Guys there are at least
8 pages of thread (excluding the last three in which I do not add anything to what was previously written) in which I've exlpained my reasons, so it is useless to make me repeat everything again.
I realize that writing in a forum dedicated to Rayman, and therefore composed mainly of fanatics, mine is perhaps a waste of time but as many people can not share what I wrote there are as many people who share. And anyway I realize that remains a question of dubious usefulness from the moment that the fate of the protagonist is not up to any of us but only to those who created it, namely Ancel and Ubisoft.
I only decided to answer again just because I do not feel like leaving unpunished answers as inaccurate as the latter and especially since there is someone who seems to read only what is convenient for him to read.
I know only one thing, in the Rayman series there was what we could call a first era composed by the first and his direct and faithful successor. Then Ubisoft together with Ancel decided to change the imprint of the series, changing the design of the characters, stories, origins and more. It would just be correct after 18 years that they made products that everyone liked, to start again to satisfy even those who preferred the style of the first two titles that, as much as you can force yourself to deny it, they were another story.
Returning to the discussion I will proceed to respond in order:
The artwork in Origins is simply amazing and I personally love the game. Who cares if someone took inspiration from another song while composing music for the game? Rémi Gazel even said here that the Mr. Dark theme from Rayman 1 was inspired by another classical song.
You might not like the UbiArt games, but knowing that inspiration was taken from another song is not going to change my opinion on Origins.
So, premising that I do not want to change any personal opinion but, at the limit, provide a starting point for reflection, which is quite another thing:
In the case of the first Rayman it was a product created from zero. There were no other bases of reference except the mentality, culture, points of view and style of its creator. Therefore the game was something new, completely innovative. So even if the source of inspiration in the case of the Mr Dark theme was a
free interpretation of an Hungarian ballad, the game itself included concepts and styles never seen before, and probably transcribed only on oriental books but certainly in a less accessible way.
On the contrary, Rayman Origins already has at least two excellent starting bases behind, the two bases that have marked the story of this character. And it is undeniable that in fact does not propose anything new compared to what has already been seen in the first and second game (all explained in the 7 pages of my discussion so just go to reread, following the speech) but all adapted to the needs, modalities and dynamics of the contemporary player. So in this case the presence of a potentially plagiarized piece can be felt!
Also Rayman 2 was inspired by the Pink Floyds for his soundtrack, and for the track "Tomb of the Ancients" the very first seconds are extrapolated from the track Behold the Darkness of Medwyn Goodall. However in this case in addition to the same principle of the first Rayman just mentioned, the fact remains that we are always talking about
free interpretations, that is to say, traces that in the end sound and result almost or completely different.
In the case of "The Abyss" theme of Rayman Origins instead, it looks like a copy/
loop/paste of the first portion of Swagman's song, with the difference that the Swagman theme is much more fascinating, complete, deep and dark while in Rayman Origins instead it sounds monotonous, repetitive and predictable. My opinion.
Continuing the answer, I report below my answer to what Plum said:
Also Plum said this in 2016, with the source being L'Histoire de Rayman.
Actual quote from a Ubisoft article
"Rayman Legends isn’t exactly known for having a deep storyline or a strong narrative presence, because that’s not the point; Rayman has always been about the gameplay."
The zaniness of Origins and Legends is much closer to Ancel's original vision than anything before. And the only reason Rayman 2 was so dark was because Tonic Trouble was silly, so they didn't want two games that seemed identical. Source: L'Histoire de Rayman
My answer:
Rayman 2 was so dark because especially in the late '90s there was a particular tendency to propose darker themes. The period from 1996 to 2000 has been a particular and gorgeous period, furrowed between "lights and shadows", and I speak as someone who has lived it. Rayman 2 has represented very well the atmosphere that you breathe at the time.
Proof what I say just look at the original concept of the 2D game:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QmbIFNv4HE to understand that the authors even before Tonic Trouble were making a gloomy game. I also add that Tonic Trouble serves only to test the graphics engine of Rayman 2. He didn't even being published originally.
And just to remember you, also the first Rayman was pretty grim in many of its settings and sounds. It's also right in the first Rayman we see
Mr Dark,
Anguish Lagoon,
Twilight Gulch and
The Marshes Of Oblivion. These names are just randomly in fact... I'm obviously ironic!
The thing that makes me smile is that you believe to the s**t of that book say. How definitely for you the true story of Rayman are the bulls**t written in Rayman Origins manual. But please!
Personally I am skeptical about that book. I see them more as a desire to justify themselves in having undertaken a different path.
And I also add that if it were true that "Rayman has always been about the gameplay", the tools to create a game on the style of Origins or Legends were not lacking even in 1995 or even more in 1999 and then the author, or authors, of the aforementioned book contradicted himself. If that were the case, Ancel could have created an equivalent of Rayman Origins with the polygons of the period already at the time of the first or second. The truth, however, in my opinion, is that Ancel almost tends to deny that phase because he has given a lot but also subtracted much. It is no coincidence that after Rayman 2 he distanced himself from the brand and today he makes Rayman's episodes of such a little thickness.
Moreover, how to explain his statement during an interview in which announced a fourth Rayman adventure, where he claimed: "Rayman must bring back to his glory". Citation that
his released during an interview, not mine.
If he were really satisfied, his glory would have already reached it with Origins and Legends and it wasn't necessary to make a similar clarification.
Or maybe, he also realizes that currently it's not the same thing!?
In the end, to reply to the second user:
I'm not sure, but isn't the one who actually bumped this graveyard the OP, yet again with another account? I've just started rereading the whole stuff, and I couldn't help but notice that he used a different account for every single post he made, just like with another topic that was linked in this discussion. He also linked to one of his own topic, that he made on the same day, but with a different account. Just what the hell is going on?
I do respect your opinion, Rayman 2 is not only my favourite Rayman game, but my favourite game ever, and I do prefer it over the other Rayman games, but I would not call any of them bad. Not even RRR, although I really dislike the rabbids. The one review you linked. You checked the author, right? You probably did, why wouldn't you? You noticed how one of his favourite games is actually Rayman Origins? One of the games you criticized so heavily. Also, Rayman 3 wasn't half as bad as you made it out to be, but I'm not going to go into this, as it's been done 2 years ago by others who made really good points, better than I could probably do.
The music is similar. I like Origins' version better. I don't think it was plagiarism, but I have no proof.
Now, I'm really curious though. Why would you make a new profile for each post you write on the SAME day?
I'm sorry, obviously we have different ways of acting (and reacting). For me if a product is not valid, I critic and ignore it. But I don't think it's appropriate to abstain or say yes to everything just to avoid exposing my disappointment, if only to avoid that certain shit (Raving Rabbids particularly) proliferate. Even if it's of little use because the world is so that it must go, since nowadays everything is reduced to a money question.
I have not linked that review to specifically criticize Origins, but simply to make the most stubborn people understand that my disappointment regards to Rayman 3 is widely shared and certainly I am not a crazy visionary if I openly consider it a poor product.
