Hell Yeah! Wrath of the Dead Rabbit is a beat-em-up about a talking rabbit who wants revenge on the creatures that killed his family. It is also one of the stranger games released for PS3, PC and X360 in 2012, and it mostly earns that strangeness through sheer pace and style rather than depth.
Trailer, via SEGA.
The Rabbit’s Quest
The hero is a dead rabbit named Bunny, and he is out for blood. He wields a giant hammer and a gun, and he fights his way through waves of zombies, monsters and other enemies across five stages. The story is thin, mostly a setup for why Bunny is fighting, but it does not need to be much more than that. The game is about the fight, not the reason for it. Bunny’s revenge is simple and direct, and the game never pretends otherwise.
Combat That Works
Combat is the strong point. Bunny moves fast, swings hard, and the enemy waves keep coming. The controls are tight, and the game rewards players who keep moving and hit combos rather than standing still. Boss fights break up the standard levels with larger foes that force players to change tactics.
The combat system is built around momentum. Players who stay still get punished, while players who keep moving and hitting combos are rewarded. The boss fights are the exception, demanding different tactics and giving players a chance to stop and plan.
Levels and Variety
The five stages each have their own look and feel, from a ruined city to a haunted forest. The variety keeps the game from feeling repetitive, even though the core loop stays the same throughout. Some stages lean harder on puzzles or platforming than others, giving players a small change of pace between fights.
The stages are spread across a ruined city, a forest, a swamp, a mountain and the final boss battle. Each setting brings its own enemies and challenges, but the basic structure of wave after wave of enemies remains constant.
Presentation and Sound
The graphics are bright and cartoonish, fitting the tone of a rabbit fighting monsters. The animation is fluid, and the action looks smooth even during busy fights. The soundtrack is energetic, with music that matches the fast pace of the combat. None of it reaches for greatness, but it never drags either.
The presentation is consistent throughout, with the cartoonish art style matching the game’s absurd premise.
Length and Replay Value
The campaign runs short, and players who finish it once may find little reason to return. There is no multiplayer mode to draw them back in. The game is best enjoyed as a quick fix rather than a long-term commitment.
There is no reason to spend more than a few hours with the game, and nothing to bring players back once the campaign is done.
Difficulty and Feel
The difficulty curve is gentle. Enemies go down easily, and the game rarely punishes players for mistakes. This keeps the experience accessible, but it also means the challenge never grows much beyond the early hours. Players looking for a serious test will likely move on quickly.
The game is forgiving but not demanding. Bunny’s hammer and gun make short work of most foes, and the game rarely requires precision beyond what the controls allow.
A Quick Look at the Stages
| Stage | Setting |
|---|---|
| 1 | Ruined City |
| 2 | Forest |
| 3 | Swamp |
| 4 | Mountain |
| 5 | Final Boss |
The Numbers
- Platforms: PS3, PC, X360
- Developer: Nicalis
- Year: 2012
- Genre: Beat-em-up
- Critic score: 7.4/10
Final Word
Hell Yeah! Wrath of the Dead Rabbit is a solid, if simple, beat-em-up that delivers exactly what it promises: a fast, furious fight with a talking rabbit. It does not reinvent the genre, but it executes its premise with confidence and style. Players looking for a short, satisfying arcade fix will find one here.
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