Game:

Rayman (1995)

Duration: 11:44

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21

I feel like the Rayman series has gradually sunk into obscurity over the years, a real shame since it has some of gaming’s finest platformers. Unlike mascot platformers such as Mario or Sonic, the series‘ draw isn’t its recognizable characters or unique mechanics. Rather, Rayman has always separated itself with its stunning, dreamlike worlds, mixing lush nature and abstract strangeness in equal measure. The games have a certain fantastical feel that’s unlike anything else out there.

The original Rayman showcase these elements prominently and stood out for its time – even as a young child I recognized how unusual the game was. It’s got a lovely aesthetic that still holds up today, but unfortunately what does not hold up is its brutal difficulty.

Rayman 2 was easily the series’ highlight, lasting as one of the best games of its generation and one of the best platformers even today. It took the same whimsical design from the original and applied it to a masterful 3D platformer. This game has appeared on countless platforms for good reason, and is one of my most replayed games of all time.

The third title, while not terrible by any means, was admittedly a bit of a letdown for the series. Rayman 3 is an average 3D platformer with some neat ideas – no more, no less.

After what seemed like the end of the series with the Rabbids, Rayman Origins and Rayman Legends were a triumphant return to form, fully embracing the 2D platforming of their earliest predecessor. Both these games demonstrated an awareness of what makes a game in this genre enjoyable – not only were the worlds vibrantly colorful and always beautiful, a staple for the series, the levels were expertly crafted to provide a constant sense of flow. These titles have little competition among their peers in modern-day sidescrolling platformers.

I like to feature games or series that I’m especially fond of in these #100 specials, but I have to admit Rayman did not make it easy. If there’s one negative to say about the franchise, it’s their total lack of consistency between titles. The music is a prime example of this. Not only is there no reoccurring theme or motif, even the main themes for each game vary wildly. Three of these are simple tracks with 30 second loops, while one is a full song by an actual band. It doesn’t exactly make for the strongest collection of music, but I wanted to give Rayman his due nonetheless. The theme for Rayman Legends is by far my favorite.

0:00 - Rayman - Main Theme
0:58 - Rayman 2: The Great Escape - The Hall of Doors
1:28 - Rayman 2: The Great Escape (N64) - The Hall of Doors
1:55 - Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc - Madder
7:16 - Rayman Origins - Main Menu
8:10 - Rayman Legends - The Tower of Babel

Systems: Saturn, PlayStation, MS-DOS, Jaguar, GBC, GBA, DS (DSiWare), iOS, Android, N64, Dreamcast, Windows, DS, 3DS, PlayStation 2, GameCube, Xbox, N-Gage, PlayStation 3 (PSN), Xbox 360 (XBLA), Mac, Wii, Vita, Wii U, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch

Games: Rayman, Rayman 2: The Great Escape, Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc, Rayman Origins, Rayman Legends

Music Titles: "Main Theme," "The Hall of Doors," "Madder," "Main Menu," & "The Tower of Babel"

Composers: Rémi Gazel, Eric Chevalier, Groove Armada, Christophe Héral, & Billy Martin

A list of my favorite video game music. It's not in any order, and is intended purely for entertainment. Perhaps it will also introduce a few obscure titles or unknown songs. Enjoy!

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