Rayman 2: The Great Escape

It's easy to understand why Rayman 2 is beloved. Graphically, it's a very simple game, full of chunky polygons and simple textures, yet the vibrant colors and general design make it stand apart and look charming. It's full of crazy creatures and quirky characters, and the worldbuilding is a testament to this late 90's period when imagination and art direction mattered more than graphic sophistication! The level design is also rock solid, every level feels different from the last, and new mechanics are introduced up until the very end: vehicular sections, new useful items, temporary superpowers, minigames... It was a passion project full of ambition, there is no denying that. For the most part, the gameplay is fun and refined (unlike a lot of other 90's platformers!) but it still feels lackluster in a few areas, possibly because it was made primarily for consoles: the way the camera works can be annoying, there is no mouse support for it, and the key binding is really terrible and can only be changed through a recent third-party wrapper. Worst of all, mounts and vehicles tend to be... awful to use: the levels were they appear pretty much demand that you learn them by heart to avoid obstacles – the airplane sections at the end of the game are truly hardcore and feel like they were never designed for a kid to beat! In short, while most gameplay elements are fine even by today's standards, from time to time Rayman 2 will hit you with a janky segment or a mechanic that will annoy the hell out of you – some of which were cut from later console releases, not a bad choice if you ask me. Although to be fair, while it's a challenging game, rarely is it unforgiving: it's usually generous with checkpoints and health, so even in its worst moments it tends not to get too infuriating. Ultimately Rayman 2 is solid and full of charm, but can feel outdated and frustrating. Still, it will be great nostalgic fun for people who don't mind grinding their teeth over this type of game.

This game introduces many characters that later became mainstays in the series, like Globox and that Fairy helper. Rayman 2 marks the first foray into the 3D realm and other new elements like in-engine cutscenes and more story. It's definitely a trip down memory lane worth taking with a mesmerizing soundtrack too. However: The PC port on modern systems lacks proper controller support and other neccessities that retract from the experience. Highly suggest you download and apply Ray2Fix (Github: https://github.com/icup321/Ray2Fix) to address issues with the graphics and inputs to polish the game to its proper potential. Thank me later.

Miracle from the era of early platformers. Since this is an old game, allow me to open with some context. Rayman 2 was almost a 2D platformer sequel which made it as far as a fully functional prototype, but 3D was becoming all the rage. There is a huge leap in difficulty developing games in 3D, and it was mostly uncharted territory. Rayman 2 is a miracle because in spite of all this, it gets so much right that so many games fail to right up to the present day (2024). Satisfying control and weight to Rayman. Linear progression for a tightly-designed experience, but with enough openness to feel like a big world. A music score that smoothly adapts to the situation Rayman is in. Puzzles that anyone can solve with some thought. A sense of film and theatre. A sense of mythology. A balance of serious and goofy. Satisfying (if primitive) combat. I have read one reviewer call Rayman 3 "the best 3D Rayman", which upsets me because it is so difficult to make my case against a game that is clearly more refined. Naturally, everyone has their own experience. But I would assert that for people like me, Rayman 2 is a source of inexhaustible fascination; it is an epic quest and all-time classic that appeals to something inside of us, like older tales and films, an much-needed experience in the modern age.

I remember being given this game for Christmas as a kid and it was one of the best game experiences I have ever had. A couple months ago I was rummaging through some old discs and I came across the old copy of Rayman 2 and installed it, and got it working again. Even now the gameplay still holds up as some of the best you can get. It is perfectly balanced between skill, combat, and puzzle solving that keeps the game fresh for many hours of gameplay. Plus you can connect with the characters in a way that few adventure games allow. This is a great deal for a great game whose success that is still generating titles today. Buy it.

As a double monitor user I hate it when games with wrong resolutions fullscreen. If you're not going to fix the resolutions at least insert a windowed mode.