Rayman Legends Retold - Early Hands-On Impressions
Ubisoft have just today announced that everyone’s favourite limbless hero Rayman is celebrating his 30th birthday by making a stylish return to our screens in the not-too-distant future, delighting fans in a way that is oh-so-familiar but brings a brand new flair. The new game, titled ‘Rayman Legends Retold’ is a pretty drastic remake of 2013’s acclaimed title Rayman Legends, which received critical acclaim upon release and was praised for its 2.5D approach to platforming and level design. So why, just over a decade later, are Ubisoft attempting to mess with perfection? We were invited to spend a bit of time with an in-progress build of the game, and have some insight into what they’re hoping to achieve – and, quite frankly, into how they seem to be nailing it so far.
Rayman Legends Retold is a full visual overhaul
While the bones of the game remain the same, every part of it has received a facelift. If you’re familiar with the original, many (though not all, due to some clever puzzle reworking) of the paths you’ll take and the challenges you’ll face will be the same – they’re just a little flashier. There are improved animations, updated character models, and a ton of new additions to the world beyond the levels. The added dimension gives levels added depth, making the world feel more alive and leaving Rayman’s journey feeling that little bit more epic. It might be early days, but this is already one good looking game.
The world - and characters - are coming to life
In Rayman Legends, moving between levels meant largely moving through the same dungeon-style area, jumping into paintings to access the levels, and therefore the world beyond. In Rayman Legends Untold, the dungeon is no more. The game features a full world map, and Rayman’s story takes him through themed areas, with places to explore beyond the confines of the levels themselves. Each transition now also has added narrative context, with the addition of a slate of fully-voiced cutscenes, bringing added humor and warmth to the characters as well as a more cohesive story to tie everything together. I absolutely laughed out loud more than once at one of the new additions, and I’m confident in saying that seems like it will be a common occurrence in the full game.
Our hero is taking flight
You know what makes everything better? Dragons. And with the new expanded world in Rayman Legends Retold have come a series of new levels that introduce an entirely new mechanic, known as dragon riding. During these ‘dragon ride’ sections, which act as transitions between different parts of the expanded world, perspective is shifted and Rayman must navigate through a treacherous series of obstacles, all while doing his best to avoid losing passenger Teensies along the way. They add a heightened sense of tension, and will no doubt require a few replays to get right, but also switch up the gameplay in a way that feels fresh and innovative and necessary for such a big reboot
Everything sounds a little more epic
Not only do the characters have voices now (and some familiar ones, at that), but the developers have also enlisted the help of veteran composer Grant Kirkhope (of Banjo Kazooie fame) to create some additional tracks that swell at just the right moments. They The game’s new, epic feel needs a new, epic soundtrack, and in the small part I was able to experience, it seems like it’s getting just that. (Though as a Grant Kirkhope fan, I might be a little biased – and it’s undoubtedly got that Kirkhope sound).
It’s a remake with a whole lot of heart
Many may ask the question of why Rayman Legends needs a remake, and I’d agree that the simple answer is – it doesn’t. But if it’s going to get one, it seems like Rayman Legends Retold is one undertaken with a sense of reverence for the original material, and a genuine desire to build something new on top of it. Whether or not the new sections being added will truly justify the complete rebuild of something that many would have argued was a perfect example of its genre remains to be seen – and I’m withholding judgement until the game’s full release. But from what I’ve seen so far, Rayman Legends Retold is a joy to play in its own right – it feels smooth to control, provides just the right amount of challenge, looks stunning and provides a deeper world for players to be captivated by. I’ll definitely be watching this one closely, and jumping in with some friends to check it out when the time comes.
