Rayman M
| Rayman M | ||
|---|---|---|
 | ||
| Published by | Ubisoft | |
| Developed by | Ubisoft | |
| Release date | 2001 | |
| Genre | Racing/Melee | |
| Gameplay mode | Single player/Multiplayer | |
| Platforms | Sony PlayStation 2, PC, Nintendo GameCube (US), Microsoft Xbox (US) | |
Rayman M: Multiplayer (known as Rayman Arena outside of Europe) is a multiplayer spin-off game based on Rayman 2: The Great Escape. In Europe, it was released only on the Sony PlayStation 2 and PC on the 30th November 2001, while in the United States it was released on the Microsoft Xbox and Nintendo GameCube in addition to the PlayStation 2 and PC. It is a 3D game which combines racing, battling, and a few traditional platform elements. Unlike the other Rayman games, this game does not have a notable plot, other than that the characters are in a sporting competition.
Gameplay
The gameplay in Rayman M is split into two main modes, Racing and Battle.
Racing Mode
In this mode, the players take part in a foot race and face a number of obstacles depending on which environment they are playing in. There are no power-ups in this mode, although throughout each course there are Purple Lums, speed ramps and small trampolines that are useful. This mode has four different types of racing game. Obstacles include boxes that the player has to shoot up to eight times in order to pass, bear traps and electric bars.
- Training: This mode allows the player to explore the course and practice before playing in the other modes, as well as setting their own personal records. Only a single player can play in this mode.
- Race: This mode involves up to four characters to race each other, the first one to the finish line wins. In single player mode, the other players are computer controlled and there are three laps to run, while in multi-player mode the players can set how many laps to run before winning.
- Popolopoï: This mode uses a time limit in which a character must complete three laps in. Although the time starts at 20 seconds, the time can be increased by shooting small butterflies called Popolopoï, which come in different colours that represent how much time is given. Only a single player can play in this mode.
- Lums: In this mode, the player has to complete three laps while collecting the number of Yellow Lums required in order to legally win, which can be used at later points of the game. Only a single player can play in this mode.
Battle Mode
Rather than an obstacle course, the Battle mode is made up of an arena in which characters run around playing three different modes. Unlike the Race mode, this mode uses power-ups.
- Lum Spring: In the mode, the player has to collect as many Lums (which unusually look like crystals this time) as they can in order to reach the winning conditions - in a typical game, this is up to five Lums - or before the time runs out. To help him or her prevent the opponents from reaching them first, they are equipped with ice bullets to freeze them, thought the others' shots have to be avoided.
- Lum Fight: Each player starts with five hit points each, and the player has to knock all of the opponents' hit points in order to score Lums. Each time a player dies, they respawn somewhere else in the arena. A negative Lum is given to a player that loses to a self-infliction. Various power-ups called Generators are scattered around, and contain a different weapon to use against opponents. Uses the same winning conditions as Lum Spring.
- Capture the Fly: This game is similar to tag - the player has to find a Light Fly and keep hold of it as long as possible without getting hit by an opponent's shot. The character is equipped with five bounce bullets which are only effective on the player in possession of the Fly. The player that reaches the winning conditions first wins.
Environment
The game is set in the same environmental universe as Rayman 2: The Great Escape, and consist of four different worlds for each mode, each with three stages. The world the players play in also determines the difficulty of the game, going from Beginner to Advanced. As the player progresses, the harder difficulties are unlocked. Many of the worlds in Rayman M that resemble locations from Rayman 2 include Ly's Palace, which resembles the Sanctuary of Water and Ice, and the [[Dark Sewers], which are reminiscent of the Tomb of the Ancients.
Characters
At the start of the game, five characters are available, and as the player progresses through the game, he or she will unlock the remaining characters as well as skins for them. Each character has their own musical theme in the Racing mode, and have their own method of gliding, though they all shoot the same way Rayman does.
- Rayman: The star of the game.
- Globox: Rayman's best friend, who joined the competition to overcome his shyness (unlike other games he apeared in, he is not scared of the bad guys).
- Teensies: A pair of Grand Minimus Teensies.
- Admiral Razorbeard: The irritable lord of the Robo-Pirate Army.
- Henchman 800: One of the Robo-Pirates from Rayman 2, particularly of the Red variety.
- Tily: A small Fairy speculated to have replaced Ly the Fairy. Tily must be unlocked.
- Razorwife: Admiral Razorbeard's flamboyant wife. Razorwife must be unlocked.
- Henchman 1000: An older Robo-Pirate model. Henchman 1000 must be unlocked.
- Dark Globox: An eviler, dumber, uglier, and certainly ruder version of Globox. Dark Globox only appears in "Rayman Arena" and must be unlocked.
- Dark Rayman: Mr Dark's evil doppleganger from Rayman. Dark Rayman only appears in the Gamecube and Xbox version of Rayman Arena and must be unlocked. He is also the player's opponent through the entire third league in the game, the Master League. He is also the main antagonist of Rayman Arena.
Levels
Beginner League
- Racing
Advanced League
- Racing
- Battle
Expert League
Extreme League
- Racing
Bonus League
- Battle
See Also
- Rayman Rush, the PlayStation version of Rayman M, which included characters that did not appear in Rayman M.
- Miscellanea