Rayman has returned with its first installment and this is just the beginning of everything Ubisoft has in store for us.
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There are many characters in the industry, and as usual, some have more success than others; however, beyond the commercial aspect, I think one of the fundamental aspects for a name to be etched in our memories must be something that reaches us and delights us.
In the context of its beginnings, we have a variety of heroes like Mario Bros, Crash Bandicoot, and Spyro the Dragon, many of them true representatives who have left us with many joys. In this line, we have a very charismatic character who arrived decades ago to stay in our hearts.
Rayman is the protagonist of this analysis, who saw his appearance in the mid-90s and, with a lot of love and care, managed to make a place among players, to the point that every year we wait for a new game. Although, at this moment, we celebrate with a very personal and precious compilation.
Technical Section
We return with a very special and beloved protagonist by all players. This celebration comes with details that want to enhance and honor the legacy of Rayman, which benefits from a technical section that is up to par.
I’m going to be direct: we’re not facing a remake. On this occasion, Ubisoft has wanted to conserve the original essence to some extent and, instead, has opted for a kind of remaster of the first Rayman game.
In this sense, the intention is to enjoy the essence as faithfully as possible to the original. Although this has two sides: it has been possible to maintain what made Rayman great through new filters and a style that we can adjust to have the fidelity we saw in the 90s or to get something more current.
The above translates into a visual optimization, adaptation to new screens, and staying on par with the original, whether you want to enjoy the improvements or conserve the style we saw in its release. As it is, we believe it could have given more in this aspect, don’t get me wrong, it’s good, but I feel it fell short.
However, the side that is most lacking comes from the sound section, due to the fact that the soundtrack has been rearranged and practically everything achieved by Rémi Gazel has been left aside. This is noticeable if you’re a purist of the original game, being the point that doesn’t allow this return to have all the necessary praise.
It’s not that the music is bad, not at all, it’s just that they tried to recreate what the original offered. If you can forgive this aspect, then you’ll enjoy this edition a lot. It’s a detail that we must take with caution.
As it is, if you can forgive this last detail, you’ll get what’s necessary to have a lot of fun and remember what they did back then to give us a tremendous protagonist who, to this day, has all our affection.
Gameplay
If you could forgive what happened with the sound section, then you’ll discover the reason why Rayman managed to position itself as a reference in the sector. But, before going into that detail, I want to highlight something very important.
Rayman 30th Anniversary Edition lets us take a trip to the past with everything that entails, not just a game. We really discover the origins under the gaze of its creator, Michel Ancel, and through a timeline, we travel to the starting point of the hero.
The most meticulous details you can observe and delight in, either by reading or with short but substantial videos, showing the charm and care with which this little one was conceived.
After enjoying this documentary and immersing yourself in Rayman, we go full-on with the playable aspect. We’re facing a very hard platforming experience that requires a lot of skill to exploit its full potential.
Although, on the other hand, you should be calm, since you’ll have the rewind feature, which is very effective for making up for our punctual mistakes at the moment of full splendor, and you’ll need it constantly if you want to advance.
In this sense, this edition is based on the first game and its adaptations to other systems, which we can try:
- PlayStation from 1995
- Atari Jaguar from 1995
- MS-DOS (PC) from 1995
- Game Boy Color from 2000
- Game Boy Advance from 2001
In addition to the above, we have a prototype that didn’t see the light and was intended for the SNES in 1992. Although this isn’t all that this edition has to offer.
There are additions like extra levels from Rayman’s New Levels, Rayman 60 Levels, and Rayman By His Fans, which suggests that you’ll have a great time.
Duration
After some sections that give us an idea of what to expect from the game, we go with another solid point that seeks to maintain the balance of the experience. The duration of Rayman 30th Anniversary Edition is more than enough to keep you with the controller for a long time.
It’s true that we’re talking about a not very long game, but let’s be frank, it’s not just about a single run, this goes far beyond that, since we’ll be experiencing the character’s journey through several systems and without forgetting the additions that give life to our journey.
In this sense, there’s a positive balance, and this is what we want as players, so our journey will feel special and will deliver what’s necessary. There’s no doubt about what we have on screen, from start to finish, it’s an adventure that’s worth it at all times.
This compilation is a direct way to pay homage to the character, in addition to offering an approach to both veteran players and younger ones, who will surely have a lot to discover, either in history or gameplay. Rayman has returned, and Ubisoft promises that this will only be the beginning.
Conclusion
So much time has passed since we saw this character arrive. It’s true that it hasn’t been easy for him to make a place for himself. However, with a lot of quality and care, he has been able to position himself as one of the most beloved heroes of all, and I’m referring to Rayman.
Maybe this anniversary can feel incomplete, and I understand the issue with the original soundtrack and what has happened with it. Despite being a pillar of the game, I must be honest and say that the essence of the protagonist and his legacy remains intact (to some extent), even when some improvements have been added.
If you’re a Rayman purist, it’s possible that this anniversary edition won’t satisfy you due to the aforementioned issue. Although, if you’re a hardcore fan who wants to feel a bit of what the beginnings and the character’s process were like, you’re in the right place, and you can enjoy it on your Xbox.
*Thanks to Ubisoft for providing us with the material to carry out this analysis.
Video game, Xbox, PC and Nintendo Switch enthusiast. Frank is one of the most active video game news writers on the web. He covers absolutely every topic. In terms of games reviewed, as of 2024 he has already passed the 60 mark and his average score, according to Open Critic is 80.
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