Late 2011’s Rayman Origins proved a smashing hit, another exclamation that 2D, side-scrolling platformers aren’t dead. Unfortunately, the road to its sequel wasn’t without its share of controversy. Rayman Legends was delayed for close to a year in order to move it from a Wii U exclusive to a multi-platform release. But the wait has been worth it, and the game stronger for it, giving more people the chance to play one of the best examples of what the genre can produce.
The cute creatures of the land, Teensies, are once again being terrorized by nightmares. It’s up to Rayman and his allies to rescue them and defeat the traitors responsible for their capture. Its thin plot never gets in the way of its excellent platforming, with the focus instead on racing through challenging and diverse stages.
As a platformer, there are a few constants to the experience. You leap over dangers and bounce off walls, and occasionally hit enemies on your way to the finish line. You’ll collect lums and Teensies in each stage, the totals of which unlock player skins for heroes and new stages respectively. But what makes Rayman Legends so enjoyable is how it repeatedly presents those elements in varied and exciting ways.
Its stages are divided into five main worlds. They can be tackled in any order as long as their collection requirements are met. And every world offers something different. One stage will have you flying through the air gleefully shooting projectiles, and in another you’ll be swimming underwater stealthily avoiding searchlights or carving holes through cakes as a duck (strange as that sounds, it works). It keeps that pace consistent throughout the entire game, providing few if any stagnant moments.
Additionally, there’s never a want for secrets to find. Lums and Teensies aren’t always in plain sight and may require some exploration, trials of dexterity or quick action to reach before the chance to grab them is gone. And if you do well, you’ll earn Lucky Tickets that can be scratched to reward you with more Lums, Teensies, collectible creatures and remastered stages from Rayman Origins. There are 40 of those to unlock, creating a total of over 120 stages. Suffice it to say, replayability is high.
New for Rayman Legends are a series of music stages, which have you race to the beat of remixes of popular songs, and boss battles that top off the end of each world. These are exhilarating ways to bring them to a close. The fights will often pit you against enemies several times your size, from a dragon to a massive luchador. They all test your skills and it just feels good to bring them down.
