On one hand it's a shame that this game leans so hard into the kawaii animal-girl aesthetic considering it's a stupendously competent metroidvania. Combat is flashy and nuanced; a balancing act where the player uses both ranged and melee attacks to rack up combos while dealing with the bullet hell lite boss battles. Exploration is a joy, with enough abilities and secrets to keep any space pirate and/or dracula hunter happy. Top it off with badges that allow for different styles of combat, an awesome map system that tells you how much you've yet to discover, and some kickass music and you've got yourself a great package. Still, this is a game I'd think twice before recommending to a friend, and most certainly not a game I would play on the family television.

On the other hand, I really don't want to mindlessly echo the sentiment that the vibe of Rabi-Ribi is something you have to look past to find the hidden treasure that is the gameplay. The art, the style and the culture all have merit. Sure, there's some weird perverseness at play, but if you'll allow me to be brave: This game is full of cute anime girls - which rules. The horniness is much more heavy-handed than the likes of Pseudoregalia, but whether or not you plan of yoinking it to the rabbit girl, the indie-metroidvania goodness is all still there.