Here we go again.
I always felt scaled between which version is the best one: the Dreamcast or the Playstation 2.
If people asked me to pick up the two best Rayman 2 versions I would not hesitate in naming the versions above.
Now if they asked me just one, it is very complicated for me to name.
Let's see:
The Dreamcast version is without doubts the best classical R2 ever made. I've grown up with the PC version, and when I've tried the Dreamcast version in a real console, I had to pick up my jaw from the floor due to these details:
- The graphics looked quite good for its time. Even better than the PC. When the Dreamcast was released, it was around 2 more generations further than the Playstation 1 and the Nintendo 64. I've also noticed that the game runs smoothly in 60 FPS without any "hiccup" in the middle. There was a good threatment in this version.
- The game title appears before going to the game menu, and the text is rendered in 3D. Quite good.
- The pause screen is beautiful with the kaleidoscope looping effect with the Super Yellow Lum.
- The buttons response time in the Dreamcast controller was excellent. Rayman answered very smoothly with a lot of precision and in real-time. Even more than the PC version.
- I also loved the VMU black and white screens, especially the normal looping animation of Rayman running after a Popolopoï.
- There were graphical details added in the game (Example: More bats, more piranhas, more Popolopoï [I love the last zone of the Woods of Light that is full of them], etc.)
- There are in-game details added in the game, like Henchmen 800 that can shoot Helicopter Pirate Bombs and most important of all: the Globox Village accessible in the Woods of Light, with the Disc cinematic, the 3 mini-games unlocked during gameplay by catching the crystals (that were well more hidden as long as we proceeded in the gameplay) and the extra 3 mini-games downloadable in the internet with Dreamcast's modem.
- I love the Isle of Doors, despite of being familiarized with the Hall of Doors from the PC version, which I also like a lot.
Now, about Rayman Revolution is a remake of R2 done exclusively for Playstation 2, with major changes in several levels. These are my pros:
- The game remodeled 2D models to 3D, which I quite appreciate that. In landscapes and architectural elements, it makes the levels visually less empty than the flatted look of 2D,
despite of the original 2D elements being quite well executed and pretty to look at. A perticular detail I point positively is remodeled design of Globox and the Baby Globox's eyes. It made them look quite better than before.
- Characters and objects were generally remodeled in order to look more rounder and better. Indeed the models are noticibly worked. Especially Rayman. I love Rayman's model in Rayman Revolution. Shadows are also more realistic, since it isn't a simple circle projected into the floor. But I also didn't dislike the circular shadow, due to its simplicity (I say honestly that it isn't ugly).
- There are extra musics in the game, also done by Éric Chevalier. They are well done.
- I quite like the increased Artificial Inteligence done into the pirate Henchmen 800, caracterized by 5 different levels (Distinguishable by the clothes colour they wear, attacks and health). They also try to avoid Rayman's magical spheres if thrown by far. This makes the game more challenging.
- There are level remodelations done with the addition of flora, fauna and architectural elements. It incentives the level exploration, it gives more life, it is more eye-catching and it shows more what the Glade of Dreams has got. It also attempted to rise up the difficulty level of the game that gets progressively harder and to improve the gameplay quality.
- The Magic Well system incentives players to collect all the Yellow Lums in the game (Which wasn't obligatory in the classical Rayman 2 in order to complete the game
except of course to open the doors in the Chamber of the Teensies).
- There are new elements/characters added into the game that didn't exist in the classical versions (Example: The Zombie Henchmen, the 4th Polokus Mask Guardian: Grolem 13, the Rain Mask, etc.). I love the extra animation of Rayman doing the grimace.
- There is voice casting in the Playstation 2 version, which is more carefuly done than in the Playstation 1 version. I quite like the English voice cast, but the French/Original voice cast is, by far, superior to the English version. I can't give my opinion to the German one since I didn't test, but I also didn't test the Raymanian one that has got small differences according to what I've been listening (which is offered here as an optional voice cast). By reminding the voice casts of the Playstation 1 version, this is my rating level of the 5 voice casts from the best one to the worst one (being the last ones a real shame): French>English>German>Spanish>Italian.
- There are new levels added. This increases longevity and incentives the exploration.
* I think I'm not forgetting anything else.*
These are the things I like in the Playstation 2 version. However, there are cons that I also point negatively:
- The graphics don't run constantly in 60 FPS, which makes the gameplay feel sometimes a bit slowish.
- The loading screens could have been much better. They could have putted pictures, or the type of level parts transition animation of the Dreamcast version or even a whole new kind of loading screen with picture and animation. This also applicates to the Rayman Revolution title screen and the pause screen.
- The voices in Rayman Revolution look low when both music and voice/sound effects are in the maximum valours. To a person listen really well the character dialogues and the sound effects, a person must to low down the music.
- The new musics despite of good, they look a bit out of Rayman 2 theme, maybe it's a feeling of mine.
- The controls aren't as smooth and fast as in the Dreamcast version, but they aren't bad here.
- The system used to get more powers could have been better planned. Instead of the Magic Well, I think it could exist more challenges/missions to Rayman get the respective powers as a reward. At least a player is forced to collect all the Yellow Lums in order to unlock everything included the mini-games.
- I don't find reasons for Ubisoft have taken out the Disc cinematic in this version. Its abcense makes the game look a bit random maybe? Even with the explanation of the disk written in text?
- The inexistence of the Isle of Doors forces a player to look for the levels and explore the areas. The structure is confusing, I confess. It is what I felt in the first times I've played Rayman Revolution. By finishing the game at least 2 times, it made me already locate myself in the hub system done here. It makes the game last longer to complete and not everyone likes this kind of system. People that don't like the hub system in platform games feel dismotivated and bored.
- There are some animations in Rayman Revolution that look too much artificial. I can remember to see Henchmen shooting normal plasma cannons without rising up the cannon as they usually did in the classical versions. What the hell?
- I feel disappointed of the game not featuring a 4th Sanctuary and a better battling system of Grolem 13. A person just finishes the normal level of the Iron Mountains and suddenly finds random icy platforms in the air "easily" acessible. It is suppoused (according to Ly) to the Masks being hidden in secret and mysterious places well guarded by guardians, is that right Ubisoft?.... Ubisoft?.... Ubisoft?!
*I think I also didn't forget anything else*
My conclusion: Since I find more defects in Rayman Revolution than in Dreamcast's Rayman 2: The Great Escape (Which are pratically null), I point the Dreamcast version as being the best of all. However, I also think it depends of the players' preferences: if a player likes to play a simple game in a straight-forward way I would recommend him/her Dreamcast's Rayman 2: The Great Escape. If a player valourizes the longevity and the level exploration in hubs I would recommend him/her Rayman Revolution.
*Phew* And this is my opinion. Now I'm going to sleep, I'm tired.