Rayman Arena (Xbox and GameCube)

Rayman Arena
Rayman Arena
Published by	Ubisoft
Developed by	Ubisoft Montpellier
Directed by	{{{directed by}}}
Produced by	{{{produced by}}}
Designed by	Race: Philippe Blanchet with Bruno Bouvret, Frédéric Claverie, Damien Galipot, Jean-Christophe Guyot, Vincent Hamache, Thomas Simon Battle: Benoît Maçon with Christian Cantamessa, Marc D'Souza, Riccardo Landi, Giordano Nisi, Davide Soliani
Programmed by	{{{programmed by}}}
Art by	{{{art by}}}
Written by	{{{written by}}}
Soundtrack by	Claude Samard
Release date	2002
Genre	Racing, party
Gameplay mode	Single player, Multiplayer
Languages	{{{languages}}}
Platforms	Nintendo GameCube (North America), Microsoft Xbox (North America)
Ratings	E (ESRB)
Distribution media	CD-ROM, GameCube Optical Disc
Game engine	OpenSpace

This article is about the Xbox and GameCube versions of Rayman Arena. For the PlayStation 2 and PC versions, see Rayman M.

Time to strap on your schoolin' shoes and power up your lums. Rayman's world has gone competition crazy with 12 obstacle courses and 12 battle zones of pure pulse-pounding action. Take risks, use tricks, and trip up opponents as you sprint, slide, climb, and helicopter in a rush for the checkered flag. Then jump into frenzied firefights with power-ups, traps, and special ammo to get the most lums.

Perhaps you will prove to be tougher than Rayman...

—Manual, Rayman Arena

The Xbox and GameCube versions of Rayman Arena are the North American editions of Rayman M, released in 2002. The title was changed for the North American market to avoid confusion with the ESRB's "M" (Mature) rating.

Unlike the PlayStation 2 and PC versions, which are direct localizations of Rayman M, the Xbox and GameCube releases feature significant differences. As these versions were developed later than the original release, the designers utilized the extra time to implement various changes, particularly to the Battle mode.

Modifications

This is a list of notable modifications to the Xbox and GameCube ports, among others.

• A new intro video was used.
• The menus had undergone major changes in navigation and aesthetically.
• ‘Cups’ replaced the prior ‘Leagues’ and setup in the single-player mode was changed.
• Murfy is seen as a reporter/paparazzo before the start of each cup in a brief comical video.
• Lock-on has been added for less-experienced players in Battle mode.
• Hearts are now used in Battle mode to recognize health (instead of hit points), and one heart can be regained by killing an opponent.
• A player is given 6 possible hearts, with 5 filled when a player respawns. (The 6th is left open in case of a kill without the loss of any hearts.)
• There is a visible timer in Battle mode.
• There are three modes, which reflect the difficulty of the game: Beginner, Pro and Master
• Master Mode features only Dark Rayman as an opponent (albeit his AI is much improved from other characters), is played in black-and-white, as well as using cel-shaded graphics.
• There are more playable characters, including Dark Globox and Dark Rayman.
• Popolopoï mode has been removed.
• Training mode has been removed.
• On and On has been removed.
• Capture the Fly has been removed.
• Big Bang has been removed.
• Lums have been removed.
• The small animations that characters do upon finishing a race have been replaced with the character entering a Spiral Door.
• Added Time Attack
• Added Run, Run

Cameos and references to other media

• Ed from Tonic Trouble makes a cameo in a cutscene as a skeleton.
• In one of the cutscenes before a campaign, parodies of the TV series Baywatch (1989), the movies Jaws (1975) and Basic Instinct (1992), and model-magazines appear.
• Ly from Rayman 2 appears as a poster, as a heart and as a target in a cutscene.
• Clark appears as a poster in a cutscene.
• A creature like Ed from Tonic Trouble appears in a cutscene.
• In the intro, the slow-motion scene with Rayman is a reference to the movie The Matrix.
• Dark Globox's spin is a reference to the Tasmanian Devil from the Looney Tunes comedy series.
• In one of the cutscenes before a campaign, Dark Globox can be seen holding a weight with two Coca-Cola cans at each side.

• 
  A parody of the movie Jaws, which reads "Jawsbox in Malibu", and the series Baywatch with a red bikini-clad Globox.
• 
  Posters of Ly and Clark
• 
  Toilets designed for the Teensie duo (with Globox's arm reaching out), Ly's name in a heart on the wall and a hole in the shape of Rayman's body in the other wall
• 
  Model-magazine and where one poster states "Love Roberto".
• 
  Targets representing Rayman, Globox and Ly
• 
  The skeleton of Ed from Tonic Trouble and Rayman's head as a trophy on the wall
• 
  Photographs of an unidentified developer and of Razorbeard with a mustache
• 
  A parody of the movie Basic Instinct, Razorbeard as a bodybuilder and a frozen Rayman

Manuals

Click on the thumbnail to read the manual.

• 
  Rayman Arena GameCube manual
• 
  Rayman Arena Xbox manual

External links

• Intro for Xbox and GameCube version
• Changed Rayman M intro
• Rayman Arena gameplay trailer