Rayman 2 (early production)
- This article is about the early production of the 3D build of the game. For the original 2D prototype, see Rayman 2 (cancelled prototype).
Rayman 2 underwent a bunch of changes during its development, most which have been found through hacking and from old trailers.
Rayman's training
Main article: Rayman's training
Before proper development of the 3D game began, a CGI short film using the concepts from the 2D game was created by the name of Rayman's training. The short film stars Rayman battling a living punching bag. It premiered in February 1st, 1998 to the tradeshow/film festival Imagina 1998. After that, it has never been seen in its entirety since.
In various Rayman adverts from 1997 to 1998, there were several instances of "stock footage" of a CGI Rayman, and the most complete instance of this would be the E3 1998 trailer to Rayman 2. For two decades, no one had known where this footage had come from exactly; it was assumed that they were made for the trailer.
In early 2021, it was put together by a number of Twitter users that the pre-rendered scenes in the E3 1998 trailer were actually from Rayman's training. The short was considered lost media until March 12 2022, when a version of the video with no sound was uploaded to YouTube.
Cut levels
Judging by the content of the PC version, the cutscene in the Prison Ship where Rayman frees the prisoners, which first appeared in the Dreamcast version, was originally meant to appear in the PC and Nintendo 64 versions.
In 2018 it was discovered that the PlayStation version contains a reference to a level by the name the Walk of Bravery, which was meant to appear between the Echoing Caves and the Precipice.
The PC version also has leftovers from several unused levels, being the following:
- Learn_20
- Whale_20
- Astro_20
- Wipe_10
- morbide_tst
There was also originally meant to be a connection between the Fairy Glade and the Echoing Caves in the Hall of Doors [1].
Early names
Below is a list of all of the currently known early names for levels, locations and characters.
- The Technical Check-up - originally the Emission Control station
- The Teensies - originally Smallbeeings
- Polokus - originally Polochus
- The Marshes of Awakening - originally the Marshes of the Awakening and the Marshlands of Awakening
- The Fairy Glade - originally the Fairy's Glade (the early name is used in Rayman Revolution)
- The Canopy - originally the Wilderness
- The Sanctuary of Stone and Fire - originally the Sanctuary of Lava and Fire
- The Precipice - originally the Great Rift
- The Top of the World - originally the Roof of the World
- The Sanctuary of Rock and Lava - originally the Sanctuary of Rock and Stone and the Sanctuary of Earth and Stone
- Beneath the Sanctuary of Rock and Lava - originally beneath the Sanctuary of Earth and Stone
Early plot
In early versions of the story from various sources, there are mentions of an interglactic circus or zoo as one of the main elements of the plot:
- In Ubisoft's preview of their E3 1998 showcase, the plot of Rayman 2 is described as such: "Rayman escapes an intergalactic zoo and needs the powers of his still-imprisoned friends to open the doors to Great Power."[2]
- In the E3 1998 Press Release, the plot is further elaborated upon. "In Rayman 2, our whirling-dervish hero Rayman confronts his wackiest adventure ever when Robot pirates imprison him and his friends in a strange intergalactic zoo. Rayman escapes, but must free his friends and collect all the ingredients for a miraculous soup that opens the doors to Great Power. Only then will the mysterious robot pirate guild be defeated." The press release also mentions that the Magician would be the one to give Rayman his powers; Ly, who gives Rayman his abilities in the final game, is said to help with her "dexterity".[3]
- In an interview with Pauline Jacquey and Michel Ancel, it is mentioned that the Robo-Pirates intended to sell the inhabitants they capture to an inter-galactic circus.[4]
- In a press release from May 13, 1999, the game is described as "an adventure to rescue Rayman’s friends from an intergalactic circus".[5]
- In a Rayman 2 pre-order form that could be obtained from the Rayman Activity Center box (and also from one of the PC demos[6]), it is mentioned that: "The Mysterious Guild considers Rayman to be the ideal specimen to display in its intergalactic zoo of rare species". The text also mentions that Rayman's friends became the target of "Operation Kidnap", "the Guild's plan to fill its zoo with the universe's peace-loving residents". Similar information appeared in the official Rayman 2 website, however the "intergalactic zoo" was replaced with an "intergalactic circus".[7]
- In an interview with Ubisoft (by the IGN staff), it is mentioned that the mysterious guild recruited the Robo-Pirates to capture rare species from Rayman's planet and create an intergalactic zoo.[8] However, in another part of the official Rayman 2 website, a text can be found that describes the Mysterious Guild and the Robo-Pirates as one single entity, that intended to sell the inhabitants of Rayman's planet to an intergalactic circus.[9]
- In the back cover of the first edition of Rayman 2: The Great Escape: Prima's Official Strategy Guide, the following text is displayed prominently: "There's more than one way out of this circus!".
- The intergalactic circus was also mentioned in magazines[10] and even in box art from one of the first canadian releases of the game.[11]
A Rayman 2 pre-order form from the Rayman Activity Center box.
Rayman 2: The Great Escape: Prima's Official Strategy Guide back cover (first edition).
Press kits
Ubisoft Entertainment: Digital Press Kit: E3 Atlanta 1998
Screenshots
Characters
Sketches
Team
ECTS 1998 Ubi Soft Entertainment Press Kit (Europe)
Logo
Screenshots
Team
Work in process
Ubisoft Digital Press Kit 99 U.S.A./North America (USA)
Screenshots (Nintendo 64)
Screenshots (PC)
Work in process artwork
Rayman saves Clark in the Menhir Hills.
The Menhir Hills' ending.
Ubi Soft Digital Press Kit Herbst-Winter 1999
Screenshots (Nintendo 64)
Screenshots (PC)
A slightly earlier cover than the final version.
Rayman 2 - The Great Escape (USA) (Digital Press Kit)
Screenshots
Sketches
Rayman's final encounter with Razorbeard.
Miscellaneous
The cheat code "GETELIX" is mentioned along with the other known cheat codes in the PC version, but it appears to be unused. It was most likely meant to give the player the Elixir of Life before entering the Cave of Bad Dreams.
Unused textures
Many textures which were later used in the PlayStation version can also be found in the files for the PC version suggestion they were originally meant to be included there as well. These include the textures for Antitoons and the stone with Ly's face. Textures from the Dreamcast version were found as well, such as the textures for Eig. Some leftovers, such as controller icons, where found from the Nintendo 64 version.
HUD
Objects
An idle Red Sphere, as it could have appeared, in the Cave of Bad Dreams.
The base for a Red Sphere, as it could have appeared, in the Cave of Bad Dreams.
Metallic serpent
The game manual features a purple metallic serpent resembling Ssssam. This metallic serpent originally had different colors and appears to have been significantly larger than Ssssam.
An early, more metallic version of Ssssam.
The unused textures applied on a 3D mesh. This model was based on leftovers that were found in the PlayStation version.
Font
The old font is present in the demo files.
Loading screens and artwork
Rayman is oddly enough present on the image.
The Rayman E3 1998 model, most notably present in Rayman's training.
Concept art
Other mounts where considered before walking shells were implemented.
Demo
There were two different demos made for Rayman 2, both of them including two parts from the Fairy Glade.
Although the demos are very similar and include the same levels, there are some minor differences.
Differences from Rayman 2
- Rayman falls into the level after the Robo-Pirate animation in the first demo, instead of afterwards like in the final version.
- The total amount of cages show 0 in the first demo, instead of 7 like in the final version. Cages can however still be broken and will result in it showing 1/0 etc.
- The heads-up display can't by triggered to show by pressing "J".
- The transparency doesn't work on all textures.
- Rayman starts with the upgraded fist from the Canopy.
- The Hall of Doors uses the French name "Mapmonde".
Early dialogue
Main article: Early dialogue
Early versions of the game dialogue has been found in the PC version's two demos. Some unused dialogue also exists in the final game.
Screenshots and artwork
A bunch of screenshots and artwork have been found from early versions of Rayman 2.
Concept art
Magazine scans
An article mentioning the early plot of Rayman 2, which is not present in the final game
References
- ↑ YouTube, Rayman 2: Mysteries of the Hall of Doors, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJQcHip4tDE
- ↑ Ubisoft, E3, https://web.archive.org/web/19980524022146/http://www.ubisoft.com/e398_index.html
- ↑ Rayman 2 E3 1998 Press Release, Rayman Reigns in New Fast-Paced, Plot-Driven Action Adventure Sequel For Nintendo 64, Sony Playstation, PC CD-ROM, File:Ray2us.pdf
- ↑ Rayman 2: The Great Escape, Interview with Pauline Jacquey & Michel Ancel, File:Rayman 2 Interview 1999.pdf
- ↑ Ubi Soft’s beloved Rayman sells record-breaking 4.2 million copies!, File:Rayman 1999 4 Million Copies.pdf
- ↑ Rayman Pirate-Community discussion forums, Rayman 2, https://raymanpc.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1438733#p1438733
- ↑ Official Rayman 2 website, https://web.archive.org/web/20000525161633/http://www.rayman2.com/fr/bad/rayman2_txt.html
- ↑ IGN, An Interview with Ubi Soft, https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/05/28/an-interview-with-ubi-soft
- ↑ Official Rayman 2 website, https://web.archive.org/web/20000610224227/http://www.rayman2.com/fr/good/rayman2_txt_fs.html
- ↑ Club Nintendo, No. 09, pg. 61, File:R2-Scan-1.png
- ↑ Rayman Pirate-Community discussion forums, Rayman 2, https://raymanpc.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1369362#p1369362
External links
- Video showcasing all unused content from Rayman 2
- A playlist of IGN Rayman 2 early gameplay (N64, 1999)
- Gameplay, with numerous changes, from early press presentations (E3 1998/1999)
- Rayman 2 interview with early footage (1998)
- Royal V music video with early gameplay
Early production of Rayman games |