Rayman 2

[OCG]

I prefer PS1 version over PC version. I just didn't like that one for some reason.

[Rayfist]

Really? How come? The PC version was great in my opinion.

[Droolie]

For me it's a tie between the PC, PS1, and PS2 versions. I really like how the interiors of some of the sanctuaries look in the PS2 version, and the added emphasis on the "resistance" aspect of the story is pretty nice too, but I too prefer the Hall over the Front. I also don't really like the additions like Boss Biditank and Grolem 13.
The PC version is the version I grew up with, and while the Dreamcast version has slightly better graphics, it doesn't have the Hall, so the PC version is definitely the best of the 'main' versions for me.
However, I love the PS1 version too. While in terms of detail/resolution/smoothness, the graphics suck compared to the other versions, they excel at their use of colours. The Hall in the PS1 version is a lot more atmospheric than the Hall in the other versions - and that's just one example. Rayman himself and the lums have sligtly different and in my opinion slightly better colours. The different creatures you can rescue are nice, and while others may argue, I find the PS1's level progression a bit more "logical" than in the N64/PC/DC version. The Whale Bay is a good example of this - what seems better to you: freeing a whale and following it through an underwater trail to find the end of the level, or to find a hidden entrance to a water temple? The Sanctuary of Water and Ice fits quite well in the Whale Bay IMO. That, and the many remains of stuff that got scrapped in the N64 version leads me to believe the PS1 version is actually a port of an early version of Rayman 2, which makes it very interesting in the sense that it is closer to the original idea.

Cool finds, Droolie! Just curious: exactly how did you find out what sample libraries they used? Did you cross-reference between the two artists' webpages?

Nope, I just found those libraries in a list of expansion CDs for the Roland S760 released before 1998. That's probably when Eric Chevalier got a hold of them. I listened to a couple of demos and instantly recognized a few sounds from not only Rayman 2, but also from Rayman M.

I'm considering buying the sample library from here and then converting it to a Kontakt library with CDXTRACT. It just seems a little expensive as I only want a few samples from it and I'm not even sure whether all the samples I want are in there. :/

There's a chance I may actually see if I can get my hands on this. I'll have to think about it over the course of the next four days though. I don't have a lot of money, but at the moment, I don't have much else to spend it on right now.

I'm pretty sure now that won't buy it - I do not want to spend that much money on a sample library when I have no clue if any of the R2 samples are actually in there or whether they were from another library. I've also 'obtained' Stylus RMX which has enough Rayman sounds to satisfy me for quite a while.

/wall of text

[Haruka]

If I had the chance to create the perfect Rayman 2, I would blend up Dreamcast, PC, PS2 and PS1 together and carefully selecting the stuff I wanted to use and scrapping the stuff I didn't want to see.

[OCG]

Really? How come? The PC version was great in my opinion.

I did not like Hall of Doors and I prefer Isle of Doors from Dreamcast version. Also PC version has no minigames. I would not call PC version bad, but I just did not like it since there are better versions of R2 out there. PC version is just my least favourite (not counting iOS port and DS since those are just terrible in my opinion), but I do play PC version from time to time.

[Master]

I guess you've never played the N64 version then.
The PC version is pretty much the purest form of Rayman 2, with no strings attached or any modifications done to any aspects.

[OCG]

I did not but I saw gameplay and it seems N64 has different sound effects then PC version.

[Master]

Inferior sound, due to it being cartridge based, it doesn't have the same CD quality sound found in every other iteration of 3D Rayman 2, it uses MIDI tracks instead.

[OCG]

Some other N64 ports like Gex suffered similar fate.Gex 3 removed all videos in N64 version.

[Master]

That, and the many remains of stuff that got scrapped in the N64 version leads me to believe the PS1 version is actually a port of an early version of Rayman 2, which makes it very interesting in the sense that it is closer to the original idea.

Wait, what?

[OCG]

Did you saw Rayman 2 N64 beta videos?

[Master]

I have, but I never saw much similarity, so I'm merely asking for some perspective, really.

[Droolie]

That, and the many remains of stuff that got scrapped in the N64 version leads me to believe the PS1 version is actually a port of an early version of Rayman 2, which makes it very interesting in the sense that it is closer to the original idea.

Wait, what?

The PS1 version looks the most similar to all of the early screenshots/videos we saw - especially the Lums.

The inclusion of Ninjaws who got quite a useless role in the other versions seems closer to the original idea too - I don't think they would've bothered to make a new kind of pirate to only include him in the Precipice and in the Prison Ship (in an optional area!).

It also makes more sense to put creatures in cages, not Lums. From the 3 types of creatures they had, it seems they randomly used one as an instructor character (Greenbottle), a side-character in a bonus level (Ludiv) and the other one (Deny) got scrapped (only to be reused again in the PS2 version later).

Even the dialogue of the PS1 version completely makes sense and looks like it was scrapped in the other versions, not added in the PS1 version: the explanation that Foutch is "completely mad" ("complètement fou" in French, explaining his name) because of the destruction of the Heart of the World is the first example I can think of.

And finally, the fact that such a vastly different version was finished so shortly (March 2000 according to the game's files) after the release of the N64 version makes it impossible that the whole port was made after the N64 version was finished - so they must have worked with an early build of the game. And as it was made in an entirely different studio (Ubisoft Shanghai), I doubt there was that much communication between the teams during development.

[OCG]

Hm, interesting theory

[Haruka]

Droolie shares very interesting points, but it is also one of the reasons why I think the PS1 version shouldn't be put in side.

[Master]

Ah, thank you Droolie, I must echo Haruka's sentiment, those are some interesting points indeed.

[Rulez]

That's an excellent theory Droolie! Have 100 Tings, brother.

[spiraldoor]

[Shrooblord]

("complètement fou" in French, explaining his name)

So should it be pronounced [footsh] instead of [fowtsh]? I don't like that at all.

[spiraldoor]

Are any of the guardians' names ever actually spoken by any character in any version of the game?