Rayman M Review

Some two years after he saved his motley world from the forces of evil, my favorite arcade hero returns to our PC screens. It seems that the defeated pirate-like villain Razorbeard had no ideas about organizing revenge as Rayman returns with an utterly new gameplay experience. Yes, indeed... the very title Rayman M, i.e. Rayman Multiplayer (or Rayman Arena, as some refer to it) clearly states that this game has nothing to do with the fantastic quests you had to solve with Rayman in the original game.

Now, in order to avoid any further confusion, let me first state that this is not yet another online-only game, which isn't worth shit without an internet or LAN connection. What's more, the game doesn't even support internet and LAN connections!!! I mean, I certainly didn't mind that, but I suppose that 99% of the people will buy the game naturally expecting such an option. The only multiplayer mode supported is the console split-screen mode, with both players playing on the same computer (at least one of them having a joypad). Is this enough of a reason to ship the title as Rayman M, that is up to you to decide.

All in all, there are two types of multiplayer skirmishes: combats and races. These two modes of play should win both those players who always preferred the game segments with a lot of lumping on and off platforms and those who prefer fights. The two modes are completely different all from level design to gameplay and controls. You will have to define controls for both modes of play separately. The first mode is relatively similar to any contemporary 3rd person shooter, which meant that you get to use the mouse which is rather unconventional for Rayman games, and the racing mode controls are much like they used to be in the old Rayman.

So let's get down to it. What do these modes actually look like? First, the combat mode contains three sub-modes: Lum Spring, Lum Fight and Capture the Sky. The goal of the first one is to collect most lums. The first one to get five pieces wins, and to make things easier, you can use your stun-gun to freeze your opponents for a couple of seconds. Lum fight is a classical death-match game, and your primary goal is to get most frags. The six or seven different weapons available are scattered around the terrain. There are fireballs, grenades, guided lasers, flamethrowers, sticky bombs, and explosive worms. This is primarily a cartoon like game meant for kids, so all of these look relatively innocent and far from violent... This, on the other hand, somehow diminishes the great feeling you get from fragging an opponent with a Railgun or a rocket in Quake, or when you gun someone down with your AK-47 in Counter-Strike... As for the third mod, your primary goal is to keep hold of the lum for as long as possible. Everyone has the same weapon and if someone hits you he takes hold of the lum.

The second part, i.e. the racing games are much different from the combat and they pretty much resemble the gameplay of the older Rayman titles, only this time, you are facing the time limit. You will find it all here: platforms, obstacles, lasers, rings which you can grab and swing on, levers you can shoot, etc... the controls are also classical, which means that there is no need for using the mouse, or strafing, or targeting, or even shooting for that matter. The only major difference is the fact that all action is now focused on the track, which means that there are no more vast spacious levels for you to roam around. Of course, the tracks wouldn't be too interesting if there was but one way to complete them and it is up to you to choose the most becoming style of play. Whatever your choice may be here, be prepared for a lot of hard exercise as all races are extremely hard and quick, and your opponents will do their best to thwart your progress by activating traps for you. There are altogether three race modes: classical race - in which you simply have to be the first one to arrive to the goal, the Popolopoi mod in which you are alone on the track, and are racing against the clock (shooting the butterflies will give you additional time) and finally, the Lums mod. This mode is extremely difficult, and in order to win it, you will booth have to be the first one at the goal and collect all the lums on the track.