Rayman (series)

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## General Information

### Composer

Rémi Gazel
Didier Lord
Stéphane Bellanger

### Developer

Ubisoft MontpellierUbisoft SofiaUbisoft CasablancaUbisoft MilanUbisoft ParisUbisoft BucharestUbisoft Shanghai

### Platform

Android, Atari Jaguar, Dreamcast, DSiWare, Game Boy Advance, Game Boy Color, GameCube, iOS, Microsoft Windows, MS-DOS, N-Gage, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo 64, Nintendo DS, Nintendo Switch, OS X, PlayStation, Sega Saturn, Wii, Wii U, Xbox, Epic Games

**Rayman** (レイマン, *Reiman*) is an action-themed platform video game series. The series was created by Michel Ancel, and each installment has been published by Ubisoft. The protagonist of the series is the heroic and limbless humanoid-bird hybrid, Rayman, a character destined to combat the forces of evil and preserve the equilibrium of the universe. The series partake in a fantastical world, titled the Glade of Dreams, which was dreamed into existence by the god, Polokus, and is sustained by a mystical keystone known as the Heart of the World.

The *Rayman* series began in 1995 with the release of the original *Rayman* game, a 2D side-scrolling platformer set in a region, titled the valley. This was followed in 1999 by *Rayman 2*, a 3D platformer sequel. The year 2003 saw the release of another 3D platformer, *Rayman 3*. In 2005, Phoenix Interactive attempted to develop a new 3D platformer under the title *Rayman 4*; however, this was cancelled in favour of *Rayman Raving Rabbids*, a different 3D platformer which was being developed by Ubisoft Montpellier. However, it was similarly cancelled. Many of its elements were recycled into a spin-off party game, also titled *Rayman Raving Rabbids*, which went on to spawn its own series of sequels, which bore progressively less resemblance to the *Rayman* series. In 2011, *Rayman Origins*, a side-scrolling 2D platformer sequel, was released. In 2012, a mobile spin-off of *Rayman Origins* was released, titled *Rayman Jungle Run*. In 2013, a direct sequel of *Origins*, titled *Rayman Legends*, was released. Later in 2013, a mobile spin-off of *Rayman Legends* was released, titled *Rayman Fiesta Run*. In 2015, another mobile spin-off of *Legends* was released, titled *Rayman Adventures*.

## Gameplay

Rayman is a side-scrolling platformer that, beginning in *Rayman Origins* onward, is playable with up to four local players who have the chance to drop in or out anytime. 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, swimming and shrinking in size to reach new areas. Certain segments also see players riding a mosquito, where players can shoot enemies or inhale and fire them. If a character is hit by an antagonist or hazard, they will "bubblize", or inflate into a ballooned state. To get out of this state, another player can slap, or jump on them, similar to *New Super Mario Bros. Wii*. Players can also collect hearts that will protect them from one hit. However, if all players are bubblized simultaneously, or if a character is hit during single-play, they will explode and the play will return to the last checkpoint, typically a Darkblocker where the player had go through before, or the last place where the player broke a cage. Throughout each level, players can collect yellow Lums, which they will need for Electoons. When a character collects a Lum King, it turns all Lums red for a short time. Red Lums are worth two yellow Lums. There are also Skull Coins placed in hidden or dangerous areas. They are worth 25 Lums if successfully collected. If the player gets harmed while collecting a Skull Coin, they will lose it. In this situation, the player must try again to get the coin.

In order to progress through certain parts of the story, players need to free Electoons. The most common way to get Electoons is to free them from cages; there is one at the end of each level, with more to be found in hidden areas and are guarded by several enemies that collectively use a forcefield to protect the cage, the team must defeat every single enemy that uses the forcefield, then the cage can be destroyed by attacking it. Most of the cages are hidden away in secret passages, so once the Electoons are free, they will create a portal which leads to the outside of these passages. Each level contains a medallion that shows how many Electoon challenges the players completed, such as break a single cage, collect a specific amount of Lums or beat the clock whilst the level has been completed. In all levels, there are hidden cages ranging from 1 to 3. More Electoons can be earned by collecting a certain amount of Lums within a level and clearing Time Trials that are unlocked after clearing a level once. Scoring high marks in either of these challenges can also earn medals and trophies. Players can also unlock special "treasure chest" levels, in which they must chase a runaway treasure chest across a dangerous course in order to receive a skull tooth. Completing all of the teeth grants access to the bonus level, The Land of the Livid Dead.

## Reception

Rayman was titled the "Best New Character" award of 1995 by *Electronic Gaming Monthly*. Since his debut in 1995 on the Atari Jaguar, Rayman has become a well-received fan favorite and recognizable video game character by countless players and was known for his lack of limbs.

In the franchise's early lifetime, Rayman has been the subject of a short-lived animated television series in 1999, *Rayman: The Animated Series*, which was produced as a tie-in to the video games, though significantly different from the source material. Only four episodes were made. In 2019, another animated TV series was announced to be in works at Ubisoft Film & Television. Rayman appears as a recurring character in the 2023 animated series *Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix*, voiced by David Menkin.

*Rayman Origins* received critical acclaim. The teview aggregator website Metacritic gave the Wii version 92/100, the PlayStation Vita version 88/100, the Xbox 360 version 87/100 the PlayStation 3 version 87/100, the PC version 86/100, and the Nintendo 3DS version 71/100. *1UP.com* gave the game an A− Rank, praising its varied level design, saying "Origins' brilliance is it keeps that simplicity on the surface, but ends up feeling incredibly varied thanks to its level design", and calling it "the best 2D platformer not called *Mario*." *Eurogamer* rated the game 8/10, calling it "a delightful, playful, and occasionally exhilarating platformer" while opining that the level design was inferior to the *Mario* series in that "the same ideas are repeated too often." GameTrailers gave the game a score of 8.5/10. *Game Informer* gave the game an 8.5/10, stating: "If you only know about Rayman from his affiliation with the now-ubiquitous Rabbids, that probably wasn’t the best introduction. Rayman Origins is the proper way to catch up with the character, who finally has a game that puts him squarely in the majors." IGN gave it a 9.5/10, saying that "Rayman Origins is the best-looking platformer this generation and also the most fun. A truly realized vision at the top of its genre, Rayman Origins is an extravaganza with plenty of action to keep it fresh from start to finish and beyond," *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." *Nintendo Life* awarded it a 10/10 and called it "The very pinnacle of 2D platforming and undoubtedly one of the Wii’s very best games". *Nintendo Power* gave the game a score of 9.5/10, calling it 'a platforming masterpiece.' *VideoGamer.com* gave the game 8 out of 10, stating: "A passionate tribute to the days when platform games ruled the Earth, but beyond that, it's also one of the best examples of the genre we've had in recent memory." GameSpot titled *Rayman Origins* "Best Platformer of 2011". IGN nominated *Rayman Origins* for "Game Of The Year." Giant Bomb named *Rayman Origins* the tenth best game of 2011. During the 15th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated *Rayman Origins* for "Outstanding Achievement in Animation" and "Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction."

*Rayman Legends* received "universal acclaim", according to the review aggregator Metacritic. *Edge* gave the game a 9/10 praising it by saying "One of the most jubilant, vividly imagined and open-hearted platformers to come along in a long time." The PlayStation Vita version of the game received a total score of 33/40 by *Famitsu*. *GamesRadar* gave the game a score of 4.5 out of 5 stars, praising the level variety and presentation, whilst criticizing the sometimes chaotic multiplayer and some of the touchscreen sections during solo play. Tom McShea of *GameSpot* rated the game a 9.0/10 praising the game mechanics, the level design and the local co-op. *GameTrailers* gave the game a score of 9.1/10, stating that the co-operative play on the Wii U GamePad "only serves to complement the game design." Jose Otero of *IGN* rated the game a 9.5/10, praising the gameplay and the design of the levels, saying that "Naturally, Rayman starts out with simple running, jumping, and punching, but before you know it you’re sneaking past dozens of deadly traps, battling huge bosses, or playing through awesome challenge levels that look like '90s music videos. Every time I thought I found a personal favorite stage, the next one came along and replaced it," but criticized the absence of online co-op. Danielle Riendeau of *Polygon* rated the game an 8.5/10 saying that it is "a beautifully designed gauntlet." Thomas Whitehead of *Nintendo Life* gave the Wii U version an "excellent" 9/10, stating it is "close to perfection", but with "minor missteps". He criticized the game's short length but added that "Clearly aware of this, the developers made those hours utterly glorious." During the 17th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated *Rayman Legends* for "Family Game of the Year," "Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction," and "Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition."

## Trivia

* In Japanese, the official title of the game and for the character, Rayman (レイマン, *Reiman*), is a shortened form of "*Rheinmann*," a habitational name for someone from the Rhineland, from a pet form of an ancient and personal Germanic and/or Jewish surname name formed with the first element from ragin 'advice, counsel' or rīc "power(ful), rich."
* The first *Rayman* game is the only main game in the series to not receive a release on a home console associated with Nintendo.
* In *Just Dance 2015*, during the music titled "**Love Is All**" by Roger Glover & The Butterfly Ball, there is a background based on *Rayman Legends* filled with characters of that game; although Rayman himself cannot been seen in the aforementioned background, the character, Sir Rayelot (which is modeled after Rayman's body), makes an appearance.
* Raymesis can sometimes be referred to "*Bad Rayman*" or "*Dark Rayman*," which those names have been originated from the original *Rayman* game.
* In several *Just Dance* games, Rayman and his friends are available as unlockable avatars.

## References

1. ↑ Outstanding Achievement in Animation
2. ↑ Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction
3. ↑ Family Game of the Year
4. ↑ Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction
5. ↑ Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition