array of enemies.
Barry the Bunny demands some accuracy and a small amount of logical thinking. Simple puzzles are laced with traps that require forward-thinking and quick reactions. Spikes fall from the sky, tnt ticks away, and explosives blow up when touched. The difficulty increases as you progress, but it’s never unachievable. The basic gameplay will not test veterans of the genre, but they will enjoy the varied stage layouts.
The game slowly adds new enemies that should increase the challenge. Sadly, they offer no further difficulty than the opening creatures. Simply throwing your hammer at every one you encounter clears your path. This portion of the title is underdeveloped, and I desperately wanted it to evolve past its basic approach. I hoped that the end of world bosses would fulfil this desire. Unfortunately, they didn’t! The easy encounters were quickly overcome, leaving you wanting more.
Barry the Bunny a colourful retro treat.
Barry the Bunny may lack in difficulty, but it makes up for this with its retro presentation. The simple colourful world screams old-school gaming, and I loved it. The different environments have a unique look that prevents the action from getting stale. They vary from bright and vivid tones to earthy oppressive stages, and each is enjoyable to explore. The classic 2D side-scrolling action was reminiscent of early NES titles and worked perfectly with the basic platforming elements.
The early gaming influences continued with the shrill 8-Bit audio. This high pitched ear-splitting noise was a little annoying but worked with the retro gameplay. With a simple chiptune soundtrack and basic sound effects, it’ll transport you to classics such as Mario. I adored the presentation, and its high energy in your face style made up for the title’s shortcomings.
Easy controls for a basic game.
Barry the Bunny is extremely easy to pick up and play. The simple concept and retro gameplay unsurprisingly ensure that the control setup is quick to master. LevelUP added a timely tutorial that allows you to learn the fundamentals instantly. The hardest part of the game is dodging traps and remembering where they are hiding if you die. However, this won’t push you and you’ll fly through the levels.
With many stages to explore, you’ll be kept busy as you attempt to beat them all. If you are a completionist, you’ll obtain all achievements within an hour. Sadly, a lack of collectables or any true challenge restricts the replay value. Fortunately, though, the old-school experience is worthy of your time, and the cheap asking price makes it good value for money.
Barry the Bunny adds little to the genre, but it’s fun, nonetheless.
The simplicity of the gameplay and the lack of difficulty ensure Barry the Bunny adds little to the genre. Yet, I still enjoyed my time with it. The colourful and basic worlds capture your attention and the music reminds you of the genre’s heyday. I liked it and recommend you to buy it here! Can you collect each log to save the bunnies? Avoid the creatures, dodge the traps, and help your fellow rabbits.
