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Rayman Origins Review


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On 02/20/2012 at 12:00 PM by Vic Roman

Ubisoft delivers a near perfect port of a near perfect game.
RECOMMENDATION:

For everyone who owns a Vita. This is one of the best 2D platformers money can buy.

Stunning animations and gorgeous art design make this 2D platformer a must see for all gamers. The visuals aren’t the only trick up up Ubisoft’s sleeve though. The game’s top-notch controls and level design will assure you that the flashy visuals are merely the icing on a gameplay-focused cake.

This all should sound familiar if you played Rayman Origins last year. That is because this port looks and plays identically to the 2011 releases. No sacrifices were made to the controls or graphics. Though Rayman Origins doesn’t push any technical limits, the fact that the handheld version of the game is just as good as its Wii and HD counterparts is a sign of the Vita’s hardware prowess.

As a matter of fact, the Vita version is so similar to the other versions that our verdict of the Vita port is unchanged from last year’s release. Instead of duplicating our thoughts, we ask you to read our initial Rayman Origins review that Nick DiMola wrote last year.

The only portion of the Vita port that has changed is an omission of multiplayer. The 2011 release included 4-player local multiplayer, but this was easily the weakest aspect of the game. Levels were clearly designed as a single player experience and the co-op gameplay felt tacked on. There was no extra incentive to play with friends and the extra people on screen equated to more frustration and difficulty. With that said, leaving multiplayer out of the Vita port does not hurt the experience at all.

Rayman Origins is every inch as fun on the Vita and works as a great game to play in quick spurts on a handheld thanks to its short level based structure. It is one of the best 2D platformers on the market. You should own it on the Vita if you don’t already own it on another platform.

Review Policy

In our reviews, we'll try not to bore you with minutiae of a game. Instead, we'll outline what makes the game good or bad, and focus on telling you whether or not it is worth your time as opposed to what button makes you jump.

We use a five-star rating system with intervals of .5. Below is an outline of what each score generally means:


All games that receive this score are standout games in their genre. All players should seek a way to play this game. While the score doesn't equate to perfection, it's the best any game could conceivably do.


These are above-average games that most players should consider purchasing. Nearly everyone will enjoy the game and given the proper audience, some may even love these games.


This is our middle-of-the-road ranking. Titles that receive three stars may not make a strong impression on the reviewer in either direction. These games may have some faults and some strong points but they average out to be a modest title that is at least worthy of rental for most.


Games that are awarded two stars are below average titles. Good ideas may be present, but execution is poor and many issues hinder the experience.


Though functional, a game that receives this score has major issues. There are little to no redeeming qualities and should be avoided by nearly all players.


A game that gets this score is fundamentally broken and should be avoided by everyone.


 

Comments

Our Take

Esteban Cuevas Staff Alumnus

02/20/2012 at 12:16 PM

Still need to play this game. It looks incredible!

Jason Ross Senior Editor

02/20/2012 at 04:51 PM

"The only portion of the Vita port that has changed is an omission of multiplayer. The 2011 release included 4-player local multiplayer, but this was easily the weakest aspect of the game. Levels were clearly designed as a single player experience and the co-op gameplay felt tacked on. There was no extra incentive to play with friends and the extra people on screen equated to more frustration and difficulty. With that said, leaving multiplayer out of the Vita port does not hurt the experience at all."

^^^^Sadly, that's absolutely true. Too bad. Still, yeah, it's incredible to say removing multiplayer might actually strengthen the game. The idea is certainly true, though.

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