Upon the news of Rayman Raving Rabbids being made a Wii temp exclusive, I figured I'd do some research about the franchise because I had never actually PLAYED a Rayman game.
I completed Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc in 6-7 hours, but I rushed through and certainly didn't unlock everything.
I'll say first and foremost that the game's only real flaws are a lack of polish (could have used subtitles for some of the voice acting) and it's a bit short. For being a game which was developed for all consoles, I can hardly blame it for being this way. I've yet to see an all console release that registers in my mind as a AAA title.
But I enjoyed it. I loved the voice acting (which is very well done), the jokes (of which there are many, some rather lewd at that: the ESRB must just not have EARS in order to let some of these go by), and the platforming was challenging and constant.
It reminded me very much of the 16-bit era's platformers, like Rocket Knight Adventures and Earthworm Jim, except it was brought into 3D very well, reminding me of Conker's Bad Fur Day. The bosses were generally VERY creative, with the last boss being a multistage epic.
The thing about Rayman gameplay (at least 3) is that you never know what to expect next. One minute, you'll be using a grapple line to swing from grapple point to grapple point, then catapulting off of exploding balloons, then scaling a wall, shimmying across the vines on the ceiling, then all off a sudden you're thrown into a minigame-like sequence where you're mashing the A and B buttons to paddle up a waterfall while trying to dodge piranhas. Then, you'll be using your detachable fists to pummel enemies and use the special item they drop to bash down a door or activate your next objective with a guided rocket which you yourself can aim. Then, you race down a mountain on a snowboard, stomp enemies with a giant mech after killing its original pilot, and race up a set of platforms as lava rises underneath you, nearly killing you at every step of the way.
It was always fun, but some points in particular had me sitting forward on the couch, grinning with glee. Something about some of these mini-segments just brought out the oldskool hardcore gamer in me; the 10 year old who absolutely would NOT get up to go to the bathroom until he had cleared this last room.
The more I reflect upon it, the more I like it.
If you haven't tried the game, I'd very much recommend you rent a copy and give it a whirl. The story is a bit difficult to follow at the beginning, but the platforming is so absolutely solid that it's easily forgiven, especially near the end where you'll be treated to rooms with invisible platforms which you can only see in the mirror. A lot of the puzzles reminded me of Prince of Persia, no doubt because of the Ubi team's influence on both games.
At the very least, I'd say rent it just to get acquainted with Rayman. With the recent announcement of Rayman 4 becoming at least a timed Wii exclusive, and after the rumor that Ubi will be contributing a character to SSBB (given Ubi's support unprecedented Wii support, it's hard to argue, especially since they deserve it far more than that ingrate, Kojima) I think it all but confirms him for SSBB.
I know Snake already. Had I not, I would have sought a game of his so I could find out. Knowing what I now know about Rayman, I decided I wanted to know him as well pending his inclusion in SSBB.
The verdict: I like him. The games definitely have a quirky, comic edge to them (VERY reminiscent of Earthworm Jim), but the dedication to some of the older platforming archetypes has won me over.
If you're at all a fan of platformers, you need to try this game. I tried it because I wanted to understand the character of Rayman and I'm glad I did. I know it's not 100%, but were he to be in SSBB, I can honestly say that he earned that spot, with his most recent game being a testament to the hardcore platforming and action upon which the video game market was built. Rayman offers a throwback to when games weren't afraid to bombard you with challenging gameplay which is completely unforgiving for inexperienced gamers.
I know it means nothing in the grand scheme of things, but Rayman has this old SSB fanatic's seal of approval.
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