When I heard there was a co-op 2D platformer better than Donkey Kong Country Returns, I was skeptical. But Rayman Origins is clearly my favourite game of this year, in fact it would be my Game of the Year except in came out in 2011. It is so good.

From my perspective there was a lot of hype for it, but that hype is so justified. Ubisoft and Michel Ancel came back and really put a lot of love and effort into making this the next Rayman successor.

Speaking of him, I find it interesting that each of the four “main” Rayman games features kind of a soft reboot. Rayman 2 was so different to the original, and while the third is quite similar to 2 there are few returning enemies or locations. (Although I haven’t played 3 so I’m generalising a little). Origins makes a worthy attempt to reconcile the seldom-revisited characters and locations from the original bright sugary game with the darker tone and characters of 2-3. Before this game, I think making an overall timeline or setting for the Rayman universe would have been a lot more difficult.

Of course, I say this, but the truth is I had little interest in Rayman before hearing about how great Origins is (and it is really great). However, as I like to do with games I get into, I dived deep into the leading fan wiki. I also picked up Rayman 2 for iOS for a dollar for a bit of background there (it was very hard to control, but nostalgic as a 90s 3D platformer). This prepared me for the game pretty well, although in some ways there are just as many new or different concepts to Rayman’s world as previous games had introduced.

Having a bit of context is always good for games with callbacks, and this game had lots. It uses both Lums and Electoons, collectibles from 2 and 1 respectively. Teensies and Globox from 2 and 3 help you out, with Betilla the fairy/nymph and the Magician from 1 as NPC helpers, although I’m convinced it’s not supposed to be the same Magician. Mr. Dark, also from 1 appears finally as the big bad, although I think you would need to have read the blog and the cut script from the demo to make that have more impact.

Incidentally, this development blog often featured characters, concepts and even basic setting that were changed before the final release, making it very interesting to go back and read after playing. The original setting, surviving in subtitle form in the final game, was that of a prequel. As it is it could be set anytime after 2.

Of course, there are many more games in the Rayman series that the “main” 4, but I’ll save that for another post.

Anyway, as for the basic gameplay of the game it’s a smooth-flowing, fast-paced 2D platformer with collectibles and secret areas and gimmicks. There’s also the usual levels with completely different gameplay that are often seen in 2D platformers, in this case side-scrolling shmups. A staple of modern 2D throwback games such as DKCR, New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Kirby’s Adventure Wii, etc is the co-op feature. These vary from the more co-operative (DKCR with no collision and teaming up to help each other) to more competitive (NSMBW with tons of precision-destroying collisions and trolling). Origins compromises very effectively I feel, with no collisions but the ability to use attacks on the other players to knock them around without doing damage. It’s a good system that lets you either help or hinder your friends. Naturally, I played most of the game single-player as my brother and I now live in different states (we had loads of fun with DKCR last year).

Rewards for getting more collectibles are fairly satisfying, more Lums in a level gets you more Electoons, which unlock more levels (often) and character skins (less often). The skins are a great idea that other games should do way more often *cough*NSMBW*. Even DKCR could have used Funky and Dixie as swaps, but I digress. There are also optional challenge levels, and if you do them all, a final super-hard level in a unique environment (seen in the game’s intro). This was good as something to work for, and plenty challenging for me. There’s enough levels generally too that the single one as an end reward was enough.

But let’s talk about the best aspect of the game by far, and the one that always leaves me smiling and happy. The sound and visual design were just beautiful. The cartoony/painterly art style is wonderful, and the ridiculous music was a joy to listen to, one of the few straight game soundtracks I can listen to outside the context of the game. The characters are all exaggerated and funny, and most of them speak Pig Latin in silly voices which is very endearing.

But let’s wrap up. Rayman Origins, as I’ve said, is my favourite game I’ve played this year. It’s just so well-designed, every aspect. From the look to the sound to the very solid gameplay, it’s just great to play. There are of course one or two niggles like mid-air attacks cancelling momentum, the majority of skins being Teensies, or the large amounts of plot and dialogue that were cut which I at least would have enjoyed. But as a game, and as an installment in the Rayman universe, I couldn’t recommend it highly enough. It certainly breathed new life in a big way into the Rayman franchise, which had stalled after the Rabbids overtook his popularity. Fantastic, big hand to Ancel and Ubisoft. Thank you for making a game I love so much.

Wife’s comment: “It was too hard, but the flying bits were ok. It was pretty.” I managed to get her help with the shmup sections, it makes them much much easier with 2 people, even with an inexperienced gamer.

EDIT: Oh yeah, I forgot, I played the demo on 3DS, DO NOT BUY. From my experience and what I’ve read, the 3DS version is a really crappy port. Slow interface, gameplay elements too small and blurry, overall a lazy port. Get a console version for goodness sake! I have no idea how the Wii version compares to the HD consoles, but it was perfectly fine for me, absolutely no complaints RE: resolution or anything.