Rayman Legends

[Adsolution]

In a very selfish way, I'm pleased by this news.

In an earnest way, I'm feeling indifferent. I do believe that Ancel has lost a bit of interest in Rayman, to be perfectly honest, which I never wanted to happen. But who am I to say? I may be completely wrong.

[sergiomonty]

In a very selfish way, I'm pleased by this news.

In an earnest way, I'm feeling indifferent. I do believe that Ancel has lost a bit of interest in Rayman, to be perfectly honest, which I never wanted to happen. But who am I to say? I may be completely wrong.

You're probably wrong. He seems enthusiastic about Rayman in my opinion, more than ever, to the point of even forgetting about his other main franchise (BG&E2?!). Maybe he no longer does the type of stuff that older Rayman fans like, but his most recent games are incredibly acclaimed by reviewers and gamers in general.

[Adsolution]

I didn't mean losing interest in the Rayman franchise, I meant losing interest in Rayman himself. It feels moreorless like they're throwing empty slates into a luscious environment here - even the environment can be thrown into the mix there, nothing really seems connected or related at all. It's not really a big thing to point out, it just sort of seems that way. Ancel almost seems kind of like Tim Burton here. Remember Batman Returns? He pretty much completely forgot about what the character had to offer and made the whole thing basically a broad visual presentation that seemed to have nothing to do with Batman. Don't take it as a literal analogy, but it works.

Like I said, it isn't a horrible thing, it just bothers me a bit.

[sergiomonty]

I didn't mean losing interest in the Rayman franchise, I meant losing interest in Rayman himself. It feels moreorless like they're throwing empty slates into a luscious environment here - even the environment can be thrown into the mix there, nothing really seems connected or related at all. It's not really a big thing to point out, it just sort of seems that way. Ancel almost seems kind of like Tim Burton here. Remember Batman Returns? He pretty much completely forgot about what the character had to offer and made the whole thing basically a broad visual presentation that seemed to have nothing to do with Batman. Don't take it as a literal analogy, but it works.

Like I said, it isn't a horrible thing, it just bothers me a bit.

That uses to happen during game development, I mean, Mario's concept changed a lot since the first Mario game, even since Super Mario 64. Mario, as a character himself, also changed a lot. And don't let me start with Sonic. He went from "I'm fucking cool" to "gosh, I'm such an attention whore".

The way how Michel turned Rayman into a "crazy" to appeal audience is pretty much like the way how Miyamoto decided to turn Luigi into a coward. Maybe it's not the original concept, but at the end people somehow love it...

It's not abandoning the character... it's just, well, decisions that have to be made in order to make the game profitable and enjoyable for everyone. Origins, as my main example, It's not only dedicated old Rayman fans (which's appeal comes from 2d platforming, the lack of rabbids and the high difficulty), but also for the new generation (which's appeal comes from the Crazyness and the Ren & Stimpy-like artstyle).

With pain in my heart, I have to say that I think "serious Rayman" already died... and even if a 3d Rayman game comes out, Rayman will still be a crazy guy with crazy friends.

[Adsolution]

Again, that's not what I really meant. Rayman hasn't evolved or changed on a moderate level - the characters back then, even Mario and Sonic have evolved somewhat (with Mario it's more of a situational thing). Rayman's literally just dropped substance and not replaced it with anything. Not that every game has to 'evolve' in every aspect, because Origins is still a good game, but I think it could have been a lot better if they didn't just drop the concept of mildly interesting characters and every single thing that actually signifies it as a Rayman game. I mean, plums, where'd they go?

It feels like a retro fast-paced platformer from the late 80's with an awesome graphical makeover. Cool, it's going back to basics, but... that's also the problem. Take Rayman 2 for example, talk about a near-flawless game. It did virtually everything right, now look at Origins. Normally you'd think that a game coming from the same director aught to be able to one-up that, or at least make something on-par with it, regardless of its style, right? It feels like it literally devolved on the spot. The story was overly confusing and completely ignored the "show, don't tell" rule by shoving all this crap exposition dialogue down your throat half way through the game, the game seriously lacked a balanced variety; the sea levels were only sea, every other world was aesthetically the same, and then the Moskito levels felt like they were jolting you out of your seat. blablablabla

Bah, I could go on and on about that. It's a great comparison to Batman Returns really, sure it was fun, sure it actually ended up pretty good, but it was also a visionary mess with no structure that feels like it had been taped together by a someone with absolutely no knowledge or experience in coherent design. And since we definitely know Michel has the ability and the experience, I could almost diagnose a lack of interest in many critical areas of the game itself. That's all just my opinion of course, feel free to think about it however you want.

[Raven_Guardian]

That uses to happen during game development, I mean, Mario's concept changed a lot since the first Mario game, even since Super Mario 64. Mario, as a character himself, also changed a lot. And don't let me start with Sonic. He went from "I'm fucking cool" to "gosh, I'm such an attention whore".

This is flanderization. Just like Globox went from "little dumb and clumsy character but rational and helpful" to "Total Retard and extremly clumsy, and speaks to flowers" since Rayman 3. This disease happens a lot in franchises.

[Haruka]

I think both Sergio and Rayfan have got points in their arguments. I haven't been telling this publically but I can admit now that I start to feel worried about the Rayman franchise. In one side it feels for me that the old Rayman died, but in the other hand I also feel that the Rayman franchise wasn't completely abandoned. I mean, sure, I would get hyper to see a new 3D Rayman game with equal or superior quality of Rayman 2 but I'm asking something very difficult in these days. This might sound awkward, but at the moment I am more hyper to see the Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee HD remake that Oddworld Inhabitants is doing rather than Ubisoft's Rayman Legends.

[Mammothphant 2]

The way how Michel turned Rayman into a "crazy" to appeal audience is pretty much like the way how Miyamoto decided to turn Luigi into a coward. Maybe it's not the original concept, but at the end people somehow love it...
With pain in my heart, I have to say that I think "serious Rayman" already died... and even if a 3d Rayman game comes out, Rayman will still be a crazy guy with crazy friends.

Raymans situation is totally different from Luigis, i wouldnt even compare these two. First Luigi isnt the protagonist of his series, Rayman is. Its different when the protagonist changes. Second, Luigi had much more reason to change. If Miyamoto hadnt changed him, he would be just a green copy of Mario. He would also be a plumber with hat and staches. So its natural that while Mario is round, brave and strong, Weeg is thin, coward and fast.

Maybe Rayman turned wacky for the new 2d games and when the new 3d game comes, Raymans better "serious" attitude will come back. You cant be sure about that. Im also worried of course, but i think the wackiness of Rayman is based on the cancelled prequel of RO, in which Rayman was just born and uncontrollable.

[Rulez]

Btw that info about Ancels team is making a new 3D Rayman. Is that true? If it is then...YEAH!!!! WOOOHOOO!!! Maybe my worrying about the new 3D was stupid. Of course its gonna come at some point. Maybe itll come sooner than like 2015, 2016...

Wut? They are not makign a 3D Rayman at the moment. Learn to read, brophant.

[Minor-T5]

Btw that info about Ancels team is making a new 3D Rayman. Is that true? If it is then...YEAH!!!! WOOOHOOO!!!

Um...Yeah. He clearly stated in the interview that they are NOT making a 3D Rayman game.

[Rulez]

Btw that info about Ancels team is making a new 3D Rayman. Is that true? If it is then...YEAH!!!! WOOOHOOO!!!

Um...Yeah. He clearly stated in the interview that they are NOT making a 3D Rayman game.

Finally you said something that is worth saying.

[Mammothphant 2]

Oops! Sorry, i read it wrong. I read it too fast. That sometimes happens to me.

[sergiomonty]

Rayman's original personality... Sigh... It's difficult to explain for me. I mean... He's like... «Your generic good guy». His personality isn't that explored in the series. He just saves people and is good with everyone. In Rayman 1 he's childish and cheerful. In Rayman 2 he's calm and serious, but always disposed to help his friends. In Rayman 3 he's... uh... a sex bomb. Not to mention the RRR series, he's weak, cowardly, cranky and more focused on thinking than acting.

Michel Ancel once explained Rayman and Globox's personalities in Origins:

They're the type of characters who look... stupid... really, but they're not stupid, just simple. And all they want do is just focus on doing their job, no matter what

[TeensieKing]

It's not only dedicated old Rayman fans (which's appeal comes from 2d platforming, the lack of rabbids and the high difficulty)

I don't find the game any difficult but for getting the lums in Moskito levels, and I prefer 3D platformers over 2D ones. That leaves me only with the 'lack of rabbids' appeal. And that's not much. Rayman Origins was a decent/good platformer but, in my opinion, it didn't live up to other Rayman games at all.

[Minor-T5]

Not to mention the RRR series, he's weak, cowardly, cranky and more focused on thinking than acting.

Yeah. He wasn't very smart in the RRR series.

[El Dango]

I mean, sure, I would get hyper to see a new 3D Rayman game with equal or superior quality of Rayman 2 but I'm asking something very difficult in these days.

Yeah, platformers in full 3D aren't that big right now, which I really think is a shame because it's a genre that still has so much potential. At least action/adventure games tend to cover the same gaming "needs", though not always.

[Disionity]

In this time and age with new technology, a new 3D Rayman platformer could truly be great. The news is somewhat discouraging, but that doesn't mean they wouldn't make one in the future at least, let's keep our fingers crossed or wait for Rayfan's game.

[Mammothphant 2]

Maybe if were lucky, Ancel will start to work on the new 3D Rayman after finishing Legends. Theres also of course BG&E2, but ive readed that it would come in the next game generation. But when will that be? I mean Wii U is on the way but what about PS4 and the other stuff?

[Master]

I'd rather Michel focus his efforts on BGE2 after Legends, then focus on a 3D Rayman title after that.

[Adsolution]

Rayman's original personality... Sigh... It's difficult to explain for me. I mean... He's like... «Your generic good guy». His personality isn't that explored in the series. He just saves people and is good with everyone. In Rayman 1 he's childish and cheerful. In Rayman 2 he's calm and serious, but always disposed to help his friends. In Rayman 3 he's... uh... a sex bomb. Not to mention the RRR series, he's weak, cowardly, cranky and more focused on thinking than acting.

Except think about it: The first three had his vague yet identifiable personality revolve around this sort of playful/serious/relaxed character. They completely dropped that in Origins and it wasn't replaced with anything. It's extremely hard to relate one game to another in the same series when the protagonist and virtually every character has lost all character and changed as outrageously much as possible.