Review – Rayman 30th Anniversary Edition

Ubisoft’s Rayman has always been a victim of circumstance that succeeded against all odds. There’s no better example of this than the initial reaction of launching Sony’s PlayStation, a console renowned for bringing in the 3D polygon era of gaming, with Rayman, a 32-bit 2D platformer. Even amidst skepticism, Rayman emerged the best-selling launch title for PlayStation against the likes of 3D console juggernauts like Ridge Racer and Battle Arena Toshinden. This is one of the main highlights of Rayman’s history that is documented in Atari and Digital Eclipse’s Rayman 30th Anniversary Edition. 

 

 

Digital Eclipse always do a great job compiling multi-media history when it comes to whichever game franchise they may be celebrating. In this case, there’s no shortage of interesting documentation when it comes to the introduction of Rayman. That includes his almost-existence on the almost-existing Super Nintendo CD-Rom, complete with a playable prototype of one of the levels. Did you know that Rayman’s lack of limbs was due to technical limitations on the SNES CD? You do now. This and more are discussed at length in an hour and a half’s worth of interview footage with the original Ubisoft Rayman development team. And they even get into Rayman 2’s development briefly. However, I think I enjoyed the reason the party is being thrown more than the party itself this time around. As far as Digital Eclipse packages go, this one is pretty bog standard. So how’s Rayman doing at 30? 

Rayman, with its otherworldly atmospheric soundscape, perfect Saturday morning cartoon visuals and token ’90s attitude, has stood up to time pretty well. However, I can’t help but feel that there was a more effective celebration to be thrown for the 30th anniversary of what is ostensibly the reason a video game juggernaut like Ubisoft exists. For starters, I hope you like Rayman 1995. Because that’s all you’re getting here. Five different versions of this one game are included and while they all differ in various audio and visual ways with different level design between them, the PlayStation version is why just about anyone is showing up. Between MS-DOS, Atari Jaguar, Nintendo Game Boy Color and Nintendo Game Boy Advance, the PlayStation version contains the best audio and level design of all the different versions on offer here. Though keep in mind that all versions have taken a massive hit due to the soundtrack being changed. 

 

 

Let’s just get this out of the way. The late Remi Gazel, rest his soul, was responsible for the bass-heavy, funky soundfont that is a fundamental aspect of Rayman’s personality. That soundtrack’s compositions have been maintained in this version by Ubisoft vet Christophe Heral, who has scored the Rayman Origins and Rayman Legends games among several other huge titles. However, those compositions now lack the bass and groove of the original soundtrack and in their place is a jovial but unrecognizable brass-heavy reimagining. I don’t think I’d have minded this as much if the game was remade with new sound effects or if this new music was optional, but what we’re left with is a compromised version of the original Rayman. Original sound effects and visuals but with music that doesn’t match. The smooth magical R&B that plays each time you meet with Betilla The Fairy is just gone now. The ’90s spirit has been sucked out and what’s left resembles an identity crisis. 

If not for the soundtrack change across all versions (which is likely a rights issue), every game here looks and plays as great as they ever have. Even on Nintendo Switch, every version of Rayman is running at a smooth 60 fps. All bonus levels from the various MS-DOS add-on packs made the jump here as well and it’s great to see them included. It’s unfortunate that the Sega Saturn version of Rayman couldn’t be included but that’s likely down to inexperience with Saturn emulation in general. For what it’s worth, the PlayStation Rayman has been said to be close to the Saturn version of the game anyway. 

 

 

I can’t stress enough how grateful I am for a rewind button and optional toggles for unlimited lives, invincibility, unlocking all abilities or levels, etc. in the PlayStation version. It’s still as notoriously hard as it’s ever been. Band Land onwards (and especially Picture City) don’t play around. Tricky enemy placement and confusing layouts can make this three hour game into a six hour game if you let it. So the legacy quality of life inclusions are appreciated. I can’t help but feel like if this is a party though, I showed up to very little Rayman fanfare. The menus lack music and this could be a bug. There’s ambient noise, but no actual life. I tried checking the Options menu and it includes a toggle for menu music. Nothing. No change. There’s also nothing to unlock. No gallery or additional games. In terms of presentation, this is one of the more barebones Digital Eclipse collections I’ve played in recent memory. 

All in all, Rayman 30th Anniversary Edition is a welcome but abbreviated celebration of Rayman’s debut. The games included here are a historic slice of 32-bit (and 8-bit in Game Boy Color’s case) gaming glory, a throwback to the days when Rayman had the world in his limbless gloves. Whether this celebration is the lead-in to a new era for the Atari Jaguar’s unofficial mascot remains to be seen. What we do have here could have used more love and will occupy you for about a weekend if you’re wanting to relive some mid-’90s memories. 

 

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