Bad Rats
- July 20, 2009
- Invent4 Entertainment
- 8h median play time
"Bad Rats" is a physics puzzle game where rats seek revenge on cats through creative and violent means. With 44 levels, 10 rat specialists, and 11 cat deaths, players must use realistic physics and functional objects to solve puzzles and watch as the cat meets a humorous demise. The game features cartoon violence and blood, internet and local records, and challenges players' creativity, intelligence, and logic.
Reviews
- graphics422 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Bad Rats" receive a mixed reception from users, with some praising its vibrant and unique art style, claiming it rivals modern titles, while others criticize it as outdated and poorly executed. Many reviews highlight the inconsistency in visual quality, with some describing the graphics as stunning and immersive, while others find them grotesque and reminiscent of early 2000s games. Overall, the game's visuals seem to evoke strong reactions, ranging from admiration to disdain, reflecting a divide in player expectations and experiences.
“Bad Rats is a visual marvel that catapults the medium of video game graphics into uncharted dimensions.”
“The graphics are so realistic it's scary and my PC was silent the whole time playing.”
“The graphics are absolutely astonishing; I was convinced I really was there chatting it up with a beautiful woman.”
“The graphics make your eyes bleed.”
“The graphics are terrible, it is boring as shit and the physics are based off the gravity from another planet.”
“The graphics are so vividly lifelike that I often was confused which reality was real.”
- story385 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The story of "Bad Rats" is described as a complex and emotionally engaging narrative that explores themes of oppression and rebellion, with players following a group of rats seeking revenge against their feline oppressors. Many reviews highlight the depth of character development and the unexpected twists in the plot, making it a memorable experience that resonates with players on a personal level. However, some critiques mention a lack of clarity in the storytelling, suggesting that the narrative may not be as straightforward as it appears.
“The game's story weaves a brilliant narrative tapestry following a fragmented population of rats using everything they have at their disposal to topple the figurative tower of systematic oppression leveraged upon them by the rule of the cat establishment.”
“The story is beautifully written and the gameplay is elegant.”
“The story is deep and thought-provoking, allowing you to empathize with the rats and feel total anger against the cat; it has plot twists, great character development, and an atmosphere that will immerse you in the game.”
“☑ no story”
“No story whatsoever.”
“If you are here for the story, however, you will be disappointed by its short length and its expensive price.”
- gameplay295 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Bad Rats" is characterized by its innovative puzzle-solving mechanics that challenge players' intellect and creativity, often described as both deep and immersive. While some players praise its engaging physics and unique concepts, others criticize the unpredictable mechanics and bugs that detract from the experience. Overall, the game elicits a wide range of opinions, with many finding it a memorable and rewarding experience despite its flaws.
“With each triumph, you ascend the ladder of enlightenment, unlocking new dimensions of gameplay that will leave you gasping in awe.”
“The gameplay is smooth and realistic.”
“The gameplay will have you hooked into the exciting, addicting, physics-based puzzle-solving gameplay.”
“The gameplay and controls are just horrible!”
“The gameplay itself is actually pretty shitty and there was no real tutorial for all the essentials.”
“The gameplay is not enjoyable.”
- music210 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received a wide range of opinions, with many praising its emotional depth and ability to enhance the gaming experience, describing it as beautiful, memorable, and even life-changing. However, some players criticized it as generic or repetitive, with a few noting technical issues like the inability to turn off the music. Overall, the soundtrack is often highlighted as a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's atmosphere and enjoyment.
“The symphonic soundtrack, composed by celestial beings, resonates with your soul, evoking emotions that transcend mortal understanding.”
“The soundtrack really makes the entire game.”
“The music in this game is beautiful, it really adds to the atmosphere and gives you that 'Bad Rats' feel.”
“The music is generic stock music, and the sounds are terrible.”
“The soundtrack is horrible, the graphics borderline grotesque, the physics engine struggles to have the same outcome when running the same machine twice.”
“It's boring, the music is annoying and can't be turned off (it glitched and the volume level was off yet it still played loud) and has nothing to pull you in.”
- humor147 mentions
- 98 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mix of absurdity and dark comedy, often revolving around the ridiculous antics of rats attempting to kill cats in bizarre ways. While some players find the humor charming and entertaining, others criticize it as outdated or tasteless, with many noting that the game's poor execution adds to its comedic value. Overall, it serves as a humorous experience, particularly in social settings, despite its technical flaws and mixed reception.
“It's a hilarious romp through a world where rats are the true heroes, and normalcy is just a distant memory.”
“The game offered an arsenal of bizarre and hilarious contraptions that allowed me to devise unique strategies to achieve my goals.”
“The humor is amazing; I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a fun experience at a great price.”
“You're not funny!”
“It's not funny.”
- emotional85 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its ability to evoke deep feelings, with many players reporting tears and profound connections to the characters and storyline. Reviewers highlight the game's poignant themes, heartwarming character backstories, and a compelling narrative that resonates on both personal and universal levels, making it a memorable and impactful experience. Overall, it is described as an emotional rollercoaster that combines humor, heartbreak, and a touching exploration of themes like revenge and camaraderie.
“Such an emotional rollercoaster; by far the most heartbreaking game!”
“The game unravels one of the most relatable and emotional stories I have ever seen in a game.”
“An emotional, jaw-dropping tour de force that left tears in my eyes and a great gap in my heart.”
- replayability31 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players praising the variety of characters and level editor that enhance replay value, while others criticize the lack of new experiences after initial playthroughs. Many reviews highlight the potential for unique outcomes and high scores, but some users feel that once the puzzles are solved, the game loses its appeal. Overall, opinions range from high replay value due to creative mechanics to a complete lack of replayability after the first run.
“The 10 different specialist rats and 11 different deaths for the cats add to the game's replay value and overall enjoyment.”
“It's rare when a game offers so much replayability that repeating the exact same thing 20 times in a row produces 20 different results.”
“Bad Rats has so many ideas and internal game mechanics that make its replay value enormously uncanny.”
“A puzzle physics game that didn't age that well and doesn't have any replay value at all.”
“Apart from the single playthrough, there's not much replay value.”
“I don't see a lot of replayability once you know the level solutions.”
- character development31 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is widely praised for its depth and emotional impact, with many reviewers highlighting the compelling storytelling and immersive narratives that allow players to connect deeply with the characters. The combination of stunning graphics, unique character design, and a heart-wrenching storyline contributes to a rich gaming experience that resonates with players, making it a standout feature of the game. Overall, the character development is described as exceptional, elevating the game's narrative to a level that rivals even cinematic storytelling.
“The story is the most in-depth of its time; the character development is amazing!”
“This game has a very compelling storyline with heavy, hard-hitting character development. I recommend this game to any serious gamer out there.”
“Amazing character development paired with incredible immersion results in an adventure that is compelling, humorous, and at times somber; a true emotional rollercoaster.”
“Not to mention some of the character design is ... questionable.”
“- silly character design.”
“But all the rats are magnificent, and I better not dip down into character development.”
- stability17 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and freezing issues that significantly disrupt gameplay. While some players note that it is less buggy than other titles like Cyberpunk 2077, the overall experience is marred by poor physics, unintuitive controls, and frequent interruptions, leading to frustration rather than enjoyment. Despite these issues, a few players find humor in the glitches, suggesting that the game may serve as a quirky, albeit flawed, experience.
“The game is incredibly buggy, and it is considerably short in gameplay.”
“Half the physics are buggy and don't work (clipping), the other half don't make sense, and the positioning controls are awful.”
“Solving the puzzles does not grant a sense of overcoming a mental challenge, but of overcoming the physical challenge of making such a buggy, unresponsive, halfhearted physics engine work to do what you want it to do.”
- optimization15 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its exceptional optimization, running smoothly on various PC configurations without bugs or performance issues. Reviewers highlight its ability to push graphical limits while maintaining high performance, making it a standout example of effective game design and optimization. Overall, it is regarded as a model for other developers to emulate in terms of both graphics and gameplay efficiency.
“The game is well optimized for all PCs.”
“I give this game a 5/5 - IGN out of 100 Metascore for its optimization and its creativity.”
“Normally, video games are no fun, but this game has broken this barrier, and caused a revolution in video game design and optimization.”
“This has the best graphics of the century; forget Crysis, this game can push your system to its absolute graphical limits while also being highly optimized in every aspect.”
“The poor performance of several U.S.”
- grinding13 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 8 % neutral mentions
- 92 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is often described as tedious and time-consuming, requiring significant effort to progress, which can lead to frustration. While some players find value in the farming mechanics, particularly for selling steam cards, the repetitive nature of the tasks detracts from the overall enjoyment. Overall, it seems that players may need to invest considerable time to achieve their goals, making it feel like a grind.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Not as interesting conceptually as sandbox games of the same type; you are saddled with a mission every time to kill the cat, and there is usually only one solution that you achieve through tedious and time-consuming trial and error.”
“Gameplay-wise, it's a little tedious and I don't really feel like killing the cats.”
- atmosphere7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising its beautiful environments, engaging music, and immersive storytelling that evokes strong emotions. However, others criticize the clunky animations and poorly executed gore, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite these inconsistencies, many agree that the atmosphere effectively enhances gameplay and character development.
“The music in Bad Rats is beautiful; it really adds to the atmosphere and gives you that Bad Rats feel.”
“Beautiful and lush environments, fantastic gameplay, fun and interesting puzzles, and a top-notch atmosphere.”
“The story is deep and thought-provoking; you will totally empathize with the rats and feel total anger against the cat. It has plot twists, great character development, and an atmosphere that will immerse you in the game.”
“The animations are clunky, the game's poorly executed gore really just makes you cringe, and the general atmosphere is like that of a swingers club for the mentally disabled.”
- monetization3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The monetization model for Bad Rats is primarily based on microtransactions for cosmetic rewards, with Blizzard assuring players that all updates will remain free of charge.
“The monetization model is fair, allowing players to enjoy the game without feeling pressured to spend money.”
“I appreciate that the game offers optional purchases that enhance the experience without being necessary to progress.”
“Blizzard states that all Bad Rats updates will remain free, with the only additional cost to players being microtransactions to earn additional cosmetic rewards.”