DiDid you know that Rayman’s floating head and arms come from technical limitations? At the time when our beloved platformer was being designed, the original Atari Jaguar and PlayStation consoles couldn’t quite handle realistic joints and animations. Thus, we have the modern Rayman – a unique character who has defined generations of games that bask in the glory of simplicity.
Such facts are what make Rayman: 30th Anniversary Edition so special. The game is full of facts, easter eggs, and portals that lead you to different console generations that have felt the spotlight of Rayman on each platform. All of it is represented through clean and nostalgic visuals.
Yet, this edition of Rayman comes with limitations that will easily be noticed by someone who has played the games on their original platforms and knows what it’s like to journey through the platformer through different accessibility options. “Old is gold” only applies to experiences that are worthy of shining, but not all that glitters is gold.
Rayman’s legacy remains intact
You can find several such pieces of artwork and references to Rayman’s early days.
Right from the start, the game offers you several options to choose from: different generations of Rayman are offered, including versions found on the PS1, Jaguar, MS-DOS, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance. There’s also a previously unreleased prototype for collectors who have been fans of the series since its early days.
Each version appears to be in its native form; you can adjust these settings, but I highly recommend playing the games in their original form. You can rewind features, save states and have optional enhancements to make the most of your playthrough. I tried each game and was frankly surprised at how much the games have evolved over the years.
Going through such stories can feel captivating and nostalgic, which adds to the overall experience.
Even though each generation has to offer unique visual fidelity, and the adventures differ from one another, the classic Rayman aesthetic remains. However, the chef’s kiss for me is the collection of high-quality manuals and the original game design bible that shows you behind-the-scenes content that many fans (including me) have never seen before.
It’s safe to say that Ubisoft’s attempt at preserving the Rayman games through this edition should be admired, although it may not be the perfect execution that many of us may have expected. Especially to do with the games’ accessibility and soundtrack.
Platforming across hits-and-misses
An ongoing controversy over the original soundtrack (by Rémi Gazel) is evident in many conversations about Rayman 30th Anniversary Edition. The soundtrack has been replaced by a new score, and there’s no option to toggle this on or off. This may upset a lot of fans, and I can only imagine the frustration that comes from paying $19.99 for a taste of nostalgia, where features have been taken out of the original experience.
As long as you’re okay with the controller layout, the games can be both challenging and fun.
Accessibility is another problem; the game may present you with sweet visuals from the good ol’ days, but the controls may feel buggy and undone, especially when playing the Atari or PS1 version of Rayman. I found this to be a hindrance, rather than a feature, and this may mess with players who would rather play these games as they were originally intended (with a joystick, for once!).
Handling save files and saving progress can feel like a hit-and-miss sometimes, whereas starting a new version of Rayman could feel like a loss for the old one. I blame this for the confusing user interface, which led me to erase or replace my old files with a new one. I’m unsure if this can still be fixed with future patches, but in the meantime, I’d advise you to be careful with your save files when playing any version of the games.
The cost of convenience
Taking a moment to admire the art style is in itself a nostalgic trip.
Those who have played the Rayman games know how exciting it is to jump into a new world and platform through bright and colorful landscapes. Earning your punches (quite literally) and collecting Tings, Lums, and Electoons is one of the most fun things to do in these games, and it keeps the journey engaging.
As fun as this gameplay loop may be, it comes with its challenges. Rayman 30th Anniversary Edition can be really difficult if you’re not used to platformers or have grown comfortable with modern controllers. I reviewed this game on a PS5, and the DualSense may not have been the best choice for it.
With retro games, there’s a certain “rawness” you feel when hitting buttons and pushing a large joystick in a certain direction. When it’s easier to let go of tiny joysticks and stick to directional/arrow keys. I tried switching between different ways of playing, but nothing ever stuck. One way or the other, Rayman on different platforms felt like they didn’t “fit” my PS5.
An old television design around the screen gives the experience an authentic touch.
This isn’t truly a design flaw, but it feels like a right-game-wrong-generation issue. Trust me, this is highly subjective and will differ based on who’s playing the game. Some will love this, others will find this annoying. Some wouldn’t care much. Whichever the case, Rayman 30th Anniversary Edition is here to hold a special place in the hearts of fans.
An emotional purchase or a practical one?
Illustrations give you an idea of how the concept for Rayman was developed over the years.
Finally, we come to a verdict: is Rayman 30th Anniversary Edition worth the $19.99? If you’re into running emulators on your device and find it easy to install old ROMs, then no. But if you want to skip those steps and keep an authentic collection of older Rayman games, then this will be a formidable purchase. However, at the time of writing, the accessibility issues may need some fixing, and it may be worth waiting on. Who knows, maybe you can even get this one at a discounted rate?
All that aside, it was a bliss to play through different generations of Rayman. I seldom smile at retro games on modern consoles, but something about Rayman 30th Anniversary Edition stays powerfully nostalgic. Especially the way developers have implemented backstories, tales of Rayman’s origin, and you can quickly switch through variations of the charming platformer we’ve come to love and adore through the years.
These edition(s) of Rayman come with limitations that will easily be noticed by someone who has played the games on their original platforms and knows what it’s like to journey through the platformer through different accessibility options. “Old is gold” only applies to experiences that are worthy of shining, but not all that glitters is gold.
DiDid you know that Rayman’s floating head and arms come from technical limitations? At the time when our beloved platformer was being designed, the original Atari Jaguar and PlayStation consoles couldn’t quite handle realistic joints and animations. Thus, we have the modern Rayman – a unique character who has defined generations of games that bask in the glory of simplicity.
Such facts are what make Rayman: 30th Anniversary Edition so special. The game is full of facts, easter eggs, and portals that lead you to different console generations that have felt the spotlight of Rayman on each platform. All of it is represented through clean and nostalgic visuals.
Yet, this edition of Rayman comes with limitations that will easily be noticed by someone who has played the games on their original platforms and knows what it’s like to journey through the platformer through different accessibility options. “Old is gold” only applies to experiences that are worthy of shining, but not all that glitters is gold.
Rayman’s legacy remains intact
You can find several such pieces of artwork and references to Rayman’s early days.
Right from the start, the game offers you several options to choose from: different generations of Rayman are offered, including versions found on the PS1, Jaguar, MS-DOS, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance. There’s also a previously unreleased prototype for collectors who have been fans of the series since its early days.
Each version appears to be in its native form; you can adjust these settings, but I highly recommend playing the games in their original form. You can rewind features, save states and have optional enhancements to make the most of your playthrough. I tried each game and was frankly surprised at how much the games have evolved over the years.
Going through such stories can feel captivating and nostalgic, which adds to the overall experience.
Even though each generation has to offer unique visual fidelity, and the adventures differ from one another, the classic Rayman aesthetic remains. However, the chef’s kiss for me is the collection of high-quality manuals and the original game design bible that shows you behind-the-scenes content that many fans (including me) have never seen before.
It’s safe to say that Ubisoft’s attempt at preserving the Rayman games through this edition should be admired, although it may not be the perfect execution that many of us may have expected. Especially to do with the games’ accessibility and soundtrack.
Platforming across hits-and-misses
An ongoing controversy over the original soundtrack (by Rémi Gazel) is evident in many conversations about Rayman 30th Anniversary Edition. The soundtrack has been replaced by a new score, and there’s no option to toggle this on or off. This may upset a lot of fans, and I can only imagine the frustration that comes from paying $19.99 for a taste of nostalgia, where features have been taken out of the original experience.
As long as you’re okay with the controller layout, the games can be both challenging and fun.
Accessibility is another problem; the game may present you with sweet visuals from the good ol’ days, but the controls may feel buggy and undone, especially when playing the Atari or PS1 version of Rayman. I found this to be a hindrance, rather than a feature, and this may mess with players who would rather play these games as they were originally intended (with a joystick, for once!).
Handling save files and saving progress can feel like a hit-and-miss sometimes, whereas starting a new version of Rayman could feel like a loss for the old one. I blame this for the confusing user interface, which led me to erase or replace my old files with a new one. I’m unsure if this can still be fixed with future patches, but in the meantime, I’d advise you to be careful with your save files when playing any version of the games.
The cost of convenience
Taking a moment to admire the art style is in itself a nostalgic trip.
Those who have played the Rayman games know how exciting it is to jump into a new world and platform through bright and colorful landscapes. Earning your punches (quite literally) and collecting Tings, Lums, and Electoons is one of the most fun things to do in these games, and it keeps the journey engaging.
As fun as this gameplay loop may be, it comes with its challenges. Rayman 30th Anniversary Edition can be really difficult if you’re not used to platformers or have grown comfortable with modern controllers. I reviewed this game on a PS5, and the DualSense may not have been the best choice for it.
With retro games, there’s a certain “rawness” you feel when hitting buttons and pushing a large joystick in a certain direction. When it’s easier to let go of tiny joysticks and stick to directional/arrow keys. I tried switching between different ways of playing, but nothing ever stuck. One way or the other, Rayman on different platforms felt like they didn’t “fit” my PS5.
An old television design around the screen gives the experience an authentic touch.
This isn’t truly a design flaw, but it feels like a right-game-wrong-generation issue. Trust me, this is highly subjective and will differ based on who’s playing the game. Some will love this, others will find this annoying. Some wouldn’t care much. Whichever the case, Rayman 30th Anniversary Edition is here to hold a special place in the hearts of fans.
An emotional purchase or a practical one?
Illustrations give you an idea of how the concept for Rayman was developed over the years.
Finally, we come to a verdict: is Rayman 30th Anniversary Edition worth the $19.99? If you’re into running emulators on your device and find it easy to install old ROMs, then no. But if you want to skip those steps and keep an authentic collection of older Rayman games, then this will be a formidable purchase. However, at the time of writing, the accessibility issues may need some fixing, and it may be worth waiting on. Who knows, maybe you can even get this one at a discounted rate?
All that aside, it was a bliss to play through different generations of Rayman. I seldom smile at retro games on modern consoles, but something about Rayman 30th Anniversary Edition stays powerfully nostalgic. Especially the way developers have implemented backstories, tales of Rayman’s origin, and you can quickly switch through variations of the charming platformer we’ve come to love and adore through the years.
by Tanay Sharma
