| Introduction
Rayman is undoubtedly one of Ubi Soft's most popular
video game characters. Rayman games appear on almost
every format from the PC to mobile phones and has won
quite a few accolades for its originality and stunning
visuals. Rayman 3, however, which is inspired by 'Hoodlum
Havoc', is a console only release. Originally slated
for release late last year, Rayman 3 was one of many
games ushered back into production for 'further enhancements'.
I'm still not entirely sure why because when I saw it
at the ECTS and then later at Nintendo's Christmas bash,
it certainly looked good. Whatever the reasons though,
it'll be interesting to see if the extra development
time has paid off.
GamePlay
If you've played a Rayman game before (and how could
you not?) then you're probably familiar with the basics.
If you're new to the series, then you should know that
at its heart, Rayman is a standard platform game. That's
how it seems at first although it won't be long before
you realize that it's a lot more involving than a standard
platform game and that you've been playing it a lot
longer than you intended.
Also, unlike other platform games, the goals in Rayman
are obtainable. It's also much more forgiving as not
only are new concepts suitably explained but you'll
also notice that you're never required to complete anything
100% in order to progress. Instead, you must simply
get to the end of the level intact, although a handy
front-end map will allow you to revisit and complete
any unfinished business later in the game.
Tapping into the GBA's power the developers have
managed to produce some levels inspired by the more
'grown up' console versions. These include some wonderful
'mode-7' racing sections where you must negotiate a
track collecting the all important yellow Lums as you
go. These take place in a variety of different areas
where, for example, you must drive a bumper car or (our
favorite) water ski behind a friendly snake. As with
the rest of the game there's no need to collect everything
on your first attempt at water skiing but the bumper
car levels are timed and considerably more challenging.
There are also some rather entertaining side-scrolling
levels where you must ride a rocket whilst collecting
goodies and avoiding some incredibly tricky rock formations.
The general platform action is also interrupted by the
'boss' sections which are some of the best I've ever
seen. Discovering their weak spots in order to defeat
them can be quite difficult.
Where Rayman 3 really excels though is in the amount
of thought that has been given to the extended game
play and by this, I'm referring not only to the multi-player
aspects but also GameCube connectivity. You'll need
an extra copy of the game for the GBA but hook up with
a friend and you could be enjoying one of four multi-player
bouts. These include a Bumper Car Arena where you must
knock everyone else into the lava, the self explanatory
Bumper Car Race and two variations on the classic Tag
game.
Hooking your GBA up to your GameCube, however, unlocks
even more impressive extras and although these require
the GameCube version of Rayman, you don't actually need
the GBA copy at all. I won't give too much away but
just think of it as a frantic Rayman version of Tetris.
Controls
The controls are incredibly responsive and a well
designed learning curve eases you into the game, increasing
your skills as the levels progress. These usually relate
to the next section but they can also be used to backtrack
and gain entry to those hard to reach areas which have
previously eluded Rayman.
The collision detection is also spot on which is
good because if it were anything less than perfect,
this title would be a complete waste of time. Fortunately,
Rayman is a suitably gifted gymnast, so maneuvers like
hanging from a cliff edge, whilst rescuing one of your
many caged friends, are made very simple indeed. Even
when the game play changes (e.g. end of level boss or
one of the many 'mode-7' race levels) it's all very
intuitive and therefore more challenging than frustrating.
Graphics
It really doesn't get much better than this. Rayman
3 easily takes the award for the best looking console
game I've played this year and though the series is
famed for its lush and colorful visuals, everything
here appears to be even better!
The animation is also excellent with Rayman demonstrating
just how flexible he is by reaching some seemingly impossible
areas of the game without visible limbs of any description.
The quality extends to the huge end of level bosses
who never cease to impress with their range of maneuvers
as you try and outwit them with your skills. It's all
tied up with some wonderful animated menus and cut screens
inspired from the console versions and it has undoubtedly
laid down the gauntlet for other developers as to just
how a game can, and should, be presented. Excellent
stuff and maybe one of the few titles that actually
demonstrate just what the GBA's hardware is capable
of.
Sound & Music
Even on the new SP (and without the aid of headphones)
the sound is quite simply outstanding. It starts with
a suitably themed soundtrack, which accompanies all
the on screen visuals and is actually pleasant to listen
to as opposed to the irritating audio we're usually
given. There are also some excellent sound effects lifted
directly from the console versions accompanying the
action in a suitably cartoon like fashion. Overall,
it's hard to fault the audio presentation and minor
niggles to one side, it could be the best sounding GBA
title you're likely to hear for some time.
Final Comments
Rayman 3 is everything the first GBA Rayman was and
more. You'll be hard pushed to find a better looking
or more ingenious platform game. The quality and variation
of the game play is truly outstanding and even after
you've completed it, there are still the multi-player
options and a handful of extras to be unlocked via the
GameCube version.
Obviously, a mixture of high production values and
a realistic release schedule are beneficial to a title's
outcome and the extra time in development has clearly
helped make a good game a great one. It all makes for
a title that's likely to enter the GBA's all-time top
ten whilst resting firmly at the top of the platform
game section. So if you haven't got a copy of Rayman
3 yet, then you're clearly missing out. Get it now!
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