One of the best platformers for the current generation of consoles.
The basic plot of the game is that Rayman and his pals were snoring too loudly one day, and as a result they awakened an ancient evil race of...things (I honestly don't know what they are) that throw the world into chaos. The plot is kind of dumb, but it doesn't interfere with the game at all, and the Mario series has gotten away with the Bowser kidnaps Peach story about 20 times, so it really isn't important.
What is important is the gameplay, and the gameplay is fantastic. If I had to compare it to other games, I would have to say it plays like New Super Mario Bros. Wii with a dash of Super Meat Boy. I say this because Rayman Origins, on the surface, has the same elements as Mario Bros., such as the 4 player co-op and the need to collect lums/coins during your adventure. However, the controls are much tighter, the environments are much more varied, and the game is more difficult (not as difficult as Super Meat Boy, but it certainly provides a challenge). All of these gameplay elements combine into an experience that is overall extremely satisfying.
The game pretty much excels in all points of design. The graphics are masterfully drawn and have a beautiful artistic touch that starkly contrasts the gritty realism of several mainstream games. The sound design works well, as the soundtrack seems to fit appropriately for each environment. The game also includes certain levels that work like side scrolling shooters, which provide a nice change of pace, and several special reward levels, each of which are more fast-paced and challenging than the regular levels.
There are minor quips to be made about the game. Aside from the nonsensical story, there are the occasional missteps in level design (especially in some of the ice levels). But there is no reason why you shouldn't go and pick up this game, especially if you are a fan of platformers.