Rayman Origins
| Rayman Origins | ||
|---|---|---|
| Published by | Ubisoft | |
| Developed by | Ubisoft Montpellier | |
| Release date | 15th November 2011 (NA) | |
| Genre | 2D platformer | |
| Gameplay mode | Single player and co-operative; up to four players | |
| Platforms | Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3 | |
Rayman Origins is a 2D sidescroller platform game, and the fourth major title in the Rayman series. It was announced by Ubisoft at E3 2010, and is the first major Rayman game since the creation of the Raving Rabbids series. It also marks the return of Rayman creator Michel Ancel to the series; he had not worked on a Rayman title since Rayman 2 in 1999. Although it was originally announced that Rayman Origins would receive an episodic release, this approach was eventually scrapped: the game will instead be given a retail release in late 2011, in order that it might be a 'real sequel', in the words of Ancel. The game will feature four-player co-operative play, with the players controlling Rayman, Globox and two Teensies; however, it will still be possible to play through the game in single-player mode. As in Rayman M, all playable characters will share the same abilities. Chronologically, Origins is a prequel to the original Rayman game, and will explore how ‘...this uncontrollable individual (Rayman) and his grotesque companion (Globox) become the heroes that we know...’ The game's trailer finally reveals Rayman's origins, which were hinted at in the Knowledge of the World in Rayman 2 eleven years before: ‘Conjured from the magnificent moonbeams of the second summer solstice, woven together by [the] nymphs, destined to preserve the equilibrium of the sacred universe: the one we call... Rayman!’ The ‘nymph’ who creates Rayman may be a younger version of Betilla the Fairy. The game will return to the original's health and damage style: instead of a single health bar, Rayman's life energy will once more be divided into bubbles (in-game footage shows Rayman starting a level with five yellow health bubbles and three red damage ones). Origins will be a relatively easy game, as many players were unable to complete the original due to its extreme difficulty. The level design is intended to suit various gameplay styles: players who like collecting and players who like speedruns should both be satisfied. Lums will return, and, as in Rayman Revolution, they will act as currency: the player can use them to purchase power-ups, health upgrades and 'I Dare You' challenges (complex acrobatic minigames in which the player can make wagers).
