Rayman Origins

[Greengoop]

Incorrect, sea of serendipity is based off band land

[StanceDance]

Am I just realizing that this game has avatar skins on Xbox 360? Sorry if this is off topic

[Greengoop]

What do you mean? Are you talking about the fact that there’s characters from the 2009 avatar or the last airbender, the Minecraft X360 skins, or the fact that skins exist in RO?

[Droolie]

I'm guessing it was about Xbox 360 avatar (the Mii equivalent) cosmetic items. A lot of games had them, for example RRR and BG&E:



Rayman Origins apparently had them too, but I can't find any footage or screenshots of it...

I think it was a pretty cool feature, but it seems current MS/Xbox doesn't agree.

[Greengoop]

Wait, so is there a rayman avatar on X360?

[StanceDance]

Wait, so is there a rayman avatar on X360?

Not really, It's just a Rayman Hoodie that's all

[Greengoop]

That’s interesting! I learn something new about rayman every day

[lyndo64]

Does anybody know that this means? It's from the Rayman Origins artbook.

[Greengoop]

Did you get the artbook then? And no, sounds like gibberish to me

[lyndo64]

Did you get the artbook then? And no, sounds like gibberish to me

Yeah, I got it off of Ebay, the image itself is a scan from the Raywiki.

[Greengoop]

Did you get just the artbook or the full RO collectors edition?

[TeensieKing]

Hey guys! I want to buy the PC version of RO. I was wondering if there is any difference between the GoG and Steam versions? I was planning on buying it on GoG because that will guarantee that it will work on my PC for years to come and because I already have Rayman 1-3 there.

By the way, it's so shocking that RO hasn't been ported to PS4 and Switch. It's a 13-year old game and it still looks crisp with that gorgeous hand-drawn style. It hasn't aged one bit.

[PluMGMK]

I own both versions and haven't noticed any difference

[TeensieKing]

Okay, then I guess I will get the GoG version for the future compatibility aspect. Thanks! I will also look into adding custom skins and stuff. Playing as Tarayzan would certainly be interesting! Also I originally beat this game on the Wii, so playing in full HD will be a treat!

[RayCarrot]

I was wondering if there is any difference between the GoG and Steam versions?

Initially the GOG version didn't have the latest patch for the game, but they added that in 2018. So nowadays it's basically identical to Steam yeah The Steam version is actually DRM-free as well funny enough.

[TeensieKing]

I've already bought it, can't wait to play it eventually I'm doing a full main series spree!

[Greengoop]

Have you not played all the games yet?

[Hunchman801]

I've been thinking today about how much more sense it made to have the Land of the Livid Dead in this game back in early development when this was planned as a prequel to the original trilogy. It would have explained how such a peaceful place had earned such a name back in Rayman 3.

I don't know if there is much logic to be found in how the name of that location from Rayman 3 ended up being reused in Origins for an entirely different place.

First of all, it's interesting to note that the original Land of the Livid Dead used to be called the Moor of Mad Spirits, a much more fitting name and a literal translation of its original French name, La Lande aux Esprits Frappés. I'm not sure why it was eventually renamed, but I think we're missing a piece of the puzzle here. Sure, the Griskins are pale ghosts that it kinda makes sense to refer to as "Livid Dead", but overall the tranquility and peacefulness of the place contrast with its hellish name, to the point that even Globox mentions it:

Ah, the Land of the Livid Dead, at last! In any case, it’s nice and calm here. And here I was expecting a scary place filled with terrifying ghouls. Oh, silly Globox.

Now what's strange is that Globox also comments on this in the French version:

Hé hé hé hé ! Finalement, on y est arrivés, dans la Lande ! En tout cas, c'est drôlement calme ici ! La Lande, moi j'm'attendais à... à des fantômes... à un décor d'horreur ! Eh ben, non ! Que nenni !

While it makes sense that he might have been expecting ghosts because of the "mad spirits" part of the place's name, why on Earth would he expect a "horror setting" from mere moorland? It feels as though the place might have been intended to be much scarier at some point, but all that is left of it is inconsistencies in dialogues and naming.

Now enter Rayman Origins, which, as with many other things, only adds to the confusion. This time, the Land of the Livid Dead is a entirely different place, a hellish subterranean world which fits the English name way better. However, it is still called the Moor of Mad Spirits in the French version, something that borders on the idiotic when you consider the total lack of moorland in that location. Sure, it does at least preserve consistency, but why reuse that name from Rayman 3 in the first place? Maybe they just thought it sounded cool and recycled it without any consideration for the series' lore and identity. Maybe it's a relic from the game's messy creative process, hinting at various stages of development for the "Land", just like with Rayman 3.

All I know for sure is that not much effort was spent to ensure consistency in the final product, but that's yesterday's news.

[TeensieKing]

Have you not played all the games yet?

Yes, but I haven't given them a go in quite a few years (like, 7) and felt like I wanted to experience the Rayman franchise again. Especially Rayman 2 and 3 are comfort games for me and I have beaten them both several times. R2 and RL are the only ones I've beaten 100% though. Rayman 1 is the only one I have never beaten, despite trying quite a few times, so this time I'm going for Redemption, which is much less frustrating and much more fun. I'm intending on beating it 100%.

I've been thinking today about how much more sense it made to have the Land of the Livid Dead in this game back in early development when this was planned as a prequel to the original trilogy. It would have explained how such a peaceful place had earned such a name back in Rayman 3.

I don't know if there is much logic to be found in how the name of that location from Rayman 3 ended up being reused in Origins for an entirely different place.

First of all, it's interesting to note that the original Land of the Livid Dead used to be called the Moor of Mad Spirits, a much more fitting name and a literal translation of its original French name, La Lande aux Esprits Frappés. I'm not sure why it was eventually renamed, but I think we're missing a piece of the puzzle here. Sure, the Griskins are pale ghosts that it kinda makes sense to refer to as "Livid Dead", but overall the tranquility and peacefulness of the place contrast with its hellish name, to the point that even Globox mentions it:

Ah, the Land of the Livid Dead, at last! In any case, it’s nice and calm here. And here I was expecting a scary place filled with terrifying ghouls. Oh, silly Globox.

Now what's strange is that Globox also comments on this in the French version:

Hé hé hé hé ! Finalement, on y est arrivés, dans la Lande ! En tout cas, c'est drôlement calme ici ! La Lande, moi j'm'attendais à... à des fantômes... à un décor d'horreur ! Eh ben, non ! Que nenni !

While it makes sense that he might have been expecting ghosts because of the "mad spirits" part of the place's name, why on Earth would he expect a "horror setting" from mere moorland? It feels as though the place might have been intended to be much scarier at some point, but all that is left of it is inconsistencies in dialogues and naming.

Now enter Rayman Origins, which, as with many other things, only adds to the confusion. This time, the Land of the Livid Dead is a entirely different place, a hellish subterranean world which fits the English name way better. However, it is still called the Moor of Mad Spirits in the French version, something that borders on the idiotic when you consider the total lack of moorland in that location. Sure, it does at least preserve consistency, but why reuse that name from Rayman 3 in the first place? Maybe they just thought it sounded cool and recycled it without any consideration for the series' lore and identity. Maybe it's a relic from the game's messy creative process, hinting at various stages of development for the "Land", just like with Rayman 3.

All I know for sure is that not much effort was spent to ensure consistency in the final product, but that's yesterday's news.

My personal theory is that back in the beginning of the game's development, when they were planning RO as a prequel, the developers' idea was that The Land of the Livid Dead would have earned its eerie name due to the events of RO. After this game, the wound would have healed between the Glade of Dreams and The Land of the Livid Dead and, kinda "magically", TLotLD would have resurfaced and merged with the Glade. But then again, it would not make sense for Globox to have apparently forgotten all about this place when he (supposedly) revisits it in Rayman 3.

Man, I much prefer when RO was planned as a more story-heavy game. I don't know where the devs got the idea that Rayman games have to be all gameplay and that the players do not want to engage with a long story. For me, back in 2011/2013, that was not the style of the franchise it all. Rayman has so much potential for whimsical and dreamy stories! R2 and R3 and two games that had interesting plotlines and at least cared to explain what was going on. I hope they forget about this stupid nonsense that Rayman games can't have a full-fledged story in the future.

[The Jonster]

Started playing Origins on my Wii recently (at last!), wow the difference between a Wii remote+nunchuk and the keyboard really threw me off. Had to restart the first level due to not reaching 350 lums. Nice that the game still gives me a challenge, though I guess this time it's more of a skill issue.