Ssssam: Difference between revisions

| appears in = ''[[Rayman 2]]'', ''[[Rayman 2 Forever]]'', ''[[Rayman 3]]'' (cameo), [[Rayman 3 (Game Boy Advance)|''Rayman 3'' (Game Boy Advance)]]

'''Ssssam the Watersnake''' is a character that appears in ''[[Rayman 2]]'', its remakes and [[Rayman 3 (Game Boy Advance)|the Game Boy Advance version of ''Rayman 3'']].

Ssssam is a purple serpent who dwells in [[the Marshes of Awakening]], acting as a ferryman for [[The Glade of Dreams|the Glade]]'s inhabitants. He has a disproportionately large head compared to his thin body. The body itself appears to be no longer than [[Rayman]]'s height; however, he is never seen in full – only his head, part of his neck and occasionally the tip of his tail are ever actually visible, as he always partially submerged in the water of [[The Marshes of Awakening|the Marshes]]. As a result, it is impossible to gauge just how long he might be, though he is small enough to fit inside a [[Robo-Pirate]] [[cage]].

Ssssam is described as a ‘young and spirited serpent’ in the manuals for most versions of ''[[Rayman 2]]'', and he appears to be very cheerful, enjoying the simple things in life. Upon being able to stretch out after being freed from his [[cage]] by [[Rayman]], he says that it is ‘Sssssensational’. He does not have any knowledge of [[Four Masks of Polokus|the Masks of Polukus]], possibly due to spending most of his life in [[The Marshes of Awakening|the Marshes]].

==In ''[[Rayman 2]]''==

In ''[[Rayman 2]]'' and its remakes, Ssssam is first found by [[Rayman]] in [[the Marshes of Awakening]], imprisoned in a [[Robo-Pirate|pirate]] [[cage]]. Upon being freed by [[Rayman]], Ssssam stretches and agrees to take [[Rayman]] across [[The Marshes of Awakening|the Marshes]], as he had seen the [[Robo-Pirate|pirates]] take [[Globox]] in that direction. On the other side, Ssssam bids [[Rayman]] farewell and asks [[Rayman]] to make a point of visiting again. From this it would seem that he is very lonely, possibly having no friends within [[The Marshes of Awakening|the Marshes]].

This is his only appearance in most versions of the game. However, in ''[[Rayman Revolution]]'', a [[Ly's Challenges|bonus minigame]] called [[Waterski Challenge]] can be unlocked by talking to [[Ly]] the Fairy once the player has freed 30 of the game's 80 [[Familiar Spirit]]s. The bonus level is another waterski chase, similar to the one in [[the Marshes of Awakening]]. [[Rayman]] must collect 20 [[Red Lum]]s as Ssssam takes him through a swamp.

Originally, [[Michel Ancel]] didn't want Ssssam to be in ''[[Rayman 2]]''  but eventually got convinced that he should make it to the final game. <ref>''[[L'Histoire de Rayman]]'', Chapter 3 - Rayman 2 : The Great Escape, or the challenge of the 3D</ref>

===In ''[[Rayman 2 Forever]]''===

In [[Rayman 2 Forever|the Game Boy Color version of ''Rayman 2'']], Ssssam appears with a much smaller role, appearing only at the end of the first level of [[the Marshes of Awakening]] (although he can be seen again with the rest of the cast at the end of the game). In this version, he simply lets [[Rayman]] ride across the marsh on his head, rather than waterski. He is never named in this game.

| [[File:R2TGE PC-Sssssam.jpg|thumb|320px|Ssssam in [[the Marshes of Awakening]].]]

| [[File:RR-PS2-Japanese-Sssssam.JPG|thumb|320px|Ssssam's colours are different in the Japanese version of ''[[Rayman Revolution]]''.]]

| [[File:Bug Sssssam.jpg|thumb|320px|In ''[[Rayman Revolution]]'', a bug makes Ssssam appear twice.]]

| [[File:Sssssam.png|thumb|320px|[[Rayman 2 (early production)|An early version]] of Ssssam.]]

==In ''[[Rayman 3]]''==

[[File:Sam Cameo R3.JPG|thumb|right|320px|Statue of Ssssam seen in [[Count Razoff|Razoff]]'s mansion in [[the Bog of Murk]].]]

Ssssam makes a cameo appearance in ''[[Rayman 3]]'' as one of [[Count Razoff]]'s statues. A developer referred to these statues as [[Count Razoff|Razoff]]'s ‘finest catches’ in a [[RaymanZone]] interview, indicating that [[Count Razoff|Razoff]] had captured Ssssam at some point.

[[File:SssssamR3GBA.PNG|frame|class=sprite|left|Ssssam, as he appears in [[Rayman 3 (Game Boy Advance)|the Game Boy Advance version of ''Rayman 3'']].]]

In [[Rayman 3 (Game Boy Advance)|the Game Boy Advance version of ''Rayman 3'']], Ssssam is first found in the [[Swamp of Bégoniax]], this time uncaptured, where [[Rayman]] asks [[Ly]] the Fairy for directions to find [[Globox]]. He then allows [[Rayman]] to waterski through the swamps in a similar fashion to ''[[Rayman 2]]''.