Rayman (Atari Jaguar)

• This article is about the Atari Jaguar version of the original Rayman game. For the game in general, see Rayman 1.

Rayman
Rayman
Published by	Ubi Soft Entertainment
Developed by	Ubi Soft Montpellier
Directed by	{{{directed by}}}
Produced by	{{{produced by}}}
Designed by	Michel Ancel and Serge Hascoët with Bruno Bouvret, Sacha Gentilhomme, Michael Guez, Christophe Thibaut
Programmed by	Vincent Greco, Yann Le Tensorer, Daniel Palix
Art by	Alexandra Ancel (characters) Eric Pelatan, Sylvaine Jenny (backgrounds)
Written by	{{{written by}}}
Soundtrack by	Nathalie Drouet, Rémi Gazel, Frédéric Louvre, Frédéric Prados and Olaf Zalcman
Release date	9th September, 1995
Genre	2D platformer
Gameplay mode	Single player
Languages	{{{languages}}}
Platforms	{{{platforms}}}
Ratings	3+ (PEGI), E (ESRB)
Distribution media	Cartridge
Game engine	{{{game engine}}}

Rayman for the Atari Jaguar is the most distinct version of the game. This is mostly due to the limitations of cartridge space and the Jaguar's weaker hardware. Differences range from levels having major gameplay and design changes to a lower quality soundtrack.

Notable differences from the PC/console versions

• The intro is a collection of slideshow images rather than a cutscene. The Magician does not appear to tell the story; it is explained through text.
• The menu has been reduced to a single screen where the player can load their saved games.
• The Swamps of Forgetfulness and Mr Dark's Dare have been renamed Forgotten Swamps and Mr Dark's Château respectively.
• Like the soundtrack, the sound effects are of lower quality.
• The word "Action" appears at the start of every level.
• The font and its colors are slightly different.
• The controls are less responsive.
• Some backgrounds have been either switched around or colorized differently.
• The scenery has been altered in the Dream Forest.
• Rayman does not exclaim "Yeah!" when he touches an exit sign.
• Tall Livingstones run towards Rayman when he is close to them.
• Electoons immediately fly off the screen when they are saved.
• If Rayman is instantly killed by spikes, there is no special animation as in the other versions.
• When Rayman falls into the void, the animation where he turns into a bunch of Electoons does not play; instead, the game transitions as soon as Rayman touches the bottom of the screen.
• Rayman loses the Speed Fist and/or Golden Fist if he takes damage, instead of when the player loses a life. For the Speed Fist, Rayman loses two levels of speed every time he gets hit.
• Part 2 of Anguish Lagoon, where Rayman must defeat Bzzit, is revisited on subsequent runs through the level.
• In part 3 of Anguish Lagoon, Bzzit can shoot projectiles at enemies. This was later implemented in Rayman Origins.
• Unlike all other versions, Moskito is correctly depicted as being red-skinned with red wings, pink gloves, a grey proboscis, and grey stripes and shoes during part 3 of Moskito's Nest.
• This is the only version of the game where vanishing clouds open their eyes, doing so for a very brief moment every time they disappear, either from being stepped on or at regular intervals.
• A new health bar is used for the second part of the fight against Mr. Sax instead of the same one as the first part, although it still takes into account how many times the boss was hit on that first part.
• The Antitoons' hair turn yellow when they fly.
• The P symbol on the Simple Power and Double Power is larger.
• Puzzles involving shrinking Rayman down have been modified, because Flying Blue Elves are missing from the game. Even during the final fight against Mr Dark, Rayman does not shrink.
• There is no sliding system for the slippery slopes in Band Land, Blue Mountains, Picture City and Candy Château. Due to this, the level design in these areas has been altered.
• In part 2 of The Hard Rocks, the invisible force only appears once instead of twice: unlike the other versions, the passage with the Hunters near the end of the part does not feature the invisible force.
• The part where Rayman cuts the ropes in Mr Stone's Peaks has been removed. As a result, the lone cage in that part has been moved to the end of the (now) third part.
• Mr Stone has one less health point than in the other versions. The fight is also slightly different near the end, as Mr Stone starts walking towards Rayman once the clouds begin to appear.
• Part 3 of Eraser Plains has a completely different level design, although the section with the first cage has been directly taken from the part in the other versions.
• The firefly is absent from the game; thus, part 2 of Eat at Joe's is fully lit like a regular level. It also contains two cages instead of one: as a result, the cage present in part 6 has been removed.
• Parts 1 and 2 of Mr Dark's Château (Mr Dark's Dare in the other versions) have a completely different level design.
• The fight against Mr Dark is shorter, as the intermediate transformation is missing. The same health bar is also used for both transformations, instead of having a separate bar for each transformation.
• None of the images in the credits showing notable characters from the game on holiday are seen, except for the one with Rayman and his friends.

• 
  The menu has been reduced to a single screen for the player to load their games.
• 
  The changed scenery in Pink Plant Woods.
• 
  Bzzit firing a projectile to defeat a hunter.
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  A puzzle Rayman has to solve in the third part of Eraser Plains.

Candy Château design

One of the well-known changes in the Atari Jaguar version is the heavily altered design of Mr Dark's Dare. Instead of riding on a frying pan in part 1, Rayman must follow several arrows of Tings to reach the exit sign. In this phase are the corkscrews and Swiss army knives; these assets are only used in this version and later on in Rayman Designer. Part 2 is also changed; Bad Rayman does not appear at all, but more exclusive dangers like the blue lemonade pools with little icing platforms appear. Part 3 is mostly the same, with a few minor changes.

The battle with Mr Dark is much unlike the one in the console versions. Mr Dark only has 12 health points, he attacks Rayman for a longer period of time, he only morphs into two creatures (Mr Skops/Mr Stone and Bzzit/Mr Sax/Space Mama) instead of three, and the creatures sweat and walk/jump away when they are damaged enough. When Mr Dark's health reaches 0, Rayman does his celebration dance. While he does it, Electoon faces from the medallions appear around him, with colourful text saying "well done."

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  The first part features Swiss army knives and corkscrews.
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  In the second part, Rayman must cross the blue lemonade pools by jumping on the tiny floating bits of icing.
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  A pile of Electoons appear after Mr Dark is defeated.

Development

Main article: Rayman (early production)

In recent years following the release of the game, several betas and a prototype of the Atari Jaguar version have been leaked. The gameplay mechanics were most notably different in the beta. Some animations Rayman could do such as the handstand ended up being scrapped, the Ting counter was originally an enemy counter, and the HUD was placed in the middle of the screen rather than the top corners.

The prototype is more similar to the final version, although there are many differences between the two. Glitches in the prototype can sometimes render it unplayable, especially if it is played on an emulator.

Some scrapped objects like clouds with eyes can only be found through hacking Rayman Designer.

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  A mosquito standing still in the air.
• 
  Many elements in this beta were scrapped from the final version.
• 
  A glowing arrow indicates when Rayman's telescopic fist is fully charged.
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  These unidentified enemies in this prototype are holdovers from the game's cancelled Super Nintendo Entertainment System version.
• 
  The world map, as seen in the early Atari Jaguar prototype.

Manual

Hi folks!

You want to know what's going on? Let me tell you the story of Rayman...

In Rayman's World, nature and people live together in peace... the Great Protoon provides and maintains the harmony and balance in the world. Sorry folks, this apparently can't last. Do you want to play or what? ... one fateful day, the evil Mr Dark steals the Great Protoon and defeats Betilla the Fairy as she tries to protect it! The Electoons who used to gravitate around it lose their natural stability and scatter all over the world! Troublesome, isn't it? And untidy, too! In the now-unbalanced world, strange phenomena begin to occur: freaks and hostile characters appear, capturing every Electoon they can find! They definitely need a hero to save them now, don't you think?

Rayman to the rescue! As the guardian of this world, he must free the Electoons, recapture the Great Protoon from its mysterious kidnapper and reassemble them all to restore the world's harmony. But will the bad guys let him do it? ...

—Manual, Rayman

Click on the thumbnail to read the manual.

The Atari Jaguar Manual (French/English/Deutsch)

Gallery

• 
  One of the slideshows from the intro.
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  Mr Dark stealing the Great Protoon.
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  Rayman, Electoons and Mr Dark.
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  A cage.
• 
  Mr Dark with his binoculars.