Rayman 2

[Rayrobi]

Today, the PlayStation Store started to do sales for the digital downloads of Classic PS1 games, and Rayman 2 can be found for 2,49€ instead of 4,99€, in case anybody is interested.

That's great, though i more likely have the games in a non-digital way. Plus i don't trust Sony enough to buy a digtal copy of the game i already own, and have it took away from me after a new server hacking. Just remember when Sony's servers got hacked which took away many people's personal data and purchased content, including content we purchased before on PSN.

[Disionity]

I know this is probably a commonly asked question, but why exactly was the PSX version of Rayman 2 modified so heavily? I recall it once being said here that it was due to the restrictions of the RAM in the original Playstation, causing many of the levels to be modified, completely redesigned, or removed entirely. I do wonder even more about, what was the reason for the developers at Ubisoft Shanghai to take so many liberties from the original product, such as new cutscenes, story elements, and completely new sections of stages? Were these elements part of the the original developer's intention, but were never fully realized in the original versions due to time constraints, ETC.?

[spiraldoor]

We know that Ubi Soft Shanghai incorporated the prototype 2D Rayman 2 into their version of the game, but it's not known if they were given this as part of their project briefing or if they contacted Ubi Soft Montpellier and asked for it. It's all speculation. No one really asked back then.

[Adsolution]

The Shanghai studio has always been a very gimpy place it seems, home to a mix of the strangest to the worst modifications to games I've ever seen. They're like Ubisoft's garbage can.

[spiraldoor]

The PlayStation version is one of my favourites. It has a peculiar quality not matched by any other.

[Haruka]

They're like Ubisoft's garbage can.

What about Ubisoft Casablanca? They didn't do a great job either with the 3DS port of RO.

[Master]

I share Spiral's sentiment, ofc, perhaps there might be a bit of childhood bias and the like, but I think the PS1 version's differences didn't necessarily detract from the game, I prefer the Crows Nest PS1 over the original, for instance, and though a portion of the Prison Ship was cut out, the Flying Shell level thereafter was more challenging.

[Adsolution]

I of course don't mean 'strange' as a bad thing necessarily, but it's hard to deny that many of the modifications are pretty odd and unnecessary, which ends up spawning that curious peculiarity. Some of the changes look pretty disgusting (like how the water barely looks like water), while others happen to look absolutely stunning (like a select few locations in the Hall of Doors). As for the gameplay, well, many of the most prominent changes actually have no bearing on the PS1's technical prowess, so those would simply be liberties taken by the Shanghai team. A strange port indeed.

[Haruka]

The PS1 port has got pretty awesome stuff. Just look to the Sanctuary of Stone and Fire's super changed section, with a wide room of molten lava. I honestly would have prefered the PS1 Crow's Nest battle than the classical way, and it is the opinion from someone who grew with the PC version, attention.

[spiraldoor]

I like the gameplay changes Shanghai made. The combat is more sluggish and intense, so the Robo-Pirates feel a lot more menacing. They're real enemies in a way their counterparts in the other versions are not.

[Snagglebee]

My first Rayman 2 game was the PS1 version, but still, the graphics still pisses me off. Man how happy I was when I got the PC version.

[Rulez]

Come on, the graphics are fine.

[Snagglebee]

Not in the PS1 version. I hate it.

[Master]

The graphics are quite the dealbreaker for ya, Em, they're not too shabby, given the hardware.
I never really found any issue with the combat, I learned to loathe and subsequently enjoy later on, the Ninjaws fight and the Ninja Henchman, the way you need to be on your toes and jump at the right moment made Ninjaws a decent boss for the Sanctuary of Stone and Fire, much better than Umber ever could be.

[spiraldoor]

This is Rayman to me.

[Bzzit]

One difference I personally really like, is the fact that you save the little critters from cages instead of just lums. Felt more traditional, like saving the Electoons and Teensies.

[Snagglebee]

^^ That's way better than what I see on my TV's screen >_>

[Rulez]

I remember that you are really fond of this picture, Spiral. Could you please elaborate on why you find it so great? I'm not being sarcastic here. I'm genuinely curious, because I can kind of see what you mean, I'd just like a bit more information on that.

[Master]

I've noticed that you really like that screenshot, Spiral, I admit, the PS1 version of The Hall of Doors gave off a more cosmic feel to me.
Huh, beaten by Rulez.

[spiraldoor]

Splitting the game into five rough worlds by adding four mask doors to the Hall was a great move. It gives the game a much more classical segmented feel, similar to the original. Additionally, it's a nice pun on the Spiral Doors, it serves as a constant reminder of what the game is about, and it adds a lot of colour and character to the Hall of Doors (which is critically important, because it's the absolute heart of the game, mechanistically but also artistically).