Rayman Origins Review

By Simon Parkin Published 14 November, 2011

Drawn to the past.

Version tested: PlayStation 3

In 2004, Disney Studio Head Michael Eisner made a business call that had devastating creative implications. He announced that the labour-intensive 2D animated cartoon style that had defined the studio's output throughout the 20th Century was no longer financially prudent or culturally relevant. Rather, the company's creative future lay in 3D CGI, the Pixar aesthetic that was both cheaper to create and animate as well as being more current for young audiences.

There seemed, to Eisner, to be nothing to lose: he would incur fewer costs, audiences would experience increased happiness. So, in one fell swoop he fired all of the studio's 2D animators and sold off the equipment used to create so many animated classics, from Snow White and the Seven Dwarves to Aladdin.

It's a trend that's been echoed by the video game industry since the advent of 3D, with hand-drawn 2D art rarely seen outside of indie games and mobile titles today. The cost of creating and animating 2D assets is exponentially higher than doing the same with 3D models that can be given a virtual skeleton and then posed and manipulated with ease. Higher resolution screens have exacerbated the decline of the 2D form, as the amount of work needed to create pin-sharp 2D graphics has multiplied with each technological leap. Blockbuster gaming's embrace of 3D makes sense on paper, then. But it also comes with the implication that 3D art is the natural evolution of 2D art.

This is as much of a lie as claiming photographs are watercolours evolved. And it's a lie that Rayman Origins viciously skewers while maintaining a kooky Gallic grin. Just as Disney's Enchanted had Eisner's successor re-hiring those same animators he laid off a few years earlier, having sheepishly recognised that their craft had not been superseded but merely complemented, so Ubisoft Montpellier has returned to the series' 1995 origins in 2D, hiring ex-Disney animators to work with a revolutionary 2D engine that has been part-funded by the French government.

And what a revelation the artistic re-visitation brings with it: a cartoon come to vivid life. Each frame could be paused, printed off and hung on the wall. Each sprite is packed with light-touch charm that's endlessly engaging: the character that clings to the edge of a ledge using his upper jaw, arms slack by his sides; the giant eyeballs that must be poked to gain access to the next area; the rope-swing characters that extend an arm to help you over a chasm between two pillars; the giant, armoured canary that has more character packed into one squinting eye than the entire cast of Angry Birds.

It's also beautiful. The forest glades, like something out of My Neighbour Totoro, through which Rayman and his friends bound in the early stages of the game - a parade of generous stacked parallax layers - dazzle, while the more generic fire, ice and underwater worlds exhibit such artistic imagination as to transcend their predictability. Bespoke animations pile high, testifying to the developer's commitment, enthusiasm and talent for extracting the DNA not only of Rayman himself but also of the classic 16-bit platformer. In doing so, they offer a window back into what was once the most popular genre in the medium while evolving it into something fresh.

The use of floating hearts to indicate a health safety net is far less integrated than Mario's size enhancing mushrooms.

Creator Michel Ancel and his team's love for the platformer reaches beyond the graft on display in the visuals. This is a playful, witty game filled with nods to the Nintendo greats. One pick-up changes Lums (the game's equivalent to Mario's coins) red, increasing their value for a few seconds while a slightly off-kilter take on Koji Kondo's iconic theme plays out. Elsewhere the team riffs on classic levels plucked from Donkey Kong, Boulder Dash and Super Mario Bros. 3 before twisting them with French flair. Rayman Origins reaches back to the core of a series that has always leaned heavily upon its inspirations, and in doing so, offers a celebration of those inspirations as part of the package.

"Rayman Origins is the best-looking 2D game released in a decade."

However, Ubisoft Montpellier lacks Nintendo EAD's seemingly limitless imagination: those recurring themes and one-shot ideas that spill from the greatest 2D Mario titles with such rude generosity. Miyamoto and his designers' genius is often in the way in which they establish themes and riffs and then subvert them. Rayman Origins is a more conservative game in this regard which takes fewer risks and therefore, in raw mechanical terms, offers fewer moment-by-moment rewards for the attentive player.

Still, the underlying structure is robust. The game is divided into worlds which are divided into stages which are unlocked when you've collected the requisite number of Electoons - pink, anthropomorphic berries. Each stage has between three and six Electoons, one won for simply completing the level, the others won for doing so quickly, or thoroughly, or by discovering the secret area hidden in each. At the close of each world, Rayman earns a new tool, such as the ability to flap his arms and float to the ground, or to shrink to half his size. While these widen the interactive scope of the game, the designers sometimes fail to keep apace with this expansion of abilities with interesting scenarios. The same ideas repeat too often.

But when the team does play around with the core mechanics - in the memorable stages that have you chasing a terrified treasure chest at breakneck speed through a shifting landscape, or the stage that plays out along a musical stave, each step triggering a different note in a xylophone melody - the results are stupendous.

Indeed, in its finest moments, Rayman Origins goes toe-to-toe with the 2D platform game greats, combining tight, responsive controls with assured level design, a clutch of varied tools and, of course, some of the finest HD animated art yet seen in the medium. One area plays out in silhouette, like a French cartoon version of Super Meat Boy, while another has you swimming through pitch-black murk towards pockets of light emitting from the lamp on an angel fish or a swarm of luminous plankton. These stand-out moments elevate the whole.

Charm and ingenuity aren't the only artefacts to have been recovered from the past by Ancel and his team. Rayman Origins is also a decidedly challenging game, demanding excellence from any player hoping to collect all of the Electoons available in each stage. While your character enjoys infinite lives, many stages require repeat attempts and the game teeters on infuriating too often in its latter half. Play in the well-designed co-op, however, and the challenge softens considerably, especially as players can use one another as moving platforms to press into those tough-to-reach areas. While the lack of online multiplayer may be consistent with the series' origins, it's a disappointment here, especially as the game is often at its best when played with a friend.

The shadow of negative thoughts about the game's core is, in the main, cast by the brilliance of its exterior. While the cast lacks a certain creative coherence and its star lacks the iconic gait of a Mario or Sonic, Rayman Origins is the best-looking 2D game released in a decade. As such, expectations about the quality of the underlying experience are perhaps elevated too high.

Viewed with these expectations in check, Ubisoft Montpellier has indisputably crafted a delightful, playful, occasionally exhilarating platformer. But while this is a game whose visuals point to a bright, alternative future, its systems too often rely on the dusty past. Half of a classic, then.

8 / 10

Read the Eurogamer.net scoring policy
Picture of Simon.

About Simon Parkin

Simon Parkin is an author and journalist on video games. A core contributor to Eurogamer since 2005, he is also a critic and columnist on games for The Guardian.

Read more articles from Simon by visiting the Simon Parkin archive page.

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Comments (62) Latest comment 6 months ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • evild_edd #1 6 months ago

    I want this, but it just feels a bit pricy at the moment (ShopTo the cheapest at £31.90, I think...)

    I've just picked up Tintin for £14.99 (new) in the Play.com Monday Deal, which should sate my plaform gaming needs until this is cheaper in the New Year :0)

  • marmaduke #2 6 months ago

    Full price and going head-to-head with Zelda just seems insane. Which is sad, because I loved the Rayman games of old... and because of this: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-11-11-rayman-origins-sales-will-help-beyond-good-and-evil-2
    Edited by marmaduke at 14/11/11 @ 09:14

  • JBlokeUK #3 6 months ago

    Going by the demo I thought this would get a 9. Really impressed with the demo, great platforming and looks stunning.

    Will definitely be buying this in the near future.

  • Rano #4 6 months ago

    Nice game when 10 dollar..

  • Bealsy #5 6 months ago

    demo impressed, although I sucked at the controls. Will probably get Sonic though.

  • Dave52 #6 6 months ago

    It's on the Christmas list...!

  • denis09 #7 6 months ago

    Isn't this also coming out for the Wii? Eurogamer only lists PS3 and X360?

  • Muddtallica #8 6 months ago

    Nice review, but the Disney history nerd in me has to point out that Michael Eisner wasn't responsible for bring back the 2D animators for Princess and the Frog; he left Disney in 2005. John Lasseter was primarily to thank for bringing traditional animation at Disney, and bravo to him for that.

    Rayman looks great, by the way.

  • disusedgenius #9 6 months ago

    Cool, I was slightly worried that this would be the next Eternity's Child.

  • sickpuppysoftware #10 6 months ago

    The music on the demo was pretty special too.
    Like the latest Sonic game it's too expensive. Will get when it drops to £20.

  • Mister-Wario #11 6 months ago

    I'm quite surprised at this review. The other reviewers have been heaping unmitigated praise on it. But I'm glad we're able to have a difference in opinions.

    I also don't really understand why people are saying this is too pricey. Why is a platformer somehow less worthy of your attention than, say, the latest shooter? Just to clarify, what was your most recent purchase?

  • JBlokeUK #12 6 months ago

    Yeah I don't get all the "too pricey" comments either.

  • chrisjm #13 6 months ago

    i will pick this up, but the xbox version does seem pricey. e.g. amazon have it at 39.90 compared to wii version 24.90.

  • evild_edd #14 6 months ago

    @Mister-Wario: speaking for myself, it's not necessarily that a platformer is less worthy of a high price tag, but that I have a finate amount of time and money for games.

    I definitely prefer to play online-oriented games closer to their release otherwise you're either playing against a bunch of players familiar with the maps and getting your ass handed to you (more than usual), or you've missed the boat and find yourself scratching around for games on empty servers.

    Now, what I found was happening was that I was buying these SP titles then not touching them for months. By the time I come to play them, I could buy new copies for half the price (or less). Being SP-focused, it doesn't matter that others have moved on from the title.

    My Tintin comment relates to this - I could have spent £30+ quid on that, but now 2 months later I've bought a new copy for £14.

    Bit of a boring answer, but it's an honest one.

    There are still SP games that I buy at release because I'm a huge fan of the series, or it's a new, interesting IP, or it's a game that's had rave reviews. RO has had very strong reviews, but I still feel like I can wait for this :0)

  • jaguarwong #15 6 months ago

    About the 'too pricey' comments...

    I'm on all three consoles this generation and have seen this before for Wii games, (A Boy and His Blob, Muramasa, Wario Shake Dimension etc).

    People just seem to adopt this ignorant attitude that 2d games somehow offer less value for money.

    Don't get it either.

  • miiiguel #16 6 months ago

    There you go... they should have included Team Death match, that way it would deserve the price. Shoot them in the face!!!!
    Edited by miiiguel at 14/11/11 @ 10:32

  • Alex_976 #17 6 months ago

    Day one for me. Nice to play a game that is actually challenging again.

  • evild_edd #18 6 months ago

    @miiiguel: I think you've missed my point. Either that or I'm missing your sense of humour.

    I never called for pointless MP to be tacked-on. That would not encourage me to buy the game any earlier and likely lead to a poorer SP experience (something so many of us are worried about with ME3, for example).

    As I said, there are SP titles that I'll still buy on day of release - but a Rayman title (even a great one) released at full RRP in a jam-packed November is not one of them.

    If this had released at a quieter time of year (surely a fun platformer would be perfect for the school summer holidays!??!?) then I may well have purchased day 1. That's the gamble Ubisoft take at releasing at this time of year, hoping for xmas sales.

  • chrisjm #19 6 months ago

    the screenshot slideshow feature is still broken in firefox. unless there are 6 shots of rayman in the dark.

  • Smudge1983 #20 6 months ago

    Im gonna pick this up at some point when games decide to give my wallet a break....for my girlfriend of course...

  • jablonski #21 6 months ago

    Phew, back to 8/10.
    Starting to get worried lately what with the mistake they made on the Skyrim score.

  • TonyHarrison #22 6 months ago

    A lot of people who've missed the 2D Mario Bros resurgence on Wii say these games are pricey because their only experience of 2D platformers this gen are 3 hour games like Braid or Limbo that they've bought for less than 10. They've forgotten that they can be full length games at full price as well.

  • MisterCraig #23 6 months ago

    Skyrim texture article taking priority over this gem of a review?

    Hur Durrr.

  • Smatt23 #24 6 months ago

    Angel fish are kind of nice looking. Angler fish are the ugly ones with a lamp on their head in the murky darkness.

    Just sayin'.

  • darkmorgado #25 6 months ago

    The sentence
    hiring ex-Disney animators to work with a revolutionary 2D engine that has been part-funded by the French government
    Makes it sound like some sort of secret service black ops operation :-)

  • WinterSnowblind #26 6 months ago

    Nothing wrong with the price, but the timing is all wrong. A week after Skyrim and the same day as Zelda, Mario 3DS, Saints Row and a few other big name titles.. No matter what your gaming tastes are, it's hard to find room for this at the moment.

  • fatbob1080 #27 6 months ago

    2d platformers are my favourite genre but i thought the demo was rubbish, playing more like an Xbox indie game than a full retail release. I would consider it for 240 points but no more than that

  • Beano #28 6 months ago

    Loved the demo. Fun and tight 2D platforming and crisp 1080p/60fps graphics. Full game already ordered.

  • IncredibleKoosh #29 6 months ago

    @darkmorgado I'm imagining it being said by David Hayter...

  • cawley1 #30 6 months ago

    Whatever you think about the timing compared to other releases, we should be thankful that Ubi is prepared to release a 2D platformer on a disc in 2011, rather than shoving it onto the download services.

    Another example of them going about things differently than some others I could name!

  • gruntboy #31 6 months ago

    @WinterSnowblind Good point well made. This looks gorgeous and fun, but what were Ubi thinking, sticking it out for release at such a busy time? It deserves to do well by all accounts, but will probably struggle given the company it's keeping this week. And boohoo that if it means Beyond G&E 2 never sees the light of day as a result!
    Edited by gruntboy at 14/11/11 @ 11:28

  • Oli Verified Reviews Editor, Eurogamer.net #32 6 months ago

    @MisterCraig
    The clicks don't lie - our Popular Now section works according to what is most read, shared and commented on on the site, and at the moment, that's Skyrim textures.

    By the way everyone, this game is in fact out next week in Europe (on the 25th), not on the same day as Zelda, Mario and the rest.

  • WAusJackBauer #33 6 months ago

    wow just as good as Uncharted 3, MW3 and BF! Definitely going to pick this up now!

  • Cjail #34 6 months ago

    I still have the feeling that Simon has "penalized " Rayman for being a Rayman game...just like he penalized Uncharted 3 for being and Uncharted game!

  • lucky_jim #35 6 months ago

    Looks great, although I'll probably get it for the 3DS if they don't balls-up that version. In a way, I think we have the download services to thank for this, even though it's a retail release (although it was apparently going to be a download at one point). They proved to publishers that there's still a market for quality 2D platformers (with "quality" being the key word, let's hope nobody thinks to revive the likes of Mr Nutz!).

  • MrBelmont #36 6 months ago

    Well done everyone that just comments "I'll get this when it drops to £blah." You'll be the death of anything outside the normal brown 3D FPS games.

    I'll be buying this in a shop at full price and I'll love it all the more for doing so.

  • kirinnokoshin #37 6 months ago

    @Oli

    Any news on the Shinobi 3DS review?

  • Bilstar #38 6 months ago

    It really does look utterly fantastic doesn't it? I'll have to play it at some point just for that!

  • robbiejc85 #39 6 months ago

    @jaguarwong I think it's a value for your buck thing. I've played ABAHB and Warioland and loved them to bits, but you can't tell me that any of them (particualrly Warioland!!) give the same value for money as a title such as Zelda, Mass Effect 2, Bioshock, or for online shootery types (not me admittedly) Call of Duty.

    £40 in those titles gets you upwards of 50-60 hours of gameplay if not more. In comparison I completed Warioland (without collecting everything, admittedly) in less time than Limbo - which costs about a tenner!

    I know we can't just judge games on length, but it is a perception of value - the way Sonic Generations for example pads out the core experience just to make it to a reasonable playing time, compared to say a decent action game who's core campaign still lasts a good 10-12 hours without much side-tracking.

  • robbiejc85 #40 6 months ago

    @MrBelmont But how is the current generation's obsession with FPS any different to the obsession with 2D platformers in the PSOne era and before?

    I played and loved DKCR, Mario Brothers Wii, Limbo et al this genration, but there was nothing in those games, bar Limbo's art-style, that was anywhere near as innovative or fresh as some of this generation's shooters (stressing SOME!!)

    Surely painting all FPS with the 'normal brown' brush is about at accurate as decrying platformers because they're all colourful?

  • SG #41 6 months ago

    ANOTHER excellent game released during this period of golden games? Need moar moniez!

  • killuminati2911 #42 6 months ago

    Can it be played in co-op on the couch??

  • uncharted86 #43 6 months ago

    @killuminati2911 Yes, 1-4 players local drop-in/drop-out co-op... No online co-op :(

  • MrBelmont #44 6 months ago

    @robbiejc85 I am admittedly being far too unfair on current FPS games in terms of colour, they're not all brown. Most lack innovation though with a high percentage of releases not really progressing the genre much past Half Life. But I guess "innovation" was a criticism aimed at most platform games "back in the day."

    But yes, it's all about perception of value (in your reply to jaguarwong) that a lot of people seem to misunderstand. Unless a game has dozens of hours of gameplay (which is in itself open to interpretation, dozens of hours of unique experience or repeated plays?), an open world to explore, side-missions, DLC etc then it's just thrown out with a comment of "might get it when it's cheap."

    I'd like to know how many people/how many hours/days went into Rayman Origins and Modern Warfare 3. If it's vastly different then do we start introducing a specific pricing structure?

  • God_Octo #45 6 months ago

    This game ticks all my boxes- funny, colourful, same-room co-op, platformy and brilliant. I'm sensing that some isn't getting a Christmas present from me this year...

  • AceRadd #46 6 months ago

    Can't wait for this to come out. I'm a massive fan of the original Rayman, and it's great to its influences in this. Really glad to see it getting glowing reviews across the board too.

    No worries from me about value for money, I've had hours of fun just from messing around in the demo, particularly speedrunning the first stage (managed to get my time down to around 35 seconds, but it seems like I can still go a bit faster), and it seems like there's plenty to see and do in the full thing.

  • doragonpawwa #47 6 months ago

    Oh? welcome back Mister 8/10, your office is at the toilet.

  • evild_edd #48 6 months ago

    8/10 in Edge - and a gushing review to boot. Regardless of what the price does - this shall indeed be mine once I've cleared some of the backlog :0)
    Edited by evild_edd at 14/11/11 @ 15:08

  • Jmog #49 6 months ago

    I'm quite surprised at this review. The other reviewers have been heaping unmitigated praise on it. But I'm glad we're able to have a difference in opinions.

    What are you on about? He gave it 8 which is an outstanding score.

  • MisterCraig #50 6 months ago

    Cheers Oli; I'm still on fence with the set up though! Skyrim is already dominating every other aspect of the site be it with reviews, texture drama, videos, screenshots, and of course the advertisements.

    I just hope people don't miss out on your other content, for the sake of your site and for the sake of titles other than AAA's which occasionally display blurry shields/ carpets/ bucket-on-heads.

  • ohcomeon #51 6 months ago

    @Muddtallica I don't know if he's edited the article since but he says 'Eisner's successor', meaning the person that took over afterwards.

  • hiscore #52 6 months ago

    Kudos to the reviewer for mentioning 'My Neighbour Totoro'. Japanese animator/director Hayao Miyazaki was inspired by Disney's early work a long time ago. He (and his Studio Ghibli) perfected the 2D animation style. Disney on the other hand went mainstream and simplified its art style. Now Miyazaki and Ghibli are masters of 2D in this day and age. When 'Ni No Kuni' will be released in the west next year, many people for their first time will witness the beauty and charm of Miyazaki's legacy. Rayman Origins is a good reminder that 2D is still alive. Let's hope we can welcome more 2D gems (a new Oddworld-game for instance) in the future. Great review!
    Edited by hiscore at 14/11/11 @ 16:39

  • Stardusted #53 6 months ago

    Count me as one more who seriously can not understand why people consider 2d platformers inferior products!

    I mean how many of you judged zelda's price as "too high" ? Saying you will wait for it because you have already bought other games or other games are on your A list, is understandable.

    Stating though that it is "too expensive", means that it should have been cheaper to begin with. Why should it? Have you read enough reviews of it? It offers many many hours, it is challenging, drop dead gorgeous graphics, and offers local multiplayer for up to 4.

    You are all victims of hype and FPS clones, and that is my subjective belief.

  • Sharzam #54 6 months ago

    Wasnt intreasted in this in the slightest but i tried the demo on a whim and have to say it made me really consider it.

    With all the serious and perhaps dull games doing the rounds at this time of year its nice to just have some fun.

  • h15c0r3r #55 6 months ago

    @JBlokeUK
    Me too, I was very impressed with the demo and can't wait to get this :)

  • Dave #56 6 months ago

    @Oli: why would I want to know which article is the most popular? Can't we just keep them sorted by date? I sometimes get the feeling I'm missing out on articles, just because other people keep clicking on the same item. But maybe I'm just used to finding the newest articles above old ones I've already read.

  • smelly #57 6 months ago

    WANT!

    Unfortunately skyrim and zelda are going to take up all my playing time.

  • espibara #58 6 months ago

    Looks brilliant plays brilliant will buy................BUT..........which bright spark decides to release this amongst the Xmas avalanche of games. Amongst the big hitters this Xmas this is gonna get lost and not found.

    Someone at UBIsoft needs their head examining.

  • Jolly_Armadillo #59 6 months ago

    Jus finished demO and it was surprisingly good

  • HurbleBurble #60 6 months ago

    Right, glad we've got that out of the way. Beyond Good and Evil 2 now chaps, please. Chop Chop.

  • Arwin #61 6 months ago

    Tried the demo, and also noticed that some of the platforming stuff was a bit frustrating, like the giant eel chase. Otherwise though it leaves a fantastic impression, and is a must have for couch co-op for sure.

    Also on the PS3 (and probably also 360), the game runs in 1920x1080p if your TV supports it, which makes the graphics even more stupenduosly good, although I personally had a sense that the controller response was even better in 1280x720p.

  • ymorel #62 6 months ago

    Shit's too linear mange. Aint worth more than an eight in my book.