Rayman: Hoodlums' Revenge

Rayman: Hoodlums' Revenge
Published by	Ubisoft
Developed by	Digital Eclipse/Backbone Entertainment
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	18th March 2005 30th March 2005
Genre	Isometric Platformer
Gameplay mode	Single player
Languages	{{{languages}}}
Platforms	Game Boy Advance
Ratings	3+ (PEGI)
Distribution media	Cartridge
Game engine	Milk

Rayman: Hoodlums' Revenge is a spin-off isometric platform game based on Rayman 3 that was released exclusively for the Game Boy Advance in 2005. It is the first and only game in the Rayman series to be played from an isometric viewpoint in what appears to be a 2D environment, while using 3D sprites.

Plot

Taking place supposedly a short while after the events in Rayman 3, the game begins with Rayman and Globox sleeping in the Fairy Council, when Globox's dreams are disturbed by the memory of him swallowing the Black Lum André. He is awakened by a strange sound, and goes off to search for its source. Later, Rayman awakens up to find that Globox is missing, and goes off to look for him.

As he progresses onward, Rayman is told by Murfy that the Hoodlums are trying to clone Reflux, the other main antagonist of Rayman 3, and that the clone is plum juice-powered. Before he finally meets up with Globox, he must first destroy the Infernal Machine, which manufactures the potent plum juice. It is later discovered that it is Globox himself who is being turned into Reflux's clone.

Meanwhile, in the Bog of Murk, Globox is unknowingly being slowly taken over by André, made apparent by Globox's sudden mood swings in which he become condescending, aggressive, and mean. Later, when he and Rayman are reunited, André often insults Rayman or the feeble attempts of the Hoodlums ("meddlesome loser" and "Lame-man" being some of the jeers he throws at Rayman). However Rayman, not used to Globox acting in such a manner, simply does not hear most of it, though at one point he asks Globox if he was hit in the head.

As they continue through the lands they must save the Teensies and fight Bégoniax once again and a Firemonster. In the Pit of Endless Fire, after the defeat of said Firemonster, André takes full control of Globox and announces his return. Shortly after, he turns Globox into the clone of Reflux and fights Rayman in the new body.

When Rayman finally defeats the clone, it changes back into Globox as André's black spirit flutters away through Globox's mouth, and he wakes back up as his full self, even asking if he missed breakfast. The story ends with the pair walking off into the forest.

Gameplay

Rayman: Hoodlums' Revenge uses an isometric dimension.

Rayman: Hoodlums' Revenge's gameplay uses some elements from Rayman 3, including the score counter and the Combo-mode, Teensie cages and Laser-Washing Powder cans. Hoodlums and other enemies from Rayman 3 are also encountered. The difference is that Lums, namely Yellow, Red, Green and Blue Lums, are collected as well as jewels. In each level, there is a certain number of Yellow Lums to collect, and typically there are four cages to break, both of which are counted down; the more the player collects and the higher he or she scores, the more likely he or she is to gain up to three Murfy Stamps, which are needed to unlock bonus levels.

In a few levels, Globox is a playable character, though he cannot fight the same way as Rayman, or go near the Hoodlums (because he is afraid of them, he will automatically run a short distance away from), unless he drinks a barrel of plum juice, which will send him in a trance and have the confidence to attack enemies. Sometimes Rayman and Globox can be played in the same level, though the player will have to switch characters for the right tasks, and the level cannot be exited unless both characters meet each other at the exit.

The game is also the only known platforming game which displays a full map of the level Rayman is currently exploring, that pinpoints his current position and the exit, as well as the locations of the Teensie cages.

The worldmap

Game records

Main article: List of Rayman records

Rayman: Hoodlums' Revenge has a score mode, similarly to Rayman 3, from which the player earn Murfy Stamps.

Levels

• Fairy Council
• Clearleaf Forest
• Clearleaf Falls
• Infernal Machine
• Vertiginous Riddle
• Dungeon of Murk
• Rivers of Murk
• Bog of Murk
• Begoniax Bayou
• Hoodlum Moor
• Land of the Livid Dead
• Sulphurous Sea
• Menhirs of Power
• Pit of Endless Fire
• Clouds of Peril
• Cloudy Cache
• Heart of the World
• Scalding Cascade
• Mélée Mayhem
• Reflux's Lair

Reception

Rayman: Hoodlums' Revenge was receive with mixed to positive reviews. Both fans and critics praised its isometric play style of the game. IGN gave the game a 6.5 out of 10 calling it okay, while Gamespot was little bit more positive about the game, giving it a 7.3 out of 10.

Gallery

Box art

• 
  The European box art.
• 
  The North American box art.
• 
  The North American back box.

Screenshots gallery

• 
  Fairy Council.
• 
  Clearleaf Forest.
• 
  Clearleaf Falls.
• 
  Infernal Machine.
• 
  Vertiginous Riddle.
• 
  Dungeon of Murk.
• 
  Rivers of Murk.
• 
  Bog of Murk.
• 
  Begoniax Bayou.
• 
  Hoodlum Moor.
• 
  Land of the Livid Dead.
• 
  Sulphurous Sea.
• 
  Menhirs of Power.
• 
  Pit of Endless Fire.
• 
  Clouds of Peril.
• 
  Cloudy Cache.
• 
  Heart of the World.
• 
  Reflux's Lair.

Trivia

• On the North American box art of the game, there is a typographical error whereby the apostrophe is placed between the word ‘Hoodlum’ and the letter ‘s’, making the subtitle seem as if there is only one Hoodlum rather than a group of them.
• Although this is not a Game Boy Advance version of Rayman 3 (but rather, a direct sequel), it does mark many Rayman 3 characters' first and only appearance on handheld, many of which were absent from the actual Game Boy Advance version of Rayman 3. These characters include Reflux, Roméo Patti (referred to as Doc), and Bégoniax (though there was a level in the Game Boy Advance version of Rayman 3 called Swamp of Bégoniax but the character never actually appeared). It is possibly André's first appearance in a handheld game, although the Black Lum swallowed by Globox in Rayman 3 may be him, simply unnamed and with a smaller role. André does not strictly appear in this game, as he merely possesses Globox.
• There is an inconsistency in Roméo's appearance in this game. He gives his name as "Doc", not Roméo, and Rayman does not appear to recognise him, despite meeting him in Rayman 3.
• In the first level, Rayman tells Murfy that he has been able to use his helicopter power all his life. However, he did not have that ability at the start of the first game.
• At one stage in the game, Globox (or, rather, André controlling him), mentions the Titanic, a real-world ocean liner which sunk after a collision with an iceberg between Southampton (United Kingdom) and New York (United States) in 1912. This is one of the few occasions when real-world events are referenced in the Rayman series.

See also

• List of quotes in Rayman: Hoodlums' Revenge

External links

• Rayman: Hoodlums' Revenge playthrough at YouTube