Stop. Before you carry on reading, try the following test. 1. Picture a monkey. 2. Picture the monkey pressing a switch. 3. Picture a ten-tonne weight falling on the monkey. If you're giggling, congratulations - you're ready to read the rest of the review. If you're tutting and shaking your head, you'd better turn the page now, because sick chuckles are right at the heart of Whiplash's appeal.

The plot revolves around chatty rabbit Redmond and mute ferret Spanx escaping from an evil cosmetics testing lab (tagline: "Hurting animals so you don't have to"). They're chained together, so co-operation's the order of the day - but only if, by 'co-operation', you mean 'hurting Redmond'.

Door needs unlocking? Shove Redmond into the cog mechanism. High platform to reach? Fill him with helium and use him as a balloon. Chubby guard to distract? Just cover your floppy-eared pal with melted chocolate, lure the porkster in and wallop him unconscious with a live Easter Bunny. It sounds childish - well it is childish - but it's saved by clever set pieces, Disney-standard animation and super-slick one-liners. "Do you have any plans that don't include using me as a mace?" deadpans Redmond, just after being smashed into yet another scientist's shins. Who says cruelty to animals can't be funny?

Unfortunately, all the slapstick masks a game structure that's a bit more threadbare. All the recent platform staples are there - swinging on grapple-points, rail-grinding, zip-lining - but with nothing like the style and skill that Jak II brings to every level. Combat works fine, but it's more about button mashing than Ratchet & Clank-style finesse. If you're played and finished the two undisputed leaders of the platforming world, this might still be worth a look... just don't tell the RSPCA about the hamster cannon.

Graphics 80%
Fantastic animation, great background detail.

Sound 80%
Superb comedy voices and effects.

Gameplay 70%
Bunny-torturing platform fun.

Lifespan 70%
Worth sticking with but not that challenging.

Overall 70%
The funniest game since Futurama - but monkey facials and blazing bunnies still can't bring this up to the level of Jak and Ratchet.