Graphics: 97/100
Gameplay: 94/100
Sounds: 94/100
Longevity: 92/100
Tilt: 93/100
HAPPY DAYS FINALLY
The times have been tough for us Rayman fans. After all the Rabbids-non sense we've been through, we really deserve a decent platformer. Origins isn't that, it's a great 2D platformer, a true return to the franchise's roots. Origins instantly gives me nostalgia vibes resembling the original Rayman (10.0 from me). Finally Ubisoft gives the true Rayman fans what they want... and Rabbids the boot.
UNDEAD GRANNIES AND A LIMBLESS MAN
The story isn't obviously the main thing in Origins. That really shows in it's sillyness. A long bearded, beer gutted god-like guy named Bubble Dreamer is having a bad dream, because of undead grannies disturbing him and that causes Rayman's world go all crazy. Dark creatures from Bubble Dreamer's nightmares begin invading Rayman's world, locking up Rayman's little fellas Electoons and transforming small animals into big, ugly monsters. Rayman must stop the bad dream and collect enough Electoons to cure Bubble Dreamer. Silly, but a good excuse for the action.
IMPRESSIVE 2D
The graphical style of Origins is colorful, fresh and simply beautiful. The animation is smooth and funny and the 2D looks great in the characters and in the scenery. Rayman visits many worlds were the graphics get more and more impressive. From rich jungles to hot deserts to snowy mountains and icy rivers, Rayman's looks never fail to impress. Consider Origins officially eye-candy.
HIGH VOLTAGE
Rayman Origins is a pretty fast-paced side-scrolling 2D platformer. In the beginning, Rayman really can't do much, but you get many awesome powers as you progress, like punching, flying with hair, wall running, swimming and more. There is a huge lot of collectibles in the game, including Electoon cages, yellow dancing toons, skull coins and more. Sometimes I found myself collecting stuff just to hear that awesome disco song when you collect 350 toons! The game gets more challenging as you progress and the imagination of the creators begin to show more and more. In one level, you get to invade a dragon cook's (yes, dragon cook) stomach and punch his inner organs. The game is hard on your own, but when you play the co-op, it gets a bit easier. When the other player dies, he turns into a big bubble and the other player can save him just by touching him. Rayman Origins is never boring. There are special levels in every world where you chase a treasure chest at insane speeds. These levels are frustratingly hard, but at least you get a reward after completing all of them, right? Yep, another world called Land of the Livid Dead. And boy, that world is the ultimate punishing machine! Don't bother even trying it on your own, you won't even get past the first sequence, anyway. Apart from platforming, the player also gets to play levels riding on the back of a moskito. These levels are pure side scrolling shoot 'em up and they are also really fun. You can shoot the enemies or suck 'em inside you and then shoot them out knocking out more enemies in the process. The boss battles are kinda frustrating, but you will get over them after a couple of tries.
BUBBLIZE THEM!
Rayman Origins is great to listen to. The music tracks are really fitting and relaxing, sometimes. The voice acting, that basicly means yelling and grumbling, is funny and the helium-voiced toons cheer you up everytime. I couldn't help, but laugh at Mystical Pique-world's high-pitched humms and hamms. All in all, Rayman's music world is cheerful and everything's done with class.
LAND OF TORTURING THE PLAYER
Origins has lots of content. Once you've played the five starting worlds (jungle, desert, food land, sea and mountains) filled with at least four levels, you unlock four more (jungle, desert, food land and sea) and then you get access to the last world that has a cool robot/storm theme. If you complete all the tooth chase challenges, you also unlock the Land of the Livid Dead world. That is eleven worlds. Of course, you can run after the collectables and unlock more characters. You can play with Rayman and his frog friend Globox in the beginning and after that you unlock many different-themed Teensies and different-colored Globoxes and Raymans. Origins is sure to you keep you hooked for many, many hours.
OVERALL: Finally, Rayman returns to it's 2D platforming roots with the amazing Rayman Origins. Fun, fresh, colorful, cheerful and awesome to play, that is Rayman Origins.
+ Pros: Great graphics, awesome gameplay, humor, cheerful sounds, lots of content, use of imagination
- Cons: Land of the Livid Dead is TORTURE
REAL SCORE: 9.4