While 2003's "Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc" may not have been a resounding success among fans of the franchise, it still had to have done well enough given that it sold a million copies in under a month after its release. With numbers like that, it might be surprising that the next mainline entry in the franchise would not come until eight years later. Of course, though, it's easy to remember that the series went through a sudden infestation of bunnies...I mean "Rabbids," which took up all of Rayman's attention and wouldn't branch off as its own franchise until its fourth game. Still, Rayman properly came back in 2011 with "Rayman Origins," a game that returned to the 2D platforming style. When going into this game for the first time, I honestly had my skepticisms, largely because Rayman's original 2D adventure...let's just say it wasn't my cup of tea. After playing through the game, though, I'm happy to report it is a wonderful time!
"Rayman Origins" exceeded expectations for a multitude of reasons. Even with the move back to 2D, the writing remains as charming as ever, and whether new or old, the characters are still plenty of fun. The visuals are also stunning, feeling like a great throwback to the comic book-esque feel of the original, while the soundtrack is oozing with charm. From a gameplay perspective, I'm happy to report that "Rayman Origins" features much better 2D platforming and improved combat in comparison to the original game. Of course, it should, given how old the first game was at the time, but it really feels leaps and bounds better, and that's helped by the unbelievably smooth controls. The level design is also constantly surprising, and I appreciate that the game provides a fair challenge without going overboard.
My only major issue that holds the game back from being a 10 out of 10 is that I found the boss fights to be pretty forgettable. This is something I think a few of the "Rayman" games have often struggled with, and sadly, it's not totally improved upon with this game.
Overall, though, "Rayman Origins" is 2D "Rayman" done right, and it is a wonderful game in every aspect. From the writing to the visuals to the gameplay, this game absolutely soars, and it's nice to see that "Rayman" can get the 2D formula down just as well as he got the 3D one down. If you haven't experienced this gem yet, please give it a go.
Final rating: 9 out of 10 "Awesome"