Rayman Origins is a great game to be played cooperatively together, with colorful and vibrant cartoon-like graphics and a sense of humor that even (or perhaps especially) a 13 year old will appreciate.
The game is rated E 10+, and while it’s playable by kids younger than 10, there is a high level of aggression and a few somewhat sexually suggestive character images (think curvy fairies with revealing outfits) that mean that parents should probably heed that guideline. We played it with kids younger than 10 who were able to enjoy and be successful at the game, but the game definitely does have a dark sense of humor about it.
As the game starts, players must jump on top of enemies to destroy them, but rather quickly they’ll earn the ability to attack them with slaps or kicks. Throughout each level, players will need to bounce, climb and swing to access all the areas, collecting brightly colored Lums and working to free the Electoons who are being held captive.
It’s a bit of a nonsensical story, told with gibberish language and detailed text descriptions, but that fits right into Rayman Origin’s overall artistic feel.
Although a fun single player experience, where Rayman Origins really shines is in multiplayer mode. Up to four players can play together, hurtling themselves through each colorful level, working together to reach the end goal. The controls are simple, making Rayman Origins a highly enjoyable experience for nearly every member of the family.
E3 IMPRESSIONS
Rayman Origins is a side-scrolling platformer with a unique sense of humor that looks to be great for cooperative play. With a beautiful art-style, players control Rayman or one of his friends through levels that are imaginative, beautiful, and clever. For example, one level has blocks that look very much like they could be from Tetris start falling from the sky, and you must dodge and help place them in order to climb to a higher part of the level.
We spent some hands-on time at E3 exploring a cavern, and it was one of our favorite cooperative experiences we’ve played. We also saw a level set in a jungle.
Rayman Origins looks to be an excellent cooperative game for families this holiday season, and based on our limited experience at E3, one that we’re already recommend for families with PS3 and Xbox 360 looking for something new to play together.
INFORMATION FROM COMPANY FACT SHEET:
“When the Glade of Dreams is overrun by “nefurrious” Darktoons, the Fairy Council hastily invokes Rayman to save the day; but the hero of light isn’t quite all there…To help him, Rayman teams up with his best friend, Globox, and two crafty wizards, the Teensies. Together, the world’s most hilarious team of heroes will need to restore peace to the Glade or watch as their beloved home vanishes like a bad dream...”
Michel Ancel, celebrated creator of Rayman®, Beyond Good & Evil® and the Raving Rabbids® returns to his roots to bring us Rayman® Origins: a high-definition, 2D side-scrolling, platforming adventure in full 4-player co-op.
Play Rayman Origins and discover or rediscover the magical universe and legendary 2D gameplay that captured the hearts of millions of fans.
Key Features
• Rebirth of a Platforming Legend: It’s been 15 years since the first launch of Rayman. Rayman Origins brings back many of the classic characters, revived in their original 2D form, as well as a whole new world of characters and environments. Discover the roots of Rayman by collecting pieces of the Glade’s history, and assemble them to reveal the truth behind Rayman’s origins.
• 4-Player, Jump-In/Jump-Out, Co-op Gameplay: Play as Rayman in the solo campaign or have up to three friends jump in at any time to play as Globox or as one of the two Teensies. Players can leave at any time without affecting the others’ progression.
• Unique Approach to 2D Art: A rich world with over 100 characters and 12 unique environments created by some of the VG’s most reputed artists and animators. This creative approach to 2D design will recapture the hearts of platformer fans and introduce a new generation to one of the industry’s best-loved characters in his original 2D form.
• A Vast Playground: Rayman Origins includes over 60 levels of 2D platforming gameplay designed for all ages and playing styles. Unlock new abilities progressively and return to previous levels to discover new paths and secrets.
• Variety of Gameplay: Rayman Origins is a platformer at its core, but it has elements of many game genres. Rayman, Globox and the Teensies gain unique abilities as they progress through the adventure, including swimming, diving and the sensational “HairlyCopter.” The game also features many elements of action, adventure and beat-’em-up gameplay.
• Epic Boss Fights: A giant pink monster with hundreds of eyes... A possessed, mountainous golem... An evil daisy-cum-carnivorous plant... Rayman Origins will put players to the test with these and many more challenging boss battles!
• A Handful of Highly Talented Artists and Engineers: Rayman Origins was developed by the UBIart team in Montpellier and is built on an open-source game engine—the UBIart Framework—designed by Michel Ancel to allow much smaller teams of artists and developers to produce incredibly high-quality graphics and gameplay quickly and efficiently. This garage-game approach has led to great strides in creativity and innovation.