"Not for everyone, but a refreshing platformer"

This review will be based on the following:

Story - Concept, setting, atmosphere, dialogue, etc.
Graphics - Visual presentation of the game
Sound - Audio usage and quality
Game-play - Mechanics of the game, whether they are enjoyable and effective

Story: 4
Rayman is captured by creatures called Rabbids and forced to compete for his freedom. More original than most platformers, but also like most platformers it isn't a very engulfing story.

The level designs have some flavor to them, but most of the early ones look exactly the same just with different paths, I couldn't wait until I got to something that didn't look like a forest with floating rafts.

Graphics: 7
The platforming graphics are pretty much Playstation quality. The game is in 3D although it is a 2D sidescrolling game. Rayman seems a little too small, although this doesn't make the game difficult, it just would have been nice to see more detail. The Rabbids that move around in the backgrounds of some of the levels are confusing at times as well because you can't tell if they're enemies or not. Sometimes this is actually used in a clever way because some enemies move in and out of the foreground and can't be interacted with until they return to it.

Other than the actual game-play, there are unlockable pictures showing the Rabbids in various activities that are actually good quality, while most of the loading and status screens have a hand drawn look to them, I guess to make it look as if the Rabbids have drawn them.

Sound: 7
Instead of background music like in the Mario games, this one uses pop songs that have the words sung in high pitched Rabbid voices. There isn't much of a selection, but the levels are short so the music is actually somewhat charming and fairly entertaining. Each action has its own sound too, but nothing is particularly noteworthy, which is usually true of any platformer. For the most part, I'd say its the unique approach to the soundtrack that helps this game stand out.

Gameplay: 8
The actual platforming is nothing special at all. In fact, you may put this game aside at first thinking this is going to be awful. The platforming is a piece of cake really, I don't think I died more than 3 times. But where this game truly shines is in the Stylus usage. After each level you compete in another level where you don't actually control Rayman, but his costume powers. Rayman will move at a set pace across the level, and you must use the Styles to move obstacles and destroy enemies, as well as collect Lums and Trophies. However, you must change to different costumes to do different things. For example, the Earth costume destroys boxes and moves platforms, while the Fire costume destroys traps and enemies. At first this is easy, but as you progress you find yourself switching between costumes quickly and moving the Stylus like mad, which can become quite challenging. On top of this, you are chased by a UFO which you can repel by blowing into the microphone, a neat little extra. The minigames are interesting as well, and make solid use of the Stylus too, so if you were worried that this game would basically ignore the Stylus the way New Super Mario brothers did then guess again.

Score: 6
This game takes a lot of chances, and is pretty much hit or miss. The platforming is kind of bland, but the Stylus parts are great. I definitely think it's worth a play through at least once for the innovative Stylus games, which together with the soundtrack are the saving points of the game. Don't be expecting something on par with New Super Mario Bros. because that isn't what this game tries to be, it makes a solid attempt at trying something new, and I hope that future games improve on this kind of game-play.

Reviewer's Score: 6/10, Originally Posted: 03/12/07