Rayman is one of the first fictional heroes of my life. The creative design, cool powers and endearing voice and personality are still something to look up to even today.
But the most endearing part of Rayman is how this character is able to adapt to every sort of setting and environment that Ubisoft shoved onto him over the years. Party games, Dystopian TV shows, immersive 2D and 3D adventures.... math games.....
But my favorite of his adventures is for sure Rayman 2, often considered one of the best platformers of the past generation.
While I feel it has some flaws in terms of difficulty and camera controls, this games is absolutely magical in its potrayal of a dreamlike world, full of bizzarre events and haunting nightmares.
You feel captivated but also scared by the world of Rayman 2, a land you want to come back over and over again. The adventure to rescue your home from space pirates leads you to a series of shenanigans that always surprise you, and play on the overall mystical feel of the game, with a movement that feels natural and fluid at the same time.
It has a charm that I feel non other 3D plaformer was ever able to recapture. A timeless classic to check out if you are a fan of the genre.
But the most endearing part of Rayman is how this character is able to adapt to every sort of setting and environment that Ubisoft shoved onto him over the years. Party games, Dystopian TV shows, immersive 2D and 3D adventures.... math games.....
But my favorite of his adventures is for sure Rayman 2, often considered one of the best platformers of the past generation.
While I feel it has some flaws in terms of difficulty and camera controls, this games is absolutely magical in its potrayal of a dreamlike world, full of bizzarre events and haunting nightmares.
You feel captivated but also scared by the world of Rayman 2, a land you want to come back over and over again. The adventure to rescue your home from space pirates leads you to a series of shenanigans that always surprise you, and play on the overall mystical feel of the game, with a movement that feels natural and fluid at the same time.
It has a charm that I feel non other 3D plaformer was ever able to recapture. A timeless classic to check out if you are a fan of the genre.
Incredible game.
A timeless classic, like many others from this era, Rayman 2 immerses you in a world with heaps of charm and atmosphere.
With engaging combat and lots of mechanics to keep the gameplay fresh, there is rarely a dull moment in the game's big adventure.
What really makes The Great Escape stand out though, is its levels. The environments are distinctly varied, ranging from the bright, lush jungles of the first stage, to the creepy, claustrophobic depths of the water level (still have ptsd from this.)
My only problem with this title would be some janky controls, having been left scratching my head regarding what the game was asking me to do at certain points.
Overall, I strongly advocate for this game, and think if you have the £s to spare, should give it a go.
A timeless classic, like many others from this era, Rayman 2 immerses you in a world with heaps of charm and atmosphere.
With engaging combat and lots of mechanics to keep the gameplay fresh, there is rarely a dull moment in the game's big adventure.
What really makes The Great Escape stand out though, is its levels. The environments are distinctly varied, ranging from the bright, lush jungles of the first stage, to the creepy, claustrophobic depths of the water level (still have ptsd from this.)
My only problem with this title would be some janky controls, having been left scratching my head regarding what the game was asking me to do at certain points.
Overall, I strongly advocate for this game, and think if you have the £s to spare, should give it a go.
Nossa que saudades dessa estética do Rayman. Quando o mundo do jogo era místico, misterioso, e os personagens não eram todos psicóticos.
Que jogo lindo mano!!!!!
Apesar de ser meio fácil no combate e ter algumas partes fudidas por causa do sistema de checkpoint ainda assim é um excelente plataforma. O mundo é vibrante e imaginativo, a maioria das fases é bem marcante e facilmente distinguível uma da outra. A música é muito boa e o combate por mais que não seja muito desafiador como eu disse anteriormente pelo menos ele é único.
Apesar de ser meio fácil no combate e ter algumas partes fudidas por causa do sistema de checkpoint ainda assim é um excelente plataforma. O mundo é vibrante e imaginativo, a maioria das fases é bem marcante e facilmente distinguível uma da outra. A música é muito boa e o combate por mais que não seja muito desafiador como eu disse anteriormente pelo menos ele é único.
The only reason I have never completed this game is because somehow my gamepak ALWAYS ends up corrupted from this game only.
That being said, I did play it for too many hours at a time and got through about 80% of the game three times before I gave up because it really did suck me in.
The Rayman games going 3D was one of the greatest choices they ever made, It really allows you to get a better feel for the world that you are dropped into,
However if you play this game while drunk like I did, you won't be able to distinguish the platforms from the walls because they have the same texture, and then you'll get mad because you're running around one of the first levels for an embarrassingly long time only to find out that you had been standing RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM for like 20 minutes.
That being said, I did play it for too many hours at a time and got through about 80% of the game three times before I gave up because it really did suck me in.
The Rayman games going 3D was one of the greatest choices they ever made, It really allows you to get a better feel for the world that you are dropped into,
However if you play this game while drunk like I did, you won't be able to distinguish the platforms from the walls because they have the same texture, and then you'll get mad because you're running around one of the first levels for an embarrassingly long time only to find out that you had been standing RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM for like 20 minutes.
Stade Brestois 29 2 - 0 Montpellier Hérault Sport Club 34
the worst gameplay i've seen since the codfather played tetris effect
This is the greatest game ever.
Kinda mid, annoying tedious platforming. Story is neat and aesthetically pleasing, other than that probably the most overrated game I ever played. Rayman 3 clears so hard.
At the time, this was a solid 3D platformer featuring Rayman and friends. Graphics were colorful and had the right vibe for what the Rayman universe should entail, and were as good as the hardware allowed it.
Gameplay makes or break platforming games and Rayman 2 was fairly good. Some of the platforming sections were a bit hard, especially on the landings and camera angles were not the best in certain levels. Being able to shoot enemies was fun and added a new layer of being able to strategize from afar as opposed as most of the 3D platformers of the time which required close proximity for combat.
Gameplay makes or break platforming games and Rayman 2 was fairly good. Some of the platforming sections were a bit hard, especially on the landings and camera angles were not the best in certain levels. Being able to shoot enemies was fun and added a new layer of being able to strategize from afar as opposed as most of the 3D platformers of the time which required close proximity for combat.
The Sequel we needed
Te quiero mucho Globox
Rayman 2 is one of the greats that pushed the 5th gen's boundaries to the skies with its technical finesse and wonderful presentation.
An awesome 3D platformer with a nice sprinkle of varied concepts for its never staling set of levels.
An awesome 3D platformer with a nice sprinkle of varied concepts for its never staling set of levels.
This delightful platformer has every level feel fresh and unique. The soundtrack is fantastic and the puzzles are clever. Would've been a perfect score but sometimes the camera was difficult to work with, the render distance for some effects worked against me, and the lock on to fight enemies wasnt the best. This game was very good and I enjoyed playing it again as a adult from when I owned it as a child.
I think I'm a masochist.
I've often returned to media I've consumed that has emotionally scarred me as a kid with a sense of reverence. I appreciate when a piece of media affects me deeply in just about any way, even if it's kept me awake at night. Pain and fear are truly ugly, grotesque feelings that can cause deep rooted damage to one's mental psyche, but I've always had a bit of an appreciation towards them. Pain is the greatest teacher, fear is the greatest motivator.
Not that Rayman 2 is an embodiment of pain - far from it. Rayman 2 is one of the smoothest 3D platformers I've ever played. Even with moments of repeated dying, like with the Ssssam's chaotic water skiing extravaganza, to the final boss's checkpoints restarting you from the beginning of a section that requires tight flight navigation, the game never made me want to quit playing. Each level is fun with it's own interesting gimmick, each gimmick is fun within their own right, some of which could be stretched into full of centerpieces of entire game. Riding a pencil shaped rocket, flinging yourself forward on a giant bouncing plum, all of it is just pure game feel fun. Jumping is smooth and easy, hovering helps with any types of complications. Simplistic as the combat may be, the act of shooting dudes with your balls of light is a fun little break up from the main platforming. I personally wouldn't even ask for a more complicated system, but I could see why others may find it a detriment.
So no, Rayman 2 is not at all painful. What Rayman 2 is, is a childhood fear. This comes down almost purely through the art design. The way webby, sticky cobwebs are drawn, to the look of the Zombie Chickens with their tattered clothes, to murky bubbling swamp lands, everything embodies the look of a dream world. A fat stubby man with long arms asks you to assemble strange looking masks as he uses his gigantic finger to create a swirling vortex to teleport you, disintegrating Rayman in the process. The Marsh's Shaman forcing you to go into his mindscape to prove your worth, chasing you from the perspective of inside his mouth, his saliva dripping around his jagged, distorted teeth. (That one in particular gave me such deep anxiety.) The Robo-pirates juxtaposing Rayman and friend's rustic roundness with their jagged edges and rusted metallic bodies. The game starts you off at your lowest point, trapped as a slave within the belly of the ship that houses these monsters, the ever growing count of slaves rising as you progress through the game. Razorbeard himself, as silly and whimsical as him and his men are portrayed, still carry a bit of bite to them. Literally - he eats one of the collectable Lums, forever changing the number from 1000 to 999. Tiny blue men who have debated and bickered on who is the real king among them show you the way to new levels, performing a kick dance along with Rayman to summon the portal. They also open these ancient, primordial gates for you to venture into a new world. It's all so surreal.
And yet, it's playful with a wonderful sense of charm and wit. Characters speak in their own language, making funny mouth sounds as they speak, followed by a triumphant "Yeah! Rayman!". Characters perform slapstick comedy that's incredibly chuckle worthy. The music is spry and springy with bubbly delight, warm and inviting with a sense of wonder, sometimes with sweeping orchestral pieces, to literal and actual genre jungle beats, all of which set the atmosphere of these primarily green soaked world's with life, tension, and wonder. It's such an endlessly charming world.
The darker tones of Rayman 2 have always left such an impression on me. Of course, playing the game as an adult has lessened these feelings of sheer horror. But there's an irresistible lure to them. They've served as an ever lasting reminder of the dark aspects of world, and how even within the darker world, there's light within that darkness. There's always humor, whimsy, charm. You can't appreciate the light if not for the dark.
Kinda like Goth girls. I'm really into goth girls, so Ly kind of does it for me. She has a tail though, so maybe she's a furry? The heck is that? Ly The Fairy, Ly The Furry more like it. She's got nice hands either way.
Yeah, I'm definitely a masochist.
I've often returned to media I've consumed that has emotionally scarred me as a kid with a sense of reverence. I appreciate when a piece of media affects me deeply in just about any way, even if it's kept me awake at night. Pain and fear are truly ugly, grotesque feelings that can cause deep rooted damage to one's mental psyche, but I've always had a bit of an appreciation towards them. Pain is the greatest teacher, fear is the greatest motivator.
Not that Rayman 2 is an embodiment of pain - far from it. Rayman 2 is one of the smoothest 3D platformers I've ever played. Even with moments of repeated dying, like with the Ssssam's chaotic water skiing extravaganza, to the final boss's checkpoints restarting you from the beginning of a section that requires tight flight navigation, the game never made me want to quit playing. Each level is fun with it's own interesting gimmick, each gimmick is fun within their own right, some of which could be stretched into full of centerpieces of entire game. Riding a pencil shaped rocket, flinging yourself forward on a giant bouncing plum, all of it is just pure game feel fun. Jumping is smooth and easy, hovering helps with any types of complications. Simplistic as the combat may be, the act of shooting dudes with your balls of light is a fun little break up from the main platforming. I personally wouldn't even ask for a more complicated system, but I could see why others may find it a detriment.
So no, Rayman 2 is not at all painful. What Rayman 2 is, is a childhood fear. This comes down almost purely through the art design. The way webby, sticky cobwebs are drawn, to the look of the Zombie Chickens with their tattered clothes, to murky bubbling swamp lands, everything embodies the look of a dream world. A fat stubby man with long arms asks you to assemble strange looking masks as he uses his gigantic finger to create a swirling vortex to teleport you, disintegrating Rayman in the process. The Marsh's Shaman forcing you to go into his mindscape to prove your worth, chasing you from the perspective of inside his mouth, his saliva dripping around his jagged, distorted teeth. (That one in particular gave me such deep anxiety.) The Robo-pirates juxtaposing Rayman and friend's rustic roundness with their jagged edges and rusted metallic bodies. The game starts you off at your lowest point, trapped as a slave within the belly of the ship that houses these monsters, the ever growing count of slaves rising as you progress through the game. Razorbeard himself, as silly and whimsical as him and his men are portrayed, still carry a bit of bite to them. Literally - he eats one of the collectable Lums, forever changing the number from 1000 to 999. Tiny blue men who have debated and bickered on who is the real king among them show you the way to new levels, performing a kick dance along with Rayman to summon the portal. They also open these ancient, primordial gates for you to venture into a new world. It's all so surreal.
And yet, it's playful with a wonderful sense of charm and wit. Characters speak in their own language, making funny mouth sounds as they speak, followed by a triumphant "Yeah! Rayman!". Characters perform slapstick comedy that's incredibly chuckle worthy. The music is spry and springy with bubbly delight, warm and inviting with a sense of wonder, sometimes with sweeping orchestral pieces, to literal and actual genre jungle beats, all of which set the atmosphere of these primarily green soaked world's with life, tension, and wonder. It's such an endlessly charming world.
The darker tones of Rayman 2 have always left such an impression on me. Of course, playing the game as an adult has lessened these feelings of sheer horror. But there's an irresistible lure to them. They've served as an ever lasting reminder of the dark aspects of world, and how even within the darker world, there's light within that darkness. There's always humor, whimsy, charm. You can't appreciate the light if not for the dark.
Kinda like Goth girls. I'm really into goth girls, so Ly kind of does it for me. She has a tail though, so maybe she's a furry? The heck is that? Ly The Fairy, Ly The Furry more like it. She's got nice hands either way.
Yeah, I'm definitely a masochist.
I must replay this. My #2 favorite childhood game.
Not really… I feel weak and my powers have disappeared
This is the game that put Rayman on the map. Great aesthetic.
This has been my number 1 favorite game since it came out and I always come back to it.
What’s special about it to me is that it’s a fantastical fairy world being polluted. The subtle atmosphere of it adds to that as well. As if playing through a more thorough world of Ferngully or something.
The Celtic inspired art, the music. It’s just all perfect. The creepy parts are effective still. The entrance to the Cave of Bad Dreams feels like a strange voodoo Louisiana ritual. The Tomb of the Ancients feels like a true dive into the realm of the undead. The finale on the Prison Ship truly feels like a dangerous infiltration and the seedy mysterious merchant at the end adds to that. The zombie chickens are still creepy.
Didn’t put the correlation that this is a French game to the weird haunted swamp stuff together for a while, considering the heavy French presence in Louisiana.
What’s special about it to me is that it’s a fantastical fairy world being polluted. The subtle atmosphere of it adds to that as well. As if playing through a more thorough world of Ferngully or something.
The Celtic inspired art, the music. It’s just all perfect. The creepy parts are effective still. The entrance to the Cave of Bad Dreams feels like a strange voodoo Louisiana ritual. The Tomb of the Ancients feels like a true dive into the realm of the undead. The finale on the Prison Ship truly feels like a dangerous infiltration and the seedy mysterious merchant at the end adds to that. The zombie chickens are still creepy.
Didn’t put the correlation that this is a French game to the weird haunted swamp stuff together for a while, considering the heavy French presence in Louisiana.
God my memory of this game is so cloudy but I remember really putting time into it. Though it was fun it definitely had a lot of mediocre parts and frustrating moments. But it was still able to keep you engaged.
Considering this is a 3D platformer from '99, I really wasn't expecting much and if anything was ready to give it a good go before giving up
Instead I got one of the most unexpected joyful games I've played in a while! While the original Rayman clearly had a world in mind, it was plagued with old 2D platformer tropes that felt uninspired. This world was clearly created for the 3D and has fared far better to time.
While the game isn't perfect, with camera issues and not-so-stellar combat, the levels and variety of gameplay more than makes up for it. I never felt like the game was repeating itself, the minimum collectible requirements for each level weren't high at all, all topped with the perfect length of the game (7ish hours) made for a fun retro experience.
I've got to mention though, without spoilers, if I failed the boss fight once or twice more I might have dropped this rating - introducing a new, disorienting mechanic to be the main part of the final fight is a very odd choice
Instead I got one of the most unexpected joyful games I've played in a while! While the original Rayman clearly had a world in mind, it was plagued with old 2D platformer tropes that felt uninspired. This world was clearly created for the 3D and has fared far better to time.
While the game isn't perfect, with camera issues and not-so-stellar combat, the levels and variety of gameplay more than makes up for it. I never felt like the game was repeating itself, the minimum collectible requirements for each level weren't high at all, all topped with the perfect length of the game (7ish hours) made for a fun retro experience.
I've got to mention though, without spoilers, if I failed the boss fight once or twice more I might have dropped this rating - introducing a new, disorienting mechanic to be the main part of the final fight is a very odd choice
Sponk sucks at video games and that was a horrendous experience
Another that I played with my dad as a kid. Rayman looked weird and everybody in the game was weird and colorful and I thought that was sick. (I was right)
Ok, esto si fue un glow up
PS1.
THAT was the kind of story driven platform and hit game we needed at the time, major improvement in the videogame industry.
THAT was the kind of story driven platform and hit game we needed at the time, major improvement in the videogame industry.
I have so much nostalgia for this game so I know I'm being absurdly biased, but I do mean it when I say this is my absolute favourite collect-a-thon platformer. Rayman is my fucking guy, having a multi-purpose ranged attack that ricochets and the ability to temporarily hover are the epitome of controlled freedom in a 3D environment, only being outdone by wall jumps and flying, the latter he gains access to in some stages. There's zero bullshit in this game, no cheap deaths or mechanics that have a rocky learning curve.
The level design is consistently fantastic, every area has an identity and typically contain some sort of gimmick that most of the time expands on Rayman's moveset rather than removing. There are a few exceptions like riding the headless horse or that one chair rail shooter stage but they serve as neat deviations rather than overly gimmicky ones that remain stylistically in tune with Rayman's world and gameplay.
It mightn't be the hardest platformer out there but the amount of agency Rayman has never makes the game boring. And I'd definitely not call it an easy game either, there will be sections that'll stump most players especially if aiming for 100%. But when you finally pull off that challenging segment while getting every yellow lum along the way you'll never wanna put this game down until the credits roll. Rayman rewards and values the catharsis of overcoming a challenge, making you feel like a goddamn champion whenever you pick up a green lum following a string of difficult platforming segments.
I love pretty much everything about this game, I only wish it had more levels or more enemies to fight. It's on the cusp of legendary greatness and while Rayman 3 does flirt with some of those ideas it never reaches the heights this did. N64 version chosen cause as much as I love both soundtracks the N64's positive changes far outweigh the negative. The Intro and The Bayou themes are fucking amazing.
The level design is consistently fantastic, every area has an identity and typically contain some sort of gimmick that most of the time expands on Rayman's moveset rather than removing. There are a few exceptions like riding the headless horse or that one chair rail shooter stage but they serve as neat deviations rather than overly gimmicky ones that remain stylistically in tune with Rayman's world and gameplay.
It mightn't be the hardest platformer out there but the amount of agency Rayman has never makes the game boring. And I'd definitely not call it an easy game either, there will be sections that'll stump most players especially if aiming for 100%. But when you finally pull off that challenging segment while getting every yellow lum along the way you'll never wanna put this game down until the credits roll. Rayman rewards and values the catharsis of overcoming a challenge, making you feel like a goddamn champion whenever you pick up a green lum following a string of difficult platforming segments.
I love pretty much everything about this game, I only wish it had more levels or more enemies to fight. It's on the cusp of legendary greatness and while Rayman 3 does flirt with some of those ideas it never reaches the heights this did. N64 version chosen cause as much as I love both soundtracks the N64's positive changes far outweigh the negative. The Intro and The Bayou themes are fucking amazing.
I remember it being hard and having a great vibe. I was like ten. Maybe I was bad at video games
Rayman 2 is a vibrant and engaging 3D platformer that overflows with exciting concepts and great gameplay moments from start to finish. Its bright colors and willingness to experiment with different mechanics are a great demonstration of the strengths so many early 3D platformers hold in common.
This game was tough but really fun. It is a different take on 3D platformers compared to the other N64 stars, and it really makes it stand out. The combat is really great and the level structure with some hidden exits makes it more fun to explore. The game is a bit unfair at times I will say but otherwise enjoyed it!
The very first video game I ever played.