The first Rayman game I played was Rayman Raving Rabbids. I can still vividly remember those moments, and the game cemented Rayman in my mind as one of the coolest mascot characters I had ever seen. It’s a shame he lost the spotlight to those screaming white bunnies in the long run. Rayman: 30th Anniversary Edition gives the character another opportunity to showcase his origins to the public. And maybe let them fall in love with him once more?
Happy birthday
I was a bit stunned when Ubisoft and Digital Eclipse announced Rayman: 30th Anniversary Edition in the Sony State of Play on February 13th and said it would be released the next day. Rayman hasn’t had much time in the spotlight in the last ten years, except for some minor cameos here and there, so why has Ubisoft suddenly decided to release the original classic? Well, it is an anniversary after all, so if this is a surprise party for their mascot, I’m not going to complain.
Rayman was originally released in 1995 for the Atari Jaguar and in 1996 for the PlayStation. After his first appearance, the limbless hero quickly made his mark on the gaming world. He became one of the first European video game mascots to find worldwide fame. This anniversary edition is also said to be the definitive release of this classic. There is a lot to unpack, so let’s take a closer look at each of the additions to help you decide if it’s time to replay the game or try it for the first time.
Five in one
First, let’s take a look at the gameplay included in this birthday package. This collection features five versions of Rayman: the PlayStation and Atari Jaguar versions from 1995, the MS-DOS version released in 1997, and the Game Boy and Game Boy Advance versions from 2000 and 2001 respectively. They are all pretty much the same game, with the exception of the Game Boy port. This release had to make some compromises 25 years ago due to the 8-bit nature of the system. However, these differences make it fun and worthwhile to play in its own right.
I won’t go into too much detail regarding the level design and gameplay; these are ports of the original game, so don’t expect any drastic changes to the core format. All versions are the original Rayman with some welcome quality-of-life changes. The most notable of these is the save system. You can access an overlay menu at any time during your playthrough to save your progress. This makes the game more accessible for modern audiences, but you can choose not to use it if you want the original nineties gameplay experience. But if you want to do that, be sure to keep a pen and paper at hand to write down passcodes for the Game Boy version.
There are also some other cool features tucked away in the main menu. The PlayStation and MS-DOS releases also feature gameplay enhancements. Here, you can choose to turn on Max HP to make the game easier, or turn on unlimited lives and infinite continues. Did you replay the early sections of Rayman too much as a child, or would you like to see the differences between the different versions of the game? That is also possible. You can unlock all levels and abilities right from the start by adjusting a setting. It’s impressive how many quality-of-life features are hidden within this release.
Museum piece
But apparently, the five original releases of this collection weren’t enough for Ubisoft. They also promised an additional 120 levels. However, these aren’t original creations. They are also products of the nineties. These are the 24 ‘Rayman’s New Levels’ included in ‘Rayman Designer’ from 1997, as well as 40 levels created using the same level designer, and a further 60 levels developed by the team in 1999 for MS-DOS. While it is a little disappointing that there are no new additions to this collection, I’m happy to see so much game history preserved in this way. They have gone a step further by including a prototype demo of Rayman for SNES. It has no music or enemies, and there is only one level. But this kind of inclusion isn’t made that frequently.
If you want an even more in-depth history lesson, don’t worry — there’s plenty more where that came from. The Rayman: 30th Anniversary Edition also includes a history section. It’s filled with developer interviews, clips, and a complete timeline of how this game was made over 30 years ago. It even talks about the challenges faced for the sequel and the pivot to 3D. There is a lot to love and learn. It will be worth your while, whether you’re a long-time fan of the Rayman IP or a new audience who has always wondered if Rayman is for you.
The Globox in the room
Having praised this collection at length in this review for all that it includes, I would like to mention one issue I have with it. If you know me, you will be aware that I am a strong advocate of the games preservation movement and believe that all audiences should have the opportunity to enjoy games. This includes games that aren’t sold anymore, but that is a topic for another time. What does matter in this discussion, however, is the decision to alter part of the original Rayman soundtrack. The new soundtrack was composed by the composer of Rayman Legends, so it is true to the character. However, why not offer fans the original soundtrack, or at least the option to switch soundtracks? After all, you can select different visual overlays in this collection. I’m not the only one who doesn’t understand this decision. There has been quite a backlash from fans online. Ubisoft released a statement saying that they are looking into this criticism, but it’s still an odd decision that has upset many long-time fans.
Conclusion
Rayman: 30th Anniversary Edition does Ubisoft’s old mascot proud. It is one of the most complete packages for those who want to revisit Rayman’s history. It includes five versions of the original title, extra levels, and a prototype. There is plenty of gameplay and even more time to spend with the character, especially if you watch the history documentary. It is a little strange, however, that Ubisoft didn’t include the complete original soundtrack for this game. On the plus side, though, a whole new generation can now discover Rayman and hopefully inspire a new release… For now, though, let’s keep our fingers crossed and enjoy our trip down memory lane.
