Favourite Rayman Game Survey

[Hugo]

I watched a playthrough of English with Rayman and it actually looks pretty cool

[Mortamon Saturn]

You guys are all forgetting the real and only reason why Rayman 2 should be everyone's favourite game, as so very well put into words by this guy in the 2019 survey

I don’t really get why people prefer rayman 2 to other games. It just doesn’t have the fun gameplay, humour of visuals

I prefer the gameplay of Rayman 2 over the UbiArt games. There, I said it, and you can't stop me over my horrible objectively bad take.
Rayman actually uses long-ranged attacks (which always made him stand out to most other platformer game characters), and I pretty much never experienced another 3D game that felt exactly like it whether in terms of the main mechanics or some of the exploration/puzzle-solving, while the UbiArt titles easily feel like most games from the 2D-platformer renaissance era instead of Rayman (to me).


2 feels like the most distinct video game of the franchise... maybe even too distinct as it has indeed the least humour and gave Rayman's fist a completely different use by being more of a "weapon" than a punch, but while it's a weakness to some, it's a strength in the eyes of other fans.
Which may also be why Rayman 3 is so fondly remembered of when it comes to its gameplay, mainly because it's a rare Green Jewel gem which proved that 3D platformers focusing on action/combat could actually work and be extremely fun (instead of breaking the pace like in so many dated games that absolutely failed at it by blindly following trends). This is why people like me loved the combat mechanics in 2 as it smoothly blended into Rayman's moves like jumping or gliding, turning dodging and attacking into just another flavor of platforming, although what it built got overshadowed by 3 on that regard since its release.

However, it does have its moments of clumsiness/clunkiness and expired milk-tier controls for some control schemes like when you ride Ssssam ( ), and does move at the pace of a grandpa with arthritis compared to nowadays' standards!
However, it still fares much better in those deparments that many games of the genre from the 90s and even the early 2000s, before the likes of Rayman 3 redefined the possibilities of 3D smoothness.
But still...

no crazy combos and stuff you can perform

You do make a fair point there. In terms of replayability, the game does not stand out because of that (outside of the usual speedrunning tricks) compared to the likes of Mario for example, and so I can get why someone wouldn't get enough enjoyment out of its gameplay especially after so much time.

Even if Rayman 2 is indeed the least comedic and expressive (in terms of animations, that is), it does have its share of cartoony jokes and lighthearted moments that do work (Rayman's idle animations with one being the classic grimace, the Teensies being goofballs notably in the "who's the King?" scene or dancing with Rayman to open a spiral door, Razorbeard being a short clumsy ball of anger in so many scenes, the fake Game Over by taking Jano's treasure...).
And from these few moments, I cracked more smiles that in the "recent" installments (it's been 13 years already OMG ) or the Rabbids games because they actually catch you off-guard by their sparse quantity, and didn't just milked the same humour to the bone (like with characters being crazies screaming a lot or getting slapped all around now), nor do they overtake the story and entire tone.
Even for Rayman, I personally would rather have a subtle amount of comedic moments than a game almost constantly shaking keys at me to have my attention.


...But anyway, when you think about it, each Rayman is really the product of its era, which is why different generations of fans seems to have trouble enjoying some of the games as they did when they came out.
Rayman 1 was your typical colorful 2D mascot platformer from the 90s, with a lot of difficulty actually average for the time.
Rayman 2 was starting to dwelve into the deeper and more serious scenarios that started to bloom as games evolved into the 3D plane as well as a slower-paced and more laid back gameplay in favor of a stronger immersive atmosphere.
Rayman 3 had dirty humour, tons of pop culture references and its share of teen energy/edginess like most media of the 2000s and a few typical things of the time like turret sequences and gimmicky minigames/vehicle sections.
The UbiArt titles got into the style of most smooth modern 2D games since their rebirth in the late 2000s/early 2010s, returning to the roots of gaming by putting less focus on story but with even more pure mindless fun (they even followed the trend of removing the lives system and usually having 1-hit deaths with brief parts you can quickly retry).
And then everything devolved into mobile games, because "it's the big thing in gaming now"
Maybe it's just a generational mindset thing, in the end.

But Rayman 2 is also the most like a classic fairy-tale, the "hero's story". There are parallels you can draw between Rayman 2 and ancient myths from various cultures. These ideas have been repeated over countless generations by word of mouth, reinforcing certain archetypes which are the basis for the psyche.

We didn't stop telling fairy-tales in the modern age. There's a reason films like Star Wars became such a massive phenomenon overnight. But despite having such a simple story, Rayman 2's scope reaches all the way back into our collective past and future. We encounter pagan gods and spiritual creatures which modern fairy-tales have forgotten, though they are still alive in our unconscious. This is the ancient world with its natural beauty and mystical awe, contrasted with the cold and empty metal men (the pirates) who feed off the planet and then move on to another, which is quite literally what we are considering now that saving Earth appears futile.

Really well put! It's definitely a great part of why Rayman 2 became the face of the series for a long time and why it's so fondly remembered of even today and despite how it aged. The story just feels very engaging.
Rayman 2 had the most cohesive and immersive world of the series, and it just so easily resonates with the people experiencing it through its entrancing mythical and magical feel.

The constrast between the natural world of Rayman and its robotic exploitative invaders also feels like the biggest part of Michel Ancel's influence into the game, as he was really into nature and ecology, and it shows how it is indeed the Rayman game where he really wanted to tell something through its story.
On a similar note, I always remember how the game over screen in Rayman 1 also had that same constrast... With the left evil side (which Rayman walks into when he gives up) being depicted as a cracked modern brick wall in a dark alley covered in tags in Mr Dark's favor, while the good right one (which Rayman cartwheels into when not giving up) shows a beautiful lush area full of life. The first has a laughing graffiti of Mr Dark mocking anyone that opposes him while the second has a cheerful flyer in favor of voting for Rayman as a potential leader, thus representing both characters' views and how each side would influence the world should they succeed (and thus how Ancel views what's good or bad in regards to how we shape our world).



Wow, I really wrote a big one again, I got suddenly inspired to talk about the series!

It was English with rayman, silly!

Beast gayme evar, eet teashed eus ow 2 speek Nglishe! 11/10 Ramen gaeme!1

[Greengoop]

I watched a playthrough of English with Rayman and it actually looks pretty cool

Same! The music in rayman education games has a really nostalgic feel to it, and it’s designed a lot better gameplay-wise than rayman junior. Now here’s a REAL question: has anyone ever learnt English solely from playing the game?

I don’t really get why people prefer rayman 2 to other games. It just doesn’t have the fun gameplay, humour of visuals

I prefer the gameplay of Rayman 2 over the UbiArt games. There, I said it, and you can't stop me over my horrible objectively bad take.
Rayman actually uses long-ranged attacks (which always made him stand out to most other platformer game characters), and I pretty much never experienced another 3D game that felt exactly like it whether in terms of the main mechanics or some of the exploration/puzzle-solving, while the UbiArt titles easily feel like most games from the 2D-platformer renaissance era instead of Rayman (to me).

Well, I can’t deny it is certainly a great game, and my brother would certainly agree with you about it being the best game, but overall I think fun is more important than quality within games. Ever wondered why the CoD and FIFA/FC series’ are so good selling?

You do make a fair point there. In terms of replayability, the game does not stand out because of that (outside of the usual speedrunning tricks) compared to the likes of Mario for example, and so I can get why someone wouldn't get enough enjoyment out of its gameplay especially after so much time.

One of the main reasons it is my least favourite game out of the thirty-something (rayman dick tease ranks higher ) rayman games is because it gets repetitive. As I said in my previous post, bland visuals. The game is 99% green and brown (the CoBD is one exception, which is part of the reason why it is my favourite level in the game).

And adding onto that, the humour is very bland. The only time I laughed was in the “I want the treasure!” Part, and that was merely a smirk

Beast gayme evar, eet teashed eus ow 2 speek Nglishe! 11/10 Ramen gaeme!1

It wos absilootly live chanjin, helpd I get job, at skœl, 10 at 10

[Hugo]

On a similar note, I always remember how the game over screen in Rayman 1 also had that same constrast... With the left evil side (which Rayman walks into when he gives up) being depicted as a cracked modern brick wall in a dark alley covered in tags in Mr Dark's favor, while the good right one (which Rayman cartwheels into when not giving up) shows a beautiful lush area full of life. The first has a laughing graffiti of Mr Dark mocking anyone that opposes him while the second has a cheerful flyer in favor of voting for Rayman as a potential leader, thus representing both characters' views and how each side would influence the world should they succeed (and thus how Ancel views what's good or bad in regards to how we shape our world).

That's really interesting! I never picked up on that. I think that Greengoop is right that fun is the main factor in video games, but the medium is so good for these artistic ideas that have little impact on gameplay but leave an impression on us.

Since there is so much to say about these games, I'm going to simplify my take to my favourite and least favourite thing about the games:

Rayman 1
+ You have to experiment with the environment to learn what's effective
- Feel pressure most of the time, I think it needs tension and release

Rayman 2
+ I feel immersed in the world, even with its dated graphics
- Admittedly slow-paced and vehicle controls etc. are janky

Rayman 3
+ The scoring system gives me an objective to work toward
- I find the time-limit powerups more pressuring than fun

English with Rayman
+ Unlike the other games, you can actually learn something
- I already speak English

[Greengoop]

Well, there is French with rayman, if you want to learn something new! (If you don’t know it already)

[Hugo]

THERE IS?! Is it effective...? I could finally join the French forums...

[Greengoop]

You can download it here, but considering it’s an educational rayman game, I doubt it’d be particularly effective

[Hugo]

Yeah you're right, it will be more effective to have a big Rayman party in France

[Greengoop]

Definitely a place in mainland Europe. It doesn’t matter the spoken language though, considering all active French members also speak English

[Hunchman801]

I'm certainly down for an IRL, though I might need to play English with Rayman to ensure smooth communication.

[Greengoop]

You reckon I should get French with rayman just in case it is needed?

[Master]

Well coming to the end of the year so I suppose Fifo's got a new survey to be setting up soon. A suggestion I saw in the responses that I'd like to echo, would it be possible to ask respondents when they became a fan of the series?

I would be interested to see what the divide is between those who got into the series in the 90/00s Vs the 10/20s.

Also might be worth asking some questions about more recent developments such as what folks thought about the Rayman+Rabbids DLC, the upcoming board game or what they want the possible new Rayman project to be. We also know there's rumours of a remake, so perhaps some questions on what game they might want to be remade, and what changes they'd want?

[Greengoop]

Well coming to the end of the year so I suppose Fifo's got a new survey to be setting up soon. A suggestion I saw in the responses that I'd like to echo, would it be possible to ask respondents when they became a fan of the series?

That’s a great idea! I back this one!

[Fifo]

that’s indeed a great one! I’ll add it

[The Jonster]

When will you upload the new one? I still need to check this years so hope I have time to do so!

[Fifo]

As always, on the 1st of January! If I don’t forget, that is

----

UPDATE: Here it is!

https://forms.gle/f7sfMCXAKmtEZvtCA

[Master]

Well here we go again! Sounds like all respondents bar one became fans in the 00s, I am surprised to see someone became a fan in 2020 though, given the series long hiatus at this point, I wonder what got them into the series?

[Fifo]

I wonder what got them into the series?

I suppose that could be a question for the 2026 survey, eh?

[Greengoop]

Great poll! You were definitely very creative this year

[The Jonster]

Just checked the results for last year, WOW that's a really big drop for Rayman Legends! Was Dumbo/Greengoop the only one who voted for Legends?

For reference, 2023's spread:

And here's last year's: