Rayman 2: The Great Escape

• Release Date: November 05, 1999
• Genre: Action
• Style: 3D Platform
• Similar Games: Super Mario 64 (Nintendo 64), Gex: Enter the Gecko (IBM PC Compatible), Gex: Enter the Gecko (PlayStation), Banjo-Kazooie (Nintendo 64), Tonic Trouble (IBM PC Compatible), Tonic Trouble (Nintendo 64), Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko (PlayStation), Gex: Enter the Gecko (Game Boy Color), Donkey Kong 64 (Nintendo 64), Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko (Nintendo 64), Rocket: Robot on Wheels (Nintendo 64), Donkey Kong 64 (Nintendo 64), Banjo-Kazooie (Nintendo 64)

Game Description

Robo-Pirates have taken over the peaceful world of the Teensies! Now a few ragtag groups of rebels have vowed to defend their planet from a fierce pirate named Razorbeard and his metallic minions. Rayman and his trusted friend Globox are two such heroes, determined to take on as many of the robots as possible.

For a while, their plan worked perfectly. Rayman used his powerful energy spheres to stun the robots while Globox created rain clouds to rust their bodies. Alas, their valiant efforts weren't enough. The army was simply too enormous, and the rest of the rebel groups eventually became isolated from each other. All of the leaders except one were captured, and the Robo-Pirates assumed control over the very heart of the planet.

Rayman heard the bitter news from Ly, a magical fairy who could always be counted on when the chips were down. Unfortunately, her powers have been weakened from the pirates' destruction of the Primordial Core, so she could not warn Rayman in time to prevent him from being captured. While Rayman was fending off a particularly nasty group of robots, Admiral Razorbeard ensnared the hero and promised him a lifetime of slavery.

Globox managed to escape the threat, and he reluctantly left as his best friend struggled helplessly in the clenched grip of a gigantic robot. Rayman had told Globox to seek out Ly and begin plans to stop the invasion, but it was hard to leave a friend in need. As he disappeared into the tall grass, Globox heard the following words from his friend: "It's not over yet, pirate! I'll find a way to escape and then I'll make you wish you'd never been born!"

Thus begins the story of Rayman 2: The Great Escape, the sequel to 1995's Rayman, which appeared on the PlayStation, Saturn, Jaguar and PC platforms. For those new to the series, the game stars a creature with no legs, neck or arms. While the original version was a side-scrolling platform game featuring 2D sprites, Rayman 2 is a 3D adventure composed of 13 worlds and 45 areas that cover such exotic locales as rainforests, jungles, canyons, caves, volcanoes and glaciers.

The default perspective is set behind the lead character as he struggles to escape Razorbeard's clutches so he can reunite with his friends. Moves at his disposal include firing short blasts of energy, climbing walls, swinging across chasms and swimming through water. Rayman will also learn new techniques as the game progresses, and he'll even be able to fly using his hair as a propeller!

Along the way you'll run across various characters who will help you achieve your goals. As in the original Rayman, you are required to rescue creatures trapped in cages and find certain objects that will allow you to save the world. In this case, it is finding the 1,000 fragments of the Primordial Core, the source of the planet's energy that was destroyed by the pirates.

By finding these glimmering beams of light, referred to as Yellow Lums, Rayman will be able to repair the damage caused by Razorbeard and his robotic gang. Also on hand are two other types of Lums: Green and Red. Each Green Lum acts as a checkpoint so Rayman can resume from where he left off should he die. The Red Lum will energize Rayman whenever he finds himself low on health. Other Lums will grant him special powers or techniques once touched.

Rayman 2: The Great Escape supports the optional Expansion Pak accessory for high-resolution graphics, but a Controller Pak is needed in order to save progress (each save uses one page out of 123). The game also lets users play in one of five languages (English, French, Spanish, Italian and German), adjust the screen display and set the level of sound.

Roots & Influences

Rayman began his career as a side-scrolling PlayStation game in 1995, which was later followed by versions released on the Jaguar, Saturn and PC platforms. The Disneyesque animation and the amount of colors (65,000 simultaneous) helped make it one of the most visually striking games for its time. Rayman was also a difficult game, with 70 levels filled with an array of enemies to fight along the way.

Review: Overall

Rayman came into being in a rather unauspicious manner. Ubi Soft first drew attention to their platform hero on the Jaguar. The result was an incredible looking 2D platform game that most considered to be quite difficult. Unfortunately, the Jaguar wasn't especially popular anywhere in the world, so by the time Rayman managed to appear on the newer consoles, it was largely considered old hat and ignored. Fast forward to the next 64-bit system to hit the U.S., and Rayman's back for a new adventure -- only this time it's in 3D.

While some 2D games suffer from growing pains in the process of moving to the third dimension, Rayman's world has remained tightly focused. The result is a platform game that allows for full three-dimensional movement without being bogged down with excess dead space or find-the-key "puzzles" that seem to haunt other 3D titles. Ubi Soft managed to work up a title that maintains a snappy pace with a fair amount of visual puzzles to add some variety to the action, so you'll feel challenged but never discouraged as your proceed through the game.

Levels will usually have you doing a variety of tasks, ranging from water-skiing behind a swamp-dwelling pal to carefully juggling a barrel of TNT while you dodge homing bombs. Between the Lum collecting and staying alive, you'll be kept rather busy. At times you'll have to return to completed levels to aid a friend or just collect a few extra Lums to power a new dimensional gate, so expect to take a rather detailed tour of the world by the time you're finished with the game. There's also an added incentive to collect the Lums. If you collect all of the energy spheres and captives in a level, you'll be transported to a bonus round. It's highly recommended that you have a rapid-fire controller ready for these events if you really want those bonuses!

To go with the clever level design, the graphics go above and beyond expectations once you're dropped into Rayman's world. There is an almost Saturday morning cartoon quality to the characters and levels that'll most assuredly turn your head. If you own Nintendo's Expansion Pak, you'll be able to crank the graphics up a notch more with the high-resolution mode, but even in its default state, Rayman 2 is a knockout. The world is brightly saturated with colors, and it is amazing how many textures Ubi Soft managed to stuff into this cartridge. The game also runs at a healthy clip with only infrequent periods of slowdown.

Another welcome feature for Rayman 2 is the rich musical score. The music usually keeps to a rather tense mood and turns out some wonderful songs that are well above the MIDI-style music the Nintendo 64 typically relies on. Instrument samples are of the highest quality: violins sound like their real-life counterparts, and the orchestral score works well to imbue solid emotion in every situation in the game.

The sound effects are memorable as well; Rayman and friends will chatter cheerily in their own unique languages (all of which are subtitled), and Rayman will vocally react to things like running (he'll start panting) or cheer if something goes his way. The sound effects synch perfectly with the on-screen action, and everything is nice and clear, although there's only so much excitement to be had from hearing things like Rayman sizzle after hitting an electric gate.

Players will have full control over the camera and Rayman. The button combinations are all quite simple, so a quick glance at the manual will be enough to have you up and running in no time. Even the more complex maneuvers in later levels (like hovering in the air and lining up a shot at a distant ring just before you fall into a bottomless pit) can be pulled off with only a few retries. The only real sticking point is the swimming. Rayman can dive into the water with the best of them, but it's difficult to get him to swim upwards. You'll probably drown a few times before you fully work out the swimming controls as a result.

Parents looking at this as a potential buy should be aware that Rayman 2 starts out with fairly simple levels and puzzles, but it consistently builds on the difficulty the deeper you get into the game. Many of the sequences like the water-skiing and boss fights may be a bit frustrating to younger tykes, as the game will routinely dump you right back at the beginning of a nasty sequence.

Once you get right down to it, Rayman 2 is truly a great game. Plenty of action and variety is scattered throughout the numerous 3D levels, and it's all tied together with a slowly but surely rising difficulty setting that allows you to get used to a new ability before it forces you to extensively rely on it. The puzzles also take on a nice and natural feel as if you're not dealing with things that were merely contrived for the sole purpose of making your life miserable. They blend into the levels seamlessly and follow through logically. Rayman 2 is a joy to play, and play it you shall!

Review: Enjoyment

Clever level layouts and a brisk challenge will keep you on your toes as your travel about the various levels.

Review: Graphics

Even without the enhanced mode, the game's very detailed and colorful. Couple that with smooth animation, and you have a feast for the eyes.

Review: Sound

Well-composed music is further enhanced by the wonderful instrument sounds. Active vocals help impart extra character to the on-screen action as well.

Review: Replay Value

If you're one of the types that enjoys uncovering every secret in a game, there will be plenty to do here even after you've beaten it.

Review: Documentation

The manual offers a full account of the backstory to the game and details how to use all of {%Rayman}'s powers. The downside is that it doesn't really explain that you have to earn most of the moves during the course of the game.

Production Credits