Rayman Origins
Encyclopedia
Rayman Origins is a platform game
developed and published by Ubisoft for PlayStation 3
, Wii
, Xbox 360
, Nintendo 3DS
and PlayStation Vita. The game was released on November 15, 2011 in North America, November 24, 2011 in Australia and November 25, 2011 in Europe for PlayStation 3
, Xbox 360
and Wii
. It will also be released for Nintendo 3DS
and PlayStation Vita on a later date. The story follows Rayman, his friend Globox and two teensies as they fight Darktoons and other evil creatures that have infected the Glade of Dreams.
, his best friend Globox, and some Teensie friends are chilling out. However, their snoring disturbs an old granny from the Land of the Livid Dead, who retaliates by sending an evil army of horrendous creatures and the Darktoons across the world, capturing the Electoons and Nymphs that inhabit the world and turning it into chaos. It is up to Rayman and his friends to rescue the Electoons, defeat the evil creatures and set everything right.
platformer
, simultaneously playable with up to four local players who may drop in or out at any time. Players can choose to control either Rayman
, Globox or two Teensies, with additional costumes available as the game progresses.
Players travel through each level, fighting enemies and rescuing imprisoned Electoons. As the game progresses, players gain new abilities such as running up walls, gliding in midair after jumping and shrinking in size which will allow them to reach new areas. Certain segments also sees players riding a mosquito, where players can shoot enemies or suck them up and fire them. If a character is hit by an enemy or obstacle, he will inflate into a ballooned state until another player can bring him back into the game by slapping him, similar to New Super Mario Bros. Wii
, although players can collect hearts that will protect them from one hit. However, if all players are inflated simultaneously, or if a character is hit during single play, play returns to the last checkpoint. Throughout each level, players can collect gold-coloured Lums, and when a character collects a "King" Lum it temporarily doubles the smaller Lums value.
In order to progress through certain parts of the story, players need to free Electoons. Each level has hidden puzzle-like segments where players must solve varying difficulties of puzzles in order to free the caged Electoons at the end. More Electoons can be earned by collecting a certain amount of Lums within a level, with players being awarded a medal if they collect all the Lums. After certain levels are completed, players can access a time trial mode in which they must race through the level as quickly as possible to earn more Electoons, with trophies available for the fastest time. Players can also unlock special 'treasure chest' levels, in which they must chase a runaway treasure chest across a dangerous course. Completing these challenges gives players ruby colored "teeth" which, when players have collected all of them, grant access to an additional world, called The Stars of the Livid Dead Tour.
The game features characters and creatures from the first game in the series such as Betilla the Fairy. Ubisoft was marketing the game as an origins story, in which it is explained how an immature and uncontrollable Rayman
and his friendly companion Globox become the heroes of Rayman 2: The Great Escape
, and later games, with the characters sporting more immature personalities which they apparently possessed prior to the events of 'later' games in the series. The game is said to be accessible for players unfamiliar with the Rayman franchise.
with release on PC
, Nintendo 3DS
, iPad, and iPhone "to be considered". The first episode was originally to be released by the end of 2010, but was delayed until 2011. Following a dearth of information in the new year, the project was confirmed as alive in April 2011. In May 2011, it was announced the title has been expanded to a full-retail title, with a tentative release of Q4 2011.
gave the game a score of 9.5/10, calling it 'a platforming masterpiece.' IGN
also gave it a 9.5, saying that "Rayman Origins is the best looking platformer this generation and also the most fun." 1UP.com
gave the game an A- Rank, praising its varied level design and calling it "the best 2D platformer not called Mario
." Joystiq
gave the game 5 stars out of 5, saying it "embodies the kind of creativity and craftsmanship that have been largely missing in 2D platfomers since their heyday in the 16-bit era." GameTrailers
gave the game a score of 8.5.
Platform game
A platform game is a video game characterized by requiring the player to jump to and from suspended platforms or over obstacles . It must be possible to control these jumps and to fall from platforms or miss jumps...
developed and published by Ubisoft for PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
, Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
, Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
, Nintendo 3DS
Nintendo 3DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo. The autostereoscopic device is able to project stereoscopic 3D effects without the use of 3D glasses or any additional accessories. The Nintendo 3DS features backward compatibility with Nintendo DS series software, including Nintendo DSi software...
and PlayStation Vita. The game was released on November 15, 2011 in North America, November 24, 2011 in Australia and November 25, 2011 in Europe for PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
, Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
and Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
. It will also be released for Nintendo 3DS
Nintendo 3DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo. The autostereoscopic device is able to project stereoscopic 3D effects without the use of 3D glasses or any additional accessories. The Nintendo 3DS features backward compatibility with Nintendo DS series software, including Nintendo DSi software...
and PlayStation Vita on a later date. The story follows Rayman, his friend Globox and two teensies as they fight Darktoons and other evil creatures that have infected the Glade of Dreams.
Plot
In the Glade of Dreams, a world created by the mysterious Bubble Dreamer, RaymanRayman (character)
Rayman is a platform video game series developed and published by Ubisoft and created by Michel Ancel.-Gameplay:Rayman games are typically platformer games, although spin-offs have had radically different gameplay. The original Rayman was a 2D sprite based platformer similar to those of the 16 bit...
, his best friend Globox, and some Teensie friends are chilling out. However, their snoring disturbs an old granny from the Land of the Livid Dead, who retaliates by sending an evil army of horrendous creatures and the Darktoons across the world, capturing the Electoons and Nymphs that inhabit the world and turning it into chaos. It is up to Rayman and his friends to rescue the Electoons, defeat the evil creatures and set everything right.
Gameplay
Rayman Origins is a side-scrollingSide-scrolling video game
A side-scrolling game or side-scroller is a video game in which the gameplay action is viewed from a side-view camera angle, and the onscreen characters generally move from the left side of the screen to the right. These games make use of scrolling computer display technology...
platformer
Platform game
A platform game is a video game characterized by requiring the player to jump to and from suspended platforms or over obstacles . It must be possible to control these jumps and to fall from platforms or miss jumps...
, simultaneously playable with up to four local players who may drop in or out at any time. Players can choose to control either Rayman
Rayman (character)
Rayman is a platform video game series developed and published by Ubisoft and created by Michel Ancel.-Gameplay:Rayman games are typically platformer games, although spin-offs have had radically different gameplay. The original Rayman was a 2D sprite based platformer similar to those of the 16 bit...
, Globox or two Teensies, with additional costumes available as the game progresses.
Players travel through each level, fighting enemies and rescuing imprisoned Electoons. As the game progresses, players gain new abilities such as running up walls, gliding in midair after jumping and shrinking in size which will allow them to reach new areas. Certain segments also sees players riding a mosquito, where players can shoot enemies or suck them up and fire them. If a character is hit by an enemy or obstacle, he will inflate into a ballooned state until another player can bring him back into the game by slapping him, similar to New Super Mario Bros. Wii
New Super Mario Bros. Wii
is a 2009 side-scrolling platform video game published and developed by Nintendo for the Wii video game console. The game was released on November 12, 2009 in Australia, November 15, 2009 in North America, November 20, 2009 in Europe and December 3, 2009 in Japan...
, although players can collect hearts that will protect them from one hit. However, if all players are inflated simultaneously, or if a character is hit during single play, play returns to the last checkpoint. Throughout each level, players can collect gold-coloured Lums, and when a character collects a "King" Lum it temporarily doubles the smaller Lums value.
In order to progress through certain parts of the story, players need to free Electoons. Each level has hidden puzzle-like segments where players must solve varying difficulties of puzzles in order to free the caged Electoons at the end. More Electoons can be earned by collecting a certain amount of Lums within a level, with players being awarded a medal if they collect all the Lums. After certain levels are completed, players can access a time trial mode in which they must race through the level as quickly as possible to earn more Electoons, with trophies available for the fastest time. Players can also unlock special 'treasure chest' levels, in which they must chase a runaway treasure chest across a dangerous course. Completing these challenges gives players ruby colored "teeth" which, when players have collected all of them, grant access to an additional world, called The Stars of the Livid Dead Tour.
History
Rayman Origins was to detail the origin and early times of its titular character. Set in the Glade of Dreams, a world created by the Bubble Dreamer, a creature which takes on different forms throughout the game, his nightmares were to have started transforming the world, as good Electoons turn into the Darktoons and evil creatures appear; Rayman and his friends must stop this and save the Glades of Dreams.The game features characters and creatures from the first game in the series such as Betilla the Fairy. Ubisoft was marketing the game as an origins story, in which it is explained how an immature and uncontrollable Rayman
Rayman (character)
Rayman is a platform video game series developed and published by Ubisoft and created by Michel Ancel.-Gameplay:Rayman games are typically platformer games, although spin-offs have had radically different gameplay. The original Rayman was a 2D sprite based platformer similar to those of the 16 bit...
and his friendly companion Globox become the heroes of Rayman 2: The Great Escape
Rayman 2: The Great Escape
Rayman 2: The Great Escape is a platform game and the sequel to Rayman. It was developed by Ubisoft and first released on October 29, 1999. It is considered to have raised standards regarding 3D, level design and game play, being praised by numerous reviews...
, and later games, with the characters sporting more immature personalities which they apparently possessed prior to the events of 'later' games in the series. The game is said to be accessible for players unfamiliar with the Rayman franchise.
Development
The game was officially announced at the end of Ubisoft's E3 2010 press conference as a downloadable episodic title for PlayStation Network and Xbox Live ArcadeXbox Live Arcade
Xbox Live Arcade is a type of video game download distribution available primarily in a section of the Xbox Live Marketplace, Microsoft's digital distribution network for the Xbox 360, that focuses on smaller downloadable games from both major publishers and independent game developers...
with release on PC
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
, Nintendo 3DS
Nintendo 3DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo. The autostereoscopic device is able to project stereoscopic 3D effects without the use of 3D glasses or any additional accessories. The Nintendo 3DS features backward compatibility with Nintendo DS series software, including Nintendo DSi software...
, iPad, and iPhone "to be considered". The first episode was originally to be released by the end of 2010, but was delayed until 2011. Following a dearth of information in the new year, the project was confirmed as alive in April 2011. In May 2011, it was announced the title has been expanded to a full-retail title, with a tentative release of Q4 2011.
UbiArt Framework
The game is the first title to use UbiArt Framework, an in-house graphics engine. These development tools allow artists to easily create content and then use it in an interactive environment. The artists only have to pose the model and edit the silhouette - UbiArt software takes care of image distortion automatically. The main aim of this engine is to allow artists and designers focus on the art itself, without having to worry about technical aspects of game development. According to Yves Guillemot, only five people were working on the game when it was first announced. Ubisoft has acquired a financial subvention from French government dedicated to supporting art for developing UbiArt tools. The engine is optimized for HD resolutions, allowing games to run in full 1080p HD at 60 frames per second.Reception
The game has received critical acclaim. Nintendo PowerNintendo Power
Nintendo Power magazine is a monthly news and strategy magazine formerly published in-house by Nintendo of America, but now run independently. As of issue #222 , Nintendo contracted publishing duties to Future US, the U.S. subsidiary of British publisher Future.The first issue published was...
gave the game a score of 9.5/10, calling it 'a platforming masterpiece.' IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
also gave it a 9.5, saying that "Rayman Origins is the best looking platformer this generation and also the most fun." 1UP.com
1UP.com
1UP.com is a video game website owned by IGN Entertainment, a division of News Corporation. Previously, the site was owned by Ziff Davis before being sold to UGO Entertainment in 2009....
gave the game an A- Rank, praising its varied level design and calling it "the best 2D platformer not called Mario
Mario (series)
The video game series, alternatively called the series or simply the series, is a series of highly popular and critically acclaimed video games by Nintendo, featuring Nintendo's mascot Mario and, in many games, his brother Luigi. Gameplay in the series often centers around jumping on and...
." Joystiq
Joystiq
Joystiq is a video gaming blog founded in June 2004 that has since become one of the most successful sites within the Weblogs, Inc. family of weblogs. It is the centerpiece of WIN's own network of video gaming blogs, which also includes a blog dealing specifically with the popular MMORPG World of...
gave the game 5 stars out of 5, saying it "embodies the kind of creativity and craftsmanship that have been largely missing in 2D platfomers since their heyday in the 16-bit era." GameTrailers
GameTrailers
GameTrailers is a media website that specializes in video game related content. It provides free access to original programming , game trailers and recorded game play. Along with standard definition , many of the video clips are offered in a higher resolution .Users can upload videos, create...
gave the game a score of 8.5.