After the rise of 3D worlds, side-scrolling mascot platformers have become few and far between. Nintendo and Sega have kept the genre alive with inventive titles such as Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Sonic Superstars, and indie titles such as Super Meat Boy have added their own interpretations.
Two of the best and most overlooked entries of the 2010s were Rayman Origins and Rayman Legends, which were Ubisoft’s refreshing takes on the platformer. They were games based on speed, but Ubisoft Montpellier did things differently than Sonic. The games relied on quick-twitch reactions as the title character or his friends navigated levels.
Reviving a series
A generation may have missed these gems, so Ubisoft is bringing the series back with Rayman Legends Retold. The action-adventure is a remake, redone in 2.5D using the publisher’s Snowdrop engine, and it runs in 4K. It also features a new world hub and gameplay sequences and an additional sixth realm called The Land of the Livid Dead.
The project retains much of what made Rayman Legends such an excellent follow-up to Rayman Origins. The animation remains handcrafted and all the heroes are fully voiced. It still supports four-player cooperative play through the levels, and it also adds more than 70 costumes to unlock.
I had a chance to play Rayman Legends Retold at a virtual preview event, and I was reminded of how addictive, fast and challenging the gameplay was. I ventured through the third realm, Mystic Mesa, which is rich in Mexican culture. It features skeletons, luchadores and levels full of food.
The first stage reintroduced the platformer’s speed. Players need to hold the right trigger to accelerate Rayman so he can maintain a quick pace for the platforming, which comes at players fast. Occasionally, he’ll have to punch enemies out of his way to maintain that pace. The game feels as though it’s constantly pushing players forward like one of those self-scrolling Mario levels.
The second stage was more of the same, but introduced a new element called Invaded Levels, in which players face a time limit and must race to the end. The even faster pace will test players’ timing. I died a lot, and once that happens a handful of times, Betilla the fairy offers players the chance to grab a Golden Heart, which gives Rayman additional hits before hitting a game-over screen. If they’re still having trouble, players receive her Fairy Blessing, which makes Rayman invincible and lets him cruise through obstacles. It’s essentially a god mode plus.
Things get interesting
The third stage, titled What the Duck?, was where the campaign grew more interesting as Rayman turns into the titular fowl and has to complete the stage in that state. As a duck, he’s weaker and can’t attack, but he can still glide. To help him through the stage, Murphy shows up, and using the circle or R1 button, Rayman can direct him to munch through the edible environment so that the protagonist can tunnel through obstacles.
The fourth stage, I’ve Got a Filling, does the opposite of the previous one. Rayman is still a duck, but instead of eating his way through, he covers parts of the stage with guacamole. The dip acts as cover or a platform for the hazards littering the stage. Players can again command Murphy to spread the sauce with a button as he moves through parts of the stage on a predictable path.
The fifth stage I encountered was the music level. Set to Macarena, the level is another racing-type stage, where Rayman has to zip through the level, but this is done to the music. The designers crafted the stage so every leap and punch coincides with the beat of the song. Knowing the song helps you run through the level because you know when to expect jumps and enemies.
Lastly, I experienced the flying stage, Some Fry it Hot. It’s reminiscent of Star Fox, as the stage follows the protagonist as he rides a dragon. What’s notable is that the camera isn’t static, nor does it sit directly behind the player. Sometimes, these refreshing levels have a camera that pans upward so that it turns from Starfox into a Galaga-inspired shmup.
This stage isn’t exactly a bullet-hell trial. It’s a much easier, more manageable lead-up to the boss fight against El Luchador, who was once righteous but has turned heel. The boss battle involves staying afloat in a cauldron as El Luchador tries to knock Rayman down into the soup. The fight takes place over three rounds and requires players to do some platforming before performing knockdown blows to defeat him.
New realm
From there, I checked out the sixth realm, which is the new one added to the adventure. This one involves Betilla, who gives Rayman a new power called Fairy Radiance. He shoots it out, and it manipulates the environment in Land of the Livid Dead. If Rayman’s light blast hits branches, it spreads out so he can walk across them to cross gaps. It’s also the only way to defeat some enemies in this area.
After playing Gates of the Livid Dead, I fired up another stage called The Long Road Down. Unlike the previous foray, which had Rayman platforming across vines to cross gaps. This stage took place underwater, and it showed the potential for puzzle-solving. Swimming also adds an extra layer of difficulty as players navigate the water full of thorns, while also shooting radiance to fend off dangerous vines that constantly grow back.
From what I played of Rayman Legends Retold, it’s an adventure worth revisiting even if fans already have the game. The fact that it also includes a copy of Rayman Origins: Enhanced Edition bundled in adds to the value. It packs enough newness to fire it up again, and it should be a game that 2D platforming fans embrace when it comes out Dec 3 on PC, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox Series X and Series S. – The Mercury News/Tribune News Service
