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Rayman 2: The Great Escape Review
Gavin Frankle
00/12/0000
Rayman is back and better then ever.
It seems that the older I get, the more jaded I get. Things which would amuse me for hours on end are now dismissed within minutes. Things which I used to think were cool are now childish. So, a game as cute and sweet as Rayman 2 would be a waste of time wouldn't it? Wrong! Beneath it's ultra-cute exterior lies a game so innovative and refreshing that it would take an incredibly stubborn gamer to be unable to glean any fun from it whatsoever.
The plot is pretty much standard stuff for the genre. Rayman's world has been overrun by pirates and only he can save it. Not only have those nasty pirates taken over the place, but they've have also shattered the world's heart into a 1000 lums of energy, which Rayman will have to retrieve if he intends on bringing peace and harmony back to his world. As you progress through the game, you'll meet up with a number of weird and wonderful creatures, most of whom will provide you with help in the form of information or new powers and abilities.
The game is fairly linear as Rayman's world is made up of a number of stages, each containing 50 lums of energy and a varied number of cages that need to be destroyed. Despite it's linear gameplay, Rayman is an incredibly enjoyable game. I can't recall how many times I walked into a new area only to gawk open-mouthed at the sheer beauty that surrounded me. The worlds are literally teeming with life. Mosquitos and butterflies buzz around you as a gorgeous waterfall flows in the background. It's all pretty overwhelming the first time through, never before have I felt as much a part of a game as I did with Rayman 2.
Just when you think you've seen all the world has to offer, the game throws something so unique and so fun that you simply can't help but giggle like a schoolgirl at the mere thought. At one point I felt myself getting a little bored by the endless platforming, only to happen on a stage where you must waterski through a swamp. Really cool. And at yet another point, you're forced to tame and then ride a walking rocket! The brilliant character design is yet another feather in Rayman 2's cap. Whether you're talking to the big-nosed Teensies or Globoxs' cute little children, you'd be hard pressed not to be enthralled by them. In fact, whether I wanted to or not, I couldn't help but like the characters and even become emotionally attached to them. The one annoyance is the gibberish(or is it French?)the characters talk. Each character is fully voiced, but you still need to read the subtitles as they speak a language all their own.
The music, like the rest of the game is excellent. Sweeping orchestral scores accompany Rayman in his adventures and depending on the situation the pace speeds up or slows down. The music varies throughout, my favourite being the rock track that plays whenever you meet a pirate.
The game also features a Dreamcast-exclusive multiplayer mode, which must be unlocked by playing through the single player mode first. If that wasn't enough, Ubi Soft has promised that new levels will be made available in the coming weeks, which can then be downloaded onto your VMU for use within the game.
Aside from the rare camera problem and voices(which is just a personal preference) there really isn't anything wrong with Rayman 2. It weaves a fantastic tale akin to the Disney classics of old. It controls like a dream and the graphics would convince anyone still holding out on the Dreamcast that this is the console to own. Cute or not, Rayman 2 is the most innovative platformer I've played in ages. Go and get it!
