Hare Raising Havoc

Hare Raising Havoc is a 2D puzzle-platform game released for the Amiga in 1991, developed by BlueSky Software and published by Disney. BlueSky is a studio that created other Disney games, such as Ariel the Little Mermaid and Jurassic Park for Mega Drive/Genesis.

Hare Raising Havoc stars Roger Rabbit, the chaotic and frantic cartoon character originally made famous by Who Framed Roger Rabbit. The game's premise is simple but manic: Roger must rescue Baby Herman, who has crawled away into a world full of deadly traps and cartoon-style hazards, all under the pressure of a strict time limit.

The gameplay blends puzzle-solving with timing-based platform action. Each screen is a single-room challenge where the player must figure out the correct sequence of interactions between objects — all while the timer counts down mercilessly. Open a drawer, grab an object, avoid a falling anvil, climb over a toy chest — the trial-and-error nature of these rooms means players will often fail repeatedly before they master a level. Fortunately, the cartoon violence is so over-the-top and humorous that failure rarely feels frustrating. Instead, it reinforces the slapstick tone of the source material.

Visually, the Amiga version stands out. The animations are remarkably smooth for the time, with Roger's exaggerated movements and facial expressions matching the cartoon’s aesthetic perfectly. Each room is drawn in colorful detail, with layered backgrounds and a lot of visual charm. The sound effects and music also enhance the experience, offering quirky, whimsical tunes that mirror the gameplay’s tempo.

What makes Hare Raising Havoc memorable is its personality. Unlike many platformers of the era that focused on reflexes or combat, this game leans heavily into humor, experimentation, and surprise. At times it feels like an interactive cartoon short, rather than a traditional game. This creative approach earned it a cult following, although some players were turned off by the unforgiving time limit and sometimes obscure solutions to puzzles.

While not a massive commercial hit, Hare Raising Havoc demonstrated how well cartoon licenses could work in a video game when handled with care and attention to style. For fans of the Amiga and 90s animation, it remains a charming curiosity worth revisiting.