Rayman Legends Retold devs say it's a mere coincidence that 13 years later, Rayman Legends Retold is launching around the same time as a new GTA and Assassin's Creed Black Flag.

It's 2013, Rayman Legends was released a few weeks before the new GTA game, and now it's 2026, and Rayman Legends Retold is about to release a few weeks before the new GTA game. But that's not all for Ubisoft's 2013 lineup, as – despite being one of the AAA companies that typically doesn't remake games all that much – the developer is also remaking Assassin's Creed Black Flag. But the fact that all of these games released in 2013 are returning again is a mere coincidence.

Speaking to GamesRadar+, Rayman Legends Retold brand producer Loïc Gounon explained, "I think it's a - I would not say random - but I think it's a bit of an accident that [both] remakes collided a bit the same year." However, while Assassin's Creed "also has new games in development that have been teased or announced" for Rayman, it's a bit of a different story, as "our context, as we explained, is more relaunching the brand."

Gounon continues, "I think what's funny in terms of story is actually that Black Flag and Legends released the same year [2013], so that's another accident." He then acknowledges that the situation is "A bit like GTA. We released the same month as GTA 5, 13 years ago, and now we release nearly the same month as GTA 6."

Thankfully, Rayman Legends is releasing much further out than GTA this time, so hopefully it won't be quite as big of a sales flop this time around, especially since it sounds like Retold's success is how we get a new 3D Rayman game.

A Rayman 1 remake is basically "mission impossible" for Ubisoft, Legends Retold producer says.

One Rayman lead at Ubisoft says that a new 3D Rayman is hopefully going to happen eventually, although it's not confirmed to be the next game in the series.

Speaking to GamesRadar+, Rayman Legends Retold brand producer Loïc Gounon explains that when Rayman Origins released, there was a trend of "smaller games, more agile 2D, multiplayer" with the likes of New Super Mario Bros. Wii and Donkey Kong Country Returns.

"I think what we're seeing now with Astro Bot, with new 3D platformers, there is a rebirth of the golden age of PS2-ish platformers," he explains, adding: "If you look back at the franchise, it's basically Rayman 2, Rayman 3 that were in that era.

"We think it might be the time to come back with more adventurous 3D Rayman games," Gounon continues. "We are starting with that project [Rayman Legends Retold], that's what we are aiming for, in a way, and what we want for Rayman, and we think it's a good match, both for the players and the market."

When asked if the thing the team sees next for Rayman is a return to the fully 3D style found in earlier games, Gounon says, "that's the plan! That will be the plan if everything goes well!" He adds, "We are setting up a new team. We're resetting the foundation for the franchise. That's why also being – even though we are a bit more than a remake – being partially a remake, there are some solid grounds where we felt it was a good way to bring back the franchise."

So yes, Rayman Legends is a confusing choice for a game to remake, but as a means to bring back the series for a true 3D Rayman 4 – that we've been waiting for since the mid 2000's when the real Rayman 4 (which Gounon also worked on) became Rayman Raving Rabbids – I'm more than happy to support it.

A Rayman 1 remake is basically "mission impossible" for Ubisoft, Legends Retold producer says.

Rayman Legends Retold brand producer Loic Gounon has explained why Legends is the game getting remade instead of the original Rayman.

So, Rayman Legends Retold has been announced, and naturally, I'm sure everyone is wondering 'why is Ubisoft remaking the last game in the series that is available on every platform and still very much holds up?'

"Obviously it's a question we've had in most of the interviews," Gounon explains at a recent preview event attended by GamesRadar+, noting that "it's sort of the richest one in a way." He says that Legends has "all of Rayman," with the likes of Globox, the Teensies, Murfy, and Barbara joining the adventure, and that if Ubisoft "wanted to go [to the] next [game], we need to have all of Rayman."

The game most in need of a remake is arguably Rayman, the PS1 classic which had a re-release earlier this year with Rayman 30th Anniversary Edition, "I think it's been tried," Gounon explains. He adds, "I think it's a game that's really difficult to remake, and I think, in a way, the answer to remaking Rayman 1 is Rayman Origins, and we went through those arguments internally."

Gounon adds, "Rayman Origins is sort of a reboot of Rayman 1. There are some of the characters, some of the places." In original Rayman, he says, it's "super slow" and "very old school game design," but "if you start changing that, the metrics, the sense of speed, it's another game. It's Origins"

He continues, "I would call it near a mission impossible to remake Rayman 1, honestly. That's why, when we decided to celebrate the 30th anniversary, we felt that keeping Rayman 1 as intact as it was, going for a bit more of a documentary approach, how the franchise was born, was a better angle."

Of course, that doesn't rule out remakes for Rayman 2 or 3, so keep the hopium going.

Rayman Legends may be one of the best games of 2013, and if its remake is as good as that, we'll be looking at one of the best new games of 2026 too.

It's a testament to how rock solid the Rayman platformers have become that, within minutes of going hands-on with Rayman Legends Retold, I'm dashing, twirling, leaping as I bop enemy heads and crash through cages to free my friends like it's 2013 all over again. Yet, still the most recent Rayman adventure (and available on modern platforms), it feels odd that such a lavish remake has its sights set on recent history. Though it's nice to feel the muscle memory kick in playing Rayman Legends Retold, that's also because my hands-on is, for the most part, playing the same levels I already played a decade ago.

Retold is such a one-to-one remake that it's even built on the original's exact level design data. It's a bold move because Rayman Legends as it exists today is still fantastic. Since playing Retold, I've revisited the original (and predecessor Rayman Origins), and had just as much fun as I did with this newer model. More content has been added on top, but the bulk of Retold is extremely faithful. The biggest and most obvious change: a shift from the original's phenomenal 2D graphics to 3D, though models and environments retain plenty of charm and a painterly feel.

A world rebuilt

Backgrounds to the stages that Rayman and up to three other co-op friends can run through, have been loaded with new detail. One swamp-based level that had Rayman punching through toad enemies with water and plants stretching behind him, is now coated with toad culture – their huts, statues, and walkways winding in and out of the screen. Every level across every biome is now abuzz with activity as a mysterious corruption spreads and invades.

The shift to 3D means that the side-to-side plane can now bend and shift, curving Rayman's route through areas while retaining one-to-one geometry. One developer at Ubisoft Montpellier even shows me playing through this toad stage with one controller, moving the character in Rayman Legends Retold and the original game in sync. In 3D, the camera itself becomes a powerful level design tool, tilting to emphasise secret areas, or looking up as Rayman spins his helicopter hair to ascend, highlighting hazards and points of interest earlier than you can see them in the original game.

Still, for as good as Retold looks, there are moments as I watch numerous side by side demonstrations where I'm simply reminded of how good the original game still is. The game's new key art, for one, looks a bit dull when compared to the extreme stylization of the original. While Retold's in-game animation looks great, it lacks some of the clarity and definition of the original. Rayman might punch forward and throw up the double-peace 'V' sign to the screen in both, but in a space teeming with visual noise it has less impact, the enthusiasm slightly muted. Likewise, while the visual balance is still being tweaked, I sometimes find the dense, higher fidelity backgrounds can make the platforms harder to read. Minor gripes, sure, but when remaking the most recent game in the series that's also still readily available, these stand out.

Where Rayman Legends Retold adapts, it's so exact that it doesn't surprise. Even Murfy returns in some stages, an obvious holdover from the game's original Wii U exclusivity that allows you to cut ropes to lower platforms, stun enemies, or rotate platforms. As with previous non-touchscreen ports, he auto-gravitates towards areas of interactivity to be activated with a button press.

As with those ports, it can still sometimes feel a bit iffy. In areas dense with interactables when you're jumping at high-speeds, Murfy doesn't always hover over quite what you need, leading to some fumbled leaps over pits and a prompt fall to my death. It's always been a mechanic in Rayman Legends I've been cooler on, in part because it feels like a compromise to adapt a mechanic designed for the Wii U GamePad so specifically. I'm a bit surprised that even these sections are so one-to-one, as it feels like a prime area that could use a bigger rethink.

But, Retold does bring new features. For instance, the original's celebrated six musical levels – which have you platforming to a beat while diegetically the world around you breaks into what I can only describe as kazoo-disco covers – are joined by four more, though I'm forbidden from sharing details about them. Here the game promises to play more than usual with adding depth to the 2D platforming plane, one section having Rayman zipline from an almost over-the-shoulder angle – though you still very much control him in two-dimensions.

Each world – containing its own sequence of themed levels – was fairly abstracted in the original Rayman Legends as you hopped through paintings. In Retold, you still 2D platform between each level entrance, but now through a hub area that's actually set-dressed to be within each world. New stages connect each biome, having Rayman and friends ride dragons through arcadey shooter levels as chaos depends, teeing up an inevitable boss fight (clashes that, themselves, I wasn't able to play).

Playing from behind, the dragon flies into the screen, but plenty of camera shifts make this feel dynamic – one portion even turns it onto its side to feel properly retro as a gigantic frog in armour hurls castle debris at me from the background, and frogs with rocket launchers alternate taking shots at me while themselves being buffeted by a whirlwind.

Mode shifts like this can be a gamble. I didn't much care for the dragon sequences in Doom The Dark Ages, or the random shmup level in Earthworm Jim 2 (where else can you read those two games being compared, huh?). But, I really dig the first two dragon levels I play here, which feels like a smart evolution of the Rayman's hectic mosquito riding stages from Rayman Origins (and the very first game). On dragon back, you've no health bar per se, but one of the teensies you're trying to rescue will drop off with each hit you take. They can be tough to master if you're aiming to save every teensy possible, but are fun spectacles to blast through that aren't too punishing either.

These sections are part of an overall desire to make Rayman's world a bit more cohesive (or, as cohesive as a dream world can be, I'm told). Fully voice acted cutscenes have been thrown into the mix as well, bringing back classic voice talent like David Gasman as Rayman, featuring a brand new script and story. Rayman Legends Retold is still a light touch, family friend yarn, but one that aims to be more of a piece with the realized world as presented in the likes of Rayman 2 and Rayman 3.

When it Rays, it pours

I'm told constantly throughout my time at Ubisoft Montpellier that this remake is about "rebuilding Rayman's foundations", no one-off road but an attempt to pave the way to Rayman's future. Speaking with brand producer Loic Gounon, he brings up Rayman's history of 3D platformers as well as genre peers like Jak & Daxter from the PS2 generation through to the likes of Astro Bot on PS5. I have to ask if that means this 2.5D platformer remake is meant to lead towards a new fully 3D future for Rayman, and he gives me one of the most straightforward and candid answers about the future of a series I've ever received: "Yes, that's the plan!" Beyond Retold, "we think it might be the time to come back with, you know, let's say more adventurous 3D Rayman games," he says.

The new story also features an enigmatic villain, which prompts a full, final sixth world set in the Land of the Livid Dead. I'm only able to play one level set here, still a work-in-progress, but its difficulty is nicely dialed up to feel like a bit of a test (though not a patch on some optional challenge levels), and gives me time to play with Rayman's light punch power – a new ability for Retold that's derived from some of the character's classic skills. Hurling his glowing fist, Rayman can clear areas of corruption in the environment, required to make some enemies vulnerable to a pummelling, but also to stretch out the likes of vines to create temporary platforms. The additional layer of interaction adds a nice bit of extra complexity, feeling a bit like Murfy's mechanics but in a way that's more directly under player control.

Historically, Ubisoft hasn't done many remakes of its games. This year, it's releasing two with Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced joining Rayman Legends Retold. Gounon laughs as he also points out both of the original games launched in 2013, but that it's "a bit of an accident" that both projects have coincidentally arrived at the same time. Assassin's Creed, he points out, already has future projects in development. Rayman Legends Retold "is more about relaunching the brand, which is very different".

In some ways, pinning the future of Rayman on a game many players and developers already like makes sense. It allows the development team, which Gounon tells me is relatively small, to get comfortable with its Snowdrop Engine (which still runs a version of UbiArt Framework within it), a new workflow, and to expand on the "richest" game in the Rayman series in terms of characters, game design, and worldbuilding. But, I can't help but be anxious. It's staking the future of the series on a game where, for the most part, I've already been there and done that. If, somehow, you skipped Rayman Legends, then Rayman Legends Retold is a luxurious remake of one of the best to do it. But, even with its new levels, it's still Rayman Legends – my muscle memory doesn't lie.

Rayman Legends Retold is releasing October 1, 2026 on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2 for $39.99.

Weigh anchor and sail into our Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced Big Preview for our deep dive hands-on and developer discussion around Ubisoft's other big remake.

Ubisoft has confirmed the long-rumored Rayman Legends remake at today's PlayStation State of Play, with Rayman Legends Retold set to launch on October 1, 2026.

Despite being the last game in the series to release – way back in 2013 – Rayman Legends is the game Ubisoft has decided to remake for the series' grand return. Rayman Legends Retold is Rayman Legends, but with a fresh coat of paint – namely, ditching the 2D hand-drawn aesthetic for a 3D makeover. However, despite the 3D characters, the game is playing in 2D just like the original, but it's not a straight remake, as Ubisoft is seemingly adding new levels to the game where you ride a dragon in 3D Star Fox-like levels.

Also showcased was the voice acting, which seemingly features the return of Rayman's long-time voice actor David Gasman (who first played the character in Rayman 2). The rest of the crew is also voiced, but I wasn't able to place them – although Globox really sounds like Patrick Star from SpongeBob SquarePants. And as is tradition, Barbara has a Scottish accent that really doesn't sound like it was done by a Scottish person.

The game is set to launch on October 1, 2026. Obviously, being a PlayStation State of Play, only a PS5 version was confirmed, but known leaker Billbil-Kun revealed Switch 2 box art for the game earlier today (and yes, it's a Game-Key Card), and claims it'll be launching for 40$. They also claim pre-ordering it will grant access to Rayman Origins: Enhanced Edition, which wasn't shown in the showcase.

Rayman Legends may be one of the best games of 2013, and if it's remake is as good as that we'll be looking at one of the best new games of 2026 too

A remaster of Rayman Origins was listed and then hastily delisted on the Xbox Store with a placeholder price of $2,000 - or $1,999, to be exact - and while no game is worth dropping two grand on, the Ubisoft classic is probably as close as it gets.

Rayman Origins: Enhanced Edition briefly popped up on the Xbox Series X|S storefront last night, though the link has since been scrubbed of any evidence. The storefront description also gave us a little bit of an insight into what Ubisoft might be changing in its platformer, from 4k resolutions to unnamed quality-of-life features.

Rayman Origins: Enhanced Edition listed on Xbox Store for Xbox Series X|S. Placeholder $1,999.99 price. Screenshots and info: www.xbox.com/en-US/games/...-4K-60 FPS-Modern enhancements including QoL Features

— @wario64.bsky.social (@wario64.bsky.social.bsky.social) 2026-05-30T11:48:56.975Z

Ubisoft shoved the limbless protagonist into a years-long limbo after putting out two of the best side-scrollers ever made in Rayman Origins and Rayman Legends. That was until this year's Rayman: 30th Anniversary Edition, a compilation of the series' older games.

Around launch, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot said the collection was only the beginning of the franchise's comeback: "Rayman is a landmark franchise for Ubisoft and holds a special place in my heart because it played such a key role in Ubisoft's early evolution." Though, we haven't heard of anything new since then, at least not officially.

Job postings this year were hiring devs for a "prestigious AAA title for the Rayman brand", with a series of other leaks also now floating about the interwebs. While this Rayman Origins remaster is still unofficial, all signs point to the goofy guy returning in a bigger way sometime down the line.

In the meantime, you can keep up to date with every major exciting release with our new games of 2026 guide.

Ubisoft co-founder and CEO Yves Guillemot says the recent Rayman collection is only the beginning for the return of the franchise.

Rayman has a weird life. After releasing two of the best 2D platformers of all time in Origins and Legends, Ubisoft promptly stuck the limbless wonder into the bin to collect dust, only being washed off for a mobile game, or appearing as a cocaine fiend in a Netflix series. But last year, smoke started emerging after Ubisoft casually confirmed Rayman's return through job postings for "a prestigious AAA title for the Rayman brand." And while Rayman: 30th Anniversary Edition is new, I wouldn't say a selection of ports is in the "AAA title" category.

But I won't fear, as Ubisoft's CEO says there's big plans in store for Rayman. In an interview with Variety Guillemot says, "Rayman is a landmark franchise for Ubisoft and holds a special place in my heart because it played such a key role in Ubisoft's early evolution." He calls Rayman: 30th Anniversary Edition "the first step in the brand’s comeback," saying "it is inspiring to see players continue to embrace Rayman's unique charm and enduring appeal."

Guillemot acknowledges future plans for Rayman, adding, "as for what's next for Rayman, we're always exploring how our iconic franchises can evolve and reinvent themselves for all generations of players. We can't share details today, but we're looking forward to talking more about Rayman soon."

Given that Rayman is now being worked on, in part, by Ubisoft Milan, which developed the Mario + Rabbids game (and the Rayman-based DLC for Sparks of Hope), I'm still betting on a new title being Mario + Rabbids, just with Mario replaced with Rayman. But I'm hoping a new platformer is in the works.

I didn't expect obscure level pack Rayman Designer to be my biggest nostalgia trip of the year, but it's become the highlight of this anniversary collection for me.

Ubisoft's heard your complaints about Rayman: 30th Anniversary Edition's new soundtrack and is apparently looking into possible solutions.

Rayman: 30th Anniversary Edition should've been a slam dunk way of celebrating the cheeky mascot platformer. The repackage includes a whopping five versions of the game (MS-DOS, PS1, Atari Jaguar, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance), alongside a lost SNES prototype, a virtual museum of sorts, and a documentary from Digital Eclipse, the studio that's been brilliantly creating interactive bits of history for years now.

Alas, Ubisoft's attempts at a big celebration didn't quite go to plan as the game currently has a 'Mixed' rating on Steam with only 53% positive reviews at the time of writing, with a big portion of those complaints aimed at the game's all new soundtrack composed by Rayman Origins and Legends' Christophe Héral. As far as I can tell, the issue isn't that the new music is outright bad – it's just that it doesn't fit the vibes of the original, if the countless Reddit and Discord threads are any indication.

"Really good ports of these games," one players writes, before adding that "without the option to switch to the original soundtrack," it "kinda brings it down a lot for me."

Ubisoft has actually been responding to various posts about the renewed OST in its Discord channel, with one employee acknowledging players' "feelings about how the arranged soundtrack doesn't recapture the vibe for you and how all the changes feel," adding that the company appreciates "the suggestion of adding an option to have the old music again." The post continues to say that "the proper team will have a look at this."

Other players also encountered a bug that would stop them from saving in certain versions of the game. Although, it looks like post-launch support for the collection isn't over just yet, so it's entirely possible that fans get the fixes they're hoping for soon.

The Rayman 30th Anniversary Edition is neat and all, but I'd still recommend playing the PS1 original on original hardware.

The freshly-announced Rayman 30th Anniversary Edition has reminded me that I have a mixed relationship with remastered classics. For the record, I'm glad that classics from bygone generations consistently get the chance to shine on the latest platforms, but I'm also hoping players will consider trying the iconic Ubisoft platformer on an actual PS1.

Again, I'm all for having convenient access to classics like Rayman on systems like the PS5 and Switch 2. If anything, this is really just a PSA that's designed to get you thinking about revisiting the best retro consoles from yesteryear, as I fully believe that experiencing old hardware, even if it is slightly convoluted, is important, as there might come a time when it's harder to find either working physical copies of games or systems like the PS1 to play them on.

In my eyes, the Rayman 30th Anniversary Edition serves more as a celebratory collection that's better appreciated if you've played the original. No, I'm not saying experiencing the spinny hair legend's first outing using the remaster is a bad thing, nor are you necessarily going to experience more by playing an original copy. Instead, using an old system like the PlayStation or the Atari Jaguar, if for whatever reason you've got access to one of those, will give you a taste for what playing the game was like 30 years ago.

As for how you can go about playing the original Rayman while getting a sense of the original hardware, I have a few options. The first is to just straight up get a hold of an original PlayStation and a CRT TV, as this is basically going to place you in my exact shoes upon receiving the platformer for Christmas back in 1995. I could rant on for hours about how an old screen is going to accurately portray the OG adventure's graphics in all their 4:3 pixelated glory, but I'll quit while I'm ahead and instead move on to how you can connect the retro console to a modern TV or monitor since that's a less ambitious project than finding an old tube screen.

I'll start with the way I hook up all my old consoles to screens, and that involves using an Open Source Scan Converter (or OSSC for short). Designed to let you plug in an old RGB-compatible cable and then upscale the visual using line doubling, this gadget is going to help old video signals look great on contemporary displays, eliminating potential lag, muddy quality, and weird aspect ratios that can come with using your TV's own connectors or a cheap HDMI converter.

For this sort of setup, you'll need that aforementioned RGB cable to connect your PS1 to the OSSC. If you're not especially nerdy about signal quality, there are Scart options (a standard that's more common in Europe) available from $8 at Amazon, but if you're looking for gold standard results, you'll want to check out specialist sites like Retro Gaming Cables since they'll sell a variety of options with the right shielding to curb artifacts and interference.

On that note, I feel like fresher-faced players won't be aware that the PS2 can play PS1 games. If you're using Sony's 2000s sequel, you can hook up to the OSSC either using the aforementioned RGB Scart cable or using a component cable if you're feeling fancy. The results should be similar, but the latter exists to let the PS2 hit higher resolutions in supported games, whereas Scart tends to produce more accurate colors.

If you're on a very tight budget, you might also want to give an HDMI adapter a try. I've got friends who use Kaico's $14.99 model specifically, and while there are drawbacks like slightly softer image quality and room for latency, it's still going to provide you with cleaner results than letting your TV with inputs handle the upscaling.

At this point, PS3 fans will be screaming in my direction about how the system can also run PS1 games. That is completely true, and it does make for an ultra-convenient way of playing since its HDMI abilities negate the need for upscaling or specific cables. But, since the whole idea of this project is to get you using hardware associated with the OG game, I'd say playing on PlayStation 3 and using the Anniversary port will feel largely the same, whereas using its predecessors will help you achieve the right vibes.

Those said vibes are attached to really simple things like being able to hear a physical disc whirring away, potentially quite loudly if your PS1 laser is aging, and having Sony's non-Dual Shock gamepad to hand. The latter isn't strictly necessary, but using the much smaller controller and the d-pad exclusively just feels right for a 2D platformer like Rayman.

This might give some of you the ick, and I completely get it, but I also love the idea of having to use the OG Rayman original memory card saves or, god forbid, the password system. Yes, having access to the 30th Anniversary's save state and rewind function will save you from tearing your helicopter hair out, and I reckon I'll regret saying this once I've spent the weekend playing the original. However, having restricted opportunities to save your progress or jotting down passwords will simply help you appreciate the new version's fancy features more.

I must stress that telling you to try the original Rayman on PS1 off the back of the 30th Anniversary reveal is supposed to simply fuel a fun project rather than serve as gatekeeping. I'm pretty hyped to try the shiny new remastered collection, especially since it includes the PS1, MS-DOS, Jaguar, Game Boy Color, GBA, and even an unreleased SNES prototype. It's also packed full of extras like an interactive documentary, but I reckon all of that will hit harder once you've tried an original version for yourself.

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Rayman creator Michel Ancel – apparently seeing how Ubisoft can't keep a lid on its remakes given all of the Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag rumors – has spoken about a potential remake of the original 1995 platformer.

In an interview with Retro Gamer magazine, Ancel casually says, "I think there's a kind of remake planned." He explains: "I don't remember when specifically, but it will be in HD and I think Ubisoft is adding a few more checkpoints and things like that to make it a bit less frustrating."

I'm typically a proponent of 'play games how they were intended' when it comes to retro remakes, but if there was ever a game that was total bull and could benefit from these changes, it's Rayman 1.

Despite being probably the greatest Ubisoft game ever made, Rayman Legends marked the end of the limbless wonder as the French publisher locked him in the shed to focus on putting out mid Assassin's Creed, Watch Dogs, and Far Cry games for the next decade. But as of late, Rayman has been causing a stir, leading to rumblings of his return.

He first showed up again as part of the Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope expansion pack Rayman in The Phantom Show, and shortly after as a cocaine-sniffing game show host in the Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix Netflix series. But last year, Ubisoft released job postings for "a prestigious AAA title for the Rayman brand," and with the recent Australian age rating release for "Rayman 30th Anniversary Edition," I'm thinking he's back.

Switch versions of Capcom's Disney collection have emerged, now including one of the Resident Evil creator's first games

Rayman 2: The Great Escape, widely considered one of the finest 3D platformers of the N64 era, is coming to Nintendo Switch Online on December 17.

As revealed in a beautifully blocky trailer, both Rayman 2 and the lesser known 3D platformer Tonic Trouble, also conceived by Ubisoft veteran and Rayman creator Michael Ancel, will be available to anyone with a Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership next week as part of the Nintendo Classics collection of largely well-aged gems.

Since its initial launch on N64 back in 1999, Rayman 2 has been ported and re-released on PC, Dreamcast, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Nintendo DS, iOS, and most recently in 2011, as a Nintendo 3DS launch game. That is very much a testament to the smoothness of its controls and ingenuity of its level design, which I can personally attest haven't been withered by the passage of time. You can still buy Rayman 2 for PC on GOG for just a few bucks, but Switch owners are soon to be blessed with this timeless platformer without any additional cost to them.

Tonic Trouble, meanwhile, never earned itself the accolades of Rayman 2, and frankly I had to jog my memory a little to remember what it was, but that'll also be available in the Switch Online's N64 catalog on the same day in case you're in the mood for some harmless, polygonal nostalgia for the holidays.

In the meantime, here are the best Switch 2 games you can play right here and now.

After a decade of doing pretty much nothing with the character, Ubisoft is hiring staff for a "prestigious AAA title" in the Rayman series.

It's been over a decade since Ubisoft casually released one of the greatest platformers ever made in Rayman Legends and then decided to do nothing substantial with the character since. A couple of mobile games and an appearance in the Netflix series Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix later, Rayman showed a spark of hope by appearing in the DLC for Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope in 2023.

But it looks like that DLC was a bit of a trial run, as Ubisoft has now put up multiple job postings looking for staff to work on "a prestigious AAA title for the Rayman brand." Notably, the game design roles are for Ubisoft Milan – who developed the Mario + Rabbids games – while the lighting and FX artist roles are at Rayman's usual home of Ubisoft Montpellier.

Outside of its existence, the job descriptions don't reveal much about the Rayman project. Although it's interesting to note that one of the roles is for a 3D gameplay animator, which could hint at the series going back to being a 3D platformer for the first time since 2003's Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc. Although it could just as easily be a 2.5D platformer akin to Ubisoft Montpellier's latest game, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. Or even a continuation of the Mario + Rabbids series, ditching Mario for Ubisoft's own mascot.

Regardless, it's nice to see that Rayman could be coming back, considering Origins and Legends are far and away better than anything the publisher has released in the time since, in my eyes.

After several rough years, Ubisoft says "the launch of Assassin’s Creed Shadows was a defining moment" and its Tencent deal to basically make Ubisoft 2 is coming along.

Rayman Origins is available as a free gift from Ubisoft right now, as part of its rolling 35th anniversary celebration. 

The cartoon platformer is available for free on the Ubisoft store through December 22 at 9 am local time, and the offer only applies to the PC version of the game. Thankfully, since Rayman Origins originally came out in 2011, its recommended system requirements - which include a graphics card with at least 128 MB of memory - are quite modest by the standards of today's best gaming PCs.

Rayman Origins takes the series back to its roots as a 2D platformer, letting players take control of the eponymous hero, his big pal Globox, or a small but fierce Teensy. All stages can be played either in single-player or via drop-in/drop-out local co-op, which makes this an especially good offer to capitalize on if you're looking for some new games to play with family over the holidays.

It was followed in 2013 by Rayman Legends, another cartoon platformer, which remains the last main entry in the Rayman series. OK, you might also count the Rabbids games as Rayman titles, since they started off as Rayman's enemies, and there's been more of them since then - but the swoopy haired, floating-hands-and-feet hero has been largely absent from Ubisoft's output since then.

To be fair, Ubisoft already has a lot on its plate just with the franchises that it's made games for recently, including kicking off Assassin's Creed Crossover Stories with the first centuries-spanning meeting of Eivor and Kassandra.

There will come a point during your time with Rayman Legends where you'll run out of ways to express how much you enjoy it. By a few hours in, you'll have exhausted every synonym you know for "pretty." A few stages after that, "fun." By the end: "challenging." And only in the rarest occasion will you mutter the likes of "confusing," no thesaurus necessary. Don't be fooled by its disarming charm: this 2D platformer eventually becomes as difficult as it is visually alluring. But Rayman Legends' precise level design and controls, coupled with its gorgeous art style, catchy music, and impressive stage variety make overcoming that difficulty a memorable and worthwhile experience, regardless of which version you play. If you've already played through and finished the game on a current-gen console, either skip to the end for my verdict on Rayman Legends' next-gen release, or check out the new boxout that details the cross-gen differences. But if you missed out on this fantastic game in 2013 and are hungry for something to play on your PS4 or Xbox One, read on...

There's not much here in the way of story: a bunch of Teensies--tiny blue people with huge noses--have been kidnapped by nightmares come to life. Still, the minimal narrative is enough of a foundation to keep you moving from stage to stage. There are multiple worlds to take on, each with a dozen or more themed levels full of collectible Lums and hidden Teensies to save. In addition to these, you'll find daily and weekly challenges tied to online leaderboards, tons of characters to unlock, and an immensely addictive soccer mini-game that will siphon hours of your life without you even knowing--and if all that wasn't enough, a sizable number of remastered stages from Rayman Origins are ready to be discovered all over again.

At first, you'll be overwhelmed by how much there is to do, and Legends' initially-confusing interface doesn't really help you parse through that barrage of information. Frequent pop-up notifications try to pull you in a dozen directions at once, urging you to check out everything on offer without establishing what is and is not a part of the "main" game. It takes awhile to get your bearings, but you'll be blown away by the sheer variety of content once you do.

That impressive variety even extends to the level design. It's not uncommon to eat your way through stages made entirely of cake in the food-themed levels of Fiesta de los Muertos. In 20,000 Lums Under the Sea, you'll have to swim through treacherous underwater grottos, avoiding the ever-searching spotlight of enemies to the backdrop of a music track that will instantly remind you of the famous theme from James Bond films. Each level is a visual delight brought to life by a wonderful attention to detail and an accompanying soundtrack that reflects its theme. It's almost impossible not to spend at least a little bit of time just staring in awe at the hand-drawn backgrounds, or the goofy creatures that inhabit each location.

What's more, every single stage is challenging in its own way. Some are more about exploring at your own pace, where the difficulty lies in seeking out every hidden secret; others will test your twitch reaction skills as you sprint and jump from platform to platform while a wall of fire races to catch you. Best of all, each world wraps up with a stage that plays a spoof of a popular song (think Black Betty, but with monster grunts in place of lyrics). Here, success relies on your ability to jump and kick to the beat of the music. You'll encounter a little bit of all of these things within each world, preventing Legends' numerous levels from ever feeling too much alike. There's just one thing that occasionally interrupts the excellent pace that pervades the entire game: a little green fairy named Murfy.

Murfy is an AI-controlled character that shows up in about half of the levels. Only with his help can you move certain platforms, or, say, stop a stream of fireballs from impeding your progress. In all but the Wii U and PlayStation Vita versions of the game, Murfy moves on his own accord, hovering above objects that he can manipulate. With the quick tap of a button, he'll do his thing and hover along until he's needed. At best, Murfy adds a minor but noticeable layer of challenge to the platforming experience; at worst, he's an unnecessary complication in already-fast-paced levels.

If you're playing on Wii U or Vita, however, the action is jarringly interrupted once he appears on-screen. You'll be forced to take control of Murfy even when playing solo, while an AI-controlled Rayman (or his friend Globox) runs along the level as you sit there and swipe at platforms, watching the computer have all the fun. Being forced to play as Murfy without even the option to revert control back to Rayman is shockingly bizarre and disappointing, especially considering Legends was initially built as a Wii U exclusive--instead, that version ends up being the least enjoyable way to play it.

Murfy does, however, make a good fit for less-skilled players who still want to join in on the fun without having to worry about precision jumping. But for those looking for a more intense multiplayer experience, up to four players (five on the Wii U) can join in the fray at once. Unfortunately, Legends faces many of the same cooperative challenges of its 2D-platformer brethren. Adding another player into the mix is genuinely enjoyable and a totally viable way to play through the game. But once you get three or four players competing for collectibles and slapping each other to their deaths, everything devolves into utter chaos, and it's extremely difficult to keep track of your character on the screen. That's not to say playing this way doesn't make for some mindless fun, just don't expect smooth sailing.

Even after ten hours of play, you'll have a wealth of content just waiting to be unlocked, pushing you to revisit already-completed stages or tackle challenges you'd passed up entirely. Rayman Legends is easily one of the most feature-rich platformers you'll likely see, rife with accessibility and challenge in equal measure. By a few hours in, you'll have exhausted every synonym you know for "pretty." A few stages after that, "fun." And by the end, just one word will accurately describe the whole experience: "fantastic."

Is it worth shelling out the cash for the next-gen version if you fell in love with last year's release? I suppose if you're desperate for something to play and have been itching to save Teensies all over again. But for most Rayman veterans, the PS4 and Xbox One version of Legends offers little incentive to return. For those who missed out the first time around, however, this is a no brainer--one that deserves your attention immediately.

This game was reviewed on PS3, Wii U, and PS4.

Giant slayer

Accepted gaming wisdom has always placed Mario and Sonic as the kings of platforming. Accepted gaming wisdom no longer holds true. While he was just another also-ran when he first appeared in '90s, another wannabe platforming mascot without the thrills or imagination to compete with old Red and Blue, Rayman is now--in many ways--mightier than either.

It's easy to imagine that Ubisoft's limbless hero limped away after his initial defeat, beaten but vowing to come back stronger. It's easy to imagine that he spent the intervening years watching and studying his Japanese cousins with obsessive attention to detail, learning what made them tick and what made them great, and deconstructing their strengths and weaknesses ready for the day that he would come back stronger than either, and use their own tricks against then. And now he has. Because Rayman Legends is incredible. Not only brilliant in its own right, it's a better Sonic and Mario than Sonic and Mario. Here's why.

It's precision engineered like few games out there

This is the first thing that will strike you about Rayman Legends. Like any truly great 2D platformer it thrives pixel-perfect jumping demands. And thats just the way it should be. To truly get the best out of the genres capabilities, a 2D platformer needs to be able to get extravagant with its design, exploring the full possibilities afforded by 2D level structure. To be able to do that, it needs to be able to put high demands on its player. And to do that, it has to control with total precision and be presented with utter clarity.

You see this property in all of the best Mario games, from the NES onwards. Sonic has always been pretty good for it too (in 2D at least), though not quite as polished as the plumber. And its the reason the likes of the Donkey Kong Country series have never quite made the A-list. With their broad-strokes platforming and fuzzy-edged, level architecture, they just cant accommodate the kind of stuff that makes the big guys great. Rayman however, nails it, miraculously blending anarchic, organic looks with utter platforming precision thanks to its painterly but razor sharp hand-drawn art style. And with the basics down, it then sets about combining and improving upon everything else that Sonic and Mario do well. For instance

It's effortlessly versatile

A classic Mario trope, this one, but one which the plumber has strayed away from slightly in recent years. One of the hallmarks of excellent game design--exemplifying a powerful grasp of both control mechanics and level design--is the ability to create endless new spins on the core gameplay without adding any conspicuous extra elements.

Its an oft-underrated ability, precisely because when its executed well, the end result is utterly seamless. But its an absolute art, requiring the development of deep, versatile core systems that play with instinctive simplicity, as well as an insightful eye for designing levels that draw that versatility out. Super Mario 3D Land throws out some excellent examples of this when you start playing through the hardcore level remixes of its Special Worlds, and New Super Mario Bros. U is a much deeper game that it at first appears, though its greater intricacies will be seen mainly by the more dedicated speed-runner. Rayman though, takes adaptability as a core tenet of its idea generation from the start.

The controls are solid but immensely 'bendable'

The reason Rayman is so versatile? Brilliantly nuanced controls. They seem like a stock platformer set-up on intial touch (walk, run, jump, float), but some practiced play reveals something more akin to the set-up of a good fighting game, with almost every action capable of adapting, cancelling or transforming the properties of Raymans movement in some way. Combining the precision after-touch of Mario, the bendable momentum physics of Sonic, and the subtle tweakability of Ryu or Chun-Li, theres a wealth of context-sensitive control mastery to be found underneath Raymans seemingly simple gameplay.

A jumping attack can lead to triumphant, foe-demolishing rampage of glory in Raymans sprinting levels, but if you mess up your timing and momentum it can stall you (literally) dead. Though sometimes an improvised air-brake is exactly what you need. Wall-jumps are fairly straight-forward, but when you work out how to scamper up sheer surfaces, your traversal will get just that bit sharper. Some of the Invaded time-trial levels will seem physically impossible at first, but by seeing through the Matrix of level design and control hacks youll eventually smash them with seconds to spare. Mario and Sonic both provide deeper levels of control to the dedicated player, but not on this level.

Its basic core gameplay does EVERYTHING

Straight platforming levels. Speed-run obstacle courses. Vertical speed-run jungle gyms. Flying levels. Stealth levels. Swimming levels. Swimming stealth levels. Full-blown, bullet-hell shmup levels. Rayman throws out all of these as part of a continually evolving, constantly shuffling playlist of 2D gameplay greatness. And there's only one additional power-up in the whole game. Thats pretty amazing design right there.

The rest of the above is created using nothing but the games standard gameplay mechanics and some really creative level structure. Not only is that a Hell of an economical design feat, but it allows some really organic mix-and-match level design. You wont know what youre going to get from level to level, but you also wont know what youre going to get from second to second within a level. To blend platforming, flying, shooting and swimming in one stage, Mario would require some fairly segmented level design and a host of tactically placed power-ups and costumes, each of which would come with usage stipulations and restrictive requirements that Rayman just doesnt have.

It has a seriously confident difficulty curve

Mario and Sonic never used to shy away from a challenge in the old days. But both have softened up over the years. Where Mario games used to acclimatise the player during the first few levels and then steadily crank things up over the course of everything following, they now tend to save their hard stuff for their last sections, or an unlockable post-game area. Sonic games used to work similarly, but since going 3D their challenge has come more from Simon Says reaction tests and level memorisation than genuine gameplay complexity.

Rayman however, feels much more robust. This is a game confident in its core gameplay, and confident in its designers ability to experiment, expand, and escalate. Rayman knows that simply throwing in a boatload of ideas isnt enough. It knows that the best way to wring the most potential out of those ideas is by exploring them to the fullest. That means challenging the designer and challenging the player. Things rapidly get tough in Rayman Legends, but because that toughness comes entirely as a result of the game getting more creative and in-depth with its ideas, it never feels unfair or punishing. In fact it only ever gets more rewarding.

It's fast and demanding without being cheap

Think of Sonic the Hedgehog and you think of speed. If asked to come up with an iconic Sonic image, youll always think of him burning around the Green Hill Zone loop at 100 mph. What you wont think of--because nostalgia dictates that no-one ever does--is how goddamn tacky the early Sonic games could be with their speed. For every cathartic burst-run after a tricky platforming section, there was a cheesy enemy or spike-wall placed precisely in Sonics path to create cheap difficulty.

Rayman doesnt do that. While Legends is packed with breakneck, do-or-die sprints, it only ever uses its speed to excite, not bewilder. Obstacles are perfectly paced to provide exhilaration and ample reaction time. Rather than hindering, enemy placement is carefully designed to assist with showboating jump chains and hit combos. Rayman rewards skill and creativity where Sonic so often punishes daring. With his various chain-slides, rope-swings and wall-hops deliberate and controllable whatever the pace, Raymans high-speed handling is friendly and nuanced enough to cope with anything. Thus, Legends' spectacular takes on the time-trial concept make traversal not a frustrating reaction challenge, but a deep and rewarding environmental puzzle.

It's fast and exhilarating without being shallow

As sonic has got faster over the years, his gamplay has become more superficial. Its a trade-off between whizz-bang spectacle and interactivity. When the whizz-bang comes in the form of rattling through levels at speeds only Dishonoreds Corvo could properly process, youre inherently going to be looking at a game based on twitch reactions and QTEs. Thats modern, 3D Sonic right there. Glorified Temple Run at a thousand miles a second.

But Rayman doesnt take that route. Its careful pacing packs in a wealth of deep, multi-layered gameplay even when youre sprinting across (or up) a level without a second to spare. In fact, if anything, the faster sections present the more intensive, more cleverly intricate challenges, as well as some of the most creative deconstructions of Legends core gameplay. One of the early time-trials, for example, has you racing through a level defeating each enemy in the area to unlock stone barriers. You must constantly push forward, fully harnessing every bit of hidden momentum available while deciphering and maintaining the optimum route along one big comboed hit-chain. And thats in the first world.

It has more personality than any other platformer

Neither the Mario or Sonic series is devoid of character. The Mario series in particular is great at imbuing every element of a level with life, from hills that (literally) have eyes, to the hapless, bumbling malice of its Goombas and Koopa Troopas. And while Sonics world is a little more sterile, there are still plenty of character tropes to love (and hate). But Rayman trumps both of them for personality.

Its there in the confused, not-cut-out-for-the-job countenance of the Frog People, whose vacant, dazed stare always gives way to shocked surprise that half-second too late to react to attack. Its in the omnipresent musical skeletons, happily but lethally going about their business in the world based on the Mexican Day of the Dead. And it pours out of the multitudinous layers of parallax in the forest stages, filled as they are with half-told tales of secret civilisations and unfathomable monsters. For an unvoiced, 2D game, Rayman Legends has a damnably well-rounded world. When you have visual storytelling this good, who needs dialogue anyway?

A legendary victory?

So that's the full low-down on Rayman's epic return. Have you played Legends yet? Do you agree that the balance of platforming power has now shifted? Let us know your feelings in the comments.

And while you're here, why not check out some of our similarly analytical content? Maybe start with Lara Croft: Most real hero of current-gen, and then move onto Why The Last of Us is the first truly mature action game narrative.

Ubisoft has acknowledged complaints that the Vita version of Rayman Legends doesn’t include all of the stages featured in the home console and PC versions of the game, but has promised to release them “at a later date” via a free patch. Specifically, the Vita version is missing 28 Invasion levels, which are a series of speed-run stages featured in the Xbox 360, PS3, Wii U and PC releases.

In a statement issued to CVG, Ubisoft communications manager Gary Steinman said: "Due to a longer development time than expected, we couldn't initially include the Invasion mode - essentially, a second take on existing Rayman Legends maps -- in the Vita version of the game. However, we can confirm that the Invasion Mode will be added via a free patch, at a later date.”

We reviewed the game on PS3 and Wii U and said: “Rayman Legends is easily one of the most feature-rich platformers you'll likely see, rife with accessibility and challenge in equal measure.” Get our impressions of the Vita version in this Rayman Legends preview published in May.

Rayman Legends on Vita doesn’t include all of the stages featured in the home console and PC versions of the game, according to NeoGAF users who have purchased the title. While the Vita edition of the platformer was expected to offer the full experience found in other versions, users say it features about 12 per cent less content than it does on Xbox 360, PS3, Wii U and PC.

Specifically, the Vita version is said to be missing 28 'Invasion' levels, which are a series of speed-run stages, meaning users have to collect 615 Lums to complete the game, compared to 700 in other versions. We’ve requested comment from Ubisoft on these claims and will update this story if we hear back from the company.

Just last week, Ubisoft delayed the Vita version of the title by two weeks in Europe, from August 29 to September 12, “in order to apply the final level of polish gamers expect from a Rayman game”. The title released on other platforms as planned in Europe, while it appears to have launched on all systems, including Vita, in the US yesterday.

Rayman Legends was originally due for release as a Wii U exclusive in February 2013, but was delayed to allow for a multiplatform launch on Xbox 360 and PS3. A Vita version was then announced in May, while a PC version was revealed just last month.

We reviewed the game on PS3 and Wii U and said: “Rayman Legends is easily one of the most feature-rich platformers you'll likely see, rife with accessibility and challenge in equal measure.” Get our impressions of the Vita version in this Rayman Legends preview published in May.

Ubisoft has delayed the Vita version of Rayman Legends by two weeks, from this Thursday, August 29 in Europe (August 30 in UK) to September 12. The Rayman Legends release date on other platforms remains this week in Europe and next Tuesday, September 3 in the US.

Explaining the move, a spokesperson told Digital Spy: "The release of Rayman Legends on PS Vita has been delayed in order to apply the final level of polish gamers expect from a Rayman game. With unique touchpad controls, five bonus maps and two bonus costumes, we're certain that Rayman fans will be fully satisfied.”

Rayman Legends was originally due for release as a Wii U exclusive in February 2013, but was delayed to allow for a multiplatform launch on Xbox 360 and PS3. A Vita version was then announced in May, while a PC version was revealed just last month.

We reviewed the game on PS3 and Wii U and said: “Rayman Legends is easily one of the most feature-rich platformers you'll likely see, rife with accessibility and challenge in equal measure.” Get our impressions of the Vita version in this Rayman Legends preview published in May.

Rayman Origins was such a delightful, underrated game. It makes us happy that Rayman and his silly group of friends return for more cooperative platforming in Rayman Legends. And while we enjoyed playing the game on a console, its the Vita version that got our attention. Legends takes place in what seems to be a diverse set of colorful locations that are a treat to explore. The Vita version, while only supporting two players instead of four, looks fantastic, and the levels we played were short enough to be enjoyed on a portable device. You may have seen the entire level in a previous trailer, but the Mariachi Madness level is a blast to play once you got the timing down. Even if you struggle a little and face plant into an enemy, it's still a cheery, well-designed, musical experience that can easily be played over and over again. Plus, who doesn't want to listen to kazoo rendition of Eye of the Tiger?

The other level we played was called "Once Upon a Time," which showcased the Vita's touch controls, where we would swipe the screen and move things around in the level for our character to continue. Some movements required the Vita's gyroscope, which is always a bit awkward in public, but we do what we can to avoid faceplanting into a row of spikes.

Each console version will have their own exclusive levels, but the majority of the game will be similar across platforms. The Xbox 360 level we played involved a bit of stealth and underwater finesse, as we deftly danced our way around the level to turn off the power and dodge enemies. We'll have more to come as we approach this year's E3. Rayman Legends is set to come up on September 3 on the Wii U, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PlayStation Vita.

Check out the following slides for additional images and more information.

Ubisoft has announced that Rayman Legends will be released on Vita later this year alongside the previously confirmed console versions. The Vita edition will include five exclusive maps, playable with green bottle fly Murphy and controlled through the system’s rear touchpad. Local and online multiplayer will be supported, as will the title’s online challenge mode. Buyers will also receive two exclusive character costumes: a Prince of Persia outfit for Rayman and a Sam Fisher one for Globox.

Rayman Legends was originally due for release as a Wii U exclusive in February 2013, but was delayed to allow for a multiplatform launch on Xbox 360 and PS3 too. Developer Ubisoft Montpellier has said that the extra development time afforded by the game’s delay will allow the studio to add new characters, bosses and levels to the final product. Last month, Ubisoft brought forward the Rayman Legends release date from September to August 29 in Europe and August 30 in the UK. The game will launch in the US on September 3.

Ubisoft has brought forward the Rayman Legends release date from September to August 30 in the UK. It will launch in the US on September 3, Joystiq reports. The game was originally due for release as a Wii U exclusive in February, but was delayed to allow for a multiplatform launch on Xbox 360 and PS3 too.

While news of the delay clearly frustrated some Wii U owners, the wait should be made a little easier by today’s release of the Rayman Legends online challenge mode exclusively on eShop. Playable alone or with friends, it features a range of regularly updated challenges and supports leaderboards and ghosts. You can check it out in the trailer below. Developer Ubisoft Montpellier has also said that the extra development time afforded by the title’s delay will allow the studio to add new characters, bosses and levels to the final product.

Rayman Legends' six-month delay was upsetting for many fans of the series (and creator Michel Ancel), but the developers aren't just twiddling their thumbs as the content is ported to PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

In an interview with Official Nintendo Magazine, Ancel and Senior Game Manager Michael Micholic said the extra time is being used to craft 30 extra levels and several new bosses--"trust me, the things we are adding aren't minor," Micholic said.

Ancel said the delay wasn't surprising, but it was still disappointing. At least Ubisoft Montpellier is making the most of it.

"No, I wasn't shocked, but it was really hard for us," Ancel said. "Of course, there are more important issues and problems in the world but we worked really hard to make something and were so involved, it was difficult for us and the fans."

Ubisoft is to release the Rayman Legends online challenge mode as a timed exclusive on the Wii U eShop.

The move is being made to appease Wii U owners unhappy about the recent Rayman Legends delay - instead of releasing as a platform exclusive this month as originally planned, the game will now launch in September alongside Xbox 360 and PS3 editions.

Ubisoft recently announced plans to offer a new Wii U exclusive Rayman Legends demo as compensation for the delay, but it has now decided to release the series’ first online game mode instead. In a new video featuring Ubisoft Montpellier senior game manager Michael Micholic and creative director Michel Ancel, the pair said the challenge mode will be made available for free exclusively on the eShop "around the beginning of April".

Playable alone or with up to five players simultaneously, the five challenge types will take place in different settings offering “unique gameplay styles”. Featuring leaderboards and ghosts, new challenges will be generated on a daily basis. One challenge type called The Dungeon has been created exclusively for Wii U. It will require users “to master speed and rhythm on the GamePad's touchscreen".

On the subject of the game’s delay, Ubisoft Montpellier also said that the extra development time will allow the studio to add new characters, bosses and levels to Rayman Legends.

Fans weren't the only ones disappointed by Ubisoft's decision to delay Rayman Legends to September. Eurogamer has published images of series creator Michel Ancel standing with Ubisoft Montpellier employees in protest of the slipped date.

The sign reads (in French),"Release Rayman - Support Ubi Montpelier." The speech bubble emerging from Rayman's distraught face reads "SVP," an abbreviation for "Please," and fans in the background hold aloft signs saying "Rayman," "Wii U," "Michel Ancel," and "28/2/13," the game's previous release date.

The mini-demonstration comes a week after an anonymous ex-developer posted a seething response to the news, saying the game was completed for Wii U after months of strenuous crunch. The universal delay is only to get Rayman Legends working on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, Ubisoft confirmed, meaning that the strain to meet the original deadline was needless.

You've got to admire Ancel's bravery/foolhardiness--not many developers would stage a public protest to their own bosses' decisions.

Former Wii-U-exclusive platformer Rayman Legends is now coming to Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, but Ubisoft's pushed the platformer back once more to get it ready. The follow-up to Rayman Origins will launch in September, Ubisoft announced today, further delayed from its Wii-U-launch-turned-first-quarter 2013 date.

Ubisoft Montpellier, the same studio which created Rayman Legends, will develop the game for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The publisher said it's responding to calls from fans on both consoles for an expanded release.

Only 4 percent of Ubisoft's sales came from Wii U last quarter, despite releasing seven games for the system within weeks of its launch. We wouldn't be surprised if the modest figures also contributed to the Ubisoft's decision to hedge its bet.

Rayman made a name for himself in the platforming genre and impressed gamers with 2011's Rayman Origins. Early next year, Rayman will be returning on the Nintendo Wii U with five-player cooperative, platforming action. We had a chance to speak with the developers about the game and play through a brand new level, which is inspired by the Jack and the Beanstalk fairy tale. Have a look in the video below.

Rayman Legends will be available in early 2013 on the Wii U.

At Ubisoft's E3 press conference, Michael Micholic took the stage to show off the features of Rayman Legends, the next Rayman sidescroller coming to Wii U. Boasting a new character, fresh levels, and content tailored for the Wii U controller, it's sure to be a hit with fans of Rayman Origins and/or nifty touchscreen gameplay.

The biggest change is the new character, Murphy, a flying green goober who'll help Rayman and co. make it through each level. The demo introduced his mechanics with a level set in a jungle treetop village, from which Rayman and Globox had to escape. Murphy is controlled entirely via the Wii U touchscreen, and his inclusion means that five player co-op is now possible. Swiping the touchscreen makes Murphy dash about, attacking enemies with a flying headbutt or collecting doodads that Rayman can't reach.

Murphy is also essential to passing certain obstacles; the demo showed him slicing out-of-reach ropes to drop a platform on top of a creepy tentacle monster, allowing Rayman and Globox to pass by unharmed. That said, Murphy players should be cautious - a mistimed spike drop by a Murphy rope-snap caused Globox to die later in the level.

Murphy's other talents include pulling platforms into place (complete with drawer-like handles) and spawning tings that both guide and reward precise jumping. He'll also be central to new levels that emphasize rhythm, where the touchscreen must be tapped in time with an excellent electric guitar riff to speed Rayman through the level. Murphy's looking like he'll made a great addition to the franchise, and the promise of five player co-op has excited to platform with Rayman and friends all over again.

In what seems likely to be the match-up of the century, Rayman Origins will be coming to the Nintendo 3DS on June 5, Ubisoftannouncedtoday.

They also revealed that the game will be coming at a slightly lower price than is typical of a 3DS game at $29.99. Whereas a typical 3DS game usually costs about $39.99.

We're very much looking forward to giving this excellent platformer another spin with (hopefully) some great 3D effects. Rayman Origins sports some fantastic multi-tiered backgrounds and wonderful character animations that we're dying to see represented in 3D. Perhaps even more than the (also excellent) Vita version, this could be the game that reignites our love for Rayman Origins.

And if you haven't tried it yet, the 3DS version may be your best jumping-in point. It's a great showcase for why the platformer ruled gaming for two decades, along with all the advancements and accouterments we've come to expect from a top-tier modern game.

Rayman has played second fiddle to the Marios, Links, and Master Chiefs of the video game world, but that may soon change judging by this leaked trailer for Rayman Legends on the Wii U from french website Gamekult. Keep your eyes glued until the final seconds to see why our interest in Nintendo's next machine just kicked up a notch or two:

Pretty cool, no? It appears Wii U's tablet controller may indeed be capable of porting real world objects into the game using Skylanders-esque RFID tag technology. There have been rumblings of this feature earlier this year (via Joystiq), but this is the first we've seen it in action. On the positive side, this opens up a ton of potential (Assassin's Creed cameo?), but it also blows open the door for each Nintendo game to be sold with its own line of toys.

The trailer also hints at other Wii U functionality. For one, it indicates only a single Wii U tablet will be assigned to the Wii U home base, which is something Nintendo has more or less confirmed already (E3 2011: Don't worry, extra Wii U controllers might not cost you a thing (because you might not be able to buy them). Secondly, those visuals are looking pretty clean on the tablet. Mind you, we'll have to wait until E3 2012 to make a hands-on judgement, but consider us optimistic.

As for the game itself, Rayman Legends is all but official. This week, Ubisoft was spotted registering two domains through Whois: Rayman-Legends.com and RaymanLegends.com. Unless the studio is working on a game starring Ray Manlegends, this is a shut case. Now the question becomes: When can we play it?

UPDATE: The Official Nintendo Magazine has posted a statement from Ubisoft stating the video does reflect Rayman's final product, but rather what the game is capable of achieving.

"This video was intended as a purely internal demonstrative video, and in NO way represents the final game, the final console or their features," insisted the studio, explaining, "This video was destined for internal production teams who often create game prototypes with work in progress development kits. Ubisoft confirms the development of Rayman Legends handled by Michel Ancel and his team in Montpellier."

For many, Rayman 3 was where the series hit its 3D stride, offering powerups to transform the titular hero in all manner of gameplay-altering ways. This new gameplay-heavy trailer for Rayman 3 HD serves as a reminder (or an introduction, for younger players). Not only is Michel Ancel's armless hero returning to PSN and XBLA, but he's bringing all the shape-changing washing-powder (it was 2003, just go with it) players can handle.

Rayman 3 HD will be released on the 21^st of this very month. Creator Ubisoft recently announced that 2D reboot Rayman Origins also managed to acquit itself comfortably on store-shelves, saying the title “has the capacity to become a long-term seller.” Whether that means another 2D Rayman or an Origins remake 10-odd years from now, we'll have to wait a while to find out...

Rayman Origins “can be too tough for some,” we said at the time of release, “but we’re betting even the more casual players will soon find themselves hopelessly addicted.” That turned out to be a sound bet. With the game's sales never making headlines, many feared that the title could become another beloved failure – but Ubisoft's revealed that actually, Michel Ansel's 2D reinvention of his own signature character did just fine.

While exact budget or sales figures weren't released in the conference-call between Ubi and its investors, the company confirmed that Rayman: Origins has turned a profit and "has the capacity to become a long-term seller for the company." Which is great news, showing that even in a climate of aggressively-hyped cookie-cutter Big Guns Army Mans titles, a title like Origins can still hold its own. But an article about a commercially-successful videogame in which we don't get to berate you for neglecting Psychonauts or Okami? This is scarcely the Internet as we know it...

Ubisoft announced it will keep the Rayman hype train running this March 21 with the release of an HD remastered version of Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc on Xbox Live Arcade and the PlayStation Network.

The high-definition remake will ship with enhanced audio and a faster framerate of 60 fps. It will also be supported with online leaderboards, the standard swath of trophies and achievements, and bonus content to boost game's estimated 10-15 hours of gameplay. Watch as Rayman parties in fancy HD style in the gameplay trailer.

Rayman 3 Hoodlum Havoc was originally released for consoles in 2003. It follows Rayman and best friend Globox as they cut through a Hoodlum army to stop the Black Lum Andre from bending the Heart of the World to his dirty, evil ways. It was the first game in the series to feature a scoring system wherein players could rack up points in a combo mode and submit their final tally at the end of the game for a spot in the worldwide rankings.

According to Ubisoft's earlier press release, Rayman 3 HD is a “fan-favorite” meant to compliment Rayman's full-on return in the recently released Rayman Origins. Read our review to learn why that is indeed cause for celebration.

The visuals alone are enough to lull even the most seasoned gamer into a false sense of security. Vibrant colors abound, preposterous characters gambol and cavort with giddy abandon, and vivacious animation breathes life into the already-fecund levels. But don’t be fooled by Rayman Origins. This intensely beautiful 2D platformer can easily crack open and scramble even the most hardened of hardcore gamers.

And that’s a very good thing.

Despite starring a limbless character, Rayman Origins pulls no punches. In many ways, this is a retro platformer with high-def trappings. Gone are the rubber-cement ledges along with the heroes who can stick landings like a Soviet gymnast during the height of the Cold War. In their place? Momentum. Timing. Precision. And lots and lots and lots of dying. During the eight hours we spent in Rayman Origins’ world, we were constantly on edge, both literally and figuratively. This isn’t one of those relaxing platform adventures we’ve come to enjoy in recent years. This is a lean-forward, pay-the-#^&%-attention-or-else-you-will-die kind of game that left our thumbs sore while reminding us what we love about the genre.

Most impressive: Rayman Origins achieves its gameplay greatness almost entirely through its incredible level-design. The game uses only two buttons – jump/hover (that’s a single-jump only, mind you) and attack – three if you count the shoulder button/trigger, used for running. This isn’t about picking the right move, or the right tool, or the right weapon. Instead, it’s about nailing a tricky leap from lillypad to lillypad with absolutely no margin for error – all while piranha-like fish lurk below and spiky plants linger above. Or, it’s about ever-so-carefully hovering through an obstacle-laden sky, blipping the jump button to hover and drop in perfect harmony, using wind currents to soar ever higher while desperately trying to avoid a sudden plummet to our death. Or, it’s the jaw-clenching challenge of wall-jumping up a series of underground pipes to grab a Lum-granting coin sparkling up above, knowing we’re likely to meet our maker as we negotiate through a gauntlet of enemies on our way back down.

Indeed, we get the impression that every platform, every collectible Lum, every bouncy drum, every floating/dissolving cloud, every prickly Psychlops, every electrified jellyfish, and every hidden Electoon challenge room (more on those in a bit) was perfectly positioned to be just out of reach. We can almost feel the hand of the designer in the gameplay, pushing and pulling and tugging at everything to make it just right. Rayman Origins feels like it was built to tap into a gamer’s Pavlovian response to virtual temptation: Sure, we can finish a level without grabbing all the collectibles, but knowing they’re right there – being able to see the equivalent of the forbidden cookie jar on the proverbial top shelf, just beyond our grasp – helped constantly drive us toward the goal of perfecting each and every level.

Of course, we’re also rewarded for perfection – the better we do, the more we unlock – which makes the pursuit of Lums (those shiny, smiley floating gold orbs) and the hidden Electoons (also smiley, but locked away in chests, hidden in secret rooms) even more enticing. It became an obsession for us to find the hidden rooms in every level, listening closely for the aural clues indicating their proximity. Once found, these rooms offer a discrete puzzle challenge: We have to eliminate all the bad guys before we can open the chest. Simple enough, sure, but the way the devs incorporate the latest gameplay hazards is just astounding, constantly layering in new baddies along with new environmental and jumping puzzles. These were among the most difficult bits in the game, but they elicited an intensely satisfying feeling of accomplishment whenever we nailed a nigh-impossible room after a few dozen gut-wrenching tries (never mind the profuse cursing and ill-advised attempts to twist our controller like a dishrag).

To be sure, some of the occasionally crushing difficulty in Rayman Origins is ameliorated by the game’s lush visuals. And it’s not just the lovingly hand-drawn 2D art. The game is alive with constant feedback: plant-like bulbs burst into climbing-vine platforms, oversized drums offer percussive platforms for high jumps, kettles boil over in hellishly hot kitchens, undersea flora explode with Lums and other treats. The visual feedback is heightened by the aural pleasures on offer here: from the furious strumming of a ukulele to the tinkling of every Lum when captured, the music is in perfect harmony with the on-screen action, completing a joyous feedback loop that helps remind us how much fun we’re having. The game also got a bit more manageable as we came to terms with its somewhat punishing nature; once we learned to not expect Origins to be so forgiving, we began to fully master its limited controls. Soon enough, we found ourselves blasting through segments that had given us fits earlier, including those brutally challenging chase levels that unlock in every world.

Once caveat: Rayman Origins is at its very best as a solo experience. With one player, the camera draws in close enough to see all the action, and it’s much easier to manage the mayhem on screen. As a co-op game, it’s still pretty darn amazing; two players can help each other out, surviving some of the tougher passages in tandem. But with three or more players, it quickly devolves into a manic mess. Get all four players into a single-screen couch co-op game, and Rayman Origins quickly devolves into something to do with your hands while all four of you yell at each other. (Plus, everyone wants to be either Rayman or Globox; no one ever wants to be one of the two Teensies.)

At a time when games seem to offer a whole lot of everything, Rayman Origins stays focused on pure platforming pleasure, and it delivers. Yes, it can be too tough for some, but we’re betting even the more casual players will soon find themselves hopelessly addicted to the finely tuned challenges on offer here. Play it for the love of platforming, or pick it up as a palate cleanser between bouts of this fall’s bigger releases.

We know all you have on your minds today focuses on Warfare that's Modern, but if you get tired of World War III and need colorful cartoon people to unwind, tomorrow you’ll get an early taste of next week’s release of Rayman Origins. Maybe you’ve seen gameplay from it before, but were confused about the game’s story, so today’s launch trailer for Origins makes things a little clearer. Though we’re less clear on why this launch trailer was released a week before the actual launch…

The downloadable demo out tomorrow includes tastes of stages including Jungle, Food and Ocean. And should you have enough friends, you can even give it a try with up to four players. Rayman’s return to 2D adventure has impressed us so far, so we think it’s at least worth trying a free sample. The retail release happens November 15.

As adorable and stunningly animated the upcoming Rayman Origins is, it’s got the dark specter of death looming over it. No we aren’t talking about the fact that it comes out November 15 when it’ll be overshadowed by a dozen AAA-budgeted titles. We’re talking about all the danger lurking around the world that Rayman and pals explore. So many things can (and definitely will) kill you during your playthorugh of the 2D throwback. Here are just some of the ways…

We expected to see death via spikes and blowfish, but getting punched by an old lady? We hardly expected that. If you watched to the end you’ll also notice that a demo for the title will be out November 9, so you’ll be able to give the lovely game a spin for free before you ignore it for Assassin’s Creed or Skyrim. We’re not saying you’re wrong to anticipate those other games more, we only ask you give Rayman a chance.

Rayman and his sidekick Globox will have at least 10 ways to traverse their colorful and wacky surroundings in Ubisoft's upcoming Rayman Origins. How can we possibly know this, you ask? Because we've been spending part of our Friday fawning over the studio's latest “10 Ways to Get Around” trailer—and yes, we're willing to share:

For those keeping track at home, Rayman and company will be able to run, bounce, wall-run, zip-line, swim, ride vehicles, slide, fly, destroy objects to create new paths, and link hands in precarious situations. These aren't revolutionary platforming skills by any means, but it's nice to know Rayman will have no lack of options for completing his missions.

Rayman Origins will leap, run, climb and piggyback his way to PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, 3DS on November 15 in North America, and November 25 in the UK. It will also zip, dive, and explode onto the PS Vita early next year.

Outside of the seemingly endless party games on the Wii, it’s increasingly rare to see games designed to be played by (up to) four people in the same room. Rayman Origins is one of them, however, and as 2D throwbacks go, it’s outrageously silly, beautifully animated and surprisingly addictive. As we found out recently, it works great as a single-player game – but what’s it like with four heroes on board? To find out, Chris Antista, Mikel Reparaz, Hollander Cooper and Henry Gilbert packed into our podcast room to record 15 minutes of goofy platforming, testing of different powers, repeated deaths and increasingly loud swearing.

As chaotic as the four-player madness gets, Origins is a lot more fun than we expected it to be (or at least, the parts we’ve played are). Look for it on Nov. 15, when every single other game you want will either release, be on the verge of release or will have just been released.

Bad day at the office? Crummy class at school? Sometimes all you need to turn your afternoon around is a new trailer for the gorgeously illustrated Rayman Origins; and wouldn't you know, that's exactly what we stumbled across this morning. See? You and us, we're like this.

That man in the bubble is Rayman Origins' creative head Michel Ancel, who we had a chance to chat with him earlier this month. Asked where he drew his inspiration from for Rayman Origins' overall style, he told us:



“Rayman is more, I would say, close to nature, and the fact that when you were a kid, you were always discovering things. We don’t remember those periods, but when you are two, when you are three, everything is new, in fact.

Some people say, 'no, supernatural things, this is not good, this is not rational.' But we always live in an irrational world, because we don’t understand the world exactly as it is, especially when we were kids. Imagine when you go back in a place, when you were kids, you had the feeling that the place was giant. When you go back when you’re an adult, the size is normal. So that means that when you’re a kid, you thought giants were existing.”

Rayman Origins will be out for PS3, Xbox 360, Wii on November 15 in North America, and November 25th in Europe. Future versions for Nintendo 3DS and PS Vita have also been announced.

Oct 20, 2011

Whether or not Rayman Origins actually stands a chance in hell when it arrives in stores next month remains to be seen, but judging by what we’ve played so far, it certainly deserves to. It’s vibrant, fast and beautifully animated like few other games out there, 2D or otherwise. It’s also surprisingly fun, with inventive, cleverly designed levels that range from quick, easy romps to crushingly difficult speed runs. Most importantly, though, it has an “OK, just one more level” appeal that sucked us in and kept us playing for hours longer than we intended.

Above: This giant bird boss will also suck you in. Seriously, stay away from that beak

That may be too generous for a preview. We’ve only been able to play through about the first half of the game, after all, so it’s entirely possible that Origins turns to crap right after that. Possible, but unlikely.

Origins is pretty light on story, so here it is in a nutshell: Rayman and his friends (including a creator deity known as the Bubble Dreamer) snored too loud and pissed off some underworld dwellers known as the Livid Dead. Not content to cage Rayman and co., they also rounded up all the Electoons – little pink creatures that apparently help the Bubble Dreamer maintain his sanity – and hid them in cages around the game world.

Above: You know what, we'll just show you Origins' intro movie and let you figure it out

To find them, Rayman, his toadlike friend Globox and an assortment of little hangers-on known as the Teensies (you can play as whichever ones you like; all have the same abilities) will have to charge through a wide variety of 2D stages, smashing enemies, dodging environmental hazards and collecting Lums, little floating creatures that can unlock bonuses if you grab enough of them. They’ll also hunt for little secret nooks and passageways that hide skull coins (needed to open the way to the game’s final stages) and Electoon cages (which are always guarded by enemies in some kind of puzzle room).

Each stage, as a rule, hides three Electoon cages, which are pretty easy to find; you’ll know you’re nearby when you hear a squeaky little voice yelling for help. It’s a constant in nearly every stage we visited, lending a little bit of comforting stability to the otherwise diverse stages. That kind of consistency also crops up across the overall structure of the game. For example, each of the “worlds” we played through begin with a level where you’ll have to free a buxom fairy from a cage (which will try to run away from you). Once freed, she’ll grant you a new power, like the ability to attack, float, shrink, dive underwater or run up walls. That power then factors pretty heavily into the following stages, which culminate with a bonus level and flying shooter stage (often with a boss fight) that bridge the world you’re in with the next one.

Above: Also, you can absorb an extra hit by grabbing a floating heart. Here's one's face exploding into halves

We tackled five worlds in all, beginning with the Jibberish Jungle, a green-tinted training ground filled with cliffs,caves and waterfalls, and moving on to the music-themed Desert of Dijiridoos, which was filled with super-windy areas that forced us to float through spiny, floating blowfish.

Next came Gourmand Land, which was food-themed and alternated between arctic ice floes (with giant hunks of watermelon and lime thrown in for good measure) and jalapeno-filled magma kitchens. After that was the Sea of Serendipity, with giant eel bosses, monster-filled underwater caves and occasional seaside villages. Finally, we visited Mystical Pique, a mountaintop retreat filled with bearded monks and plenty of curved walls to run up.

Above: And golems. Lots and lots of boulder-throwing golems

It all makes for a fun item-hunt that lets you hammer the jump and attack buttons a whole lot. In the main, though, it’s not especially challenging; the Electoons are always easy to find, the enemies almost all go down with one hit, and most obstacles are easy to get around if you know what you’re doing.

If a good, stiff challenge is what you really want, however, you’ll want to keep an eye out for the “chest chase” stages. These ratchet up the difficulty to absurd levels, forcing you to follow a living chest that rapidly scrolls the screen right and killing you instantly if you fall behind. At the same time, you’ll have to contend with obstacles and enemies that spring up suddenly, meaning that success comes only with perfect memorization and timing (or lots of luck), with no room for error.

Above: Much tougher than it looks

Played the way it’s intended, with four players onscreen at once, Origins can be wildly enjoyable. Chaotic and often confusing, sure, but still fun. However, and in spite of creator Michel Ancel’s stated disinterest in making Origins a single-player game, the solo experience might be where the game’s real appeal lies. When playing alone, for example, the camera zooms in close enough that it’s much easier to appreciate just how good everything looks. And without the confusion of trying to figure out which flailing onscreen character is you, it’s possible to better appreciate and understand each level’s design.

Add to that an insanely catchy soundtrack, a handful of neat tricks to squeeze more Lums out of every level, a cast that speaks almost entirely in Pig Latin and a big assortment of (similarly shaped) characters to unlock, and Rayman Origins is shaping up to be something tremendous for fans of 2D, old-school platforming. Whether that can draw attention away from the likes of Skyrim and Modern Warfare 3 when Origins launches on Nov. 15 is anyone’s guess, but here’s to hoping it doesn’t get lost in the holiday shuffle.

Oct 17, 2011

Rayman helped put Ubisoft on the map many years back and frankly, it's time for the publisher to return the favor after shelving the armless wonder for years in favor of Rabbids and rehashes. Luckily, Rayman Origins is everything you'd hope for from a revival of the classic platform hero: it's bursting with color and creativity from every bit we've seen and played. And most importantly, it's a lot of fun.

Originally planned as a downloadable release, Rayman Origins is now a fully-fledged retail title with more than 60 stages set across across a dozen distinct worlds. The closest modern touch point is surprisingly New Super Mario Bros. Wii, though – not just because it is similarly a retro throwback release, but also because Rayman Origins supports local four-player co-op action that injects a healthy portion of friendly competition amidst the teamwork.

Playing as the titular Rayman, his best pal Globox, or one of the two Teensies (little apprentice sorcerers), you'll work together to get through the platform challenges and revive each other when one falls; as in NSMB Wii, downed foes float around until touched and brought back into the action. But you'll also try to be the first to nab all the collectibles in sight, and can punch allies just as you can knock enemies into submission. Without local pals, though, you'll simply play the stages solo, which is said to enhance the challenge in certain scenarios.

As screens and especially videos plainly show, Rayman Origins is gobsmackingly stunning, with a fluidly detailed hand-drawn aesthetic that absolutely fills us with a sense of wonder. It's our favorite part of the experience to date, but luckily the missions themselves are also pretty entertaining. Our hands-on experience at E3 allowed us to check out a common jungle stage with hazards to avoid, along with a desert stage where the sound waves of banging gongs kept horrifying swarms of insects at bay. Additionally, a Cave stage offered the opportunity to check out a boss challenge wherein we had to continually make our way up a vertical level, higher and higher, to avoid destruction by a monstrous boss climbing up after us.

Our only real concern with Rayman Origins is its size: It might be too big. We’re fearful that people who would gladly have paid $10 for a game a fraction of this size might be less eager to take the same chance on a $50-60 full-sized release even if it is much larger. So we’re here to do our part – if you’re reading this, know that we're still in for this charming, gorgeous adventure. We just hope gamers used to eye-poppingly realistic game experiences won't shrug off this stellar return to form due to its cute and colorful approach.

Jun 10, 2011

I first saw a pre-release box of this in a shop. I looked at the screenshots on the back and thought 'Oh good - this looks like Rayman 2'. Turns out, though, it is literally Rayman 2. You know, that game that's over a decade old and gets released on every system that's ever made? Uh-huh, it's that, with an added 3D effect.But don't just dismiss it because it's old. Or because it's got Rayman in it. It's actually, incredibly, still worthyofyour time. Here's why...

The game is a 3D platformer in the truest sense of the term. As the eponymous Rayman, you must run, jump, climb, swim and swing through a ten-hour main game, firing off shots of energy with your fist and using your hair like helicopter blades to slow your descent and get some extra length on jumps.

You can pick up some objects too. Powder kegs make for good bombs to attack enemies and open doors, but you can also hold them near a flaming torch and be instantly propelled forward on a makeshift rocket for a short while. Working out how you can use such items is simple. Working out how else you can use them to unlock secret areas is where the fun really comes in.

Your reward is often a handful of yellow lums. 1,000 of these hovering collectibles are scattered throughout the world. You need to find a set number in order to progress at various points in the game, but you don't need them all to see the end sequence.

Some of them are incredibly well hidden… too hidden in the case of the last cage in the Fairy Glade, which you can only get to through one of the other levels - not by playing the Fairy Glade stage at all (I used theGamesRadar iPhone Appto find this out - check it out if you haven't got it yet. It's free).Surely that's pushing the exploration mechanic a bit too far.

Above: There's one of the powder kegs with a handy torch nearby. Ride it like a rocket to grab that lum

The action is varied, with swimming, waterskiing, slope-sliding, running races and flying sections and the challenge comes from working out what to do rather than testing your thumbs' dexterity too much. It's well-paced too, with no section outstaying its welcome. In fact, it's all very pleasant to play. Even dying merely sends you back a little, so you're not penalised for getting jumps wrong too much.

Having been designed with N64's humble capabilities in mind, the visual style is commendably solid yet very flat-surfaced. Textures are more like paintings than the kind of normal-mapped roughness you get in most games these days. However, the pleasant surprise here is that this primitive level of geometric complexity actually looks fantastic with the 3D slider switched on.

Rayman's world is suddenly reinvigorated as the weird little mosquito thing comes out of the screen at you and floating platforms stretch away into tangible distance. With the depth slider anywhere more than a third up, it makes the world seem that much more real, like it’s an actual space you're playing in. And when you're underwater and Rayman's suspended in the middle of the screen with bubbles and fish all at different levels of depth into the scene, it looks nothing short of sensational.

Above: Who cares that the waterfall is just a flat, animated sheet? The overall effect is still lush and vibrant

In fact, this is one of the few games that extends the 3D effect out of the screen. The problem with this is that you literally have to go cross-eyed to see it, as if you were looking at a fly on the end of your nose (so to speak – that never happens really, does it?) - catch a long handrail at the wrong angle and suddenly it all goes wrong, as the image is so split, it's impossible to look at.

But for the most part, it's a good-looking game and one that, new tech aside, feels like it was designed to be played on 3DS, which is a minor miracle considering its age. As a launch game, it is incredibly lazy as it's full of missed opportunities. It doesn't use any of the 3DS' capabilities whatsoever. No gyroscope control, no Streetpass, no Spotpass, no touch screen functionality in-game… it doesn't even run as smoothly as the old Dreamcast version, which is frankly inexcusable for such an archaic game.

Above: OK, so this screenshot does look about a decade old. You'll have to take my word for it - it's still good

Given its age, price tag and technically lazy conversion, Rayman 3D shouldn't be very good. But the truth is, I had a really good time from start to finish, and even felt the urge to come back to it after the credits rolled to seek out those remaining lums. In 2D, it's a damn fine platform game. In 3D, it's a surprisingly good showcase for the hardware.Put them together and you've got by far the best modern version of the game, with better controls than iPhone version and better graphics than the old DS.

That said, I appreciate some people harbour a seethinghatred ofRayman, his stupiddismembered limbs and his even more stupid friends. But if you can bring yourself to give him a chance and accept that Rayman's purple buddy Globox is actually OK in small doses, you'll have a thoroughly enjoyable 10-15 hours of adventure ahead of you. Give it a try.

25 Mar, 2011

NOTE: This competition is now closed. The winner of the competition is Mark Erret.

If you like your mini-games served with a generous dollop of mental sauce then the recently released Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party is just the ticket. And to celebrate the arrival of this cross-eyed dose of Wii-mote waving madness we've teamed up with Ubisoft to concoct a competition so irresistible that only a raving loony wouldn't be interested in taking part. The motivation? This stupidly wantable prize bundle: A 32" JVC HDTV, a Wii, Wii Balance Board and a copy of Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party.

All you have to do to be in with a shout of winning is to find a bunch of rabbids that we've scattered about the pages of our Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party coverage. So, head to this page and hunt through our Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party news, previews and review articles. The mad-faced rabbid you're looking for is this little chap:

When you think you've found them all, simply email us by clicking here and telling us how many rabbids you found. And as a tie-breaker, complete the following sentence in no more than 20 words "Rayman Raving Rabbids is the most bonkers thing since..." The person who finds all the rabbids and comes up with the funniest tie-breaker wins the prize. So simple it's silly. Oh, and you'll also need to include your name and address on the email. Don't forget.

By entering, you are agreeing to our usual competition terms and conditions. We'll publish the winner here after the competition closes, which it will do on December 4, 2008. So, what are you waiting for? Get hunting those pesky rabbids.

TV Party is Rabbids do the Balance Board. About two thirds of the minigames require one, from surfing through space on an iron board to dodging potholes on a haywire Harley Davidson. The games can be played with remote tilting, but where’s the fun in trying to urinate on plants if you’re not leaning to direct your virtual wee-maker?

If you haven’t worked it out yet, TV Party is very silly. This makes it the perfect match for the Balance Board: no other peripheral makes you look like such an arse. Crouching to make your surfing Rabbid erupt with a bottom burp may be a bit crude, but it isn’t half funny to see grandma doing it. Unless she actually drops one. In which case it’s gross. And just as Ubisoft find a perfect tool in the board, they properly find their game design feet with the most dud-free Rabbids yet. There’s a racing game programmed by the devil himself, but that and a reasonable amount of game recycling aside (both the Rock Band spoof and new dancing game are used eight times apiece) TV Party is a decent effort.

A few tweaks disappoint. Microgames now interrupt the minigames as ad breaks, but the simple flick and flail tasks lack the WarioWare magic. Likewise, a new online mode sees you dressing up a Rabbid to be judged by the online community, but again, it seems a little limited compared to the Mii Contest channel. TV Party is the best minigame compilation on Wii, but it isn’t for those who like their games in more than 20 second chunks. If, however, you enjoy a good fart joke and are not averse to the Rabbids, TV Party is worth tuning in for.

Nov 18, 2008

Rabbidass

Although it's got the Jackass-alike logo, this is actually more like 'Hole in the Wall', where contestants have to shape their bodies to fit through shapes on an advancing wall. The idea here is to draw the shapes on the screen using the Wii-mote's pointer funcionality. It's easy at first (so long as you have a steady hand), but gets much, much faster - as our video shows. Up to four players can compete at once, but only two are playing here. Reckon you could do it?

Miss Fit

Resisting the urge to parody the Wii Fit Girl (pity), Ubisoft has insteadgiven us an equally amusingChuck Norris-alike Rabbid. The game is simple enough - just mimic the on-screen movements. You'll feel a complete tit (and, if it helps, you'll look like one too, especially doing the hip thrust or penguin moves), but at least the game knows when you're cheating, such as when you try putting down the remote to pretend you're standing still.

With only one player allowed to compete at a time, the others can choose which motions he or she should attampt, and everyone gets to rate each other at the end with a four-star rating system. We rated each other 0 stars. Aren't we nice?

Mount Kilimanbotty

This is the game we played back in the summer at Ubidays in Paris. You know, the one where you use your bum to control the game. Cuemuch smirking. If you don't have the balance board, you can still play by sitting down and tilting the Wii-mote and nunchuck. We also found that you can stand up. And let the nunchuck dangle (at least until you hit a stunt ramp). But it's more fun to pretend though, so go for it.

Perhaps the one-at-a-time gameplay could have been turned into a split-screen affair, but seeing as balance boards cost so much (and Wii has limited controller inputs), maybe that's impossible. Still, this is definitely one of the best minigames in TV Party.

Although that's the last of our exclusive reveals, it's worth noting that there are variations of all of these games depending on which day of the week it is in the game's TV schedule. Look out for our review and keep in mind that the game is due for release in the UK on November 14.

Last week we showed you six minigames from Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party, showing off the game's sense of humour and light-hearted digs at both TV culture and some well-known videogames. Not wanting to buck the trend, we've got some more for you today, with the last batch coming in an exclusive reveal next week. So what's on the box today?

Night of the Zombiddz

In this homage to George Romero's classic horror flicks, the Rabbids are rising from their graves, complete with visible brain through rotten skull. But, bizarrely, you lose points for shooting them. Instead, you have to shoot Rabbids in chicken outfits (no, we don't understand either). Shoot with the pointer function and shake the nunchuk to reload - it's simple but fun and we like the zombie Rabbids. Oh, and the make-out scene at the start made us chuckle.

Rabbidly Stunts

In this mode, your rabbid gets fired out of a huge cannon so hard it gets launched into space. On an ironing board, of course. Ignoring the fact there's no sound in space so the speed boost farting should technically be silent (yeah, cos that's what's unbelieveable about this scene), it's still entertaining, especially when you're using the balance board to surf through the stars.

At the end of each section you get to choose your route, with the left-hand option offering an easier ride - although to be honest there's not that much to challenge you in either route. The secenery is more impressive to the right though, as a rule.

Top of the Flops

This one is really good fun, especially if you choose the drums. It's standard rhythm-action fare (and similar to a previous Rabbids minigame), but using the Wii-mote and nunchuk in a drumming motion really feels like drumming. And if you're not playing, there's plenty to laugh at in the 3D band scene behind the gameplay - like the flautist who keeps doing the motions even after the music's stopped.

Be sure to check back next week for our final exclusive TV Party reveal.

Oct 29, 2008

They were there when Wii launched, stealing the show from Rayman in their first bizarre adventure, before receiving a significant upgrade in what was probably the best minigame compilation on a console renowned for its party games. And although Rayman’s name remains attached to the series, the real stars of the show are most definitely those mutant bunnies. With each new installment, they’re becoming highly recognisable characters in their own right: When we got our hands on the latest version, Rayman was nowhere to be seen.

He’s in there somewhere, apparently in non-playable form, but it’s clear that Ubisoft no longer require his services to promote Raving Rabbids. This time, it’s all about Rabbids invading your TV, and the whole thing is structured like a day of channel-hopping through the scheduled programming. Each show is, of course, a minigame. They’re themed around various types of shows, so you might start with a spot of daytime TV before moving on to some sports, perhaps a movie or two, a music channel and so on. The Wiimote doubles up as a remote for the in-game TV, and the winner, loser or one randomly assigned lucky person gets to switch channels after a minigame.

When you change the channel there’s a good chance you’ll encounter an ad break, which won’t be quite the annoyance it is in real life. Here, the ads are WarioWare-style microgames – ultra-quick challenges that everyone can participate in, with a brief cutscene by way of reward. In one of these advert-games, a Mexican Rabbid pops up to play a little jingle on the guitar. He starts strumming away, but as soon as he opens his mouth to start singing, everyone has to try to lob a chili pepper down his throat. The person who manages to shut him up gets a few bonus points and, presumably, retains control of the TV remote.

While the ad breaks are over in just a few seconds, the main minigames are more substantial than before. Most of them now have different levels to go through, from the basic versions that the whole family should be able to enjoy, right through to advanced challenges requiring considerably more skill and dexterity. A case in point is the Beestie Boarding channel which, like many of the minigames, makes use of the balance board. At its most basic setting, you just sit on the board and steer through gates by leaning left and right. Leaning back gives you a speed boost and makes your ride – a wildebeest lying on its back – a bit trickier to control. As you move through the more advanced versions later in the TV schedule, not only do the courses get trickier but you also get a new control scheme, in the form of the remote and Nunchuk. Gesture-based stunts and other motion controls come into play, while still using the board to steer.

There’s a new music minigame, called Dancing with Dweebs, which forces you to go through some arm-waving moves that actually don’t look completely foolish when you’ve got three other players doing the same thing. Starting with a few simple moves, such as swaying from side to side with both hands, you eventually graduate to some Travolta-style flourishes. As long as you can set aside your reserve, you might be able to get a decent dance routine going. It’s themed as a talent show, and you can tell how well you’re doing by watching the Rabbid judges at the bottom of the screen, who’ll be dancing along with you when you’re in time with the music or yawning with boredom when you start to mess up. There are seven tracks, which seem likely to be a selection of classic rock and funk songs. The one we played was "Jungle Boogie".

The rhythm game from Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 also returns, which is no bad thing, although there’s no news on whether that’s going to share the same seven tunes as the dancing game. We’re promised a total of 50 minigames and 25 microgame advert breaks, all with four-player support. Up to a third of them will have the option for balance board controls, and there’ll be online leaderboards where appropriate. As far as graphics go, it’s very solid. There’s an almost cartoony feel to it, and the snowboard-racing levels looked fast and smooth, which is a good omen. We didn’t have any problems with the motion controls or any misread gestures. Overall, it seems that the Raving Rabbids series is going to continue its trend of increasingly confident sequels.

Jul 7, 2008

Rafael Nadal's savaging of sole Brit Wimbledon hope Andy Murray may have disappointed the UK tennis fans somewhat (come on, we all knew it was going to happen) but we've still got a weekend of racquet sports to look forward to. Ie. the inevitable Federer/Nadal face-off that we witnessed a year ago.

And that's the only Wimbledon-related preamble you're going to get out of us - if you want sports punditry go and look at the BBC website. You're here because GamesRadar has been given first dibs on an admittedly amusing render made

specially to cash in on the 100% increase in interest in tennis activity around Wimbledon fortnight. It's a rabbit scratching her arse. To be honest we preferred the original better but we can't use it here as it's the most copyrighted image on the Internet. Make do with the bunny and click her cheeks for a closer look.