Rayman's symbol: Difference between revisions

'''Rayman's symbol''' is the white ‘O’-shaped crest visible on the front of [[Rayman]]'s purple clothing, as well as various other locations throughout [[The Glade of Dreams|Rayman's world]]. The symbol holds mystical significance, and seems to be emblematic of [[Rayman]]'s unique powers. It can be seen in every game in which [[Rayman]] appears.

==In ''[[Rayman 1|Rayman]]''==

===[[Rayman (early production)|Pre-release]]===

In 2010, it was revealed by the French retro-gaming magazing [[Pix'n Love]] that [[Rayman 1|the original ''Rayman'' game]] was [[Rayman (cancelled prototype)|initially developed for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System]]. [[Rayman (cancelled prototype)|This version of the game]] was never officially announced, and was cancelled when the decision was made to develop the game for more powerful systems such as the Atari Jaguar. Pix'n Love revealed several screenshots from [[Rayman (cancelled prototype)|this early prototype]], showing [[Rayman]] and a female companion not unlike the girlfriend character [[Simohne]] who was later planned to appear in [[Rayman Raving Rabbids (cancelled prototype)|the cancelled ''Rayman Raving Rabbids'']]. The companion would have been controlled by the second player – the game was originally planned to feature co-operative gameplay. In the screenshots, [[Rayman]] has a red body rather than a purple one, but the ‘O’-shaped symbol is still present, even at this early stage in the game's development. The female character does not appear to have the ‘O’-shaped symbol on her blue body; her symbol appears to be an exclamation mark, but the screenshots are too blurry to tell for certain.

===[[Rayman 1|Final game]]===

In [[Rayman 1|the original ''Rayman'' game]], the significance of Rayman's symbol first becomes apparent in [[Pink Plant Woods]], where [[Rayman]] encounters [[Betilla]] the Fairy. [[Betilla]] grants [[Rayman]] [[Telescopic fist|his first power]] by imbuing him with [[Silver Lum|silvery lights]] which are absorbed directly through the symbol on the front of his chest. The symbol glows briefly with several sparkles of light, which then sink back into it, completing [[Rayman]]'s absorption of his new power. This exact process occurs three more times in the duration of the game, as [[Betilla]] grants [[Rayman]] the powers to [[Grappling fist|grab]], to [[helicopter]] and to [[Running|run]]. In [[Rayman (Atari Jaguar)|the Atari Jaguar version of the game]], the introductory sequence shows [[Rayman]] in a field, playing with [[Electoon]]s while the [[Great Protoon]] looms in the background. The [[Great Protoon]] is perched on top of a large ovular stone, which is engraved with three instances of Rayman's symbol. Perhaps suggesting that there may be some connection between the symbol and the [[Great Protoon]].

===[[The Knowledge of the World]]===

One of [[Rayman]]'s objectives in the game is to collect the [[Yellow Lum]]s – the thousand fragments of energy which formed [[the Heart of the World]], the mystical object which provides all the world's energy and is responsible for creating [[Polokus]]. As he gathers more [[Yellow Lum]]s, [[the Knowledge of the World]] is gradually unveiled to him. When [[Rayman]] has gathered at least 999 of the 1000 [[Yellow Lum]]s, the most profound secret of all is revealed to him: ‘Of all the inhabitants here, you are the only one whom [[Polokus]] did not dream. You are the only one to receive powers from the [[Fairy|fairies]]. Some see you as the chosen one of all the gods. Who knows...?’ This information draws a connection between [[Rayman]]'s status as the ‘chosen one of all the gods’, the fact that he was not created by [[Polokus]], and his apparently unique ability to gain powers from the [[Silver Lum]]s created by the [[Fairy|fairies]]. Since [[Rayman]] always absorbs [[Silver Lum]]s through the symbol on his chest when he receives them from the fairies [[Betilla]] and [[Ly]], this could indicate that Rayman's symbol is in some way related to his perceived role as the ‘chosen one’.

==In ''[[Rayman Origins]]'' and ''[[Rayman Legends]]''==

Not much prominence is given to Rayman's symbols in these games, however, statues representing [[Rayman]] and thus, his symbol can be seen populating various areas of [[the Glade of Dreams]].