by Rayman....remember that platformer for your Playstation, with the character with no arms or legs? Well, Rayman is most popular for his adventure in his sequel Rayman 2 (which name varies by system). But that's not the point, since Rayman has now made a comeback, going back to his roots in the platform world again (Rayman 2 and 3 were 3D-world adventurer platforms). Rayman Origins, is following suit with a couple of the platformers that have come out earlier in the year (DKC: Returns, New Super Mario Bros Wii, LBP2) and putting their own respective twist on it. From playing as either Rayman or Globox, or the Tweensies the game is just a blast for new gamers and those looking for the days of platformers to make its return to glory.
Story: In the Glade of Dreams, a world created by the mysterious Bubble Dreamer, Rayman, his best friend Globox, and some Teensy friends are chilling out at the Bubble Dreamer's resting grounds, the Snoring Tree. However, their snoring disturbs an old granny from the Land of the Livid Dead, who retaliates by sending an evil army of horrendous creatures and the Darktoons across the world, capturing the Electoons that inhabit the world, imprisoning Betilla the Nymph and her sisters, and plunging the Glade into chaos. Obviously as the hero you must stop this army, grannies, and other evils to save your world, the Nymphs, and the Glade Kings. While platformers aren't actually a big thing on story, this game keeps the story simple and easy to follow (no words), and there is actually quite a few plot-twists, which is always good and for players of the original Rayman series, the main villain admires Mr. Dark (bad guy from the first game).
Gameplay: As I have said many times before, Rayman Origins is a side-scrolling platformer. The game has local multiplayer of up to four-players; and let me tell you it is done to perfection in this game. So, to play you start off as Rayman, the titular hero, but if you want to be another character like Globox all you have to do is switch at the Snoring Tree. To start the game you really have no abilites but right away you learn Rayman's infamous punch. Basic platform rules apply for the game, as you have a dash, the ability to grab ledges, wall jump, and crouch/slide. As you progress further in the game and save more Nymphs, you get new abilities such as wall-running, diving/swimming, and shrinking. Besides platform levels, you get side-scrolling shooters involving Mosquitos, where you either suck up or shoot enemies.
The last thing to look at is the secret/special levels of the Skull Teeth, which you need to officially beat the game. These levels are the 'hardest' of Rayman Origins, and are really quite a fun challenge. All of them involve you chasing a treasure chest, at a high speed, using all your skills to get past puzzles quickly, or else you will get camera-deathed.One aspect I like to look at in platformers, is that of 'gravity'. In Rayman Origins, it takes a while to get used to the heavier gravity than that of the old 16-bit gravity like Sonic or Super Mario All-stars but really the game runs so smooth. The gravity is differnet in every level, for water levels the movement was even better than that of Donkey Kong Country 2, while in the sky levels (with floating being your key move), it really made each move precise so you would never be like "I didn't do that!". From spin-dash jumping, to the 2-step jump off the wall, Rayman Origins has enough of it's own features to make it's platforming gameplay a masterpiece.
Multiplayer-gameplay: Compared to the awful co-op of New Super Mario Bros Wii, Rayman Origins keeps players in a way to compete against each other but at the same time help each other. The camera is neatly fixed in most areas, unless you are very far ahead of the other player, so you don't have to die pointlessly (there are no lives, only checkpoints). In addition, the players have the ability to slap each other, sort of like LittleBigPlanet, but you can use this slapping to an advantage by knocking a player further up to grab some missed Lummox's or find secret areas. The only similarity to NSMB is that of slapping the player back into the game, which is actually key, because sometimes you need the other player to survive so you can continue to live, or you sustain a boss fight for a little longer.
Graphics: WOW. Seriously, they are beautiful, almost like watching a clean painting move at your command. The colors are bright and exuberant, the animation is crisp and funny, there is nothing wrong at all with graphics in this game.
Music: The music fits the motif of every level. I really enjoyed each song as I played through each level, it fit like a piece of the puzzle. While sometimes the music was lower in some areas than others, the concept of each song perfectly fit with every level that was played.
Difficulty: I didn't believe that game was that hard, so everyone of all ages has a chance to play and beat the game. I do think though, not everyone could get 100%, because at the end of the game the levels are pretty tough for new guys in the platformers genre. In my personal opinion, the hardest levels was the last secret level, with the land of the dead and like I've told you all before, my weakness in levels, that factory level in the end. Other than that the levels are pretty easy, my brother and I breezed through them, laughing and telling ourselves, we've been training our whole lives playing Mario and Sonic. Veterans will find joy in this.
Replayability: The replayability in this game isn't too high, for myself, but for those who didn't complete all the levels the first run through then the value is very high. There is time-trial levels, which like in Crash Bandicoot, require you to get a good time to get a Electoon Cage and a best time to get a trophy (think Emerald and that Monster-Reborn Egyptian Symbol from Yugioh in Crash Bandicoot 3). Besides the time trial, there is the Skull Tooth levels, getting 350 Lummox for every stage, and of course getting all the electoon cages.
Overall: 9.7/10
Rayman Origins is an amazing game that all gamers, new and old should play. Be it co-op or single player, this game with it's beautiful animation, amazing graphics, awesome and addicting gameplay, is a game that belongs in every household.
Story: In the Glade of Dreams, a world created by the mysterious Bubble Dreamer, Rayman, his best friend Globox, and some Teensy friends are chilling out at the Bubble Dreamer's resting grounds, the Snoring Tree. However, their snoring disturbs an old granny from the Land of the Livid Dead, who retaliates by sending an evil army of horrendous creatures and the Darktoons across the world, capturing the Electoons that inhabit the world, imprisoning Betilla the Nymph and her sisters, and plunging the Glade into chaos. Obviously as the hero you must stop this army, grannies, and other evils to save your world, the Nymphs, and the Glade Kings. While platformers aren't actually a big thing on story, this game keeps the story simple and easy to follow (no words), and there is actually quite a few plot-twists, which is always good and for players of the original Rayman series, the main villain admires Mr. Dark (bad guy from the first game).
Gameplay: As I have said many times before, Rayman Origins is a side-scrolling platformer. The game has local multiplayer of up to four-players; and let me tell you it is done to perfection in this game. So, to play you start off as Rayman, the titular hero, but if you want to be another character like Globox all you have to do is switch at the Snoring Tree. To start the game you really have no abilites but right away you learn Rayman's infamous punch. Basic platform rules apply for the game, as you have a dash, the ability to grab ledges, wall jump, and crouch/slide. As you progress further in the game and save more Nymphs, you get new abilities such as wall-running, diving/swimming, and shrinking. Besides platform levels, you get side-scrolling shooters involving Mosquitos, where you either suck up or shoot enemies.
The last thing to look at is the secret/special levels of the Skull Teeth, which you need to officially beat the game. These levels are the 'hardest' of Rayman Origins, and are really quite a fun challenge. All of them involve you chasing a treasure chest, at a high speed, using all your skills to get past puzzles quickly, or else you will get camera-deathed.One aspect I like to look at in platformers, is that of 'gravity'. In Rayman Origins, it takes a while to get used to the heavier gravity than that of the old 16-bit gravity like Sonic or Super Mario All-stars but really the game runs so smooth. The gravity is differnet in every level, for water levels the movement was even better than that of Donkey Kong Country 2, while in the sky levels (with floating being your key move), it really made each move precise so you would never be like "I didn't do that!". From spin-dash jumping, to the 2-step jump off the wall, Rayman Origins has enough of it's own features to make it's platforming gameplay a masterpiece.
Multiplayer-gameplay: Compared to the awful co-op of New Super Mario Bros Wii, Rayman Origins keeps players in a way to compete against each other but at the same time help each other. The camera is neatly fixed in most areas, unless you are very far ahead of the other player, so you don't have to die pointlessly (there are no lives, only checkpoints). In addition, the players have the ability to slap each other, sort of like LittleBigPlanet, but you can use this slapping to an advantage by knocking a player further up to grab some missed Lummox's or find secret areas. The only similarity to NSMB is that of slapping the player back into the game, which is actually key, because sometimes you need the other player to survive so you can continue to live, or you sustain a boss fight for a little longer.
Graphics: WOW. Seriously, they are beautiful, almost like watching a clean painting move at your command. The colors are bright and exuberant, the animation is crisp and funny, there is nothing wrong at all with graphics in this game.
Music: The music fits the motif of every level. I really enjoyed each song as I played through each level, it fit like a piece of the puzzle. While sometimes the music was lower in some areas than others, the concept of each song perfectly fit with every level that was played.
Difficulty: I didn't believe that game was that hard, so everyone of all ages has a chance to play and beat the game. I do think though, not everyone could get 100%, because at the end of the game the levels are pretty tough for new guys in the platformers genre. In my personal opinion, the hardest levels was the last secret level, with the land of the dead and like I've told you all before, my weakness in levels, that factory level in the end. Other than that the levels are pretty easy, my brother and I breezed through them, laughing and telling ourselves, we've been training our whole lives playing Mario and Sonic. Veterans will find joy in this.
Replayability: The replayability in this game isn't too high, for myself, but for those who didn't complete all the levels the first run through then the value is very high. There is time-trial levels, which like in Crash Bandicoot, require you to get a good time to get a Electoon Cage and a best time to get a trophy (think Emerald and that Monster-Reborn Egyptian Symbol from Yugioh in Crash Bandicoot 3). Besides the time trial, there is the Skull Tooth levels, getting 350 Lummox for every stage, and of course getting all the electoon cages.
Overall: 9.7/10
Rayman Origins is an amazing game that all gamers, new and old should play. Be it co-op or single player, this game with it's beautiful animation, amazing graphics, awesome and addicting gameplay, is a game that belongs in every household.
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