Rayman 2 (early production)

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Rayman 2 underwent a bunch of changes during its development, most which have been found through hacking and from old trailers.

Rayman's training

A screenshot of Rayman's training, showcasing Rayman's earlier 3D model.

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.

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]

Press kits

Ubisoft Entertainment: Digital Press Kit: E3 Atlanta 1998

Screenshots

Characters

Sketches

Team

ECTS 1998 Ubi Soft Entertainment Press Kit (Europe)

Promotional Video

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

Ubi Soft Digital Press Kit Herbst-Winter 1999

Trailer

Screenshots (Nintendo 64)

Screenshots (PC)

Rayman 2 - The Great Escape (USA) (Digital Press Kit)

Screenshots

Sketches

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

  • Oddly enough this doesn't appear in the Fairy Glade during the baby Globox dialogue.
  • Due to Jano not having a health bar, this isn't shown during the battle against him.
  • An unused icon.
  • An unused camera icon.
  • An unused camera icon.
  • A beta health icon.
  • A beta breath icon.
  • An unused energy icon.
  • An unused fist icon.
  • An unused clock icon.
  • An unused icon.
  • An unused icon.
  • An unused icon.

Objects

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.

Font

Loading screens and artwork

Concept art

Demo

There were two different demos made for Rayman 2, both of them including two parts from the Fairy Glade.

The pause menu in the demo.

Demo 1

Demo 2

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

References

  1. YouTube, Rayman 2: Mysteries of the Hall of Doors, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJQcHip4tDE
  2. Ubisoft, E3, https://web.archive.org/web/19980524022146/http://www.ubisoft.com/e398_index.html
  3. 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
  4. Rayman 2: The Great Escape, Interview with Pauline Jacquey & Michel Ancel, File:Rayman 2 Interview 1999.pdf
  5. Ubi Soft’s beloved Rayman sells record-breaking 4.2 million copies!, File:Rayman 1999 4 Million Copies.pdf
  6. Rayman Pirate-Community discussion forums, Rayman 2, https://raymanpc.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1438733#p1438733
  7. Official Rayman 2 website, https://web.archive.org/web/20000525161633/http://www.rayman2.com/fr/bad/rayman2_txt.html
  8. IGN, An Interview with Ubi Soft, https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/05/28/an-interview-with-ubi-soft
  9. Official Rayman 2 website, https://web.archive.org/web/20000610224227/http://www.rayman2.com/fr/good/rayman2_txt_fs.html
  10. Club Nintendo, No. 09, pg. 61, File:R2-Scan-1.png
  11. Rayman Pirate-Community discussion forums, Rayman 2, https://raymanpc.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1369362#p1369362

External links