Rayman (series): Difference between revisions

The original ''[[Rayman 1|Rayman]]'' was released in 1995. At the beginning of the Atari Jaguar version, [[Rayman]] is seen frolicking with a group of [[Electoon]]s while they gravitate around [[the Great Protoon]], a glowing orb of energy which seems to be [[the Heart of the World]] under another name. Later, a dark and mysterious villain known as [[Mr Dark]] appears, stealing the Great Protoon and defeating [[Betilla the Fairy]] as she tries to protect it. When the Great Protoon is removed from its rightful place, the Glade of Dreams is cast into imbalance, and nightmarish creatures like [[Darktoon]]s, [[piranha]]s, [[Livingstone]]s and [[Hunter]]s begin to proliferate, capturing the scattered [[Electoon]]s and imprisoning them in [[cage]]s. [[The Magician]] calls upon Rayman, asking him to free all of the Electoons, defeat Mr Dark and restore the Great Protoon to its rightful place. Rayman receives the Magician's call while relaxing in a hammock, giving him the thumbs-up and responding ‘No problem!’ It seems that Rayman has become lazy, confident and self-assured since defeating [[Jano]]. At this time, Rayman apparently lives in a house on a beach, though his home is never fully seen. (The very first level of the game, [[Pink Plant Woods]], is named the Primordial Forest in the original French edition, suggesting that this is very close to Rayman's birthplace.) He then travels through [[the valley]]'s six different lands, rescuing Electoons and defeating powerful bosses. Along the way, Rayman meets his creator, Betilla the Fairy, for the first time; she gives him several powers to help him on his way, and is kidnapped by Mr Dark for her efforts. Rayman eventually reaches Mr Dark's lair in the [[Candy Chateau]], where the villain transforms himself into monstrous hybrids of the previous five bosses. Ultimately Rayman defeats Mr Dark, rescues Betilla and returns the Great Protoon to its rightful place, restoring the balance of the Glade of Dreams.

At some point in the game, a mysterious mechanical city known as the [[Moody Clouds]] appears in the sky. In order to reach the Moody Clouds and solve its mystery, the heroes must track down and free the [[Four Kings]] of the lands, all of whom have been transformed into vicious monsters by the imbalances of the Glade. With the help of all the nymphs, the Kings, the [[Dreamer's Door]] is activated, and the heroes can use it to transport themselves to the Moody Clouds. After fighting their way through the mechanical city and overcoming legions of robotic enemies, they discover who is responsible for creating this mechanical fortress and its robotic army: [[the Magician]]. Over the years since [[Rayman 1|the original ''Rayman'']], the Magician had become obsessed with [[Mr Dark]], and the walls of his headquarters are covered with posters showing pictures of the old villain (one even saying ‘♥ Mister D’). An early version of the game's script goes into much more detail about the Magician's motivations, revealing that his real name is Ales Mansay, that he was bullied in magic school for his poor magical abilities, and that he always secretly wanted to be like Mr Dark. The Magician considers [[Polokus]] to be a childish and useless god who allows his nightmares to endanger his own people. In order to bring an end to Polokus's chaotic reign and impose a new order of discipline and reason, the Magician built the Moody Clouds, and an army of mechas with which to take over [[the Glade of Dreams]]. He planted a microphone in [[the Snoring Tree]] to start a war with the [[Livid Dead]], simply to manipulate Rayman into collecting Lums which the Magician could use to power his creations. After the heroes defeat mechanical duplicates of two of the game's previous bosses, they confront the Magician, who distracts and confuses them with a disco number before running away. A difficult chase sequence ensues as the Moody Clouds begins to disintegrate, with debris and machines collapsing and falling through the air. Then the Magician boards a flying ship, and the heroes must chase him through the sky on the backs of their [[mosquito]] friends. Eventually the ship collides with the Moody Clouds' glowing energy core, causing a colossal explosion. The heroes land on the Snoring Tree and immediately go back to sleep. The Magician's fate is unknown.