The Marshes of Awakening: Difference between revisions

''‘I did see Globox get captured by two Piratesss. They took him somewhere out beyond the Marshes’'' —[[Sssssam|Sssssam the Snake]]

'''The Marshes of Awakening''' is a location in ''[[Rayman 2: The Great Escape|Rayman 2]]''. It follows [[the Fairy Glade]] in all versions of the game except for ''[[Rayman Revolution]]'', in which is follows the first visit of the [[Menhir Hills]], and features the entrance to [[the Cave of Bad Dreams]] in all versions except for the Game Boy Colour version, ''[[Rayman 2 Forever]]''.  This is where [[Rayman]] encounters and rescues [[Sssssam the Watersnake]], who helps him to pass through the marshes through water-skiing.

Around a large body of swamp water, [[Rayman]] must climb over some netting and jump on the lily pads for [[Yellow Lums]]. On the other side of the netting, there is a [[cage]] floating in the waters, larger than most other cages, in which [[Sssssam the Snake]] is imprisoned in. When Rayman releases him from this cage, he then asks him if he knew anything about the [[Four Masks of Polokus]], but he doesn't know, and confirms that [[Globox]] has been recaptured by the [[Pirate]]s and taken beyond the Marshes. He then offers the limbless hero to water ski across the swamp water by shooting his scarf and holding on with a beam similar to that when Rayman swings on a [[Purple Lum]].

The water skiing carries on, and now there are more things to dodge while collecting the Lums, such as [[helicopter bomb]]s and even [[Robo-Pirate]]s. At one point, there is a wooden ledge that Rayman can hop onto to catch more Lums, and then he can reattach himself to Sssssam. Defeating the Pirate on the boat is optional, though risky. Rayman then arrives at a patch of land near a crashed fishing boat. Scrambling onto land, Rayman says farewell to Sssam, who is not at all happy to say good-bye. Sssam ends his trip as the game hints at Rayman needing to return to the Marshes later in the game, as Sssam requests Rayman to return soon.

Rayman must enter the Marshes for a second time after meeting [[Clark]] in the Menhir Hills. Clark, in need of the [[Elixir of Life]] after swallowing something that has made him ill, requests Rayman to seek out the Cave of Bad Dreams hidden in the Marshes. At the Marshes entrance, Rayman must take a side trail up a tree root and into a hidden grotto off-limits to Robo-Pirates. Here, Rayman encounters the Guardian of the Cave of Bad Dreams. Provided that Rayman can remember the name of the place as Clark had told him, the Guardian will grant access - if not, then he will simply shoo Rayman away.   

After completing the Cave of Bad Dreams, Rayman is warped back to the grotto. He then has the option of paying Sssssam a visit and racing through the Marshes (therefore securing the Yellow Lums found on the trail towards the Cave) or taking the entry portal back to the Hall of Doors.  

In this version, around the log that leads to [[the Cave of Bad Dreams]]' entrance, the Guardian of the Cave of Bad Dreams is somehow misplaced far out on top of the water; this occurs only when Rayman defeats the Guardian and obtains the Elixir of Life. He is unreachable through normal gameplay, though he can be approached using a moonjump cheat. Why this occurs, and whether or not this is a glitch, is currently unknown.   

Before entering the Marshes, [[Rayman]] meets the four [[Teensies]] in the [[Hall of Doors]], oddly enough, to tell him that the Pirates and blocked access to the first mask of [[Polokus]]. He needs 50 [[Yellow Lums]] to pass through the door in the Hall, and if he does, the [[Teensies]] will open it, and then warn him about the guards that protect the masks. He will then move on, and enter the [[Marshes of Awakening]].

Strangely, despite this level's splash screen showing the log that leads to [[the Cave of Bad Dreams]], in-game it is not there, though the lily pads and the climbing nets are, as well as [[Sssssam]] the snake, who appears to have a longer and thinner snout in this version. Some of the water skiing stays the same as that in the original version, though there are more obstacles such as boxes, bombs, and even cages, plus there is no switch that reveals some [[Yellow Lums]]. [[Sssssam]] will also not go round in circles at the end of the first phase, but rather just head straight on. The second phase remains the same as in previous versions of the game.   

Much of this level remains the same, though like the PlayStation version, the log that leads to [[the Cave of Bad Dreams]] is absent. Also, during the first water ski ride, [[Eig]] the swamp monster shows up to follow [[Rayman]] and [[Ssssam]] while they also have to avoid [[Zombie Chicken]]s and [[piranha]]s.   

Unlike all the other versions of the game, this level does not need a second visit to find [[the Cave of Bad Dreams]], as the path to this is found at the end of the level. Though it can be accessed before [[Rayman]] visits [[the Menhir Hills]], it is more convenient to go there after [[Clark]] tells [[Rayman]] of the name of the cave, as like in previous versions the Guardian of the Cave of Bad Dreams will only allow Rayman to enter the cave once he knows the name of the area.

This level is the second in this version of the game, and follows that of the original quite loosely. There are many nets and wooden bridges to cross the marshes with in this area, and eventually Rayman will meet Sssssam, uncaged, who will move when Rayman stands on his head.

This part of the level is similar to [[The Bayou]], with small trampolines, pendulums and bombs to avoid.  There are also pipes which Rayman slides on, similar to those in [[Airy Tunes]] in the [[Rayman (GBC)|Game boy Color version of ''Rayman'']], and planks that give way when Rayman steps on them.  

[[Category:Places from Rayman 2|Marshes of Awakening, The]]

[[Category:Places from Rayman 2 Forever|Marshes of Awakening, The]]