Rayman Origins Review

Rayman Origins is a platforming video game developed by Ubisoft Montpelier and published by Ubisoft. It was released on November 15th, 2011 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii and later ported to Windows PC, PlayStation Vita, Nintendo 3DS and to Mac OS X. Rayman Origins is the fourth game in the Rayman series and was given away in January 2017 as part of Microsoft's Games With Gold promotion. This review is from the Xbox 360 version.



I'm going to get this out of the way, I'm not a big fan of platformers. I like the platformers on the NES because there wasn't a lot of options back then. I love the Super Mario series on the NES with Super Mario Bros easily being my favorite game for the NES. As the years went by and game consoles became more powerful new types of games could be made, specifically first person shooters. I like First Person Shooters and RPG's, I'll also play third person shooters like Grand Theft Auto but I probably haven't played a platformer in more than a decade. I decided to try Rayman out, mostly because I got if for free, and see what is was like. I'll explain how the game works before getting to my feelings.

Rayman Origins is set up like Super Mario Bros 3, you'll notice that I'm referring to NES platformers because those are the ones I know. Actually, I felt that the game had a lot in common with SM3 and that's not a bad thing. There is an overworld map with different locations that you'll need to unlock.

Each of these worlds was done in their own style such as an underwater world, Ice level, fire etc. Everything in these locations is unique from the look and sound to the bad guys and music. Each world will have multiple sections to complete with your main goal to collect these little yellow bug things, I have no idea what they are supposed to be. These are traded in at the end of the level for pink ball things with faces on them. These are used to unlock new worlds. Are you following with me so far?

In this game, it's one hit kills but it's OK as the sections are pretty short and you'll respawn at the beginning of the section that you die in. In the world, you'll find vases? things with hearts on them, grabbing them allows you to take one hit before dying, you'll find these fairly often within each section.

Also in your travels, you'll find hidden cages scattered throughout. When you hear "help me" cries you'll know that one is near. If you kill the bad guys surrounding the cage you can bust out the things trapped inside and you're rewarded with one pink ball thing.

The first stage in each world has another kind of fairy thing that needs you to break her out of her cage. When you do that she rewards you with a new ability which, of course, will be needed for the world you're in. One allows you to shrink and go into small areas, another one turns your tail into a fan letting you coast down to the ground just like Tails In Sonic 2. This part reminded me a lot of Mega Man and again that's not a bad thing.

The second kind of fairy

So there I am playing a platformer and when I get to the end of the level I find that the part turns into a shooter. You pilot a mosquito, I think, and you fly from the world you just completed to the next one. I've never been a big fan of shooters either but I found that I had a lot of fun with these levels and they help break up the platforming levels.

Now that I've covered gameplay I'll get into the presentation. Rayman Origins is one of the most beautiful games I've ever played. It's better looking than the best of the hand drawn animation Disney movies. You take the wonderful visuals and add in music and sound effects which are equally great. The music in this game is unique for each world and I'm not talking about just a different song with the same instruments. Each world's music sounds like it was made on a different planet. I know I'm gushing but this game is incredible.

This level even looks like Aladdin

The platforming is done very well and the controls feel perfect. While the game itself isn't very hard the difficulty is finding everything in each level.

This is a great game for all ages, it's lots of fun and you'll find way more time has disappeared than you would think while playing it. If you're a platformer fan you need to play this game. For the rest of you if you want a fun game to play you won't go wrong with this one. I give Rayman Origins a 9 out of 10.