Giant mosquito
- This article is about the species of moskitoes in Rayman's universe. For the boss in Rayman 1, see Moskito (Rayman 1).
| Mosquito | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Alignment | Bad (Rayman 1) but then Good (Rayman Origins) |
| Appears in | Rayman 1, Rayman 2: The Great Escape, Rayman Revolution, Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc, Beyond Good & Evil, Rayman Origins |
It's good to have a gigantic stinging insect on your side! The bug-eyed Moskito is a friend in battle. Take a wild ride with him and shoot through the Moody Clouds, where massive machines manufacture the weather. Bombard the enemy or suck them up and spit 'em back out at other bad guys.—Official site, Rayman Origins
Mosquitoes, lately called Moskitoes, are a species of giant flying insect encountered frequently throughout the Rayman series. They are characterised by their huge, round eyes and prominent proboscis. Notable mosquitoes include Bzzit and Moskito.
Rayman 1
In the original Rayman game, Rayman first encounters Bzzit the pink mosquito in Anguish Lagoon. Rayman overcomes him in a brief boss battle (which is also the very first boss battle of the series), after which Bzzit becomes upset and starts to cry. Rayman takes pity on him and cheers him up, thus the two become friends. Bzzit then allows Rayman to ride on his back during the next phase of the level. Afterwards he is not seen again, but in the Atari Jaguar version he can be seen at the end of the game (after the credits) in an artwork depicting Rayman and his friends at a party celebrating the defeat of Mr. Dark, drinking what appears to be honey.
In a later level, Moskito's Nest, Rayman encounters Moskito, a purple, more powerful version of Bzzit. Moskito chases Rayman through the third phase of the level while carrying a gigantic spiky fruit. Rayman and Moskito soon go head-to-head; Moskito's attacks include Bzzit's darting and stinging movements, but Moskito incorporates a variety of spiky fruit-related attacks into his strategy. At the end of the fight, Moskito is knocked unconscious and is not seen again.
Rayman 2: The Great Escape
In Rayman 2: The Great Escape, a few mosquitoes can be seen hovering quietly by themselves in the Woods of Light. They serve no purpose, other than as an Easter egg or continuity nod to the previous game. In the Dreamcast version of the game, these appearances are expanded greatly: in addition to the Woods of Light, mosquitoes now appear in the Fairy Glade, the Marshes of Awakening, the Bayou and the Sanctuary of Rock and Lava. However, neither Bzzit nor Moskito make an appearance.
Rayman Revolution
In Rayman Revolution, the expanded PlayStation 2 version of Rayman 2, the mosquito Bzzit returns and plays a role in the plot: Rayman's visit to the Bayou is now a mission to rescue Bzzit, who has been captured by the Pirates and held there. Bzzit must be rescued, as he is the only one who can take Rayman to the Lost Island, which is the location of the Sanctuary of Water and Ice in this version. Once rescued, Bzzit can be found at a small boat by the Pier; in a 'ferryman'-like role reminiscent of that which he played in the first game, Bzzit brings the boat and Rayman to the Lost Island. Revolution also gives Bzzit dialogue for the first time; his voice is whiny and high-pitched. Some more light is also shed on Bzzit's personality; he is shown to be the friend of a baby Globox.
Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc
In Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc, several mosquitoes appear in 2D Madness, a minigame which acts mainly as a tribute to the original game. These mosquitoes are obstacles within the level, and fly back and forth while wielding spiky fruits. None of them appear to be Bzzit or Moskito.
The type of flying Hoodlums known as Hoodstormers are an attempt by the Hoodlum army to emulate the effectiveness of mosquitoes in battle, as a form of psychological warfare. Hoodstormer pilots train in the swamplands (where mosquitoes are found consistently throughout the series) in order to learn the mosquitoes' attack pattern, as mosquitoes are looked upon as the ‘ultimate airborne annoyance’.
Rayman Origins
The mosquitoes also appear in Rayman Origins. They offer you rides and can also shoot out of their mouth, as well as inhale enemies. They usually appear at the end of each world and some hidden rooms with Electoon cages.
Beyond Good & Evil
The mosquitoes from the Rayman series also make a cameo appearance in Beyond Good & Evil, another Ubisoft game designed by Michel Ancel, the creator of Rayman. In the game, a pink mosquito can be seen on the nose of a dead cow in a factory. If the player takes a photograph of the mosquito, its species's name is revealed as Aedes Raymanis, meaning Fly from Rayman.