Platformer refers to a game whose gameplay takes place primarily in the form of navigating levels and overcoming obstacles, such as moving platforms, running, jumping, or using any other physical abilities available to the player. The genre is quite flexible. Platform games can be 2D or 3D, they can be easily accessible like the Mario franchise or difficult as nails. super meat boy. Other gameplay styles are often mixed in as well, be it shooter elements such as those seen in Against gold mega Manbeat em up action to the battle toads gold ninjagaiden, a focus on adventure and exploration as found in metroid and Castlevania II, or even puzzle-solving items in the way of Braid gold The Lost Vikings. Many titles also contain collectibles for players to search for, giving them a reason to go through a level multiple times, providing instant replayability. The versatility inherent in platform games is probably why the genre dominated during the 1980s and 1990s, and was responsible for more blockbusters than any other style of play until the advent of the first-person shooter. . Despite falling almost to obscurity ever since, platforming has seen a resurgence in recent years with the popularity of games like New Super Mario brothers and independent titles like Bit.Trip Broker and Limbo. Ubisoft looks to capitalize on that popularity by bringing back the armless, legless and neckless protagonist Rayman in rayman legendsa direct sequel to the 2011 critical hit Rayman Origins.
Rayman Legends is considered a pure platformer, meaning there is little to no focus on exploration, puzzle solving, or actual combat of any kind. There are bad guys, and while he doesn’t have arms or legs, luckily Rayman has hands and feet that he can use to punch, kick, and jump on opponents to take them out. That’s not where the focus is, though, as the bad guys are relatively rare and usually go down in one hit. The real challenge in the game stems almost entirely from navigating the levels and finding all the collectibles within. As in Rayman Origins, your main objective is to save the Teensies, small creatures with blue skin and glowing eyes. There are ten per level, and you’ll need to grab as many as you can on your way to unlocking successive levels and progressing through the game. There are also Lums, luminescent flying balls with hands and faces that are used as a kind of in-game currency, unlocking other playable heroes. Collect enough Lums in a level and you’ll earn a lucky ticket that you can scratch off to win more Lums, collectible creatures to display in your gallery, or even area-based bonus levels from Rayman Origins.
Like Rayman Origins, Rayman Legends makes use of the Ubi Art Framework, a unique engine that allows the development team to easily build and animate what are essentially freehand created in-game assets, giving the entire matter a gorgeously rendered, hand-drawn look. sight. This, along with the colorful and detailed backgrounds and environments, truly brings to life the game world in 2D perspective in which Rayman and his myriad of sidekicks and fellow heroes find themselves. A long list of said sidekicks is available, and all of them can be played once unlocked in single player or up to 4-player co-op multiplayer. The multiplayer mode is strictly offline, but will let you and your friends run and jump through funky traps, and punch and kick your way over big potholes together. Aside from the normal levels, you can also try your hand at getting a high score on various challenge maps, including a new daily challenge every 24 hours if your console is connected to the internet. Suffice to say, there’s plenty here to keep finalists coming back for more.
Originally conceived as a WiiU exclusive, Rayman Legends was released on multiple platforms at launch, including WiiU, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation Vita. It has also now been released for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles along with a recently reduced price point, making the game a great option at a budget cost. Recommended if you enjoy Rayman Origins, New Super Mario Brothers, or moderately challenging tests of your running and jumping skills. Ask about Rayman Legends at your local Slackers today.
