Looney Tunes: Wacky World of Sports Review

PlayStation 5

Wacky World of Sports brings a warm feeling of Looney Tunes nostalgia.

Reviewed by Rayan on  Sep 29, 2024

While different sports games are often released on various platforms, it's hard to find a good family game you can play with all the members. No noteworthy games fell under this criteria after Mario Strikers: Battle League was released two years back.

Bamtang Games' has partnered with Publisher GameMill Entertainment for publishing DreamWorks All-Star Kart Racing, which didn't do too well when released last year, while Nickelodeon Kart Racers 2: Grand Prix was really fun to play. This year, again, they have teamed up to release Looney Tunes: Wacky World of Sports.

Looney Tunes, Wacky World of Sports, Review, PS5, Gameplay, Screenshots, Bugs Bunny

Looney Tunes: Wacky World of Sports combines four different sports with lovable sarcasm and charming characters from the Looney Tunes universe. You take control of nine iconic cartoon characters—including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Taz—in wild and crazy takes on sports, including football, Basketball, golf, and Tennis.

Because of the game's power-ups, traps, and obstacles, every round is fast-paced and full of surprises. The game does admirably well, being an easy-to-control and immediately enjoyable family sports title. It may not have the glossy quality you would expect from a PlayStation 5, but it does enough to be amusing and fun to play.

Looney Tunes: Wacky World of Sports is a game for everyone, thanks to its simplicity. The game offers 2v2 arcade basketball, 1v1 or 2v2 arcade tennis, 3v3 arcade soccer, and 4-player golf. It includes nine iconic Looney Tunes Characters: Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Elmer Fudd, Wile E. Coyote, Road Runner, Sylvester, Taz, and Lola Bunny.

The best part of this game is that its friendly controls make it easy for gamers of any age and let everyone jump right into the action. Whether you're playing Basketball, football, golf, or Tennis, the controls remain the same, making it easy to get into the gameplay. The low learning curve makes it perfect for casual or younger players, offering playful fun for all.

Even though Looney Tunes: Wacky World of Sports is based on sports events, the game emphasizes entertainment over competition. The game has nine playable characters, each with a unique twist to add to the gameplay. While a few more unlockable characters would have been a nice addition, the game's humor and gameplay are perfect for groups of friends.

Looney Tunes, Wacky World of Sports, Review, PS5, Football, Gameplay, Screenshots, Yosemite Sam

The most enjoyable part is not the competition but the game's outrageous absurdities that unfold. Whether you're controlling the speedy Daffy Duck, Lola Bunny, or Bugs Bunny, you're in for a fun time. While the single-player campaign lacks depth compared to the multiplayer mode, the variety allows players to experiment with different strategies.

When playing soccer, the game is a 3v3 format. Even though there are four players on each team, you do not have control over the goalkeeper. Instead, you use the triangle button to switch between your three outfield players.

You perform a short button-matching QTE sequence once you have filled up your special bar to its maximum capacity. You will be able to push opponents off the ball, store up shots, and even conduct limited-use unblockable strikes. However, on certain occasions, the characters' movements can feel awkward. Playing soccer in this game after recently finishing EA SPORTS FC 25 was an enjoyable experience.

I have been looking forward to playing tennis since my last experience with TIEBREAK: Official game of the ATP and WTA wasn't particularly memorable. Tennis in Looney Tunes: Wacky World of Sports, however, is a bit cartoonish and not precisely grounded in reality, but it's a fun and engaging experience.

The gameplay is reminiscent of Virtua Tennis from SEGA, which may bring a wave of nostalgia to some players. The charging mechanism is used to decide power and angle based on whether or not you hold down the shot button.

Looney Tunes, Wacky World of Sports, Review, PS5, Tennis, Gameplay, Screenshots, Bugs Bunny, Sylvester

The game includes a few ACME touches, such as dynamite sticks to dodge and a special attack that drains your special meter in slow motion. This allows you some time to slow down the ball and get into a position where you can return it.

You can forget about real-life golf; even cartoonish games like Everybody's Golf lacked any golf simulator's accuracy and realistic mechanics, making Looney Tunes: Wacky World of Sports' golf the least strong of the four sports. Slopes don't matter much because the ball sticks to the grass after landing and bouncing.

The AI always manages to find these magical rabbit hole shortcuts, so even a tiny miss will get you labeled out of bounds. The mechanics of putting are particularly buggy, making it the most annoying of the four sports. There are some good jokes, particularly for those who recall the cartoons, and the personalized scoring system ensures that you can win even if you don't win.

Last but not least, there's basketball, which is so far my favorite of the four game modes. Obviously, it isn't close to anything we've seen in NBA 2K25; it's a 2v2 basketball game with decent animation and solid gameplay that is quite reminiscent of the 16-bit classic NBA Jam.

The game has slam dunks, an accurate three-point shooting system that requires you to hold the shoot button for a specific amount of time to achieve a perfect shot and a solid presentation. Putting aside the strange delay at the end of each quarter, this mode is pretty fun to play and will probably be the selling point of this game.

Looney Tunes, Wacky World of Sports, Review, PS5, Basketball, Gameplay, Screenshots, Daffy Duck

All of these game modes in Looney Tunes: Wacky World of Sports provide local co-op ranging from one to four players, but unfortunately, there is no online multiplayer. The game's solo mode lets you undertake diverse challenges from the settings menu. These challenges have a somewhat chaotic feel, but they provide a welcome break from the intense gameplay of the primary modes. Competing in The Ultimate Cup is also fun, as each of the four sports is randomly assigned to different stages.

On the other hand, sports mode allows you to focus on a single sport while providing access to a tutorial and an additional technical lesson for those who like to learn more about each shot variety. Once you have gotten acclimated to how everything works, you will be able to turn off the button prompts that are located at the bottom of the screen in the game.

Sadly, however, the game's solo mode is let down by its mediocre AI design. If you prefer playing games solo, you might find it difficult to enjoy the gameplay since the AI characters fall far short. The game is enjoyable only when you play with others.

Their lack of responsiveness, indecision, or both makes playing solo irritating more often than not. In sports like football, basketball, and tennis, the AI can feel more like a barrier to overcome than an opponent. There isn't enough meat in Looney Tunes: Wacky World of Sports' single-player mode to keep gamers hooked for hours, unlike competing sports games with rich modes and well-tuned AI opponents.

The game will feel lonely if you don't have somebody nearby to jump in on the action. However, the game's local co-op mode is its saving grace, and its multiplayer mode is a joy to play with family and friends. The randomness of each battle adds an element of excitement, whether you're avoiding falling hammers or utilizing Acme power-ups to frustrate the other player's strategies.

Looney Tunes, Wacky World of Sports, Review, PS5, Golf, Gameplay, Screenshots, Road Runner

Visually, Looney Tunes: Wacky World of Sports is most impressive. The animations are top-notch, representing the nine Looney Tune characters, and the game's universe is brought to life with vibrant shades and familiar settings. The level of detail is incredible, making it feel like you're watching the cartoon but directing it yourself.

While the legendary Mel Blanc isn't here, the game features Eric Bowser, the current voice of Bugs & Co., who convincingly voices Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, among others. Likewise, all the vocals and music are noteworthy. Daffy Duck and Bugs Bunny's famous voice lines bring a warm feeling of nostalgia.

The vibrant score goes well with the action and maintains excitement in every match. From the absurd sound effects of ACME devices to the humorous grunts and yells during high-pressure sporting events, the audio design dramatically enriches the experience. On the other hand, some noticeable flaws detract from the experience, such as when the basketball bounces off the court and becomes unretrievable for a period. Also, the unusually long loading times into matches, between levels, and even on the menu are a major letdown.

While it may not be a significant problem in the big picture, it might be frustrating when playing quick, intense sports events. There are animations that appear to be missing frames in certain sequences; these may be cartoonish, but they don't match the overall visual style. Unfortunately, the several arrival and victory sequences repeat far too fast, which is a shame because the 3D character delivery is decent here, despite maybe not entirely up to PlayStation 5's potential.

Looney Tunes, Wacky World of Sports, Review, PS5, Gameplay, Screenshots, Bugs Bunny, Lola Bunny

Ultimately, Looney Tunes: Wacky World of Sports is an ideal game for those familiar with the Looney Tunes series. The game's simple controls and spontaneous designs make it suitable for kids and other casual players seeking a good time. It may not have the finesse of other titles in its genre and isn't as endearing or deep as competing sports games.

Still, it's a fun game for the whole family, with some iconic characters brought to life in a respectable 3D representation. You might want to look elsewhere if you're seeking a more comprehensive sports or arcade sports game. Nonetheless, Looney Tunes: Wacky World of Sports is still a good choice for kids—just not one with an overly simplistic mind since it does have some complexity.

Azfar Rayan

Senior-editor, NoobFeed

Verdict

Looney Tunes: Wacky World of Sports is an ideal game for those familiar with the Looney Tunes series. Playing with friends may not be as exhaustive as any regular or arcade sports game, but it is still fun.

70

Related News

No Data.