Bad Rats Show
- July 19, 2016
- Invent4 Entertainment
It’s very tempting to just throw my hands up and say “it sucks” and be done with that, as no word count can accurately describe my disdain for Bad Rats Show. It is the type of game that is a joke at its own expense; garish in presentation, mediocre in its mechanics, and worst of all, boring to play.
Bad Rats Show is a physics puzzle game where the rats exact their bloody revenge against their main enemies: the Cats. Solve puzzles in 2D and 3D maps using physics, objects and specially trained Rats. All new Rats and Cats, but with the same classic and questionable Bad Rats humor. With the new map editor you can download, create and share new levels. With unlimited solutions for each puzzle, fle…
Reviews
- The game features unique and dark humor that some players find entertaining.
- The physics engine, while unpredictable, adds a chaotic fun element to the gameplay.
- The game has a quirky charm and has become a cult classic, appealing to those who enjoy unconventional puzzle games.
- The game frequently crashes, making it frustrating to play.
- Many players find the gameplay mechanics clunky and the physics inconsistent, leading to unpredictable outcomes.
- The graphics and overall presentation are considered outdated and low quality, detracting from the gaming experience.
- graphics55 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the unique art style that blends dark humor and cartoonish elements, creating a visually striking experience. While some players noted significant improvements over the original game, describing the visuals as stunning and nearly photorealistic, others pointed out inconsistencies and bugs that detracted from the overall quality. Overall, the graphics are seen as a highlight, contributing to an immersive atmosphere, though opinions vary on their execution and performance.
“The art style complements this perfectly, making each level feel like a twisted cartoon come to life.”
“The graphics in this game are the definition of the future.”
“Every scene is a masterwork – it’s a near-unbelievable achievement for an art style.”
“The graphics are a definite improvement from the original but are still inconsistent and dodgy.”
“Of course anyone who would actually play Bad Rats will almost immediately realize the extremely low quality, terrible performance, and awful graphics.”
“It's broken in several core ways that make it nearly unplayable; it has the graphics of an early 2000s straight-to-DVD feature film.”
- humor46 mentions
- 98 % positive mentions
- -4 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's humor is characterized by a blend of dark and juvenile elements, often eliciting both laughter and discomfort through its over-the-top animations and shocking scenarios. While many players appreciate the whimsical and mischievous aspects, some feel that the humor can miss the mark or become repetitive. Overall, the comedic elements significantly enhance the gameplay experience, making it a memorable and entertaining adventure for those who enjoy unconventional humor.
“From the moment I started, I was hooked by the game's dark humor and challenging puzzles.”
“It’s definitely on the darker side, with over-the-top animations and scenarios that are both shocking and hilarious.”
“All in all, the comedy had me rolling on the floor laughing, gasping for air.”
“The jokes fall flat and feel forced.”
“I expected more clever humor, but it just didn't land.”
“The attempts at comedy are cringeworthy and miss the mark.”
- music44 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received a mixed reception, with many praising the soundtrack as a standout feature that enhances the emotional experience and gameplay, often likening it to masterpieces of classical music. However, some users found the music to be jarring or of poor quality, describing it as "filling noises" or "horrifying," yet still oddly catchy. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a defining element of the game, contributing to its unique atmosphere and charm, despite its divisive nature.
“🎵 With a soundtrack that could make even the coldest ice melt, the game's audio is a melody of excellence.”
“The soundtrack is a masterpiece.”
“An incredible soundtrack and great sound design help make Bad Rats feel like a real place.”
“The music is dire.”
“Oh, and the in-game music is horrible.”
“The music sounds like a bunch of toads from the Mario universe got their own band, and it's horrifying.”
- gameplay34 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its challenging puzzles and unpredictable physics, which can lead to both frustration and satisfaction upon completion. Players appreciate the diversity of characters and mechanics, though some note a steep learning curve and occasional technical issues. Overall, the game offers engaging and immersive experiences, enhanced by humor and a variety of gameplay styles, despite some criticisms regarding its introduction of new mechanics.
“The challenging gameplay and the sheer unpredictability of the physics make for a game that’s both frustrating and immensely satisfying when you finally solve a level.”
“The diversity of rats and their abilities adds layers to the gameplay, keeping you engaged and entertained.”
“This game blew me away with its next-gen graphics and engrossing gameplay.”
“Crashed after 2 minutes of gameplay.”
“The game doesn't do a very good job of introducing you to each of the new mechanics (besides the initial level blurb), so I ended up just doing several trial-and-error runs to understand how it works.”
“The sequel looks and sounds much better, but the gameplay is still absolutely horrid.”
- story30 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The story of "Bad Rats" has garnered mixed reviews, with some players praising its engaging and humorous narrative, well-developed characters, and emotional moments that elevate it within the indie game genre. Others, however, criticize the plot for lacking coherence and depth, suggesting that while the game features a rich lore and entertaining dialogue, it often prioritizes gameplay over a solid storyline. Overall, the narrative experience is seen as a unique blend of charm and absurdity, appealing to a niche audience.
“I got absolutely hooked with the story as I normally struggle to keep up with games due to my ADHD; however, this game was so well made that I couldn't stop playing it.”
“The story is full of funny, awesome, and tearjerker moments, bringing a fresh impact to the world of indie games.”
“Features well-developed characters and a gripping story.”
“No real story, just some variations in each map regarding the fate of the cat.”
“🔲 this game has no story.”
“The dialogue is well written, even if the plot itself fails to make sense at times.”
- optimization12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 42 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is highly inconsistent, with some players experiencing significant performance issues, while others report decent stability and improved graphics. Overall, it appears to run better than its predecessor, but the lack of support for Linux and Mac, along with varying performance across different systems, detracts from the experience. Despite these challenges, some users still find enjoyment in the game, rating its performance around 8/10.
“Beautiful optimization.”
“This means better performance and better stability for you while playing Bad Rats Show!”
“But those are not the only improvements in the game - the graphics are even better, smoother, and more realistic than before, the background music is more fitting (especially considering the whole 'live show' atmosphere), the interface is clearer to understand and more user-friendly, and overall the game performance is also better - it runs faster, and there are fewer random crashes compared to the first game, which had some (only a few, but they could be quite bothersome).”
“Very poorly optimized game with almost unusable camera controls in 3D mode.”
“This game would've been better if the optimization wasn't so bad and had a Linux and Mac version, but overall decent.”
“Of course anyone who would actually play Bad Rats will almost immediately realize the extremely low quality, terrible performance, and awful graphics.”
- emotional10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game evokes a profound emotional connection, exploring themes of love, loss, and revenge through its complex narrative and character arcs. Players report experiencing a wide range of emotions, from joy to sorrow, often leading to tears, making it a standout emotional journey in gaming. Its ability to resonate deeply with players is highlighted as a significant strength, surpassing even other emotionally impactful titles.
“The emotional depth of the game resonates with my icy heart, echoing the love, loss, grief, and revenge of the bad rats.”
“This is a game of deeply complex emotional strife and a beautiful arc involving overcoming group adversity and a common lifelong enemy that has threatened the 'bad' rats' ways of life for decades.”
“Overall, this game is an emotional tearjerker.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by a unique original soundtrack that complements its puzzle-solving elements, creating an enjoyable and humorous experience. Improvements in graphics and background music contribute to a more immersive "live show" feel, while a clearer interface and better performance further elevate the overall ambiance.
“The original soundtrack makes this game unique and adds a great puzzle-solving atmosphere.”
“Even if the main objective is the same as before, this brings a whole new atmosphere to the game - an enjoyable (and quite funny, in some aspects) one.”
“The background music is more fitting (especially considering the whole 'live show' atmosphere), enhancing the overall experience.”
“The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth and immersion that I expected.”
“Despite the improvements in graphics, the overall atmosphere still feels lifeless and fails to engage the player.”
“The game's atmosphere is inconsistent, often breaking immersion with jarring transitions and poorly designed environments.”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a mixed bag; while some players find it entertaining despite its bugs, others report significant issues such as crashes and difficult controls. Overall, it appears to be less buggy than before, but still not fully stable, leading to a range of player experiences from laughter to frustration.
“It is so broken and buggy that it makes me and my friends laugh every time we play it.”
“The game is much less buggy, although there are definitely still issues (I crashed a few times).”
“Entertaining but very buggy and hard to control.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers highlight the game's high replayability, noting that it is "infinitely replayable" and maintains a significant replay value similar to its predecessor.
“Infinitely replayable (or almost).”
“It has a huge replayability factor, just like the first game.”
“The game offers countless opportunities for replayability.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find grinding to be a tedious yet challenging experience that ultimately feels rewarding, though some express concerns about the presence of bots potentially undermining the effort.
“It's tedious and challenging but worth it.”
“Are they card farming bots or something?”