Rayman & Rayman 2 The Great Escape against the others
Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2016 11:36 am
Not long ago I read about a user who heavily criticized Rayman 3 Hoodlum Havoc calling it a "typical shitty american game": too fast and shipped, superficial and in general not to be a valid title.
Not long after I was reading another user who heavily criticized the last Rayman titles (Rayman Origins and Rayman Legends) comparing them in a face-to-face with the first two titles of the series, explaining how Rayman had lost in time its seriousness and his style.
Today, finding myself in full agreement with these two users and in general with all those who prefer quality of the series over quantity, I decide to open a discussion about how the Rayman's series it evolved (and impoverished) over the course of the 21st century.
It's clear that this is obviously a personal discussion and therefore unofficial, but everyone can join explaining their point of view. However, I ask to the fanatics who want to be at every cost extremist and aggressive to abstain, since although my discussion isn't nothing official has also been corroborated by authoritative magazines (as for example Nintendo Power) and critics in general, that those who criticize the new Rayman series is not necessarily a fool or a quarrelsome, and that the series, like it or not, has suffered an inexorable and undeniable decline.
So let's start from the first two games and therefore Rayman in the '90s:
RAYMAN (original 1995 PlayStation version) is an innovative platform both as regards the character, both for the style. The game features a great impact soundtrack with strong Jazz and Ragtime influences.
The characters are based on their role: heroic (Rayman), magic (Betilla and The Magician), bad (Mr Sax), more or less extravagant (Mr Skops) without ever falling into the ridiculous but appearing simply "strange" or evil (Mr Dark) .
The plot is treated with due seriousness. For seriousness I mean that gaming issues are not treated superficially and you can breathe the atmosphere of a world that is going against to the catastrophe.
Not to mention for finally atmospheres that is able to propose, simply deep and engaging.
RAYMAN 2 THE GREAT ESCAPE (original 1999 Nintendo 64 version) is a title on which I would really much to write, but I will limit myself to a brief description, just like that of the first Rayman.
Also in this case the game has a great impact soundtrack with a mainly Pink Floyd's influence mixed with Ambient, Breakbeat and New Wave style. This soundtrack is in my opinion epic and mystical, powerful and delicate at the same time, in short, something unique and unrepeatable.
The characters are differ, but not too much, from those of the first title simply because adopting stylistic canons that differs from that of the main protagonist. But also in this case each one reflects its role: heroic (Rayman), the spiritual guide (Murphy), magic (Ly and Teensies), helpers (Globox and Clark), bad and dark (Guardian of The Cave Of Bad Dreams), and evil (Razorbeard). Each character reflects faithfully and brilliantly its role without ever deviate from it.
Also in this game the plot is treated with extremely seriousness. Also in this case for seriousness I mean that gaming issues are not treated superficially and you can breathe the atmosphere of a world that is going against to the apocalypse.
Not to mention for finally atmospheres that is able to propose, sublime, dark, distressing, phobic, spatial and mystical (as its soundtrack).
In short, the best game of the series (and the best game of all in my opinion) immediately followed by the first.
So let's start from the other games and therefore Rayman in the '00s:
RAYMAN REVOLUTION (original 2000 PlayStation 2 version)
I take the opportunity just to criticize this remake since I think has shuttered the magnificent and wonderful essence of the original game.
I think this remake marked the beginning of the end of Rayman and its series adding unnecessary elements that have distorted the plot of the game and removing/replacing others who have literally shuttered the essence of the original Rayman 2.
This remake is awful, the new 3D skin or elements of the characters and all the other changes are simply unwatchable!
RAYMAN M (original 2001 PlayStation 2 version)
A chldish and silly game, just watch the introductory video or the awful characters Dark Globox (Rayman Arena) Tily and Razorwife that are simply embarrassing, meaningless and devoid of charisma that have characterized Rayman and Rayman 2 The Great Escape.
Also Razorbeard have turned into a bad lot and they should explain how the Robots-Pirates are back if Rayman and Polokus defeated them all at the end of Rayman 2 The Great Escape.
As we see that Ubi Soft has simply paid rights to Michel Ancel just to sell, sell and sell... with no more heart.
RAYMAN 3 HOODLUM HAVOC (original 2003 GameCube version)
The game features a soundtrack decidedly weak and sometimes unbearable.
The characters are the bastardized copy and paste of the characters of Rayman 2 The Great Escape where developers and voice actors have brought out the worst in each of them: awful the new skin of Rayman and it has become an anti-hero who spends his days lounging, Murphy by a spirit guide has become a talkative and bad taste satyr, the Teensies known as builders gnomes have become less serious and a metamorphoses all-purpose, Globox from loyal assistant has become a coward out of mind, the fairies have disappeared, the Hoodlums seem sacks of potatoes and more than an enemy seem crazy disarray and Knaaren are those a bit more serious, but nothing that is clear!
Also in this game the plot is treated with inexistent seriousness and the gaming issues are treated with extreme superficiality. In Rayman 3 Hoodlum Havoc you can breathe the atmosphere of a world OF FOOLS!
Not to mention for finally atmospheres, trivial and not at engaging.
In short, SEE NINTENDO POWER SEPT. 2006
RAYMAN RAVING RABBIDS (original 2006 Game Boy Advance version)
The game had the potential but the trivial and irritating presence of Rabbids, the new design of the characters and also in this case the general less seriousness of the game make it an anonymous title and of fact a copy of the first Rayman in 2006 style.
RAYMAN ORIGINS (original 2011 version)
Also this game features a decidedly weak and unbearable soundtrack.
The characters are an extreme bastardized copy and paste of the characters of Rayman 2 The Great Escape: awful the new skin of Rayman (how Rayman 3) Murphy, Globox, Teensies, Betilla and Polokus are simply monstrous, appear scrawls.
The plot... seriously, but EXISTS!? You do not understand anything, it's confusional!
They made a fruit salad, items from Robot-Pirates (disappeared), elements from the first Rayman that are interwoven bad, that's a game made just to silence the fanatics who couldn't wait Rayman for years now.
RAYMAN LEGENDS (original 2013 version)
Same features of Rayman Origins but worse, the rest to the worst there is no limit!
Interestingly the choice to copy Super Mario 64 by using the paintings as levels selection, bah!
I wanna just concluding by saying that for me Rayman is died with Rayman 2 and there will be no more like the first two titles.
And concluding by saying that the true fanatic isn't not who collects everything and at all costs of his hero but who, precisely because he/she loves him, collects the good, recognizing when there is something wrong and avoiding the rotten! Greetings
Not long after I was reading another user who heavily criticized the last Rayman titles (Rayman Origins and Rayman Legends) comparing them in a face-to-face with the first two titles of the series, explaining how Rayman had lost in time its seriousness and his style.
Today, finding myself in full agreement with these two users and in general with all those who prefer quality of the series over quantity, I decide to open a discussion about how the Rayman's series it evolved (and impoverished) over the course of the 21st century.
It's clear that this is obviously a personal discussion and therefore unofficial, but everyone can join explaining their point of view. However, I ask to the fanatics who want to be at every cost extremist and aggressive to abstain, since although my discussion isn't nothing official has also been corroborated by authoritative magazines (as for example Nintendo Power) and critics in general, that those who criticize the new Rayman series is not necessarily a fool or a quarrelsome, and that the series, like it or not, has suffered an inexorable and undeniable decline.
So let's start from the first two games and therefore Rayman in the '90s:
RAYMAN (original 1995 PlayStation version) is an innovative platform both as regards the character, both for the style. The game features a great impact soundtrack with strong Jazz and Ragtime influences.
The characters are based on their role: heroic (Rayman), magic (Betilla and The Magician), bad (Mr Sax), more or less extravagant (Mr Skops) without ever falling into the ridiculous but appearing simply "strange" or evil (Mr Dark) .
The plot is treated with due seriousness. For seriousness I mean that gaming issues are not treated superficially and you can breathe the atmosphere of a world that is going against to the catastrophe.
Not to mention for finally atmospheres that is able to propose, simply deep and engaging.
RAYMAN 2 THE GREAT ESCAPE (original 1999 Nintendo 64 version) is a title on which I would really much to write, but I will limit myself to a brief description, just like that of the first Rayman.
Also in this case the game has a great impact soundtrack with a mainly Pink Floyd's influence mixed with Ambient, Breakbeat and New Wave style. This soundtrack is in my opinion epic and mystical, powerful and delicate at the same time, in short, something unique and unrepeatable.
The characters are differ, but not too much, from those of the first title simply because adopting stylistic canons that differs from that of the main protagonist. But also in this case each one reflects its role: heroic (Rayman), the spiritual guide (Murphy), magic (Ly and Teensies), helpers (Globox and Clark), bad and dark (Guardian of The Cave Of Bad Dreams), and evil (Razorbeard). Each character reflects faithfully and brilliantly its role without ever deviate from it.
Also in this game the plot is treated with extremely seriousness. Also in this case for seriousness I mean that gaming issues are not treated superficially and you can breathe the atmosphere of a world that is going against to the apocalypse.
Not to mention for finally atmospheres that is able to propose, sublime, dark, distressing, phobic, spatial and mystical (as its soundtrack).
In short, the best game of the series (and the best game of all in my opinion) immediately followed by the first.
So let's start from the other games and therefore Rayman in the '00s:
RAYMAN REVOLUTION (original 2000 PlayStation 2 version)
I take the opportunity just to criticize this remake since I think has shuttered the magnificent and wonderful essence of the original game.
I think this remake marked the beginning of the end of Rayman and its series adding unnecessary elements that have distorted the plot of the game and removing/replacing others who have literally shuttered the essence of the original Rayman 2.
This remake is awful, the new 3D skin or elements of the characters and all the other changes are simply unwatchable!
RAYMAN M (original 2001 PlayStation 2 version)
A chldish and silly game, just watch the introductory video or the awful characters Dark Globox (Rayman Arena) Tily and Razorwife that are simply embarrassing, meaningless and devoid of charisma that have characterized Rayman and Rayman 2 The Great Escape.
Also Razorbeard have turned into a bad lot and they should explain how the Robots-Pirates are back if Rayman and Polokus defeated them all at the end of Rayman 2 The Great Escape.
As we see that Ubi Soft has simply paid rights to Michel Ancel just to sell, sell and sell... with no more heart.
RAYMAN 3 HOODLUM HAVOC (original 2003 GameCube version)
The game features a soundtrack decidedly weak and sometimes unbearable.
The characters are the bastardized copy and paste of the characters of Rayman 2 The Great Escape where developers and voice actors have brought out the worst in each of them: awful the new skin of Rayman and it has become an anti-hero who spends his days lounging, Murphy by a spirit guide has become a talkative and bad taste satyr, the Teensies known as builders gnomes have become less serious and a metamorphoses all-purpose, Globox from loyal assistant has become a coward out of mind, the fairies have disappeared, the Hoodlums seem sacks of potatoes and more than an enemy seem crazy disarray and Knaaren are those a bit more serious, but nothing that is clear!
Also in this game the plot is treated with inexistent seriousness and the gaming issues are treated with extreme superficiality. In Rayman 3 Hoodlum Havoc you can breathe the atmosphere of a world OF FOOLS!
Not to mention for finally atmospheres, trivial and not at engaging.
In short, SEE NINTENDO POWER SEPT. 2006
RAYMAN RAVING RABBIDS (original 2006 Game Boy Advance version)
The game had the potential but the trivial and irritating presence of Rabbids, the new design of the characters and also in this case the general less seriousness of the game make it an anonymous title and of fact a copy of the first Rayman in 2006 style.
RAYMAN ORIGINS (original 2011 version)
Also this game features a decidedly weak and unbearable soundtrack.
The characters are an extreme bastardized copy and paste of the characters of Rayman 2 The Great Escape: awful the new skin of Rayman (how Rayman 3) Murphy, Globox, Teensies, Betilla and Polokus are simply monstrous, appear scrawls.
The plot... seriously, but EXISTS!? You do not understand anything, it's confusional!
They made a fruit salad, items from Robot-Pirates (disappeared), elements from the first Rayman that are interwoven bad, that's a game made just to silence the fanatics who couldn't wait Rayman for years now.
RAYMAN LEGENDS (original 2013 version)
Same features of Rayman Origins but worse, the rest to the worst there is no limit!
Interestingly the choice to copy Super Mario 64 by using the paintings as levels selection, bah!
I wanna just concluding by saying that for me Rayman is died with Rayman 2 and there will be no more like the first two titles.
And concluding by saying that the true fanatic isn't not who collects everything and at all costs of his hero but who, precisely because he/she loves him, collects the good, recognizing when there is something wrong and avoiding the rotten! Greetings
