Wednesday, June 3, 2020

A Recommendation: Rayman Legends; The Rock And Roll Platformer

I, like many other recently have just put down Ori and The Will of the Wisps a game that has struck a chord with many gamers and reviewers in the industry. I myself loved the game; its atmosphere, story and art style were fantastic. So today I find myself thinking that this game could be used ironically as a platform to catapult people onto an older game; a game I regard as simultaneously the most fun, and rock and roll platformer in history Rayman: Legends. I hold this view because I have two great loves in the world, videogames and music; something that this game melds together perfectly. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

It’s the late 1990’s and platformers are the kings of the pixelated realm. Rayman would be born out of this trend.  The original game was very difficult and deceptively cutesy. But it was even more difficult for a 6-year-old me that hadn’t figured out what a memory card was and had to restart the game from the beginning; every time I turned the console off… EVERY TIME! But thankfully playing Rayman Legends many years later is the perfect kind of challenge. One that has some unbelievable rewards for playing that warrant screaming about; so here I am screaming; if you love platformers you owe it to yourself to play it.


A Fun Time for All
 
The whole game has a feel that evokes memories of being a kid again; playing videogames just for fun. You know before you grew up and rebranded slaughtering countless, nameless, endlessly detailed NPC’s with peashooters as fun. Its levels are ingeniously designed; have a boundless sense of character to them and they are so varied that your attention will never waver. New mechanics are constantly introduced and they see intuitive use as the levels become more complex. By the end of the game some of the things you’ll be doing will seem way more complicated than the game makes being awesome feel. Its deceptively simple.


Rhythm and Moves
 
The sense of rhythm that is strewn throughout the game is what makes it unique. If your good at platformers then you will get endless fun from using the games peerless traversal system. The level can be played slowly if you’re in habit of killing yourself in games way too often like me. Or fast if you have any semblance of skill at games at all. The latter I imagine would be exhilarating here, if only I could do it.  Everything in the levels is placed in such a way to give the feeling of conjoined stepping stones to the end of the level; only in the style of ninja warrior. You can expect the game to throw anything and everything at you; particularly in the latter levels. All in all on most occasions I was disappointed to see the end of the level in sight because of the fluidity of their construction on show.


Colour It Impressive
 
I should mention as well the game is just fun to look at. Each of the games five chapters are distinct and have their own unique aesthetics; all of which are bursting with vibrant colours and are populated by weird and wonderful baddies to punch; squash and avoid. My particular favourites were the levels steeped in a cartoonish Greek mythology lacquer. The hand drawn feel to everything makes each level burst off the screen and means the game looks as good today as it did on release.


The Rock and Roll Platformer 

Now for the cherry on the cake. In the final level of each chapter the game takes a popular music genre; be it rock, mariachi, surf guitar or metal and waits to treat you. The first time you hear a riff heavy rock song adapted and stretched across one of its levels you will be left speechless. It is the best mix of music and pure gaming I have ever seen. You will struggle to wash the smile from your face during it and you’ll pray for it not to stop. It is awesome. Its so good that they are worth the price of the game on their own; and I’m amazed there hasn’t been a game entirely built around this idea since.


Conclusion

This is the first time I have smiled all the way through a game. It was a blast to play form start to finish and the musical levels are so impressive that I can’t recommend playing the game enough. Particularly in this time of lockdown and social troubles. You will not regret it. 

The game is available on PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4

Go buy it !!

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