Questions about Rayman 1 and 2 (but especially 1)

[Mister Dark]

1. What actually *happened* to Mr Dark at the end of R1? *Where* did he actually go!?
Does anyone know, or at least have a vague guess, or is this just a Rayman's world mystery?

2. Also, does anyone know why it is that the Rayman games beyond the original are so vastly different coz my favourite's the 2D version. I mean what happened to all the old characters like Betilla and the electoons?

3. More importantly, does it have something to do with Ludimedia? As far as I know, they were only involved in the first game in the series but I don't know why there's no sign of them in any others.

Well, that's it. Any answers appreciated.

[stan423321]

3. More importantly, does it have something to do with Ludimedia? As far as I know, they were only involved in the first game in the series but I don't know why there's no sign of them in any others.

Ludimedia?

1. What actually *happened* to Mr Dark at the end of R1? *Where* did he actually go!?
Does anyone know, or at least have a vague guess, or is this just a Rayman's world mystery?

It's just a msytery, like you said, but there are two "main" theories:
1) He died after defeating combinations
2) He landed in his own imagination to regain his powers.

2. Also, does anyone know why it is that the Rayman games beyond the original are so vastly different coz my favourite's the 2D version. I mean what happened to all the old characters like Betilla and the electoons?

Betilla was a "last minute" character, saved in many versions of R1 to not make fans angry. Electoons, well, are integrated in Protoon, which isn't split in other games' stories, right?

[syntheticgerbil]

Does it bug anyone else that when a new Rayman game comes out, everything is rebooted? Mister Dark and Betilla disappearing or hardly appearing as well as the Magician and Protoons story seems kind of weird.

Then there were the changes from Rayman 2 to 3, which were less drastic, but still jarring, especially in the voices. Wonder why the designers keep getting so dissatisfied with the existing universe?

[spiraldoor]

1: Mister Dark fled and went into hiding.

2: We don't know why the developers chose to change the environments so drastically, but currently our theory is that the events of Rayman 1 simply occurred in a different part of Rayman's world to the events of the sequels.

3: I think Ludimedia was the studio that ported Rayman 1 to the PlayStation, but I'm not sure.

[Shawn]

Like what Spiral said, Dark is probably hiding somewhere. He must be pretty scared of Rayman to hide somewhere this long. >_>

[Mister Dark]

Betilla was a "last minute" character, saved in many versions of R1 to not make fans angry. Electoons, well, are integrated in Protoon, which isn't split in other games' stories, right?

True, but still... i mean, there's nothing left of R1 except a few scattered references- it's like the other games in the Rayman series are completely different games to the original- which is kinda disappointing coz the ending of R1 was practically set up for a continued plot. now we're just left with questions.

Does it bug anyone else that when a new Rayman game comes out, everything is rebooted? Mister Dark and Betilla disappearing or hardly appearing as well as the Magician and Protoons story seems kind of weird.

Then there were the changes from Rayman 2 to 3, which were less drastic, but still jarring, especially in the voices. Wonder why the designers keep getting so dissatisfied with the existing universe?

Yeah, that's exactly what im getting at. I really liked the old R1.

1: Mister Dark fled and went into hiding.

2: We don't know why the developers chose to change the environments so drastically, but currently our theory is that the events of Rayman 1 simply occurred in a different part of Rayman's world to the events of the sequels.

I propose a new theory: Rayman 2 is set in a *different* world to R1. I support this theory by pointing out that

1. Lynda(?) the Fairy in R2 says in the beginning that *our world* is fading. Further more, the world in R1 is specifically called "Rayman's world" by the Magician, where "man and nature live together in peace."

2. The world of R1 is supported by the Great Protoon and the electoons, while the world of R2 makes no reference to any of these and instead requires the lums for harmony.

3. In Rayman's universe space travel is indeed possible, evidenced by Space Pirates.

But I don't know much about the series beyond Rayman 1 and 2 because those are the only ones I really played and finished.

3: I think Ludimedia was the studio that ported Rayman 1 to the PlayStation, but I'm not sure.

I was just wondering. I thought that for R1 and the others to be so vastly different it must have something to do with Ludimedia coz they're only credited in the original and none of the others. I thought maybe Ludimedia were the original developers and helped by UbiSoft, then UbiSoft bought the franchise and continued it in their own way... or something like that. I don't know...

[stan423321]

NO.

Ancel was in UbiSoft till beginning.

The drastic change between R1 and R2 is mainly caused by poor look of most of R1 creatures in 3D, I think. Betilla, as name says, was last minute character, and... all the rest looked wrong. Additionally, "abstract" worlds like Band Land or Picture City were almost undoable in early 3D. Now, they would. But before...

[spiraldoor]

I propose a new theory: Rayman 2 is set in a *different* world to R1. I support this theory by pointing out that

1. Lynda(?) the Fairy in R2 says in the beginning that *our world* is fading. Further more, the world in R1 is specifically called "Rayman's world" by the Magician, where "man and nature live together in peace."

2. The world of R1 is supported by the Great Protoon and the electoons, while the world of R2 makes no reference to any of these and instead requires the lums for harmony.

3. In Rayman's universe space travel is indeed possible, evidenced by Space Pirates.

That's not a new theory, in fact it's a belief held by many. But it's been proven wrong, first by the myriad of references and similarities between the first and subsequent games, and second by the manual for the N64 version of Rayman 2, which states that Rayman defeated Mister Dark *after* arriving in the Glade of Dreams, the island in which Rayman 2 is set.



See that sort of enclosed river area between the Fairy Glade and the Iron Mountains? It is my belief that that is in fact the valley seen in the intro sequence of Rayman 1.

p.s. The fairy's name is "Ly", not "Lynda".

[syntheticgerbil]

NO.

Ancel was in UbiSoft till beginning.

The drastic change between R1 and R2 is mainly caused by poor look of most of R1 creatures in 3D, I think. Betilla, as name says, was last minute character, and... all the rest looked wrong. Additionally, "abstract" worlds like Band Land or Picture City were almost undoable in early 3D. Now, they would. But before...

Just curious, but do you have any interview links on the subject of Rayman 2's making of process?

[stan423321]

No. I've seen an "abstract" 3D platformer from same time - and believe me, its abstract levels looked WRONG. R2 had probably similar problems.

[spiraldoor]

And what might be the name of this plaformer, Cryptic Stan?

[stan423321]

Kao the Kangaroo 1.

[MLII]

Welcome Mister Dark. Come to the Introducing Topic to introduce yourself.

[Mister Dark]

NO.

Ancel was in UbiSoft till beginning.

The drastic change between R1 and R2 is mainly caused by poor look of most of R1 creatures in 3D, I think. Betilla, as name says, was last minute character, and... all the rest looked wrong. Additionally, "abstract" worlds like Band Land or Picture City were almost undoable in early 3D. Now, they would. But before...

i dunno... Remember the bonus game at the end of R2? I think R1 characters would look wonderful in 3D.

That's not a new theory, in fact it's a belief held by many. But it's been proven wrong, first by the myriad of references and similarities between the first and subsequent games, and second by the manual for the N64 version of Rayman 2, which states that Rayman defeated Mister Dark *after* arriving in the Glade of Dreams, the island in which Rayman 2 is set.

Oh? I haven't played the N64 version (as i said I've only really played R1 and R2, PS version) but I can't really argue with a myriad of references.

See that sort of enclosed river area between the Fairy Glade and the Iron Mountains? It is my belief that that is in fact the valley seen in the intro sequence of Rayman 1.

Why?

The fairy's name is "Ly", not "Lynda".

Yeah... haven't played R2 in ages. Great game, but to be honest I was kind of disappointed after playing R1.

[Mister Dark]

p.s. you do mean *before* the Glade of Dreams don't you?

[Holy Crap]

No, he means that Rayman came to Glade of Dreams and then defeated Mr Dark, not the other way around.

See that sort of enclosed river area between the Fairy Glade and the Iron Mountains? It is my belief that that is in fact the valley seen in the intro sequence of Rayman 1.

Why?

Probably because that area kinda resembles the shape of the R1 world.

I had my own theory of where everything was in Rayman's world is, but that's based largely on Rayman Revolution, which most would consider non-canon. Plus there are some things that not even I agree with anymore.

[spiraldoor]

No, he means that Rayman came to Glade of Dreams and then defeated Mr Dark, not the other way around.

See that sort of enclosed river area between the Fairy Glade and the Iron Mountains? It is my belief that that is in fact the valley seen in the intro sequence of Rayman 1.

Why?

Probably because that area kinda resembles the shape of the R1 world.

The R2 N64 manual confirms that the valley containing the R1 areas is part of the Glade of Dreams. Therefore, the valley must be on the map somewhere. And that area is the likeliest spot.

I had my own theory of where everything was in Rayman's world is, but that's based largely on Rayman Revolution, which most would consider non-canon. Plus there are some things that not even I agree with anymore.

I think that's a great map, as I said a year or so ago on RZ. Perhaps someone should make a map of all areas from the three games, based on the official map?

[Holy Crap]

I could, but that one took me quite a while.

[Mister Dark]

Well, Mr Dark's whereabouts are a Rayman's world mystery then so my question's pretty much answered. I guess he just went to live in the ocean south of Dream Forest, where all sprites vanish forever. Shame. I liked that character. O well. thx everyone