Mr Dark: Difference between revisions

| attacks = Summoning [[Bad Rayman]], reversing the player's left–right controls, forcing [[Rayman]] to run uncontrollably, stealing Rayman's [[telescopic fist]], creating twin fireballs which must be dodged, creating and controlling pillars of flame, transforming into hybrids of the previous five bosses, summoning a rain of small fireballs, summoning large fireballs, curling into a large or small electrical ball, summoning lightning strikes

}}

{{quote|text=A wicked character, he wants to spread evil all around him by taking over [[the Glade of Dreams|the magical world of Rayman]]. If he succeeds, he will make the world a dreadful place under a reign of terror and dictatorship.|sign=Official site|source=''[[Rayman Junior]]''<ref>''Rayman Junior'' official site, Mister Dark, http://web.archive.org/web/20020211202327/http://sites.ubisoft.fr/raymanedu/ami/ami2/dark.html</ref>}}

'''Mr Dark''' is [[Rayman]]'s arch-nemesis, and a major character in the [[Rayman (series)|''Rayman'' series]]. A diabolical and mysterious shape-shifting sorcerer, Mr Dark has attempted to disrupt the balance of [[the Glade of Dreams]] on several occasions, but is always thwarted by Rayman. His features are hidden beneath a shadowy cloak and hat, beneath which only his glowing yellow eyes can be seen. Mr Dark's first appearance is in [[Rayman 1|the original ''Rayman'' game]], where he acts as the main antagonist and final boss. He makes similar villainous appearances in [[Rayman (Game Boy Color)|the game's handheld adaptation]], and in ''[[Rayman Junior]]'', an educational spin-off. Although Mr Dark does not make a direct appearance in ''[[Rayman Origins]]'', the game makes several references to him, and it is ultimately revealed that his influence inspired [[the Magician]] to become a villain.

==Role in the games==

===''Rayman''===

Mr Dark first appears in the intro sequence of ''[[Rayman 1|Rayman]]'', where [[the Magician]] introduces the game's story. [[The Glade of Dreams]] is kept in balance by a mystical orb known as [[the Great Protoon]]. One fateful day, the evil Mr Dark appears, stealing the Great Protoon and defeating [[Betilla the Fairy]] as she tries to protect it. The [[Electoon]]s, small pink creatures which gravitate around the Great Protoon, are scattered across the world, and imprisoned in [[cage]]s by Mr Dark's minions. Rayman sets off to free the Electoons, defeat Mr Dark and recover the Great Protoon.

[[Image:Char-mr-dark.png|thumb|left|320px|[[The Magician]] disguised as his idol, Mr Dark.]]

===''Rayman Origins''===

In a May 2011 interview with Jeux Vidéo, Gabrielle Shrager, the lead writer of ''[[Rayman Origins]]'', stated "We will probably see how Mr Dark became what he is".<ref>Jeux Vidéo, ''Exclusif Rayman Origins'', [[:File:Jeux_video_page_47.jpg]]</ref> However, plans changed during development, and the Mr Dark storyline was omitted. While Mr Dark makes no physical appearance in the game, his influence plays a major role in the story, and numerous references are made to him by the game and its surrounding media. The second trailer of ''Rayman Origins'' shows a brief glimpse of a [[Teensie]] with a top hat and a dark cloak, standing on a stone platform, surrounded by [[Darktoon]]s and [[Psychlops]]. It was speculated that this was Mr Dark. Several months later, clearer artwork of the character was released, and the official website indicated that this character was indeed Mr Dark, stating "The archenemy from Rayman 1 returns". However, the same section of the site also claims that [[Soldier]]s and [[piranha]]s are in the game, which is not correct; the game's final manual contains an updated version of the same information, and makes no mention of Soldiers, piranhas, or Mr Dark. In '[[The Reveal]]', one of the final levels of the game, the heroes discover that [[the Magician]] is the one responsible for the evil steampunk empire of the [[Moody Clouds]]. The dark character who appeared in the trailer and the site was simply the Magician disguised as Mr Dark, whose true whereabouts remain unknown. A diagram on the wall of the Magician's office explains that he has been collecting the heroes' [[Lum]]s throughout the game and using them to power his machines. In response to his cover being blown, the Magician rips the golden star off his top hat, showing more clearly his resemblance with the artwork supposedly of Mr Dark. This scene led to much confusion among players, some of whom mistakenly interpreted it to mean that Mr Dark and the Magician were the same character.