Hands On: Rayman Origins
The original Rayman.
Published: 9:00, 27/09/2011 by Blair [mynameisblair].
6I didn’t manage to play Rayman in his debut on PS1, when it released 16 years ago. I was two years old, after all, so I waited until I had matured somewhat and finally got around to it when it came out for the Game Boy Advance. I loved it all the same though, even though I might have played it half a decade after everyone else.
After the first game, the Rayman series went through some changes – Rayman 2 moved into the realm of 3D platforming and Rayman 3 continued this, after all, going back to 2D would be a mistake and a step in the wrong direction, right? Perhaps, but it couldn’t have been any worse than the Raving Rabbids spin-off (not that they’re particularly bad, just that it was not Rayman). So, now that the Rabbids have migrated to their own series, what’s next for Rayman?
- Full, disc-based game.
- Releases on November 25th.
- Includes over 60 levels and 12 environments.
There’s a startling contrast to the PS1 game, however – it has been a decade and a half so this was a given. It’s absolutely not a remake, with lots of new gameplay mechanics and a four player co-operative mode (with at least two players is necessary if you’re looking for the best experience) and the art style has noticeably improved, with crisp 2D visuals, a glorious palette filled with vibrant colours and gorgeous yet quirky animations.
When this all comes together, with solid platforming mechanics, lots of secret rooms and various environments, it’s truly delightful. Rayman and Globox make for a great team, with each able to run, jump, hover and save each other from the enemies – if you’re hurt, you’ll blow up into a balloon and your co-op partner is able to bring you back down to the ground and revert you to your non-bloated form.
I’ve played three levels of Origins (about five times each): first was a classic Rayman jungle level (complete with the photographer at the end) which introduces you to the gameplay and features many hidden puzzle rooms with caged Electoons – one of which actually nods nicely to Angry Birds. The second level is more complex, it’s desert themed and has enemy bats which will kill you unless you’re in a shielded area, and later you’ll have to collect a shield at certain intervals before running to the next; it’s fast paced and quite hectic but a lot of fun.
The co-op drives the game and is very satisfying.
The music throws you back to Rayman of old, with the sounds contributing towards this too. You’ll recognise the cheerful tones and comical shouts as Rayman opens a cage, completes a level or, well… dies (even though it was very hard to hear them I could still recognise the excited cries from Rayman and company).
Rayman Origins is two things, mainly: firstly, it’s a solid co-op platformer with a beautiful art style, great gameplay mechanics and a whole lot of fun and, secondly, it’s quintessentially Rayman; if you’re a fan of the original, this should not only be in your sights, but firmly in the middle of them, with you ready to pounce when it releases. Rayman is back where he should be and I doubt I’ll put it off for six days this time round, never mind six years.
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27/09/2011 at 09:21
Member since: Dec 2008
The thing that narks me, and I only thought of this last night, is that Rayman was called Rayman because orginally, he was a ray-traced character.
Now he’s a cartoon.
So he’s not Rayman.
So he should go back to his orginal name, which was Jimmy.
27/09/2011 at 09:36
Member since: Dec 2008
Yeah but Sonic was so called because he turned blue when he broke the speed of sound (as you do), but now he needs a cart to race and can’t even outrun a fat plumber.
27/09/2011 at 13:24
Member since: Mar 2010
Did you just break the speed of sound with your comment? Kudos.
27/09/2011 at 09:30
Member since: Jul 2009
Rayman was one of my first PS1 games along with fifa 96 and the F1 demo. Good times, even though I couldnt get past level 4 in rayman, i still enjoyed it.
27/09/2011 at 09:34
Member since: Jun 2010
This game looks really great. I like how they took the risk to make it a Blu Ray release to give us an extensive, lush, well rounded 2D platformer.
27/09/2011 at 20:46
Member since: Jul 2009
I agree, but I bought a PSN card today, just with this game in mind, heheh!
27/09/2011 at 09:49
Member since: Nov 2009
Please stop! The anticipation is killing me! I tried to tell myself that I don’t need this game as soon as it is released because I already had UC3 preordered for ages and they both come out in the same month but I don’t think I can hold back.
27/09/2011 at 09:52
Member since: Nov 2009
Balls to it… Preordered it anyways.
27/09/2011 at 09:57
Member since: Sep 2010
Ooh, I thought this was a PSN title, need some more room on my shelf now. My son and I are really looking forward to this, the trailer looks ace. I remember the original being rock hard in places, timed jumps etc.
27/09/2011 at 10:55
Member since: Oct 2009
It was an episodic PSN title but it got upgraded to a complete blu ray release.
27/09/2011 at 14:33
Member since: Aug 2009
Thank Ancel… I hate the idea of Episodic platformers, I really can’t wait to play it… Rayman as always been so great.
27/09/2011 at 10:12
Member since: Jul 2011
Awesome. Rabbids get such a massive tankering but I think they’re great fun. All the same, I’m glad the two series have seperated out so we can have the best of both worlds!
27/09/2011 at 11:02
Member since: May 2010
I remeber the original Rayman being a bit hard. Hell, i’ve yet to even give it a proper playthrough as i have brought it 7 months ago. :O
It sounds good and looks good. :)
27/09/2011 at 11:28
Member since: Aug 2008
Christ. I was 2 when Elite came out on the BBC Micro and Acorn Electron.
Looking forward to this, the Rayman games have always been good fun, I don’t expect this to be any different. Plus, it looks amazing.
27/09/2011 at 13:57
Member since: Dec 2008
Good hands on. I think this was probably the most fun game I played at the expo. Not necessarily the best, but definitely the most fun.
27/09/2011 at 14:21
Member since: Aug 2009
Does anyone remember French With Rayman? It was basically the original Rayman but you learnt French while you played. One of my earliest gaming memories…
27/09/2011 at 14:39
Member since: Nov 2009
What? Why didn’t I know about this when I was in school and learned french? Damnit…