Game of the Week: Rayman Origins | Video Games, Reviews ...

Rayman Origins hit a whole cavalcade of consoles last year. It didn?t pique my interest at the time, but I began to look into the PS Vita release. I quickly saw what I was missing, and the game has since become my favourite platformer of all time.

Firstly, the most prominent aspect of Origins is the art style. This is how I would define great graphics. Aesthetically, this title is in a league of its own. The beautiful cartoon world and its range of bizarre inhabitants are a treat to behold. On the Vita?s sabre-sharp screen, it?s quite a sight. I was drawn to the recent Bloodrayne Betrayal instantly for its magnificent 2D artistry, and there are many parallels to be drawn here. Origins?s advantage in this area, though, lies in the range of environments it portrays. The usual jungle, ocean and fire clich?s return, but each almost seemed like a brand new experience. The animations for friend and foe alike are top notch too. Each are full of little comic touches that bring them to life. I?d be inclined to cite the game as an example for any video games as art debate.

My favourite stages were the ones which ask you to take to the air. You?ll hop onto the back of a mosquito (surely an enormously strong, reinforced one to heft Globox?s bulk around) and play through a brief scrolling shooter-esque level. The little guy can rapid fire, or you can inhale one of the various flying nasties that oppose you and spit them out. For such a change of pace, the process seemed rather seamless. It?s unusual for something like this not to feel jarring or unwelcome, but here it worked brilliantly. The labyrinthine paths you follow on insect-back are just as enjoyable as any of the platform stages.

Another notable aspect is the difficulty. Great platformers of the past, the Marios and Crash Bandicoots of the world, haven?t offered much in this sense. Rayman Origins isn?t a soul-crushing frustration by any means, but it certainly offers a good challenge. My progress was impeded by numerous deaths in the closing section of the adventure. So much so that a do you want to quit? message-of-shame appeared once or twice. This is reflected somewhat in the crop of achievements/trophies on offer as well. These essentially amount to find absolutely everything in the game. In a title chock-full of collectibles, a 100% rating will not be an easy task.

For some time now, Rayman hasn?t been the hot property he once was. His reputation has been tainted somewhat by those darn Rabbids and their relentless minigame hijinks. Origins, then, serves as a fine return to form. And then some. I was blown away by a charming, beautiful and captivating experience, which comes highly recommended.

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