Rayman Redemption

[dr_st]

It's easier than Rayman 1 now, but wait till you get to Candy Château and beyond

Well, I'm about to start it. Wish me luck!

[PluMGMK]

Good luck! Especially with a certain super-helicopter-focused level!

[dr_st]

Hah, I think I just beat that level you are talking about! It is part of the second medallion, no?

The first medallion was actually not so hard and I managed to pay enough attention to find all hidden collectibles on my first playthrough. The second one, though... Yeah... I lost about 15 lives and still missed a cage and the giftbox. Luckily, they were both in the first level, so I just got them on the second playthrough and exited.

That super-helicopter level was annoying. Fortunately I realized in time that I must somehow pass it all in a single go carrying all 3 keys, or else I will miss something vital (turned out to be a cage). It's all about finding the right rhythm.

[Hunchman801]

Good luck! Especially with a certain super-helicopter-focused level!

That super-helicopter level was annoying. Fortunately I realized in time that I must somehow pass it all in a single go carrying all 3 keys, or else I will miss something vital (turned out to be a cage). It's all about finding the right rhythm.

I didn't like it either. The super helicopter mechanics are different from those of the original game and felt less accurate; maybe too much momentum? I certainly did die a lot there.

[MaryMagicPie]

Good luck! Especially with a certain super-helicopter-focused level!

That super-helicopter level was annoying. Fortunately I realized in time that I must somehow pass it all in a single go carrying all 3 keys, or else I will miss something vital (turned out to be a cage). It's all about finding the right rhythm.

I didn't like it either. The super helicopter mechanics are different from those of the original game and felt less accurate; maybe too much momentum? I certainly did die a lot there.

I actually really enjoyed the super helicopter levels. They were frustrating, but in a way that was also very fun! Reminded me a lot of something that would actually be in Rayman 1!

[dr_st]

I didn't feel a particular issue with the Super Helicopter mechanics. I expect they are different compared to the original games (all movement mechanics are slightly different in Redemption), but I must have adjusted quickly enough not to notice.

However, I can testify that Mr. Dark has bested me! I started Mr. Dark's Dare with 60-something lives, then quickly got to 70-something just by repeatedly dying and replaying the first Dark Rayman level, collecting 2 lives for every 1 I lose.

Lost quite a few lives in the second Dark Rayman level (castle) before I figured out the puzzle progression. Dark Rayman levels are very challenging in this sense, because you must figured everything out on the run - you cannot stop and think, and have to be super-careful when backtracking.

I still had 60-something lives when got to the boss battle, and lost about 20 of them on the 6-stage chimera. Some of the patterns were harder to figure out, but most of the challenge came from the timing, especially the two Space Mama / Moskitos and Mr. Stone/Sax.

So I started the battle with Mr. Dark with 42 lives, went all the way down to 18, at which point I realized that I am nowhere close, as the most damage I could do to him was knock off 4 hitpoints (when he starts the flamethrower phase). So I chickened out and quit!

But here is the best part - I actually got all cages on the first playthrough, so... I can go back to Betilla and ask for another hitpoint, which is going to be a serious advantage in these extended boss fights. Now I am going to replay some of the levels (or all of them?) to regain the lost lives, and give it another try. I will not get to a Game Over!

[Hunchman801]

I was never able to beat Mr Dark even in casual mode, one of the transformations would always kill me (I think a Stone-Sax hybrid?). I guess there's a pattern to study there but I got tired of it and never started the game again.

[dr_st]

one of the transformations would always kill me (I think a Stone-Sax hybrid?)

Probably. I think that one is the hardest one, and it comes towards the end when you are more likely to be low on health.

Anyways, I've replayed the entire game, with only a handful of accidental deaths, and revisited some of the easy life-stocking levels, and now have 104 lives before Mr. Dark's Dare. I think I am ready to challenge Mr. Dark again, but it won't be tonight.

[Hunchman801]

This should hopefully be enough, especially if you've memorized the patterns!

[dr_st]

Indeed it was.

I gained 4 lives in the first 3 levels (no deaths), lost 6 lives in the castle (the timing on the slow platforms going up side-by-side is tricky), 4 lives to the transformations (Stone/Sax is indeed the hardest by far - I think the collision boxes of the exploding lava rocks are just a tad bigger than you would expect), and finally 12 to Mr. Dark himself. His patterns are difficult, as they are a bit random, and change very fast. Even half a second lapse in concentration can easily cost you the round.

Now I have 86 lives, and off to the Final Showdown at the Lonely Cliff, to see what else the game can throw at me.

[PluMGMK]

That's gonna be a real marathon, good luck!

[dr_st]

Well, yes. This level was hard indeed. Slippery surfaces and spikes, ugh.

But everything has a pattern. I lost 25 lives during the first playthrough and only 4 during the second one. The rematch against Mr. Dark felt easier than the original battle in Candy Chateau. But I still did not find the gift so will need to play this again.

Edit: Found the stupid gift

And then there is Dark Legacy and the Boss Rush(es). This game has an impressive amount of content!

[Hunchman801]

So have you been able to find all the gifts and cages now?

[dr_st]

Cages - yes. I'm still missing the gift in Dark Legacy, and I haven't beaten the level yet (got as far as part 3 once). I think I'm going to work my way up to 100 lives before I give it another try.

This looks like a daunting and overly punitive task, glad you recorded it because I would never try it myself.

I actually found the first of these bouncing platforms while searching for a missing collectible in this level. I couldn't figure out the rest of the path, and it seemed there was a chance it was a level editing mistake... In the end I found the missing collectible elsewhere, and so I missed the easter egg. Not that there is a good chance I would have reached it even if I tried.

That. That is what makes the Mr. Stone achievement challenging, bc you have to defeat Mr. Stone at the end as well to receive his achievement. Though I must say, it is much MUCH easier than the Dark Legacy achievement.

I got the "Hard as a Rock" achievement today. Funnily, this was the first time I had a flawless battle against Mr. Stone in about 10 attempts. Wasn't going to miss on that one after going through the 4 prior levels taking no damage.

I don't think I will EVER try to beat Dark Legacy without taking damage.

[Hunchman801]

There's probably an achievement for completing the game in "Demise" mode, surely this one's even harder.

[dr_st]

Well, let someone else complete the game in Demise mode.

I just completed Dark Legacy today. Spent 31 lives, but the last level gives you back 23, so I'm good.

Completed the Breakout game while on the roll. That one has 8 stages, I think.

Still don't have the all gifts + tokens achievement. Apparently you get some token(s) for the Boss Rush challenge(s). Gonna tackle those at some point.

[PluMGMK]

he last level gives you back 23, so I'm good.

I guess this level is just as hard as the others in Demise though

[dr_st]

I guess this level is just as hard as the others in Demise though

Actually, I'm not sure how it would play in Demise. At one point there is a wall of extra lives and I didn't see a way over or around it.

[PluMGMK]

Ah yes… That level felt like an uncharacteristic reward in Classic, but I guess the joke was that the planned Demise mode would make it literally impossible!

Or maybe the lives in that level aren't evil in Demise (Has anyone actually got there to check? )

[dr_st]

I would try it with cheats, but I suppose they don't work with Demise either.