Rayman 2 (early production): Difference between revisions

There is still a great bunch to expand upon (and rewrite entirely)
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== Plot ==
== Plot ==
===Title===
===Title===
The game appears to have been originally titled ''Rayman 2: The Door to Great Power'' (French: ''La Porte du Grand Pouvoir'').<ref>The sketch for the E3 1999 stand for the game shown on page 47 of ''[[L'Histoire de Rayman]]'' clearly reads "du grand pouvoir", and the [[:File:Ray2us.pdf|E3 Atlanta 1998 Digital Press Kit]] states that the game's story revolved around a magic soup that would "open the doors to great power".</ref><ref>[[Rayman Pirate-Community]] discussion forums, ''Rayman 2'', https://raymanpc.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1548591#p1548591</ref>
The game appears to have been originally titled ''Rayman 2: The Door to Great Power'' (French: ''La Porte du Grand Pouvoir'').<ref>The sketch for the E3 1999 stand for the game shown on page 47 of ''[[L'Histoire de Rayman]]'' clearly reads "du grand pouvoir", and the [[:File:Ray2us.pdf|E3 Atlanta 1998 Digital Press Kit]] states that the game's story revolved around a magic soup that would "open the doors to great power".</ref><ref>[[Rayman Pirate-Community]] discussion forums, ''Rayman 2'', https://raymanpc.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1548591#p1548591</ref>


===Story===
===Story===
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Some of the characters had different names or spellings in the game's early development stages: [[Globox]] was Globber, [[Razorbeard]] was Razorface, [[Polokus]] was Polochus (or Pollochus) the Magician, the [[Teensie]]s were the Smalbeings and the [[Robo-Pirate]]s were the Red Rum.
Some of the characters had different names or spellings in the game's early development stages: [[Globox]] was Globber, [[Razorbeard]] was Razorface, [[Polokus]] was Polochus (or Pollochus) the Magician, the [[Teensie]]s were the Smalbeings and the [[Robo-Pirate]]s were the Red Rum.


A Chinese magazine also refers to an identified enemy called the "Five-Poison Snake God".<ref name="video_game_guide"></ref>
A Chinese magazine also refers to an unidentified enemy called the "Five-Poison Snake God".<ref name="video_game_guide"></ref>


===Notable mentions of early plot elements===
===Notable mentions of early plot elements===
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== Gameplay ==
== Gameplay ==
=== Game mechanics ===
Just like Globox can use his [[Rain Dance]] in the final game to harm the [[Robo-Pirate]]s, [[Rayman]]'s other friends would also have used their abilities to help him progress through the levels: [[Polokus|Polochus]] the Magician could levitate stones and draw water from ponds, [[Clark]] could grab [[Rayman]] and throw him and [[Ly]] could immobilize characters and objects.<ref name="press_kit_it"></ref> Alternatively, it is stated that the Magician, as the first companion [[Rayman]] would have had to save, would have appeared on every map to upgrade the power of his "invincible flying fist".<ref name="video_game_guide"></ref> [[Rayman]] would also have gained the ability to see through walls near the end of the game.<ref name="press_kit_it"></ref> Additionally, a demo for the game features a functional [[telescopic fist]] ability, a power scrapped from the final game and replaced with the [[magic fist]].
Just like Globox can use his [[Rain Dance]] in the final game to harm the [[Robo-Pirate]]s, [[Rayman]]'s other friends would also have used their abilities to help him progress through the levels: [[Polokus|Polochus]] the Magician could levitate stones and draw water from ponds, [[Clark]] could grab [[Rayman]] and throw him and [[Ly]] could immobilize characters and objects.<ref name="press_kit_it"></ref> Alternatively, it is stated that the Magician, as the first companion [[Rayman]] would have had to save, would have appeared on every map to upgrade the power of his "invincible flying fist".<ref name="video_game_guide"></ref> [[Rayman]] would also have gained the ability to see through walls near the end of the game.<ref name="press_kit_it"></ref> Additionally, a demo for the game features a functional [[telescopic fist]] ability, a power scrapped from the final game and replaced with the [[magic fist]].


Pre-release screenshots and footage show that level designs underwent significant evolution. A video showing an early version of the Nintendo 64 version reveals an unused area most likely located in [[the Prison Ship]]. It closely resembles the alternative path that can be taken in the same level to fill up [[Rayman]]'s health.<ref>YouTube (via archive.org), ''Rayman 2: The Great Escape (N64) - Beta Prison Ship level part'', https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCZ10RrA_5Q</ref> Other trailers show more open levels suggesting ''Rayman 2'' was at one point going to go in a more non-linear direction.<ref>YouTube, ''Rayman 2 Trailer'', https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KujjiLYaW8</ref>
Pre-release screenshots and footage show that level designs underwent significant evolution. A video showing an early version of the Nintendo 64 version reveals an unused area most likely located in [[the Prison Ship]]. It closely resembles the alternative path that can be taken in the same level to fill up [[Rayman]]'s health.<ref>YouTube (via archive.org), ''Rayman 2: The Great Escape (N64) - Beta Prison Ship level part'', https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCZ10RrA_5Q</ref> Other trailers show more open levels suggesting ''Rayman 2'' was at one point going to go in a more non-linear direction.<ref>YouTube, ''Rayman 2 Trailer'', https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KujjiLYaW8</ref>


== Levels ==
=== Cut levels ===
=== 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.
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.