Nintendo Okie

A few years ago the notion of releasing a 2D platformer on a console was laughable, that was until Nintendo took a step back and released New Super Mario Bros on DS, followed swiftly by a Wii iteration that introduced multiplayer to the series for the first time. No one predicted the incredible level of love these games received, more so than a typical Mario game, and with that love came the realisation that the 2D platformer wasn’t dead; it had grown-up and was making a comeback.

It was about the same time that one of gaming’s icons fell by the wayside – Rayman. The surprise success of the Rabbids and their mini-game compilations relegated Rayman from company mascot to appearing in countless re-releases of Rayman 2, while the Rabbids stole the spotlight and left the limbless wonder in the dark. But with the resurrection of the 2D platformer, arguably Rayman’s natural home, complete and with the Rabbids taking a much-needed break, Rayman has the chance to take back the spotlight and remind us why he is such a beloved character in Rayman Origins. The result is one of the finest platformers you will ever play.

What You Need To Know
Rayman Origins is a return to the series’ roots – this is 2D platforming at its very purest. Take Rayman through over 60 crazy levels, or bring along 3 friends and complete the game co-operatively as Rayman, Globox and the Teensies. Or just slap each other. Either is good.

Pure Platforming
Perhaps the most striking thing about Rayman Origins is just how perfect the game feels; this really is one of those unique occasions where Nintendo have been equalled in a genre that they have made their own. And it’s a good thing the game is so perfectly balanced too, as once you’re up to speed with how the game plays, you will be racing through levels at speeds that would make Sonic turn his head. Rayman Origins is very much like a best-of 2D platformers game – it has the skill and platforming perfection of Mario, the relentless speed of Sonic and the challenge of the classics. This is a game for the platforming fan at the heart of anyone who grew up with the NES and SNES, and it feels great to be back.

Like any good 2D platformer, the set-up for the game is suitably ridiculous and completely superfluous to the actual game itself. In summary, Rayman and his pals are sleeping on the aptly named Snoring Tree, waking the evil forces underground who naturally invade the Glade of Dreams, capturing the Nymphs and generally wreaking havoc on the world. It’s therefore up to our limbless protagonist to save the day and rescue the Nymphs to restore the Glade of Dreams. It’s simple and short – the perfect set-up for a platformer.

Stunning Graphics and Audio
But it’s not the platforming nature of the game which will capture your attention first – instead you will be absolutely captivated by the colourful, vibrant and simply gorgeous graphical style that Ubisoft have adopted, making use of their new UbiArt Framework technology. In a year that has been filled with gritty and grey landscapes, it is refreshing to see someone other than Nintendo create a beautiful world full of charm and life, something that Rayman Origins has in abundance. Everything is animated in a somewhat zany cartoon style, giving even the most mundane objects a life of their own and creating an incredibly unique style, somewhere between a comicbook come to life, the drawings of a madman and beautiful landscape paintings. Proof if ever it was needed that video games can be considered an art form.

That high production quality also extends to the audio of the game, which once again can stand toe-to-toe against Nintendo. Every world features a catchy and memorable tune, and coupled with little sound effects for almost any action, create a cheerful and relaxed atmosphere to compliment the ever beautiful graphical side of the game. Add in some adorable gibberish dialogue from the characters and you have a complete audio package.

Diverse Levels and Endless Creativity
Once you tear yourself away from the graphics, there is also a game in there to play, and thankfully it does not disappoint. Rayman Origins features over 60 levels split across numerous themed worlds, ranging from a snowy freezer theme to a musical desert theme, meaning you are never seeing the same thing twice. Even within worlds, the creativity and sheer madness of the levels presented to you will surprise and amuse you, as you bounce off bongo drums in the desert or swing from the beards of monks in the temple. This is a game that doesn’t take itself seriously at all, and that comes through in the fantastic level themes -  they really are the result of creativity left to be free.

Despite this freedom, the levels are still tightly packed and it is always clear where to go, which is a good thing as the vibrancy of the designs does lead to the chance of some confusion developing. As you would expect, Rayman begins with the classic platforming abilities of walk, run and jump, and the early levels simply bring you up to speed with how Rayman feels to play – think along the lines of Donkey Kong Country Returns mixed with classic Sonic the Hedgehog. It’s fast, free flowing but remains tight at all times so you never feel out of control meaning if you die it will almost always be your fault.

New skills mix the action up
At the end of the first world you will probably be feeling reasonably happy with your skills, but this is where Rayman Origins throws in a curve ball. Rather than just upping the ante in each world, you are instead given a new power by the nymph of that respective world. These new powers include Rayman’s iconic hovering ability, the ability to slap and punch enemies and even go as far as allowing you to change size to fit through gaps. Each world takes full advantage of the new ability, and before you know it you will be hurtling through levels at incredible speeds pulling off a variety of moves to safely navigate Rayman to the end. The closest comparison I can draw is with Bit.Trip RUNNER, only in this, you have full control of where Rayman goes. It really is platforming at its finest, but also at its most difficult thanks to a smooth upwards difficulty curve, which through the implementation of unlimited lives and checkpoints, promotes a ‘one more try’ attitude.

Breaking the main levels up are flying levels, where Rayman rides on the back of a pink mosquito, blasting to the end past hordes of enemies, or sucking them up and spitting them back out to rack up multiple kills. It’s a simple concept and one that is very well executed despite some cheap deaths, and introduces a clever way to bring in a new level theme without throwing you into it straight away.

Collectibles, Treasure and Multiplayer
The main game will take a healthy ten hours (give or take) to complete if you’re in a hurry, but as you would expect, the game has an absolute ton of replay-ability. The main aim of the game is to save as many of the eternally happy Electoons, which are collected directly by completing the level and finding secret cages with them in within the level itself. However, they can also be collected by capturing a certain number of Lums, Rayman’s answer to coins, within each level, and also by completing a time trial challenge by revisiting it at after completion. The successful acquisition of Electoons allows new worlds to open, but it also allows access to one of Rayman Origins hidden treats – the treasure chest races. These are essentially platforming at its purest – simple point to point races where one mistake or one slow reaction means you have to start again. It may sound infuriating but they are actually incredibly good fun and a worthwhile reason to go back and find all the Electoons.

Rayman Origins isn’t just a solo experience though, and arguably the game is even more fun in multiplayer. The game allows up to four players to play at a time, with the other players taking on the roles of Globox and two Teensies, although the optimum player number is two, if only to help promote teamwork. After the initial round of slapping each other, which incidentally never gets old, the levels actually play really well in multiplayer, and it feels like a natural fit. Areas which were difficult to get to in single player are still difficult to get to in multiplayer, but teamwork will naturally make the whole job a lot easier. The lack of lives is also a bonus, as players simply ‘bubblise’ and can be brought back in by popping them. If New Super Mario Bros Wii was a great multiplayer experience, this can only be described as an incredible one.

Conclusion
In a year where games seem to have mainly been sequels or iterations on a theme, it is great to see Ubisoft putting new life into an established franchise in such a colourful and brilliant way. When you play Rayman Origins it is hard to see why Rayman has stayed away for so long, as its mix of fast and furious action coupled with precise and accurate platforming creates one of the most enjoyable games released in this generation. This is a game that every platforming fan needs to own and it is a game that every gamer needs to play. It’s not often that another developer can take a decent shot at Nintendo’s platforming crown, but Ubisoft’s Rayman Origins is a game that can certainly stand next to Mario with pride.

Final Score:

Review copy provided by Ubisoft