Whiplash (video game)

Whiplash is a 2003 platform video game for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox where a long-tailed weasel named Spanx and a rabbit called Redmond finds themselves chained to one another and follows their adventures as the pair endeavor to find a way out of the warehouse of the product testing corporation known as Genron. The game is a 3D platformer, with Spanx being controlled by the player for the majority of the game, and Redmond used more in combat or as a means of traversing the world.

This article is about the action game. For the racing game released as Whiplash in North America, see Fatal Racing.
Whiplash
Developer(s)Crystal Dynamics
Publisher(s)Eidos Interactive
Square Enix (digital)
Director(s)Noah Hughes
Producer(s)Alex Jones
Programmer(s)Paul Taylor
Artist(s)Scott Anderson
Writer(s)Richard Gaubert
Composer(s)Kurt Harland
Platform(s)PlayStation 2, Xbox
Release
  • NA: November 18, 2003
  • EU: March 5, 2004
Genre(s)Platform, action-adventure
Mode(s)Single-player

The game was featured on the cover of Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. There was also some controversy over the game with animal cruelty.[1]

Gameplay
The chain can be used in a variety of ways.

Although Redmond (the rabbit) and Spanx (the weasel) are two animals chained together, the gameplay is much like any other platformer. The player controls only Spanx, using Redmond as a weapon or tool as the situation requires. Spanx has most standard platforming abilities, while Redmond is completely indestructible as a result of tests conducted upon him and so can be hurled into security guards, jammed into machinery, and used as a grappling hook, among other uses. Redmond can be inserted into special outlets to be set on fire, frozen, or become radioactive.

One unique aspect of the game is that many objects through the levels are breakable and are assigned a dollar amount which is tracked by the game; by completing the game with more than $6 million in damage, special content can be unlocked.

Defeating the humans through the levels released special snacks that the team can eat to increase both animals' levels, which increases Spanx' health or Redmond's rage. The player is also rewarded for freeing other animals trapped and caged by the company.

Development

Spanx the Weasel first appeared in the game Mad Dash Racing in 2001. The music for Whiplash was composed by Kurt Harland of Information Society. The music features a unique interactivity scheme: It responds to player input on the controller; the more input received through the controller buttons, the more the music does. The music also expands in response to successful hits of breakable objects and enemies.

Reception

Whiplash received "average" reviews according to video game review aggregator Metacritic.[3][2]

Before the game was released in the United Kingdom, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), the Research Defence Society, the chairman of the British House of Commons and the Police Federation of England and Wales were deeply shocked at the level of cartoonish cruelty in animal product testing, despite the whole premise of the game as being against this. They thought it condoned violence and made a joke of animal suffering; however, Eidos claimed that it would raise positive awareness among children with this issue.[1]

References
  1. Mickleburgh, Richard McComb and Renee (2004-02-15). "Free the animals, smash up the lab and chain-whip policemen - this is the latest video game for children". Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2020-02-12.
  2. "Whiplash for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
  3. "Whiplash for Xbox Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
  4. Edge staff (March 2004). "Whiplash (PS2)". Edge (134): 109.
  5. EGM staff (January 2004). "Whiplash". Electronic Gaming Monthly (174): 128.
  6. Bramwell, Tom (March 8, 2004). "Whiplash (PS2)". Eurogamer. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  7. Mason, Lisa (January 2004). "Whiplash (PS2)". Game Informer (129): 134. Archived from the original on November 1, 2005. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
  8. Zoss, Jeremy (January 2004). "Whiplash (Xbox)". Game Informer (129): 151. Archived from the original on March 11, 2007. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
  9. The D-Pad Destroyer (November 17, 2003). "Whiplash". GamePro. Archived from the original on February 4, 2005. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  10. Dodson, Joe (January 2004). "Whiplash Review". Game Revolution. Archived from the original on February 19, 2004. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  11. Davis, Ryan (November 26, 2003). "Whiplash Review (PS2)". GameSpot. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  12. Davis, Ryan (November 26, 2003). "Whiplash Review (Xbox)". GameSpot. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  13. Freeman, Matthew (November 30, 2003). "GameSpy: Whiplash (PS2)". GameSpy. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  14. Freeman, Matthew (November 30, 2003). "GameSpy: Whiplash (Xbox)". GameSpy. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  15. Bedigian, Louis (December 2, 2003). "Whiplash - PS2 - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on August 29, 2008. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  16. Zacarias, Eduardo (December 6, 2003). "Whiplash - XB - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on May 24, 2009. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  17. Lewis, Ed (November 19, 2003). "Whiplash". IGN. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  18. Steinman, Gary (January 2004). "Whiplash". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine: 113. Archived from the original on December 19, 2003. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  19. Lopez, Vincent (January 2004). "Whiplash". Official Xbox Magazine (27): 74.
  20. "Whiplash (PS2)". The Times. April 10, 2004. Retrieved February 28, 2015.(subscription required)
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