Rayman Legends Review for PlayStation 3 (PS3)

System: PS3*, Xbox 360, PC, Wii U, PS Vita
Dev: Ubisoft Montpellier
Pub: Ubisoft
Release: September 3, 2013
Players: 1-4
Screen Resolution: 480p-1080p	Cartoon Violence, Comic Mischief

That attitude of wanting to deliver pure enjoyment carries over into the extra areas of Rayman Legends. Oddly, the game sports a soccer mini-game, where players can kick a very lightweight soccer ball back and forth across the screen in an effort to score points. A monster room also lies nestled in the optional areas of the game. Players can collect monsters by scratching off lottery tickets. These lottery tickets automatically pop in the player’s “inventory” after completing missions. Completing missions also rewards players an Awesomeness level. I couldn’t find any discernable measurement for gaining Awesomeness levels, but earning a level sure made me feel good. And, at its core, I’m pretty sure that’s what this game was designed to do.

Rayman Legends Screenshot

The way Rayman Legends punishes mistakes reinforces the idea that it wants nothing more than to just be a good time. Random, frequent, and invisible checkpoints populate each stage. Players will oftentimes find themselves making a misstep as they zip through a level. When a character falls off a cliff or runs into an enemy, that character bloats up, pops like a balloon, and then reappears usually no more than one screen back. Rayman Legends uses no lives, enforces no failure penalty, and never forces a player to replay a nearly completed level. Although games like Mario have long since dispensed with the notion that extra lives actually matter, they continue the tradition of using them to maintain the pretense of consequence. Rayman Legends doesn’t do that, and it’s probably the game’s greatest asset.

Rayman Legends’ unique, quirky tune introduces new steps into an old dance. Although the absurd nature of the game might be a hurdle to some, Ubisoft crafted it with enough skill and confidence to tie together all the disparate strands into a cohesive, enjoyable whole. A lot of care went into making Rayman Legends, and the refreshing result of that care is a platformer that can proudly stand beside the genre’s greats.

By
Justin Cloyd
Editor
Date: September 5, 2013

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

5.0

Graphics
The sharp, gorgeous, and vibrant art might not be for everyone, but it never seems out of place and is always a pleasure to look at.

4.5

Control
The simple controls do an awful lot. The occasional hiccup might make players stumble, but these are few and far between.

4.0

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Fitting music accompanies each level, and the various sound effects only strengthen the score.

4.0

Play Value
Enough collectables populate the world to give anyone an excuse to return to the game. Ubisoft went the extra mile by including 40 levels from Rayman Origins.

4.5

Overall Rating - Must Buy
Not an average. See Rating legend below for a final score breakdown.

Review Rating Legend
0.1 - 1.9 = Avoid	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	3.5 - 3.9 = Good	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair	4.0 - 4.4 = Great	5.0 = The Best

Game Features:

Five Player Co-op: Now even more players can join the fun! With four controllers and the Wii U GamePad, up to five players can play simultaneously! Jump in and jump out at any time during the 80+ levels of gameplay!

Murfy to the Rescue: As the dedicated character on the Wii U GamePad, Murfy can tickle enemies, rotate platforms, move objects, cut ropes, dig paths, and even shoot a slingshot to take out dragons! Discover all the ways Murfy can interact with the world!

Rayman Rocks: See if you have what it takes to be a Platforming Hero–jump to the beat of a drum, punch to the bass line, and even zip-line during a guitar sustain. Timing and rhythm are the keys to completing these maps set to music.