The Iron Mountains

The Iron Mountains (also known as Gloomy Island) is a location in the world of Rayman 2: The Great Escape. It is where the fourth and final Mask of Polokus is found, despite not necessarily being a sanctuary.

The Iron Mountains The Iron Mountains ← The Tomb of the Ancients The Prison Ship → {{{connected to}}} Original version This level is set high up in the mountainous regions of the Glade of Dreams where a number of pirate strongholds are built. Deep in the canyons nearby are mines in which a large number of Baby Globoxes are held captive. Many Red Robo-Pirates were seen as guards. Phase 1 Rayman is outside a metalworks building with a generator room inside, and he has to shoot two switches to deactivate an electric field and go down the middle of a rotating machine and into a pipe that leads to a grassy area. Going though another tunnel past a swampy lake, there is another pirate stronghold which Rayman has to jump from the top and glide down a rapid river. At the edge is a hot air balloon which Rayman hops in and rides. Phase 2 He then lands in a field with yet another stronghold, which is this time guarded by an invincible giant robot that resembles a dinosaur or perhaps a chicken. The robot is so heavy, everytime it jumps it sends objects in the air, making it useful for Rayman to infiltrate the stronghold (the Reformatory for Disturbing Children), which has a few baby Globoxes are held captive. Rayman soon finds a walking shell and has to ride all over the place to collect Yellow Lums and find two switches (three switches in the PlayStation version) to release the babies. Phase 3 Deep in a canyon Rayman has to cross a polluted pond, and he'll eventually meet Uglette, Globox's wife, who is upset by the fact that more of her babies are missing and held in the mines. The player then takes control of a pirate ship and has to fly it around the canyons and find the four mines. When all of mines are visited, the ship has to go back to Uglette and reunite the babies. One of them withdraws the last mask from its mouth and gives it to Rayman.

The Iron Mountains The Iron Mountains ← The Tomb of the Ancients The Prison Ship → {{{connected to}}} Dreamcast version Most of this level is identical to the original version, but with the following exception: At the neat end of Phase 1, before the hot air balloon, a Globox Crystal is found - this is the last of the six to collect.

Gloomy Island Gloomy Island Gloomy Island ← The Tomb of the Ancients The Prison Ship → {{{connected to}}} PlayStation version A Ninja pirate attacking Rayman In this version, the level is called Gloomy Island, and only the area in which Rayman has to flick the switches to free the Baby Globoxes is used. In the beginning Rayman will see Uglette, she tells Rayman that her baby's were taken to the pirate stronghold, Rayman has to rescue them locate it and rescue them. Phase 1 of the level is used in part, but is heavily edited in some areas. As said above, Uglette informs Rayman of the children's capture at the very start of the level, not towards the end. This gives Rayman more purpose to being here in this version, rather than seemingly wandering randomly as in other versions. There is a bizarre inconsistancy here not present in other versions due to the Uglette cutscene occuring at the very start of the level. When the player enters the level through the hall of doors, the game will load, and then jump straight into the cutscene with Uglette, which shows Rayman already in the level, comforting Uglette. However, after the cutscene, Rayman emerges from the portal as usual, and lands next to a weeping Uglette.

The Iron Mountains The Iron Mountains The Iron Mountains ← The Tomb of the Ancients The Prison Ship → Rainbow Creek PlayStation 2 version Most of this level remains the same, but with the following exceptions: The phase in which Rayman controls a Warship to save the Baby Globoxes has been omitted for this level, and is used as its own level called The Pirate Mines. Instead of the last Mask, the babies reward Rayman with a Rain mask instead. Because of this, there is a new Guardian called the Grolem 13, who guards the final mask.