Rayman (series): Difference between revisions

The ''Rayman'' series began in 1995 with the release of [[Rayman 1|the original ''Rayman'' game]], a 2D sidescrolling platformer set in a region known as [[the valley]]. This was followed in 1999 by ''[[Rayman 2]]'', a 3D platformer sequel. The year 2003 saw the release of another 3D platformer, ''[[Rayman 3]]''. In 2005, Phoenix Interactive attempted to develop a new 3D platformer under the title ''[[Rayman 4 (cancelled prototype)|Rayman 4]]''; however, this was cancelled in favour of ''[[Rayman Raving Rabbids (cancelled prototype)|Rayman Raving Rabbids]]'', a different 3D platformer which was being developed by [[Ubisoft|Ubisoft Montpellier]]. However, it was similarly cancelled. Many of its elements were recycled into a spin-off party game, also titled ''[[Rayman Raving Rabbids]]'', which went on to spawn its own [[Rabbids (series)|series]] of sequels, which bore progressively less resemblance to the ''Rayman'' series. In 2011, ''[[Rayman Origins]]'', a side-scrolling 2D platformer sequel, was released. In 2012, a mobile spin-off of ''[[Rayman Origins]]'' was released, titled ''[[Rayman Jungle Run]]''. In 2013, a direct sequel of ''[[Rayman Origins|Origins]]'', titled ''[[Rayman Legends]]'', was released. Later in 2013, a mobile spin-off of ''[[Rayman Legends]]'' was released, titled ''[[Rayman Fiesta Run]]''. In 2015, another mobile spin-off of ''[[Rayman Legends|Legends]]'' was released, titled ''[[Rayman Adventures]]''. In 2019, yet another mobile spin-off of ''[[Rayman Legends|Legends]]'' was released, titled ''[[Rayman Mini]]''.

[[Rayman]]'s next adventure, ''[[Rayman 2]]'', features a darker story and somewhat more realistic environments. Prior to the opening of the game, the [[Glade of Dreams]] is invaded by an army of [[Robo-Pirate]]s from space, led by the diabolical [[Admiral Razorbeard]]. The [[Robo-Pirate|pirates]] enslave tens of thousands of innocent creatures, imprisoning them on their colossal flying ship, the ''[[Buccaneer]]''. [[Rayman]] joins a resistance movement, and travels with his friend [[Globox]] to [[the Great Forest]], where the [[Robo-Pirate|pirates]] are massing. In the middle of a fight, [[Rayman]]'s powers suddenly disappear – he receives a telepathic message from [[Ly]] the Fairy, who tells him that the [[Robo-Pirate]]s have just smashed the [[Heart of the World]], scattering the one-thousand [[Yellow Lum]]s across the [[Glade of Dreams]], destroying the cosmic balance and stripping [[Rayman]] and [[Ly]] of their magical powers. As [[Rayman]] is captured by the [[Robo-Pirate|pirates]], he tells a frightened [[Globox]] to run and find [[Ly]] for help. [[Rayman]] is imprisoned in a jail cell on board the ''[[Buccaneer]]'', and it seems that the [[Glade of Dreams|Glade]]'s last hope has been lost. However, [[Globox]] gives himself up to the [[Robo-Pirate|pirates]] in order to be reunited with [[Rayman]]. [[Globox]] gives him a [[Silver Lum]], which he received from [[Ly]] and smuggled into the ship. The [[Silver Lum]] restores [[Rayman]]'s ability to shoot with his [[magic fist]], allowing him to smash into a vent and escape. [[Globox]] accidentally knocks [[Rayman]] off the ''[[Buccaneer]]'' and they both fall to the ground.

On his journey to find [[Ly]] the Fairy, [[Rayman]] meets [[Murfy]] (a helpful [[greenbottle]]) and the [[Grand Minimus]] (the king of the [[Teensie]]s) for the first time. When [[Rayman]] finds [[Ly]], she asks him if he has heard of [[Polokus]], and he tells her that he has not. [[Ly]] informs [[Rayman]] that [[Polokus]]'s power is immense, and that he is their only hope of defeating the [[Robo-Pirate]]s, but that he has been sleeping for many years. In order to reawaken [[Polokus]] and enlist his help, [[Rayman]] must track down the [[Four Masks of Polokus]] – ancient artefacts that the god hid around the [[Glade of Dreams]], and which, when reunited, could bring him back. In order to do this, [[Rayman]] must defeat the masks' remaining Guardians, whose personalities range from reasonable to insane. Each time he finds a [[Four Masks of Polokus|Mask]], [[Rayman]] is briefly transported to [[Polokus]]'s resting place, where he meets the ancient god for the first time and gives him [[Four Masks of Polokus|his Masks]], one by one. [[Rayman]] must also collect all one-thousand [[Yellow Lum]]s scattered throughout the game to repair the [[Heart of the World]], and free dozens of friendly creatures that the pirates have imprisoned in [[cage]]s. Along the way, [[Rayman]] carries out many tasks, rescuing his friends [[Ssssam]] the Watersnake, [[Carmen]] the Whale, [[Globox]], and [[Globox]]'s [[Baby Globox|650 babies]]. At one point, while searching for an [[Elixir of Life]] to cure his friend [[Clark]] the Giant, [[Rayman]] encounters his first foe, [[Jano]], the monster whom he was created to defeat. [[Jano]] is now the Guardian of [[the Cave of Bad Dreams]], a subterranean grotto where [[Polokus]]'s nightmares are imprisoned. Although they have a protracted battle, [[Rayman]] defeats [[Jano]], who apparently comes to respect [[Rayman]] when he chooses the [[Elixir of Life]] for his friend rather than a mountain of gold. They part on good terms. Eventually, [[Rayman]] collects all [[Four Masks of Polokus|four Masks]], reawakening [[Polokus]], who uses his power to destroy almost every [[Robo-Pirate]] in the [[Glade of Dreams]]. However, [[Polokus]]'s power does not extent into the air, so he cannot take down [[Admiral Razorbeard|Razorbeard]] and his prison-ship, the ''[[Buccaneer]]''. [[Rayman]] travels to the ''[[Buccaneer]]'' to free its prisoners and defeat [[Admiral Razorbeard|Razorbeard]] himself. After a long battle, [[Admiral Razorbeard|Razorbeard]] flies away in his escape pod and blows up the ''[[Buccaneer]]'' with [[Rayman]] inside. [[Rayman]] was believed by his friends to have died in the explosion, the only thing left of him being his [[Crazy Shoe|left shoe]]. At his funeral, [[Rayman]] arrives safe and sound and is reunited with his foot. After his long and difficult adventure, he is told that the [[Robo-Pirate]]s are gone and the [[Heart of the World]] is back together. [[Rayman]] is then told to rest, as it is unknown what challenges tomorrow will bring.

Produced in 1999, ''[[Rayman: The Animated Series]]'' was a short-lived television series with little connection to the games. In the first episode, [[Rigatoni]], the villainous boss of an intergalactic circus, captures [[Rayman]] and takes him to his circus. [[Rayman]], however, does not take this and jokes around with [[Admiral Razorbeard|Razorbeard]], who is now portrayed as [[Rigatoni]]'s servant. [[Rayman]] finds out how badly the other circus freaks are being treated and helps them escape. Angered, [[Rigatoni]] phones [[Inspector Grub]] and tells him to find [[Rayman]] and his new friends and bring them back. Meanwhile, outside the vast city of [[Aeropolis]], [[Rayman]] and the gang see an old man struggling to fix a car. The man promises he will let them have the car if they can fix it and [[Cookie]] (one of the other fugitives) successfully manages to do so. After evading [[Inspector Grub]], they seek refuge in what seems to be the detective's house.

In this [[Rayman 3 (Game Boy Advance)|handheld sidescroller]], [[Admiral Razorbeard]] strikes back at the [[Glade of Dreams]] by capturing [[Globox]], and it is up to [[Rayman]] to save his friend yet again. The events of this game may take place between those of ''[[Rayman 2]]'' and ''[[Rayman 3]]'', or may simply be considered an alternate version of ''[[Rayman 3]]''’s story. [[Globox]] swallows a [[Black Lum]], similarly to ''[[Rayman 3]]'', although it doesn't appear to be [[André]] and was apparently done to save a group of [[Teensie]]s. [[Admiral Razorbeard]] returns as the main villain, with him wanting revenge from the events of ''[[Rayman 2]]''. Throughout the course of the game [[Rayman]] will meet a bunch of characters from ''[[Rayman 2]]'', such as [[Ssssam]] and [[Ly]], who will help him out in similar ways. Most levels are based on ''[[Rayman 2]]'', with minor inclusions from ''[[Rayman 3]]'', and the soundtrack consists largely of remixes from ''[[Rayman 2]]''.

When [[Rayman]] eventually makes it to the [[Robo-Pirate|pirate]]'s stronghold, he is once again faced with [[Admiral Razorbeard|Razorbeard]]'s machine, the [[Grolgoth]]. Upon defeating it and [[Admiral Razorbeard|Razorbeard]], [[Globox]] is rescued and the [[Black Lum]] flies out from his mouth. [[Globox]] then goes on to tell [[Baby Globox|his children]] how he saved the world, with a little help from [[Rayman]].

Following the release of ''[[Rayman 3]]'', two attempts were made to develop a 3D platforming sequel. The [[Rayman 4 (cancelled prototype)|first]] was cancelled outright, and the [[Rayman Raving Rabbids (cancelled prototype)|second]] was cancelled and recycled into [[Rayman Raving Rabbids|a party game]] (which went on to spawn [[Rabbids (series)|its own spin-off franchise]]). Eventually, aspects of both platformers were combined to create a [[Rayman Raving Rabbids (Game Boy Advance)|2D sidescroller for the Game Boy Advance]], which was released in 2006.

===[[Rayman 4 (cancelled prototype)|''Rayman 4'' (cancelled prototype)]]===

The first attempt was made by Phoenix Interactive in 2005. This studio began work on a game titled ''[[Rayman 4 (cancelled prototype)|Rayman 4]]'', and commissioned a substantial amount of concept artwork, much of which was gradually leaked to the public over the following years. This artwork shows that the game would have featured faithful 3D recreations of many environments from [[Rayman 1|the original ''Rayman'' game]], such as [[Band Land]] and [[Picture City]], as well as a plot involving [[Bad Rayman]]. After four months of pre-production, the game was cancelled.

In 2006, [[Rayman Raving Rabbids (Game Boy Advance)|the Game Boy Advance version of ''Rayman Raving Rabbids'']] was released. It is not a party game, but a 2D sidescrolling platformer, very similar in gameplay to [[Rayman 3 (Game Boy Advance)|the Game Boy Advance version of ''Rayman 3'']]. The game is essentially a fusion of Phoenix Interactive's ''[[Rayman 4 (cancelled prototype)|Rayman 4]]'' project and [[Ubisoft|Ubisoft Montpellier]]'s original ''[[Rayman Raving Rabbids (cancelled prototype)|Rayman Raving Rabbids]]'' platformer. The story is closer to that of [[Rayman Raving Rabbids (cancelled prototype)|the cancelled ''Rayman Raving Rabbids'']]: the [[Glade of Dreams]] is invaded by an army of vicious [[Rabbid]]s, which are led by a colossal war machine known as the [[Rabbids' ship]], and [[Rayman]] sets out on a quest to take them down. The levels and art style, however, are closer to those of Phoenix Interactive's ''[[Rayman 4 (cancelled prototype)|Rayman 4]]'' project. Many of the game's levels are either locations from [[Rayman 1|the original ''Rayman'' game]] that Phoenix planned to revisit, or locations that were originally designed by Phoenix's concept artists. The game features familiar enemies like [[Livingstone]]s, [[Antitoon]]s, [[hunter]]s and [[piranha]]s. Along the way, numerous characters from ''[[Rayman 2]]'' and ''[[Rayman 3]]'' make cameo appearances – most notably [[Ly]] the Fairy, who plays a major role in the game. [[Rayman]] eventually destroys the [[Rabbids' ship]] and restores harmony to the [[Glade of Dreams]] once more.