Rayman (video game)

Infobox VG| title = Rayman


developer = Ubisoft Montpellier
publisher = Ubisoft
designer = Michel Ancel (lead designer), Alexandra Steible (characters), Vincent Gréco (lead programmer)
engine =
released = September 1, 1995 (Jaguar)
November 1995 (Saturn, PS)
genre = Platformer
modes = Single player
ratings = ESRB: KA
OFLC: G
platforms = Atari Jaguar, PC, PlayStation, Sega Saturn,Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance
media = CD-ROM, Cartridge
requirements =
input = Control pad

"Rayman" is a video game designed and published by Ubisoft. It was originally released in September 1995 for the Atari Jaguar and MS-DOS, and in November 1995 for the Sony PlayStation and Sega Saturn. A port of this game was to be released for the Sega 32X, but when the system died off due to low popularity, the port was canceled. "Rayman" is a traditional side-scrolling platform game which revolves around the titular character's quest to save his world from the evil Mr. Dark.

Gameplay

Rayman is a traditional side-scrolling 2D platform game. The object of the game is to free all the electoons and defeat Mister Dark's minions across five worlds. Only when every electoon is freed will Rayman be able to enter into Mister Dark's hideout in the Candy Chateau. Otherwise, the player must traverse the levels and reach the goal (a signpost with an exclamation mark on it) at the end. But usually, since all of the levels in the game are divided into several parts, said goal post usually acts as a transition to another part of the level.

Scattered around each level are little blue spheres called Tings. If Rayman picks up a hundred of them, he gains an extra life, but they can also be used to pay the Magician, and enter a bonus stage. When Rayman dies, he loses all of the Tings he collected.

As well as Tings Rayman will come across a variety of other power-ups and bonuses, among which a golden punching fist, a faster punching fist, power to restore Rayman's lost life energy and flying blue elves that will shrink Rayman down in size.

Rayman's powers

Rayman obtains a number of different powers during the game. Some are given to him permanently by Betilla the Fairy, while others are obtained temporarily for certain levels.

*Telescopic punching fist
*Helicopter Hair
*Grabbing onto and swinging from flying rings
*Running
*Hanging onto ledges

Patches

Since the release of the game, several patchtes for various versions have been released. [http://rayman.bonusweb.cz/patches Link]

Development

Early in its life, "Rayman" was going to be about a boy named Jimmy, whoe becomes a super hero called Rayman when he goes into a world called Hereitscool. This idea was scrapped, and Rayman is his own being in his own world in the final version. (There were a few comments in the story, like "Sorry folks, this appearance can't last. Do you want to play or what?", but they were cut for the final version.)

Updated Versions

"Rayman Gold"

Later, on September 28, 1997, Ubisoft released an updated version of the game for the PC. This bundle had the original "Rayman" in its entirety, as well as a level editing package, known as "Rayman Designer". The package contained 24 original levels, with the same gameplay but a few new concepts: now Rayman has to collect 100 Blue Tings in a level before he can finish it. A few other interesting features were added, like colored tings that trigger special events, additional objects and a timer to show the player how fast they can complete this level. With "Rayman Designer", players could make their own levels and share them with others via the internet, a feature that didn't particularly catch on.

The British Focus Multimedia edition of Rayman Gold does not include the music tracks at all; the game should have redbook audio tracks. Since the soundtrack was quite popular with fans, this is a significant error of omission. [http://www.mobygames.com/game/rayman-gold] [http://rayman.bonusweb.cz/patches/]

"Rayman Forever"

Around a year after that, Ubisoft released Rayman Forever. It was the same as Rayman Gold, except it contained a bundle of 50+ new levels, a level editor, and strangely, a fridge magnet. Also various sections of the soundtrack were erased to save space on the 500 MB disc. This was a great disappointment to fans who enjoyed the exceptional music.

"Rayman Collector"

Another level set, similar to Rayman Gold and Rayman Forever, was released by Ubisoft in late 1999. This one featured sixty levels, many of which were considered, by fans, to be very short and dull.

Game Boy Color version

Ubisoft also released Rayman for GBC, which was more of a Rayman 2, since it contained all the Rayman 2 music and worlds, but had the storyline of Rayman.

Rayman Advance

This version for the Game Boy Advance was identical to the original Rayman with a few very minor changes (such as the ink flood in Eraser plains is gone and the first level of Bongo Hills is gone) and considerable degradation in graphics and sound quality (due to GBA hardware limitations). During various boss stages, the AI behavior was considerably different since they re-programmed it, and to some, proved more difficult since the screen was shrunk (due to the small GBA screen).

Jaguar Version

The first, Jaguar version adds new areas and removes some of the ones available in the PC/Playstation/Saturn games. For example, in Blue's Mountain, the level Mr. Stone's Peaks is missing the second area entirely where Rayman has to cut 2 ropes with his Helicopter Hair before a stone ceiling crushes Rayman into the water. Also, in Picture City, the level Eraser Plains retains the 3rd area but it has been changed to a completely different place. The last world (Candy Chateau) also features completely restructured areas compared to the other ports. The Electoon cages found on the removed areas were moved to previous or further areas of the stage. The ability to shrink is also missing from this version and one of the last boss phases (Space Mamas) has been completely ignored. Also, Rayman can't slide on bells in Band Land and ice in Blue Mountain.

PSP 'Version'

On 29th May 2008 the original PS One version of Rayman became available on the UK Playstation Store for £3.49. This is the same as the PS One version and runs on the PSP under emulation.

equels

"" was released for the PlayStation, Nintendo 64, Dreamcast, Nintendo DS, and PC systems. The PlayStation 2 version of the game is titled "Rayman 2: Revolution". The Nintendo 64, PC and DS versions are identical in terms of gameplay. The DS version was named "Rayman DS". The PlayStation version has fewer lums (200 less than the other versions) and smaller levels.

"" was released for the PlayStation 2, GameCube, Xbox, N-Gage, and PC. All versions are identical in terms of gameplay. In addition to that, a Game Boy Advance game with the same title exists, but it is a 2D platform game, nearly identical in style to the original Rayman and to Rayman Advance. Series creator Michel Ancel dropped out of work on "Rayman 3" to work on "Beyond Good and Evil".

Several spin-offs have also been released, including "Rayman Arena" and "Rayman Rush". Remakes of "Rayman 2" have been re-released with enhancements or minor changes for the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS as "Rayman Revolution" and "", respectively.

"Rayman Collector's Edition" was released around October 10, 2005. It includes: "Rayman 3" (with a few extra bonus levels and movies), "Rayman 2", and "Rayman Arena". "Rayman Forever" was not included due to the fact it ran on MS-DOS. It was only released for PC.

Reception

"Rayman" is the best selling PlayStation game of all time in the UK, beating titles like Gran Turismo and Tomb Raider 2. [http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=64274&page=3]

External links

* [http://www.raymanzone.com "Rayman" official website]
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