Nitro Rad Reviews the Original Trilogy

[Sabertooth]

I really appreciate this guy bringing some spotlight to the classic Rayman games. They're all generally positive overall, and he makes some great observations.

[RayCarrot]

I've seen them all and they're some of the best Rayman video reviews out there! He's reviewed Legends as well, though that's an older review and not as good.

[Yharu]

Seen already and I really loved the videos. I think I never saw any review that's so accurate for the Rayman games. I was very happy with these. Good Job, Nitro Rad!

[Bzzit]

This guy made me appreciate how fluid the transition from hanging to jumping is in Rayman 1.

[Dart]

I've been watching his work for awhile now, he gives perhaps the best look into the original trilogy

[Greeness]

Yeah I agree, he is a good reviewer and has valid criticisms.

[dr_st]

I watched only the first review so far, and it's indeed great. I'm looking forward to watching the others.

I will reply with my comments on each individual entry.

On the subject of Rayman 1, I only played the PC version, and I haven't given enough thought to the differences between it and the PSX version. I have known for a long time that the cage placements are different, even though the levels are the same (likely, other power-ups placements are also different), but the soundtrack differences are bigger than I realized.

I can understand why Nitro Rad and most gamers considers PSX to be the definitive version. The soundtrack does seem a bit richer, with a few specific sequences not present in the PC release, and somewhat more lively ambient sound effects. There are things unique to the PC version as well, like Tarayzan and the Musician speaking, but they feel less meaningful.

The PC version also rearranges some of the existing tunes. "Suspense" which in the PSX plays during the flood sequences (Swamps of Forgetfulness, Mr. Stone's Peaks) is now combined with "Space Mama's Play" and plays during her boss battles. However, the "Washing Machine from Space", which in the PS1 is the tune for the end battle in Space Mama's Crater now plays during normal Picture City levels. I don't know why it was done.

Regarding all the expansion levels which were released on the PC, they are of mixed quality. The ones in Designer are usually quite elaborate and very challenging. In the later expansions ("By Its Fans" / "Forever" and "Collector") many of the levels are really simplistic, repetitive and uninspired.

[RayCarrot]

Regarding all the expansion levels which were released on the PC, they are of mixed quality. The ones in Designer are usually quite elaborate and very challenging. In the later expansions ("By Its Fans" / "Forever" and "Collector") many of the levels are really simplistic, repetitive and uninspired.

Well, the Designer levels were made by the developers and the By His Fans levels were made by, well, by the fans. They had a contest were you could get your levels published in the game or something. But yeah, I personally love the Designer levels as they all manage to feel unique and stand out without having special things like water rising, bosses etc. The By His Fans levels have some really good ones, but most are too similar. I think there might have been pre-made templates to download back then as almost all have the same base with just the events places differently.

[dr_st]

So I watched the second review. Again, awesome.

Rayman 2 has always been a favorite of mine, and I never attempted to analyze the exact reasons. Nitro Rad put these in nice words - it really did manage to transfer the 2D mechanics into 3D quite well, and the fact that it has so many different kinds of sequences (platforming, climbing, riding, flying, swimming, sliding), each of which has a unique feel, and a great flow, keeps it interesting and fresh.

I find it interesting that he loved "The Precipice". I liked it too. It's funny how someone's favorite level can be considered terrible by others. I think I've read someone refer to "The Precipice" as 'the worst level in the game' because it's just running over falling bridges for 5 minutes.

The inconsistency with the swimming also bothered me at the back of my mind while I was playing. I mean - why can you swim in some places, but not in others? Piranhas are a weak excuse. I think maybe it's because the world was polluted, and only a few good places for swimming were left. They do try to make the non-swimmable water dark and murky, probably to convey this feeling.

I kind of think he did not entirely do justice to the boss fights in Rayman 2. Granted, none is as long, elaborate and difficult as the final boss, but I think they are all quite good, especially if you view them in the context of gradually getting you into the game, and honing your skills (assume that you never played a 3D platformer before!).

The fight with Jano at the Cave of Bad Dreams is quite challenging, for being in the first third of the game. Foutch is OK. Axel is too easy, but it's good for a first boss, when you are still basically learning the mechanics. And Umber... Well, I can forgive them only because The Sanctuary of Stone and Fire is so long and so hard (at least your first time through). I remember I actually was relieved that I don't have to fight a real boss at the end of it.

Finally, it's a bit disappointing that he only glossed over Revolution. I think there are quite a few nice things to say about it (and maybe some not nice things as well ), but I guess it would have made the review too long, whereas for its own entry there's not enough to say... dunno.

[Sabertooth]

One of the few perks of the PlayStation version was adding Ninjaws as a boss right after Umber.

[Dart]

Our buddy Ramon makes a cameo in the latest vidga by NitroGod.