With the newly released Apple Arcade service, a lot of companies are giving it their best shot to re-introduce some key franchises to the mobile market. Ubisoft thought it was a good idea to launch a new Rayman game and after spending a couple of hours with it, I can only conclude it was a smart move. It’s not Rayman 4 but Rayman Mini might fill the void a little for those desperately waiting for more Rayman action.
Run little Rayman, run!
Due to an evil spell, Rayman has been reduced to the size of an ant. Needless to stay, our hero wants to break the curse and travels through a macro-photographic world in order to defeat the ones who cursed him. Not the most impressive or complex story but it does the trick. Just like the story, the gameplay itself is rather straightforward too. Created by Ubisoft Montpellier and Pastagames, this is a runner game set in the gorgeous Rayman world.
Unlike the other Rayman adventures on consoles, this isn’t a classic platform game where you take full control over Rayman. Instead, you need to tap the screen at the right time to make it to the end of the level in one piece. If you tap the left side of the screen, Rayman will jump, hold your finger down to hover or tap on the right side to attack. An easy control scheme that works perfectly well on iPhone. I played it on the iPhone 11 Pro and it worked like a charm. Being able to interact with Rayman by just tapping on the screen is extremely intuitive and easy to master. In every new world, you’ll unlock, the game gives you some time to adapt to the controls and new challenges the world offers. After those first introduction levels, the game really kicks off. Gathering everything while running at a rather high pace isn’t always easy and forms the perfect challenge for shorter gaming sessions. It’s not meant to be played for hours and hours but as a mobile game, I returned to it frequently when I had a couple of free minutes.
Gorgeous presentation
Besides offering some addictive gameplay, Rayman Mini really shines when it comes to its graphics. Using the same artstyle as Rayman: Legends, there’s no way to tell which game is which by simple looking at the screenshots. It’s amazing to see those same gorgeous graphics on your mobile device and I must say, the new macro-photographic world results in some truly breathtaking locations. If it wasn’t for the runner gameplay, I would forget I’m playing a mobile game instantly. The team really gave it their best shot to create a memorable world and as a launch game for Apple Arcade, I’m pretty sure it will certainly impress a lot of new gamers.
Besides the stellar graphics, the game offers enough content to keep you entertained. With over forty levels, additional playable characters and a couple of fun unlockables, this one will keep you hooked to your device for a while. Again, it’s a mobile game so don’t expect the same as the console versions of Rayman but for what it’s worth, it’s definitely one of the better mobile games currently on Apple Arcade.
Conclusion:
Rayman Mini offers you exactly what you would expect from a new mobile Rayman game. Thanks to its stellar graphics and easy to learn controls, it’s the perfect game for short sessions. It’s not as big or thrilling that the Rayman platform games but as a runner, it’s certainly one of the best in the genre. If you have Apple Arcade, be sure to give this one a go, you won’t be disappointed!
