Rayman Legends

And then, since we are here, we subscribe once again today, on the day of arrival on Nintendo Switch: Rayman Legends is one of the most beautiful platforms in recent years, perhaps among the most beautiful ever, considering also how much this genre is ended up on the back burner after dictating the law over the past generations.

Starting from this basis, it remains impossible not to recommend the purchase of the game in any of its versions, because regardless of the platform on which it runs, Rayman Legends is a platformer, one of those to be devoured in consistent beautiful bites and then return to savor them and sprinkle them to the bone, or rather, to the last collectible.

If you have not yet had the opportunity to play it, you must absolutely remedy this sin: go to the store and buy it a little where you like. If you have the opportunity to do it on Nintendo Switch, all the better, because first of all the only version that can glorify it in 4K is the PC version, while all the other new generation proposals stop at 1080p and 60fps. This also applies to the Definitive Edition for Switch proposed at the price of € 39.99, double the amount with which you could take home the versions for PS4 and Xbox One today, but which do not include a fundamental factor: play "where, when and with whoever you want ".

Because on balance, to be honest, Rayman Legends: Definitive Edition is not so definitive, because the contents included in the game card (or in the download, well live the digital delivery!) For Switch are basically always the same, wanting to exclude the tasty Kung Foot Tournament mode for up to four players via local wireless. That's right, it's really just that the only truly exclusive bonus of this new edition, because for the rest we are facing the same, literally exaggerated amount of content of the game released on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in 2014, with the addition, of course , the portable mode on the fantastic 6-inch screen that characterizes the console. And if you please.

It is not at all little, now we have reiterated it to exhaustion and we would like all games to come out also for Nintendo Switch. You want to put the comfort of lying there on the sofa to enjoy the graphics in Full HD, perhaps even more comfortably with the separate Joy-Con, and switch to the portable version in an instant to complete some level in bed while you sleep.

It is a game philosophy too much more comfortable and enjoyable, that of the hybrid console of Nintendo, not to take it into consideration. Especially bearing in mind that, visually speaking, on the Switch Rayman Legends screen it doesn't look bad at all, quite the opposite. It is really a great sight and personally, not being able to get our hands on the version shot in 4K, I would prefer it to any other type of use. Which was also a little bit the advantage of the PlayStation Vita version, if you think about it. With a small difference, however: on Switch Murphy continues to be called into action with a button despite the presence of a touch screen, exactly as happens on PS4 and Xbox One. The bonus levels, however, have been reserved the possibility to control it with a touch, as happened in the original version for Nintendo Wii U.

MODUS OPERANDI
I played Rayman Legends: Definitive Edition thanks to a download code from the Nintendo Switch eShop made available by Ubisoft Italy. Having completed the game in both Wii U and Xbox One versions, my test took place in two sessions of about two hours each, which made it clear to me easily and without too much trouble the scope of the additions and the technical goodness of the game . I preferred to play in portable mode, limiting the use of the TV to an abundant hour.

Loud snoring resounds in the clearing of dreams Rayman Legends . Rayman and his fat friend Globox sleep like the world champions - for the past 100 years. Meanwhile, the nightmares have regained their place in the world. Even worse, they have multiplied terribly and have taken on other worlds. All the nasty creatures that we've already flattened in Rayman Origins are back and bring reinforcements as well.

Even if the annoyance before release was big (see box), Rayman and his friends do excellent in Rayman Legends, also on the PC. We conquer Rayman's brightly colored dream world alone or with up to three other players in front of a screen, in which we encounter all kinds of monsters.

So again for something new: As in the previous version, we beat, bounce and rush through beautiful, picturesque 2D levels, in which there are all kinds of obstacles in our way. The previous world map from the predecessor was replaced by a gallery full of paintings. Behind them are the thematic locations. The idea with the art exhibition fits perfectly with the hand-drawn design, we would easily hang many of the backgrounds as wall decorations in the living room.

A real catchy tune

Not only in terms of optics, much remains the same, our abilities are also the same as in the predecessor. In addition to the rechargeable blow, Rayman is equipped with the well-known propeller hair, which lets it glide through the air, can run and even run along walls and ceilings with enough momentum. Where there are practically no innovations in the gameplay, the rest of the game principle holds some surprises.

Already in Origins the music with singing fish and birds was wonderfully matched to the surroundings, Rayman Legends goes one step further! In addition to the normal levels, which are underlaid with a happy soundtrack, there is also a painting at the end of every world that we play completely to the beat of the music. Jumping to the guitar riff, punching in the bang and slipping a rope to the screech solo - this brings a combination of senses that creates a completely new jump & run feeling.

If we beat brightly colored skeletons to the Mariachi version of "Eye of the Tiger" and rely entirely on the music to react in time, we almost don't want to play any of the normal levels anymore. In contrast to those of the predecessor, they are usually a lot more hectic. We rarely have the time to look around and explore the area at our own pace.

We are often followed by a wall of fire that drives us forward, chasing fleeing villains or rushing through collapsing structures. Legends plays extremely well that quickly, but a little rest would have been nice now and then. In addition to the already hasty main sections, we also unlock temporary bonus levels, which replace the box hunt from the first part.

Lord of the fly

The new Murfy levels are a bit quieter. The fly, which has been giving us tips since the second part of the series, is used for the first time in Rayman Legends. In certain sections we control them directly and thus adapt the environment: we flip switches, move platforms, cut ropes, tickle enemies and pave the way for Rayman and co.

We control Murfy in addition to our character, but only to a limited extent: He flies to the action points by himself and we tell him at the push of a button when to act. This is quite boring over a longer period of time, even unnecessarily complicated in later levels.

With buddies in front of the screen, we even often send ourselves (by mistake) across the Jordan because everyone can issue Murfy commands at will and thus move platforms or cut ropes that another player would have needed. It is funny at first, but it gets annoying in the long run. Here you can clearly see that Murfy was originally developed for the Wii U with a touchscreen, and was only subsequently (poorly) adapted for the PC.

Petty little things

As usual since Rayman 2 , on our way we save a lot of little things that are held captive by the nightmares. This time, the blue little ones are not just an additional bonus, but an essential part of the game: To unlock later levels, we always need a minimum number of saved little ones. If we missed too many of them during the wild hunt, we have to go back to the levels we have already played, track down the hidden hostages and free them.

Especially in the last paintings, it happens to players who complete Rayman Legends in the Speedrun that suddenly no new picture is unlocked. There are two secret doors and eight individual little ones in each level, and they want to be found first. The little ones are not all there is to collect. Luminous lums are also part of the game. With the round, yellow fellows practically all our paths are paved, in purple they even count twice.

As in the previous version, we get a bronze, silver or gold cup at the end of each level, depending on how many lums we have collected. The Lums also unlock new playable characters. For example, there are Rayman in various costumes, Globox in all possible colors and different little things. In addition, pretty Maiden are playable, of which we each free one from their painting prison per world. All figures differ only in appearance, there are no different skills.

From old to new

Even if there is a lot to collect and it takes a while until the last picture is completely unlocked, we have all new levels through faster than the previous one. However, we still get 50 revised levels from Rayman Origins on top. We earn them with scratch cards, which we in turn receive for collected lums. The origins levels challenge and delight just as much as in the first part, even if we had already sifted through them a number of times.

New hidden little things make the old levels worthwhile again. On the other hand, the online challenges, of which there are fresh ones every day, are really new. Various challenges (collecting items in a time limit, for example) and online rankings cause us to jump Rayman Legends through the pretty world again and again after playing through it.

Ubisoft had no idea what to do with Rayman for a long time. After Michel Ancel focused on other projects in 1999, the series began to drift away from its roots. It took more than a decade for the French group to finally see and fry a painfully classic two-dimensional platformer. Released two years ago, Rayman Origins stormed the hearts of fans by storm, won high reviews, and sold well enough to give the green light to a possible follow-up. This one was originally intended only for the WiiU console, but fortunately the producers from the Seine eventually decided to support owners of other devices. And thank them for it, because Rayman Legends is undoubtedly the top leader of the genre, which for several years, mainly due to independent artists, is experiencing a real renaissance.

The new Rayman doesn't get all the aces out of his sleeve right away. A small grinding noise is already appearing at the start - fans who dismantled the previous game into prime factors are unlikely to be delighted with the clear reduction in difficulty . In the first episodes, we're doing fine. Collecting six hundred Lums and releasing ten Malagas is not a big problem - just look around and pass each level with 100% efficiency, and it was unthinkable in Origins - even in the initial land. The game is also facilitated by densely scattered checkpoints, accidental death does not force us to return to the beginning of the sequence and there is an automatic save point practically in front of every dangerous fragment. Less demanding players and children will take this approach with open arms, while hardcore players may feel disappointed. They will have no reason to go back to the completed stages again - seeing all the cups above the images symbolizing the levels, they will simply go further and quickly forget what they experienced a few minutes earlier. Anxiety at first is also the fact that Rayman Legends seems to be devoid of time, i.e. extremely demanding stages, forcing the user to complete them within the time limit specified by the authors.

The farther the game, the better. Individual locations (even within the same land) differ significantly from each other in terms of visuals, and we face increasingly difficult challenges, practically constantly surprised by fresh ideas. It is important because Rayman does not develop in Legends as much as in Origins - the product does not offer the main character any premiere abilities. What's new is visible in other aspects, e.g. in the construction of levels. Especially the episode called "20,000 miles of Podlumskie journey" leads here, which includes a capital quasi-stealth stage, forcing our mentee to avoid alarm systems hidden in the depths of the metropolis. And we will find much more of such unconventional plays here and it's really hard not to be impressed by them.

From other novelties it is impossible not to mention the helper in the form of Murfy, who appears in selected stages. With his support, we can move and rotate certain objects, paving the way to the exit. Stworek can also drill tunnels in cakes, form temporary platforms and tickle some enemies, making them easier to kill. The range of companion skills changes practically from episode to episode, thanks to which we are surprised by something interesting until the grand finale. In addition, over time, the game forces even greater cooperation between Rayman and Murfy. This is perfectly illustrated by the final episodes of the campaign, where you have to, for example, rush down to break your neck, sliding the interior design elements under your feet and in the meantime jump between one wall and the other, kicking the cunningly placed Malaki. Difficult to do, but that's why we love this series, right?

Music stages , crowning the struggles in every land, are also a plus . They are a bit like chasing the crates from Origins - we have to go through the entire level, listening to the song perfectly integrated with the events on the screen, and by the way collect Luma and save the Malaks. Flawlessness is not required here, because just like any basic level, also these contain checkpoints. However, this does not change the fact that they are a lot of fun. The enormous potential hidden in these stages can be seen only in the last episode, where we only have these types of challenges at our disposal, in addition horrendously difficult. The recording points disappear, the music changes to eight-bit, and the crazy run is complicated by occasional visual fireworks, manifested, for example, by screen snow irritating like hell. This is a challenge for real hardcore people, the stage must be learned practically by heart, and then perform it without the slightest mistake. Anyone who has tried to maximize Origins knows perfectly well what's going on.

That's right - the account. There is a general Lum counter in the game, which are thrown into one sack, regardless of what kind of struggle we take part in. The ultimate goal is to get a million yellow creatures and it must be clearly said - someone here has clearly exaggerated. For the complete completion of the campaign it is impossible to draw more than 120,000 Lumens, spreading the game on the prime factors barely allows you to get close to half this amount. After working out all the content, there is not much to do - we will either focus on tedious repetition of already played levels, or we will take part in challenges on infinitely large maps, where our achievements are compared with the results of other people. Unfortunately, these challenges are definitely not enough - two appear once a day, another two every seven days.

The visual setting of the game is an absolute masterpiece, a two-dimensional wonder. Rayman Legends is not as "cartoon" as the previous installment of the cycle, but it is difficult to consider it a disadvantage, because in motion the non-contour silhouettes of the characters look stunning. Great character animation and locations composed of several plans also arouse admiration. The extensive staff of graphic designers deserve the highest words of recognition - although this seems unbelievable, this part is even prettier than its predecessor . The audio layer also turns out to be impeccable, the gameplay is accompanied by a nice soundtrack that never - well, except maybe the musical stages mentioned earlier - does not get to the fore. Joy for the ears, joy for the eyes - do you need something more?