Summary
Yet another third-partySteamboat Willievideo game is being released this year in the form ofRubber Hose Rampage, a 2D shooter seemingly inspired byCuphead. At the beginning of 2024, Disney’s long-held copyright for the originalSteamboat Willieanimated short film expired, allowing anyone to use that particular version of Mickey Mouse in any project they wish without fear of legal action. This came at the end of many efforts byDisneyto prevent its most famous property from entering the public domain, though the conglomerate still retains ownership of any version of its mascot to come after his initial cinematic appearances.
Unsurprisingly, many indie creators have jumped at the chance to include a retro version of the iconic Mickey Mouse in their projects. On the very day that Disney’s trademark forSteamboat Willielapsed, horror developerNightmare Forge Games announcedInfestation: Origins, a first-person survivor horror co-op title that pits players against a twisted version of Mickey Mouse that quickly drew comparisons to the infamous 2023 filmWinnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey. Other recently announcedSteamboat Willieprojects have been more in line with what fans expect of Mickey, including one new game that may have flown under the radar until now.
Just a few days ago, a retro-style shooter titledRubber Hose Rampagesuddenly appeared on the Xbox Store after being announced last month, as reported byPure Xbox. Created by lesser-known indie developer Revie Studios,Rubber Hose Rampageputs players in control of Steamboat Willie and Minnie Mouse (who appeared inSteamboat Willieand thus falls under the same public domain agreement as her boyfriend) as they battle AI-controlled chatbots from the future. The game features stylish black-and-white visuals inspired by the classic theatrical cartoons of the 1920s and 1930s and 21 boss battles against various animated enemies.
Rubber Hose Rampage Looks Like A Mickey-Flavored Cuphead
Judging from its brief reveal trailer, it seems thatRubber Hose Rampagetakes many cues fromCuphead, the 2017 sidescroller that also blends vintage-style animation with blistering run-and-gun gameplay. It also brings to mindMouse, an upcomingBioShock-like FPS that puts players in the role of a rodent detective rebelling against a corrupt government and features the same black-and-white rubber hose art style thatSteamboat Williehelped make famous back in 1928.
Rubber Hose Rampagemay not look as polished as these two examples, but it still could be an interesting title for fans of bothCupheadandMickey Mouse’s past video game exploits.Rubber Hose Rampagewill be available to purchase for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC for $4.99 on the Xbox Store sometime this spring, serving as yet another indie project spawned fromSteamboat Willieentering the public domain nearly a hundred years after he first sailed onto the big screen.
Disney
Disney is a conglomerate and media company that owns a variety of television stations like ABC, Disney Channel, and Disney XD. They are also owners of the Marvel and Star Wars franchises and own the ever-popular Disney theme parks found all around the world.
