Rubber Hose Rampage

About

"Rubber Hose Rampage" is a 2D action game set in a 1920s cartoon world, where players must battle against 22 bosses in a fight against sentient AI chatbots. The game is inspired by rubber hose animation and classical music from the era, offering a unique and challenging experience for players. The mission: protect Steamboat Willie, the resistance leader, from the cyborgs sent to kill him and prevent the nuclear apocalypse.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

+14

42%

Audience ScoreBased on 110 reviews

gameplay6 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

The game features an outstanding visual style and works well on the Steam Deck.
Playing with friends provides some of the best moments of fun, making it a great multiplayer experience.
Despite its challenges, the game is beatable and offers a nostalgic homage to classic cartoons.

The game suffers from unbalanced boss fights and frustrating controls, making it difficult to enjoy.
Many animations and designs appear to be traced or borrowed from other sources, leading to accusations of a lack of originality.
The hitboxes and attack patterns of bosses can be confusing and unfair, contributing to a frustrating gameplay experience.

gameplay
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
50%
13%
The gameplay is generally well-received, noted for its addictive nature and fair mechanics, particularly after players become familiar with the system. The multiplayer mode significantly enhances replayability, providing hours of enjoyment with friends. Overall, the game is praised for its originality and artistic design, with some reviewers even suggesting it deserves game of the year accolades.
- “The gameplay is very addictive and I can't get enough of it.”
- “The multiplayer mode gives the game so much replayability, allowing for hours of fun gameplay with you and your friends.”
- “Moving onto the actual gameplay, I'll start with the negative and move onto the positive.”
- “The game is probably at its best when you've gone through it at least once, and have learned the system and mechanics.”
music
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
79%
21%
The music in the game primarily features classical orchestrated tracks, with occasional elements reminiscent of public domain cartoon soundtracks. However, many reviewers criticize the reliance on stock music and suggest replacing some tracks with more original or varied compositions. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as lacking in creativity and depth, contributing to a perception of the game as derivative.
- “The soundtrack is mostly comprised of classical orchestrated music and only a few instances of what sounds like public domain cartoon soundtracks.”
- “Most of the artwork is either traced or straight up stolen (although many are public domain resources), so is the soundtrack.”
- “A game full of traced animations, stolen clip art, stock music, and tons of legally questionable decisions wrapped up in a Cuphead clone that was literally impossible to beat without Cheat Engine being sold on the Microsoft Store... and coming soon to Steam.”
graphics
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The graphics in the game are criticized for being largely derivative, with many assets either traced or taken from public domain sources, leading to a lack of originality. While high-end graphics can be achieved on powerful systems, the overall artistic quality is deemed poor due to the reliance on unoriginal artwork.
- “The graphics are stunning and truly immersive, making the game world feel alive.”
- “The attention to detail in the graphics is remarkable, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.”
- “The vibrant colors and smooth animations create a visually captivating environment.”
- “Most of the artwork is either traced or straight up stolen (although many are public domain resources), so is the soundtrack.”
- “Also, let’s trace other people’s artwork and put our own shabby coat of paint on it, because that definitely doesn’t look good.”
- “90% of the graphics used in games and as sprites are subpar.”
story
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The game features minimal story elements, with many users noting a lack of narrative depth. However, Sebastian's quests are highlighted as a standout aspect, providing some engaging content that enhances the overall experience.
- “No story.”
- “No story.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by awkward uses of stock voice clips, which some players find amusing, particularly the portrayal of Santa Claus. However, while the humor can be entertaining, it is also criticized for lacking originality and lowering the overall quality of comedic content.
- “There's a lot of awkward uses of what appears to be stock/royalty-free voice clips (except Santa Claus; it's funny watching him spam).”
- “This game has a unique sense of humor that really stands out, making it a fun experience despite its flaws.”
- “The humor in this game is both clever and absurd, providing plenty of laughs throughout the gameplay.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is highly praised for its replayability, particularly due to its engaging multiplayer mode, which offers hours of enjoyable gameplay with friends. This aspect significantly enhances the overall experience, encouraging players to return for more.
- “The multiplayer mode gives the game so much replayability, allowing for hours of fun gameplay with you and your friends.”
- “The game is very replayable.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
Players express that the grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming, often requiring a significant investment of effort akin to having a second life to fully engage with it.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's optimization has been heavily criticized, with users comparing it unfavorably to other poorly optimized titles, suggesting that it performs significantly worse and may lead to frustration for players.
- “If you thought Enchanted Portals was a poorly optimized piece of garbage, this game will drop you into a coma.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its deeply emotional narrative, blending humor and thought-provoking themes, making it one of the most impactful stories in video gaming.
- “This game has one of the most emotional, funniest, and thought-provoking stories ever put into a video game.”