Ubi Soft was proudly displaying Rayman 3 at the front of their booth, and there is good reason. Though only 38% done on the GameCube, Rayman 3 is looking to be another great title. The platformer is focused more on mini-bosses than small-fry creatures, many of which have their own personality. In these duels, Rayman can Jump and float with A, charge and shoot with B, strafe with R and more. The strafing and shooting could use some fine-tuning, but overall the controls seemed fairly solid. It isn’t quite the same as Rayman 2, but fans of the previous title should be happy with Rayman 3’s game design.

Rayman games are also famous for their ambiance, and so far the next game continues the tradition. The game is set in a colorful cartoon world that perfectly reflects the playfulness and humor found in the title. The graphics are pretty much the same as its PS2 sibling so far, but Rayman 3 for GC certainly looks good, especially for being only 38% complete. The surreal environments are excellent and totally Rayman. Similarly, Rayman 3’s music is rich, epic and playful. Rayman 2 had some great music—I expect the same from is sequel.

Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc is one to look out for. Coming to all three systems this year, Rayman 3 is not a game to be overlooked by any adventuring fan.