Every time I revisit either Rayman Origins or Legends (I own them both on console and Vita), I'm instantly smacked across the face with the realization that they are absolutely the best of the modern crop of 2D platformers. Hell, I'd be totally fine putting them among the top 2D platformers ever made. What a joy it is to play such gorgeous, joyful, tight, challenging games with loads of personality and content. I mean, seriously. 2D Mario is still great from a gameplay perspective, but these games feel to me how Mario games used to feel when they were more experimental from one release to the next. The 2D Rayman games have heart and soul and explode with creative energy.
Just watch this Legends trailer and tell me you don't feel energized and want to dive back into the game (or try it out for the first time).
The fact that I have both of these games on a handheld with an awesome screen and great controls is just a godsend too. This would've been a dream come true to have as a kid, a natural evolution from the kinds of experiences I was getting back then dialed up to 11.
ALSO, I've been lucky enough to play through the bulk of Legends on the Wii U in 5-player co-op, and I can confidently say that it's some of the most fun I've ever had with a platformer. In my view it does co-op platforming better than any other game on the market. Many of the friends I was playing with were in their late 20's at the time and were casual gamers at best, and they all loved the game. They were especially impressed with the music levels.
I know Ancel is busy with other projects now, but I reeeeaaally hope that we see another 2D Rayman. The series is way too good to end with Legends. There is so much potential with the UbiArt engine and the talented level designers who worked on these games.
Just watch this Legends trailer and tell me you don't feel energized and want to dive back into the game (or try it out for the first time).
The fact that I have both of these games on a handheld with an awesome screen and great controls is just a godsend too. This would've been a dream come true to have as a kid, a natural evolution from the kinds of experiences I was getting back then dialed up to 11.
ALSO, I've been lucky enough to play through the bulk of Legends on the Wii U in 5-player co-op, and I can confidently say that it's some of the most fun I've ever had with a platformer. In my view it does co-op platforming better than any other game on the market. Many of the friends I was playing with were in their late 20's at the time and were casual gamers at best, and they all loved the game. They were especially impressed with the music levels.
I know Ancel is busy with other projects now, but I reeeeaaally hope that we see another 2D Rayman. The series is way too good to end with Legends. There is so much potential with the UbiArt engine and the talented level designers who worked on these games.
