Rayman Legends

By: Robert Murphy

Rayman was never at the forefront for most of the games that I played when I was younger and when I finally did play my first title for the series I wasn't too blown away by it. Rayman Legends though proved to take all my previous expectations and notions about the game and throw them right out the window. Stages throughout this plucky platformer are rich with color and design and each bringing its own unique element to the table. There is also wonderful soundtracks and quick paced momentum that propels you forward along the massive amount of content the game has available. And while it may be a bit bumpy at the start you'll find yourself soaring across each map with ease and searching every corner for those imprisoned Teensies. 

The story for Rayman Legends is a straight forward one to say the least. You are awoken to find that monsters have once again terrorized the land and rounded up all the Teensies which are tiny blue creatures with monster noses. This is due to some evil wizard Teensies and some nightmarish creatures that are helping them. You must make your way through the different levels as any one of the playable characters and releases them from their tiny cages hidden throughout the levels while collecting Lums. Sounds pretty easy and it is but it is also insanely fun. There are also a variety of challenges to compete in over online leaderboards, paintings to collect that will unlock more levels, a competitive soccer game type and plenty of other things to keep you busy. 

I was thoroughly impressed with the massive amount of content available for title as I never expected a Rayman game to delve into so much material. When you first start out things can be a little daunting as the game doesn't do much in terms of navigating around. As I started to do this or that in the levels, I began to get notification of things unlocking and going to find out what you have will send you to a hub world. I had no idea was the main game from here as I unlocked different paintings levels and other things but you will quickly learn how to navigate around once the initial content load wares off and you become just as impressed with how much of a game you have laid out before you. 

Once you get back to the stages you'll begin to notice all the fun details that went into this game. Most levels start out fairly slow and simple and you go at your own pace looking for the Teensies hidden away but things are ever changing and unique. As levels begin to get more difficult you'll find yourself trying to out run blazing flames from behind you while testing your reflexes to save yourself and the Teensies in the level. There are also quirky levels like the ones in Fiesta de los Muertos where there is a day of the dead style group of enemies as well as a food themed environment. You can chop your way through cake puzzles and shrink yourself down to travel through a tiny hole in the side of an apple. There are other themed levels such as ones with giant instruments for platforms that play notes as you run along them. Each stage and level has something you will undoubtedly enjoy about it whether its the themes, enemies, music or art work, its all very delightful.

As for you and your friends, up to four people (five if on the Wii U and PS Vita) can join in on the action across the screen. There is a variety of unlockable character costumes that come with the set group to choose from. Once you have all your friends together it is all out chaos though as you all fight to get to the end and to collect the Teensies. Sure, you are working together and no matter who gets to the secrets you all reap the benefits but no matter what I'm sure there will be competition abound for anyone. 

One of the newer attractions to Rayman Legends is a funny green frog named Murfy, no relation to me. Murfy is an AI controlled character that appears in certain levels to help you out with particular challenges. He can smack or tickle enemies for you, lower obstacles, create platforms and a number of other helpful things for players as he moves independently along with you through the stage searching for items he can manipulate. Murfy will do this in all but the Wii U and PS Vita versions of the game where he can be played by another player. His character is a sort of interesting addition to the game and one that I have mixed feelings about since his addition often leads to a slow down for that particular level. Players will have to wait and see what particular thing Murfy needs to do in the level ahead instead of you being free to move through a level as you wish. Its not a tremendous bother or inconvenience but in terms of whether or not he is necessary, I don't really think he is.

Despite this minor short sight and a few others, Rayman Legends provides more than enough to keep players coming back for more. I still have yet to see the end of the content present as I've only collected 500 of the 700 available Teensies strewn throughout levels. Weekly challenges and new maps popping up all over the already played portions of the game also prove to keep me busy and makes for a never ending mouthful of playable content to enjoy. Now if you will excuse me I'm off to find the rest of those little blue buggers.

Good:

- Massive amount of content to explore

- Fun and entising levels 

- Interesting soundtrack that compliments the games enjoyable environments

Bad:

- Brief but some initial confusment

- Murfy is interesting but mostly a unneeded addition

Scully Rating: 9.2 out of 10