Reportsare pointing to a Rayman revival finally happening after ten years. With the commercial failure ofPrince of Persia: The Lost Crown, members of developer Ubisoft Montpellier have been moved onto different projects that will benefit from their expertise. That apparently includes a new Rayman remake, and I sincerely hope it’s a proper return to form for the iconic French hero.
There’s also a reportedRayman 3 remasterin the works.
While he has appeared in a handful of different media in the past decade, including Netflix animated series Captain Laserhawk as a coked-up version of himself that eats sushi off of attractive cow ladies, Rayman hasn’t had his own game for a very long time. He popped up ever so briefly in DLC forMario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope, but again and again he’s played second fiddle to other characters, despite fans crying out for a new game.
Rayman Legends Is A 2D Platforming Classic
Now, that time is finally coming in the form of a remake, and I hope it takes inspiration from Rayman Legends when it comes to crafting a new vision of its world. Originally intended as an exclusive for theNintendo Wii U, Legends launched in 2013 to critical acclaim. But even though it launched onto every platform available at the time, it didn’t sell incredibly well.
While the studio is being shifted onto new pastures, I still recommend you pick up and play Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. It’s one of the year’s best games and deserves love.
Rayman Legends is a direct sequel to Origins, and builds on the aesthetic that was present on consoles and mobile for quite some time at the point of release. It was gorgeous, varied, and defined by a painterly visual style and oddball French humour. There was something so unmistakable and charming about its identity that popped off the screen, made even better by the fact both Origins and Legends controlled like butter. Smooth and satisfying, but not once afraid to challenge the player with some truly devious level design.
On the surface, it was a fairly traditional 2D platformer where you jumped between levels to save Tinsies and take back the land from an ancient evil. But it was executed with such flair and imagination that every single stage felt like a welcome surprise.
You could be dodging a series of lasers in a dank and dark dungeon, delving deep underwater to discover an ancient civilization, or taking part in musical levels themed around classic rock songs. There was pretty much nothing that rivals it in the platforming space outside of Mario. Well… untilAstro Bot.
… And It’s The Perfect Way To Follow Up Astro Bot
When reviews of Team Asobi’s masterpiece began dropping back in September, one of the common arguments was whether it was as good as, or even better than,Super Mario Odyssey. It’s not only on the same level, but surpasses it in several ways. As does Rayman Legends, which strikes a magical chord that few games in existence have ever managed to. Every level has the potential to make you grin like an idiot, either at an unexpected cameo, a cool mechanic, or a combination of visuals and level design that put it on a pedestal above all its peers.
You can pick up Origins and Legends for pennies nowadays too, not to mention they can be played on just about anything.
Astro Bot captured our imagination because, in a sea of triple-A blockbusters focused on a particular brand of prestige storytelling and live service behemoths, it wasn’t afraid to have fun in an old-fashioned kind of way. It only has a few buttons for walking, jumping, or hitting, but is still able to conjure up an endless number of creative scenarios to lose ourselves in. A smile-a-minute game with potential to spare, and the last time I truly felt that in a platformer was with Rayman Legends. But it fell under the radar, and some younger players may not have even heard of it.
Team Asobi will be rolling out free speedrunning updates for a few more weeks, and there is always a chance of paid expansions later down the line, but now that Astro Bot is on its way out, there’s no better platformer to follow in its place than Rayman Legends. A remake is being developed at Ubisoft Milan, and if it has any inkling of what’s right, it will build on everything that game did so well. If you haven’t played it for yourself, what are you waiting for?
Rayman Legends
WHERE TO PLAY
Following on from Rayman Origins, 2013’s Rayman Legends is an acclaimed platformer in Ubisoft’s iconic series. Rayman and his allies must defeat a nefarious magician in order to rescue Barbara and the other princesses.
