Rayman

Last updated

Rayman
Rayman-logo.png
Primary logo since 2011 [1]
Genre(s) Platformer
Developer(s)
Publisher(s)
Creator(s) Michel Ancel
Platform(s)
First release Rayman
1 September 1995
Latest release Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope: Rayman in the Phantom Show (DLC 3)
30 August 2023
Spin-offs Rabbids

Rayman is a franchise of platformer video games, created by video game designer Michel Ancel for Ubisoft. [2] Since the release of Rayman in 1995, the series has produced a total of 45 games across multiple platforms.

Contents

The series is set in a fantastical, magical world which features a wide range of environments that are very often based on certain themes, such as "the Eraser Plains", a landscape made entirely of stationery. The core games of the series are platformers, but there are several spin-off titles in other genres. The protagonist is Rayman, a magical limbless being renowned for his courage and determination who, with the help of his friends, must save his world from various villains.

Games

Main series

TitleDetails

Original release dates:
  • EU: 1 September 1995
  • NA: 7 September 1995
Release years by system:
1995 - Atari Jaguar, PlayStation, Sega Saturn, MS-DOS
2001 - Game Boy Advance
2002 - Nokia Communicator
2009 - Nintendo DSi
2016 - iOS, Android
Notes:
  • Developed by Ubisoft Montpellier.
  • A PC version titled Rayman Gold was released with additional features including levels, online features, and level creator Rayman Designer .
  • A version was released on the Game Boy Advance titled Rayman Advance.
  • A port by Gameloft was released for Symbian-based Nokia Communicator models. [3] [4]
  • Rayman Advance was re-released for Wii U Virtual Console in 2017.
  • Part of the lineup of the 20 games that come pre-loaded on the PlayStation Classic.

Original release dates:
  • EU: 22 October 1999
  • NA: 4 November 1999
Release years by system:
1999 - Nintendo 64, Microsoft Windows
2000 - Dreamcast, PlayStation, PlayStation 2
2005 - Nintendo DS
2010 - iOS
2011 - Nintendo 3DS
Notes:
  • Developed by Ubisoft Montpellier.
  • The first 3D Rayman game.
  • An updated remake was released for the PlayStation 2, titled Rayman Revolution. This version added upgraded graphics, the inclusion of new areas, bosses, and mini-games.
  • A port of the Nintendo 64 version was released for the Nintendo DS, titled Rayman DS.
  • A port of the Dreamcast version was released for the Nintendo 3DS, titled Rayman 3D.

Original release dates:
  • NA: 21 February 2003
  • EU: 4 March 2003
Release years by system:
2003 - GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Microsoft Windows
2004 - Mac OS X
2012 - PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Notes:
  • Developed by Ubisoft Montpellier.
  • The sequel to Rayman 2.
  • Re-released in HD for PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade in 2012, titled Rayman 3 HD.

Original release dates:
  • NA: 15 November 2011
  • AU: 24 November 2011
  • EU: 25 November 2011
Release years by system:
2011 - PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360
2012 - Microsoft Windows, Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation Vita
2013 - OS X
Notes:
  • Developed by Ubisoft Montpellier, Ubisoft Paris, and Ubisoft Casablanca.
  • The first original 2D Rayman game since the first Rayman.

Original release dates:
  • AU: 29 August 2013
  • EU: 30 August 2013
  • NA: 3 September 2013
Release years by system:
2013 - Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Wii U, Xbox 360, PlayStation Vita
2014 - PlayStation 4, Xbox One
2017 - Nintendo Switch
2021 - Stadia
Notes:
  • Developed by Ubisoft Montpellier.
  • The direct sequel to Rayman Origins.
  • An updated version, titled Rayman Legends: Definitive Edition, was released for Nintendo Switch in 2017.

Spin-offs

Raving Rabbids

TitleDetails

Original release dates:
  • NA: 19 November 2006
  • AU: 7 December 2006
  • EU: 8 December 2006
Release years by system:
2006 - Wii, PlayStation 2, Microsoft Windows, OS X
2007 - Xbox 360
Notes:
  • Developed by Ubisoft Montpellier and Ubisoft Sofia.
  • The console versions are minigame-based party games, with the Wii version taking advantage of the motion control capabilities of the Wii Remote.
  • The Wii version of Rayman Raving Rabbids was re-released on the Wii U eShop in 2017.

Original release dates:
  • NA: November 2006
Release years by system:
2006 - J2ME
Notes:

Developed by Gameloft Software Beijing Ltd.


Original release dates:
  • NA: November 14, 2006
  • AU: December 7, 2006
  • EU: December 8, 2006
Release years by system:
2006 - Game Boy Advance
Notes:
  • The Game Boy Advance version is notably different from the console versions, being that it is a 2D platformer developed using the same engine as the Game Boy Advance port of Rayman 3. This version includes characters from previous Rayman games that do not appear in the console versions.
  • Both the Game Boy Advance and DS version are based on a canceled Raving Rabbids prototype known as Rayman 4.

Original release dates:
  • NA: March 6, 2007
  • AU: March 15, 2007
  • EU: March 16, 2007
Release years by system:
2007 - Nintendo DS
Notes:
  • The DS version is also notably different as it combines parts of platforming and party game elements. This version uses the same engine as Rayman DS.
  • Both the Game Boy Advance and DS version are based on a canceled Raving Rabbids prototype known as Rayman 4.

Original release dates:
  • NA: 13 November 2007
  • AU: 15 November 2007
  • EU: 16 November 2007
Release years by system:
2007 - Wii, Microsoft Windows
Notes:

Original release dates:
  • NA: November 13, 2007
  • EU: November 16, 2007
  • AU: November 22, 2007
Release years by system:
2007 - Nintendo DS
Notes:
  • Developed by Ubisoft Casablanca.
  • The sequel to Rayman Raving Rabbids.
  • Unlike the DS version of Rayman Raving Rabbids, the DS version of Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 is primarily a party game like the Wii version.

Original release dates:
  • EU: 13 November 2008
  • AU: 14 November 2008
  • NA: 18 November 2008
Release years by system:
2008 - Wii
Notes:
  • Developed by Ubisoft Paris.
  • The third game in the Raving Rabbids series.
  • The final Rabbids game to feature Rayman until Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope.

Original release date:
October 20, 2022
Release years by system:
2022 - Nintendo Switch
Notes:
  • Developed by Ubisoft Paris, Ubisoft Milan.
  • The second game in the Mario + Rabbids series.
  • The first appearance of Rayman since TV Party, as a downloadable content.
  • Rayman's first console game since Rayman Legends.

Other

TitleDetails

Original release dates:
Release years by system:
1997 - PC

Original release dates:
Release years by system:
1998 - PC

Original release dates:
Release years by system:
1999 - PC

Original release dates:
Release years by system:
1999 - PC

Original release dates:
Release years by system:
1999 - PC

Original release dates:
Release years by system:
2000 - PC

Original release dates:
  • NA: 29 March 2000
  • EU: 24 July 2000
Release years by system:
2000 - GBC
Notes:

A Game Boy Color version of the first game.


Original release dates:
  • EU: 10 November 2000
Release years by system:
2000 - PlayStation

Original release dates:
  • EU: 15 December 2000
Release years by system:
2000 - PlayStation
Notes:

UK version of Rayman Brain Games that was split into multiple games


Original release dates:
  • EU: 15 December 2000
Release years by system:
2000 - PlayStation
Notes:

UK version of Rayman Brain Games that was split into multiple games


Original release dates:
  • EU: 12 January 2001
Release years by system:
2001 - PlayStation
Notes:

UK version of Rayman Brain Games that was split into multiple games


Original release dates:
  • NA: 11 August 2001
Release years by system:
2001 - PlayStation
Notes:

North American version of the Rayman Junior games combined.


Original release dates:
  • EU: 30 November 2001
  • NA: 24 September 2002
Release years by system:
2001 - PlayStation 2, Microsoft Windows
2002 - GameCube, Xbox
Notes:
  • Titled as Rayman Arena in North America

Original release dates:
  • EU: 14 December 2001
  • NA: 1 January 2002
Release years by system:
2001 - GBC
Notes:

A version of Rayman 2: The Great Escape that was released for the Game Boy Color.


Original release dates:
  • EU: 8 March 2002
  • NA: 26 March 2002
Release years by system:
2002 - PlayStation
Notes:

A version of Rayman M that was released for the PlayStation.


Original release dates:
  • EU: 1 June 2002
  • NA: 2 July 2003
Release years by system:
2002 - Mobile

Original release dates:
  • NA: 16 July 2003
Release years by system:
2003 - Mobile

Original release date:
Release years by system:
2001 - Mobile

Original release dates:
Release years by system:
2003 - Game Boy Advance, N-Gage
Notes:

The Game Boy Advance version of Rayman 3 that focuses on Razorbeard, the main antagonist from Rayman 2, instead of the Hoodlums.


Original release dates:
  • NA: 15 March 2005
  • EU: 18 March 2005
Release years by system:
2005 - Game Boy Advance

Original release dates:
  • NA: 12 March 2009
Release years by system:
2009 - BlackBerry

Original release dates:
  • NA: 20 September 2012
Release years by system:
2012 - iOS, Android
2013 - Microsoft Windows, Windows Mobile

Original release dates:
  • NA: 7 November 2013
Release years by system:
2013 - iOS, Android
2014 - Windows Mobile, Microsoft Windows
Rayman Adventures

Original release dates:
  • NA: 5 December 2015
Release years by system:
2015 - iOS, Android
Notes:

The game servers got shut down in 2023.


Original release date:
  • NA: 19 September 2019
Release years by system:
2019 - iOS
Notes:
  • Nominated for the A-Train Award for Best Mobile Game at the New York Game Awards [7]
  • Nominated for "Best Mobile Game" at the Pégases Awards 2020 [8]

Cancelled games

Characters

Main protagonists

Supporting characters

Antagonists

Reception

Aggregate review scores
Game Metacritic
Rayman (JAG) 85% [37] [a]
(SAT) 85% [38] [a]
(GBA) 84/100 [39]
(PC) 77% [40] [a]
(PS1) 75% [41] [a]
(DSi) 66% [42] [a]
(iOS) 60% [43] [a]
Rayman 2: The Great Escape (DC) 93% [44] [a]
(PC) 91% [45] [a]
(N64) 90/100 [46]
(PS2) 90/100 [47]
(PS1) 87% [48] [a]
(3DS) 61/100 [49]
(NDS) 58/100 [50]
(iOS) 53/100 [51]
Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc (GBA) 83/100 [52]
(GC) 77/100 [53]
(PS2) 76/100 [54]
(Xbox) 75/100 [55]
(PC) 74/100 [56]
(PS3) 72/100 [57]
(X360) 69/100 [58]
Rayman Origins (Wii) 92/100 [59]
(Vita) 88/100 [60]
(X360) 87/100 [61]
(PS3) 87/100 [62]
(PC) 86/100 [63]
(3DS) 71/100 [64]
Rayman Legends (WiiU) 92/100 [65]
(XOne) 91/100 [66]
(PS3) 91/100 [67]
(PS4) 90/100 [68]
(X360) 90/100 [69]
(PC) 89/100 [70]
(Vita) 87/100 [71]
(NS) 84/100 [72]

Rayman was named the Best New Character award of 1995 by Electronic Gaming Monthly . [73] Since his debut in 1995 on the Atari Jaguar, Rayman has become a well received, fan favorite and recognizable video game character by countless players and was known for his lack of limbs. [21] [74] [75]

Other media

Rayman has been the subject of a short-lived animated television series in 1999, Rayman: The Animated Series , which was produced as a tie-in to the video games, though significantly different from the source material. Only four episodes were made.

In 2019, another animated TV series was announced to be in works at Ubisoft Film & Television. However, the project was scrapped in 2023. [76] [77]

Rayman appears as a recurring character in the 2023 animated series Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix , voiced by David Menkin. [25]

Notes

References

  1. Without counting the E3 2010 announcement trailer of Rayman Origins.
  2. "Rayman Origins Michel Ancel Video Interview". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
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  6. Varanini, Giancarlo (4 March 2003). "Rayman 3 ships". GameSpot . Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  7. Sheehan, Gavin (2 January 2020). "The New York Game Awards Announces 2020 Nominees". Bleeding Cool . Archived from the original on 4 January 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  8. "All the categories (2020)". Pégases Awards. 7 February 2020. Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
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  11. Kerr, Chris (24 October 2016). "Michel Ancel unearths Rayman's long-lost SNES debut after 25 years". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on 25 October 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  12. "Rayman". GamePro . No. 74. IDG. November 1994. p. 185.
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  14. 1 2 "Rayman 2". Next Generation . No. 18. Imagine Media. June 1996. p. 100.
  15. 1 2 "Coming Soon: Rayman 2". Sega Saturn Magazine (10). EMAP: 15. August 1996. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  16. Devs Play S2E09 · "Rayman 2: The Great Escape" with Michel Ancel, Tim Schafer, and Lee Petty. YouTube . Double Fine. 26 January 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
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  77. It's official Rayman & Les Moldies has been cancelled. Regrettably the project was never given the greenlight. The show had planned to take inspiration around the Incrediballs and the Rayman license.