Genre: Platformer
Developer: Ubi Soft
Publisher: Ubi Soft
# of Players: 1 Player
Memory: 8 blocks
ERSB: Everyone
Released On: March 4th, 2003
Also On: Playstation 2, Xbox
Features: Dolby Pro Logic II, GCN/GBA connectivity extras
Website: www.rayman3.com

Introduction:

Over the past few years, Ubi Soft’s Rayman series has established itself as being one of the best platforming franchises around, definitely giving Nintendo’s own Super Mario something to be afraid about. Personally, I never got my hands on a Rayman game until now, with Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc. I loved Nintendo’s Super Mario games for years, but Ubi Soft might have just unleashed a monster that has done, what I always thought was the impossible…dethrone Super Mario.

Presentation:

Now this is my type of game! Sometimes, I question why I play videogames; it seems that the videogame world has been consumed by games with mature themes and storylines to such a high extent that the actual gameplay is practically ignored. Well, you can say that Rayman 3 is one of those games which brings gaming back to its roots, to what it is supposed to be…simple fun and nothing more. I appreciate that much more than any type of gimmick used to market a game, or any type of “mature” game, where the basic point of the game is to run around, mindlessly killing people in order to relive some mobster movie people have seen thousands of times over in the past. From the moment you turn on the game, you know you’re getting a game that is meant to be a fun and enthralling experience, and not much more than that. By doing this, Rayman 3 has already garnered loads of respect from me, and it will from anyone who decides to pick up the game.

Gameplay:

He might not have any limbs, but this funny looking sucker packs a serious punch…

The gameplay of Rayman 3 can only be described in one simple phrase, and that is “Pure Genius”. Honestly, I think this game is amazing. From beginning to end there’s never a dull moment in Rayman 3. Perhaps, it’s the variety of the puzzles, or the fun shootouts you have when attacking the game’s foes, the Hoodlums; there’s just something about the game that keeps you coming back for more and more. Of course, the hysterical characters you encounter in the game, help keep everything interesting at all times.

As for the puzzles, they’re not anything that you’ll be pounding your fist into you head about, actually they’re quite simple. They basically involve you utilizing the power-ups you receive in the game, which enhance Rayman’s abilities, such as make his blasts more powerful, help keep him airborne much longer, fire a grappling hook type weapon, and coolest of them all…shoot guided rockets at your foes. To keep you on your toes, these upgrades can only be used for a very limited amount of time, thus making you reaction time to solve the puzzles quick.

The platforming elements of the game are standard fare. You run around collecting gems and jewels, increasing you’re amount of scored points for each level. Eventually, when you’re on a “roll” you score bar will go into bonus mode, and the more gems you collect and the more skillfully you kill you enemies, the higher, and higher score you will earn. The more points you earn the more bonuses you unlock, and the more of Rayman 3 the better. The boss battles in the game are very original, they’re not hard or anything, but they do take some thinking, and similar to the puzzles found in the game, you’ll have to use Rayman’s upgrades in cohesion with his normal abilities, making things just a bit more interesting.

The bonus stages in the game are a blast to play, sometimes more enjoyable than the upcoming level. Basically, Rayman skids down some platforms, jumping from one to another at the right time, because if he doesn’t he’ll fall to his doom. If I were too compare these levels to anything, it would be to the later Sonic and Shadow levels from Sonic Adventure 2: Battle where Sonic and Shadow grind rails, jumping from one to another to reach the end of each stage. Though, when you play these bonus stages you can’t help but wonder what the hell the guys at Ubi Soft were on when developing this game since, honestly, I think these dudes were trippin! Hell, even you sidekick Globox says at the end of the first bonus stage “Hey, what happened to the funky music?”

The story of the game is pretty simple, yet surprisingly hysterical. Your buddy Globox swallows a Hoodlum, a dark lum (lums are good sprites that populate Rayman’s world, and are also the source of his energy.), and you take it upon yourself to help Globox get rid of the creature which is trapped deep within that blue bastard’s belly. But the Hoodlum Globox swallowed isn’t just some trivial foe, but is actually the Chief Hoodlum. To make things more interesting the Hoodlum craves plum juice, something which your buddy has allergies to and you can imagine that when Globox drinks it, interesting situations arise. For instance, Globox may inflate, and release gas bubbles, which oddly help Rayman bounce to hard to reach areas.

Rayman 3 is one of the most well rounded platformers I’ve ever laid my hands on.

Visuals:

Rayman 3 doesn’t really push the GameCube in any way, but nonetheless the game is stunning. Rayman 3 presents us with a beautiful and colorful world that grabs players tight, and never lets them go. You become so immersed in Rayman’s world that you cannot help but smile, and enjoy every moment of it.