Animal Rivals

Animal Rivals is a local party game for up to four players. You compete as animals fighting in a tournament for the throne of Animalonia, using speed, cleverness and each character’s own fighting style and abilities. You can play solo or with friends.

The tournament

King Bryan inherited the throne by accident and ruled while the kingdom’s prosperous, politically indifferent animals paid little attention to politics. After years of budget cuts, a reform of public media brings a higher licence fee, prompting the animals to rebel. A law—or a loophole in it—allows any animal to challenge the ruler. Cat Leonidas does not realise the challenge will open a tournament, and contenders soon appear with their own reasons for claiming the throne.

The animals have a grotesque cartoon style inspired by television shows from the 1980s and 1990s, paired with satire. Each has their own desires and reasons to fight, as well as their own way of fighting.

Game modes

The game has four modes, each with a different objective:

• Collector: Collect a randomly selected set of items and bring them to your table before your opponents. Use your special ability and level-specific power-ups to gain an advantage.
• Runner: Race to the finish line while avoiding traps on the stage.
• Catcher: Catch as many cannonballs fired from cannons as possible while opponents try to stop you. Watch out for exploding bombs.
• Destroyer: Break boxes in your animal’s favourite colour. The animal with the highest score wins.

Characters

Four animals are available from the start: Cat Leonidas, Pig Shaw, Sloth Jasper and Lion Bryan. You can unlock six more by completing Arcade mode a few times: Panda Ed, Rat Clarence, Anteater Arnold, Proboscis Monkey Gary, T-Rex Bobby and Mecha-Dog Zax. The game also has over 15 stages with variations, as well as unlockable costumes and colours.