Rayman Game by UBI Soft Reviewed by The Avardancer (Philip Wesley) Size: 32 megabits Save: Password Released: 2000 Works with: Game Boy Color.. ONLY **************************************************************************** Opening Snide Remarks: Rayman. He's not Ray. Or something on that line. I think Rayman's lack of arms and legs is funny; but not as innovative as many people would lead you to believe. I mean, anyone remember "Plok" on the Super Nintendo? I picked this one up along with Ghost and Goblins, Street Fighter Alpha, and Metal Slug 1st Mission (Neo Geo Pocket Color). To be very honest, I intended on only getting Ghosts and Goblins and Metal Slug. But I was curious as to what made Rayman so... well.. RAYMAN. Okay.. okay.. I had played the game before and I thought it was worth buying for a review. **************************************************************************** Gameplay Descripion: It's a platform game; but what a platform game! It's not too short; but it's long enough for passwords. The levels are basically a go from "POINT A" to "POINT B" fare. But, in between point A and point B; there are lots of jumps, and unusual items and hidden things to collect. That's basically it. It's simple; but it's packed with enough secrets and action to keep a serious platform gamer busy for a day or two. To be honest, it's fun and it reminds of the old Sonic games just a bit; but without the speed; and more messing with objects. Like for example, to get to a certain area, you need to throw your fist at a dangling rock to get it swaying. Lots of nice platforming challenges, some time attack levels, and UBI Soft's newest little gimmick.. the "UBI Key". The UBI Key -after leaving the Samurai Showdown games for a more profitable life on the GBC- made it's way into this game and some upcoming other UBI Soft games. You can trade it via the Infra Red Data Port. And it opens up new challenges. Whee. The levels are fairly large and offer a lot of variety. It's fun! It has a lot of levels. But.. nowhere near the 70 levels of the original PC game; but hey.. I'm glad for that. Imagine how large the PASSWORDS would be. ;P There are some levels were you need to out run rising water, and that's cool. I like levels with stuff that chases you. Liked: It's old school platform gaming! Hated: It has passwords... and it's kinda a bit easy. **************************************************************************** Graphics Description: This game... it's flippin' ALIVE. No. I mean it. This thing is ALIVE. I've been very impressed with some of these GBC games lately, and this is one of the heavy hitters. I gawked at the bright colors and so buttery-smooth animation in Mickey's Racing Adventure, I saw the excellent stills of Bionic Commando... and that animation in that game. Sweet. Those active backgrounds in Mario Golf blew me away. This game, though. I mean... Good God have mercy! I won't even begin on the sweet graphics in Duke Nukem, or R-Type DX. The visual acrobatics begin with a short FMV sequence with a pre-rendered, and kinda funny little introduction bit with Rayman; in which he points to the UBI Soft logo, then to "presents" and finally to the word "RAYMAN". He then spins, loses his balance and falls. But.. he's okay! Then you're treated to a particularly nice-looking Title Screen. It has Rayman on the side, in all his glory, surrounded by those little bright lights that ate the campers in that old ghost story. Okay, maybe not.. they're called "Tings" or some odd bit like that. But.. ooo good gravy, they look good. When you start a game.. you're treated to some excellent still scenes that tell the story. I only noticed "color bleed" in on of the scenes and oddly enough.. .it looked intentional. Woah. Color Bleed is the term I give to that "Look the graphics are TILED." look. When you see out-of-place colors. Well, the cutscenes are gorgeous. Did I mention that this game has an unusually eerie; yet playful atmosphere to it? The graphics are magic. And that magic keeps going when you get to the actual gameplay. Let me describe the first level so you can get an idea of what I mean. For some odd reason, the background is rather.. pastel. Items on the foreground are bright and very well colored. Everything stands out and seems.. alive. Okay. Not everything is alive. In spots, the background objects don't move, and I only some of the water moves. The water in the first level doesn't move unless you drop something into or fall in. (Don't fall in though.) Some elements move. For an example.. the swaying flower, or the jumping mushrooms. There are a few butterflies that fly in and out of the background at flit around the screen in a amazingly -well- amazing way. The enemies are well animated. I have to say that Rayman is a wonder. His sprite consists of about 10 colors. I have yet to see a ten color sprite on any other handheld system other than the Nomad, and the Turbo Graphix Express. Not even the Neo Geo Pocket Color or the almight Lynx have done this. And Rayman is as smoothly animated as the commandos in Bionic Commando: Elite Forces. Rayman is the man. He does so much stuff! Oh, note the detail. The hand that is away from you is shaded a darker color. The problem with the game's graphics? There isn't one. Okay, the backgrounds don't move often. (You know.. that pastel thing that isn't in the place where all the action happens.) Liked: Drool worthy. Next time some one mouths off about Game Boy Color having "dated graphics". Show them this game. It's pretty. I can imagine that this game could scare the Heck out of someone on a stimulant drug. I mean, all the colors! It's really nice. It's cute and moody at the same time. Hated: Umm... how Rayman fades a little when he's hit? Oh, wait.. he goes TRANSPARENT for less than a second when he gets hit. That's a special effect. My bad. There is nothing to hate. **************************************************************************** Sound/Music Description: I was expecting.. I dunno.. "cute"? But instead, I got "moody" and "brilliant". Oh, well. The sounds are clean and really sharp. Although, I was bugged by the sound that a "Ting" makes when you collect it. It makes a sharp sounding, and appropriate, "TING" sound. Like a small bell being hit. At first I thought it would irritate me to no end; but oddly enough, I now appreciate it. The music changes slightly when you are near a cage. Overall, the sound and music fit the game pretty well. Liked: It's good! Hated: TING! **************************************************************************** Play Control/Game Design: Under the pretty pictures, and oddly addicting music, beats the heart of a platform game. It could have been you're standard hop and bop game; but it's thankfully endowed with some nice powers you need to earn, some decent bosses, a magical atmosphere, and the ability to interact with your surroundings in what can only be a throwback to the glory days of platform gaming. You know.. the 16 era. The 32-bit era and the 64-bit era left us with.. about five cool side-scrolling platform games. It looks like Game Boy is the last safe haven for them. Anyways, the play control is accurate, and responsive. The game has a lot of gameplay to it; but it is seriously hindered by the lack of a battery save. It's like playing an old Sonic game. I have to go through it in one sitting; because.. I'm too lazy to write down the passwords.. okay.. I'm not too lazy to write them down; but I seriously don't feel like it. Liked: It's old-school and good for the soul. Hated: It's also got old-school passwords. **************************************************************************** Improve: Battery Save, maybe if they added levels with some type of light sourcing? Awww.... forget it. Give us an even fancier sequel on the Game Boy Advanced and we'll like you almost forever. RIYL: Platform games, really. Especially well designed ones, like this game. **************************************************************************** Final Words: Rayman is my new special friend. He wants to be your friend too. Won't you be his friend? **************************************************************************** Score Gameplay: **** Graphics: ***** Sound/Music: **** Play Control/Game Design: ***** Personal Opinion: ***** Total: 23 out of 25 Final Score: 92% **************************************************************************** Currently Known Codes: Yeah.. a few; but I'm not nice enough to tell you them. Mr. Dark won't let me.