Rayman 3D

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Rayman 3D
Rayman 3D
Published by Ubisoft
Developed by Ubisoft Casablanca/Bucharest

Directed by {{{directed by}}}
Produced by {{{produced by}}}
Designed by {{{designed by}}}
Programmed by {{{programmed by}}}
Art by {{{art by}}}
Written by {{{written by}}}
Soundtrack by {{{soundtrack by}}}

Release date European Union.png 25th March 2011

United States of America(USA).png 27th March 2011

Genre 3D platformer
Gameplay mode Single player
Platforms Nintendo 3DS
Ratings 7+ (PEGI), E (ESRB)
Distribution media Cartridge, digital (NA)
Game engine {{{game engine}}}

Rayman 3D is a port of Rayman 2, and a launch title for the Nintendo 3DS. It is almost identical to the Dreamcast version of the original game, but now takes advantage of the 3DS's stereoscopic 3D display.

Differences from Rayman 2

Gameplay

  • Rayman no longer loses health from drops into bottomless pits, nor by despawn melee attacks from certain enemies. If a drop or attack is fatal, he respawns with full health.
  • During the Teensie cutscenes before entering a level containing one of the four masks, the dialogue "Go on! Go in!" and "Come on! Don't be shy!" has been removed. The Teensies still speak, but the text is no longer present.
  • When Rayman breaks a cage, the total number of cages destroyed thus far is no longer displayed on-screen.
  • There is a glitch exclusive to this version that allows the player to enter the forested clearing in the Tomb of the Ancients secret. The area is blocked off by a net; however, the player can glitch through that net and access the area.
  • There's no button for stabilizing the flying shell, and the manoeuvrability of the flying shell in itself has changed - turning left or right on the control stick now has minimal to no effect on the roll of the shell, with only the yaw being adversely affected. Should the roll of the shell be sufficiently affected, once a turning manoeuvre has been completed, the shell will attempt to automatically stabilise.
  • Some camera movements have been changed, leading to different views when undergoing certain platforming sections.
  • Rayman can hold a charged magic fist indefinitely, which differs from other versions wherein he will automatically release the charge after a set amount of time.

Level design

  • Rayman 3D is built off the Dreamcast version of Rayman 2, and shares the same Isle of Doors hub level as well as most exclusive cheats and graphical enhancements. It however does not have the minigames from the Dreamcast version.
  • The Stone of Thought, Purple Lum, and ledge leading to Globox Village in the Dreamcast version were removed in the 3DS game.
  • In the secret section of the Fairy Glade phase 2, accessed from the Echoing Caves, the barrel-throwing Henchman 800 has been removed, and the bridge with the sparadrap leading to the inside of the Pirate installation has also been removed, allowing the player to enter the installation without having to trick the Pirate into destroying the bridge.
  • Lily pads that used to move in the river in the Walk of Power no longer do so, they do not constantly spawn and instead there are static lilypads placed in specific places to allow Rayman to pass.
  • The two floating keg platforms leading to the final room in the Tomb of the Ancients are spaced further apart, making dodging the barrels from the barrel-throwing Henchman 800 more challenging compared to other versions.
  • The plum that spawns in the third phase of the Iron Mountains no longer does so, and the Super Yellow Lum that required the aforementioned plum to reach can now be obtained by jumping close enough to it. The Super Yellow Lum will then automatically home in towards Rayman, allowing for collection.

Graphics

  • The powder keg now uses a higher-poly, rounder model.
  • The plum is now a 3D model as in Rayman 3, rather than the 2D sprite seen in all other versions. The original plum texture can be seen on part of the new model.
  • Some level geometry has been touched up, leading to smoother looking platforms in some areas, certain climbable ropes having polygons (best seen in the second section of the Top of the World), as opposed to being 2D textures, or certain bannisters having geometry as opposed to 2D textures
  • Lighting is brighter in most levels (most noticeable in the Sanctuary of Rock and Lava and the Iron Mountains), and the lighting/shading on Rayman's model is no longer affected by light sources.
  • Both Axel and Foutch do not have any aura in this version.
  • Nettles have a shorter, choppier animation cycle.
  • Fog effects have been removed, making it easier for the player to see level geometry much further in the distance compared to other versions.

Audio

  • The intro is no longer voiced like in the Dreamcast version and doesn't have any dialogue text either.
  • The music that normally plays in the main menu or Isle of Doors now also plays in the pause menu.
  • The jingle that plays when Rayman obtains a mask is taken from the Nintendo 64 and Nintendo DS versions.

Technical issues

Like Rayman DS, the 3DS port contains several glitches exclusive to this revision.

  • Due to the original 3DS' technical constraints, the game suffers from an unstable frame rate that frequently drops below the Dreamcast version's 60 frames per second, with worse performance when playing in 3D mode. The New Nintendo 3DS can play the game without any frame drops - however, this requires the console to be hacked. Software such as Luma3DS can then unlock the increased power of the New 3DS' CPU, allowing the game to run at a consistent frame rate. It is possible however that the game may crash with an "exception occurred" error after the Foutch battle, in this case the overclock will then have to be temporarily disabled until after the battle.
  • The game also suffers from draw distance and pop-up issues, particularly in the Bayou, the Precipice, and beneath the Sanctuary of Rock and Lava, where obstacles may be invisible or suddenly appear in front of Rayman.
  • In the opening sequence, the warship flies through the cliffs, instead of around them.
  • Skyboxes are broken in many levels. They may scroll improperly along with the camera, appear either zoomed too far in or out, disappear, or remain static. This only affects the standard "blue sky with clouds" texture. This issue is present in most versions of Rayman 2, but it affects the 3DS version more prominently.
  • Water and lava textures are often static or improperly mapped.
  • Other textures appear to be missing entirely, for example some bannister textures in the fort in the second phase of the Menhir Hills, giving the impression of floating handrails that lack proper support.
  • There are also issues in texture transparency and translucency, leading certain textures to render in a strange manner: for example, the rain overlay in the beginning of the Iron Mountains causes the Spiral Door, Yellow Lums and Purple Lums to only render where there are gaps in the rain, rather than appear translucent where the rain falls.
  • Sound effects are too soft compared to the game's soundtrack, although this can be fixed by adjusting the sound mixing in the game's options. Some sound effects are missing as well, including some of Rayman's grunts and the "power-up" sound heard when collecting a Power Fist. In addition, some sound effects that do play are cut off before playing fully. For example the ticking of timer switches will start, but will not play to the end to indicate a time out.
  • Rayman's hands do not turn golden after collecting a Power Fist.
  • In the secret passage in the third phase of the Sanctuary of Stone and Fire, the last cobweb is rendered invisible, making it unclear how to reach the cage. Despite the missing texture, it still functions normally.
  • The 1000th Yellow Lum secret suffers from a myriad of glitches that make it difficult to obtain. Even if it is successfully obtained, the exit to the area does not function and will lock Rayman's movement, so the player must quit the level in order to save the collection of the Lum.
  • In the third phase of the Prison Ship, the rotating spiked log under the metal grating does not cause Rayman to despawn upon contact; instead, he will simply go through it. In addition, the metal grating is not climbable if jumped under. This modifies the means in which a Yellow Lum is collected, as in other versions Rayman is required to climb on the metal grating and move over the spiked log to the Yellow Lum. In this version, perhaps to compensate for this lack of functionality, this Yellow Lum instead automatically homes towards Rayman when he walks above it.
  • Many times throughout the game, the correct music will not start playing at the correct time.

History

The existence of Rayman 3D was leaked several weeks in advance of its announcement by the Australian Classification Board, although they gave little information beyond the title; in the press release in which they officially announced the game, Ubisoft revealed that, like the iOS version of Rayman 2, Rayman 3D was to be based directly on the well-received Dreamcast version of Rayman 2. Four screenshots were also unveiled: they show that Rayman 3D features significantly reworked graphics. The improved lighting system is visible in the screenshots of the Prison Ship and the Bayou, and the stereoscopic depth effect can be seen clearly in the screenshot of the Whale Bay. The screenshot of the Fairy Glade shows that the keg has been remodelled.

Press release

What follows is Ubisoft's official press release regarding the game:

Rayman 3D is an adaptation of Rayman 2 on Dreamcast, the greatest version of all Rayman's games.

Thanks to Rayman 3D, rediscover the incredible adventures of Rayman in a deeper and optimized universe. Progress in a 3D world full of surprises and magical creatures, and defeat unmerciful enemies throughout dangerous environments: Join Rayman in an even better platforming game!

Features:

  • Adaptation of the greatest Rayman opus – Rayman 3D is the adaptation of Rayman 2 on Dreamcast which happened to be the best version of the trilogy (93% on Game Rankings).
  • Significant improvements on gameplay – This version has beneficiated from a special treatment, offering improved graphics, 3D, and giving players the possibility to take advantage of the analog stick.
  • The 3D version makes the game more accessible and brings more advantages: improved learning curve, immersive cameras, graphical enhancements. A great diversity of environments – Progress in 45 areas set across 13 regions of Rayman's world. Uncover the whole universe in 3D during +/−15 hours of fun.
  • Unique Rayman moves – Run, climb, jump, swim, fly, loop-the-loop and even water-ski to escape from the threat! Rayman did not lose any of his famous abilities such as flying as an helicopter using his hair!
  • Rediscover the richness of Rayman's cast – Get back to the good old quarrels between Rayman and his villainous enemies: Face the Admiral Razorbeard, the Henchman and every other creature that make Rayman's progression much harder! Hopefully, Rayman can count on his friends' support! The Globox, Ly, or Polokus are all ready to help.

Promotional pictures

Gallery

External links