@Guillaume@Anand

I'm with you guys.

And yeah the framerate really makes it feel like it's running in slowmo. I mean...just look at the animation when you get a medal. The gameplay's not as slow as that, but that's some pretty slow stuff.

@Anand, the 360 demo isn't all that representative of the full game. The levels are a mish-mash of parts of levels from the full game, really. The actual product is much better!

@Guillaume
Don't worry. I'm stupid, so I already bought the 360 version. And maybe I'll even open it one day! But Origins seems to be a pretty polarizing game. It seems like half of the people who tried it think that it's fantastic and the other half just think that it feels wrong. Or maybe that's just my perception. I dunno. I am kind of out of touch with the gaming public.

@Griptor
Plus load times! That weren't even in 3D!

Honestly, the 3D effect was the only comparative advantage that the 3DS version really had to offer, and it was shockingly weak.

rebonack said:

Is "In the Shade" one of the treasure chest chase levels? If so, those are optional -- there's one in each world, similar to the temple levels in DKCR -- so don't think that's representative of the entire game.

That's reassuring. Good that it's skippable. I would have pulled my hair out if I had to trek through those to move on with the game. It's super-hard!

@Anand

Yeah, the 3D effect is pretty... subtle. To put it lightly. I don't know what I was expecting out of the 3D effect - from a very 2D game - but I was expecting more than this. It's not bad IMO, but just far "less" than I suppose I would have imagined it potentially, maybe, perhaps would be. In my head. .... I dunno.

Well, I guess I'll pick up the Wii version after all - 3DS demo was a step down.

This game is fifteen bucks on Steam right now if anyone is interested.

@Anand

I turned down buying the game for Xbox 360 at launch based solely on the demo, which I found very disappointing.

Bought it earlier this year...the full product is fantastic.

Check it out, yo.

I downloaded the 3DS demo last night and played through the trial. It was really pretty good, and amazingly close to the look and sound of the Wii version. I do think that Rayman felt a little more floaty than he did/does on Wii, but I reeeeeaally like pressing R to run instead of the awkward B of the Wii remote. And, yes, thank goodness that shade level is skippable in the main game. I think it would be Bit Trip fun if Rayman controlled a little more precisely, but as is, it was rather maddening. Still a fun game, though in owning the Wii version, I may pass on the awfully similar 3DS version.

Just pre-paid yesterday. Only 29.99. I know its 19.99 for other versions, but I'll pay the extra 10 bones for 3D and portability.

@anon_mastermind
Yeah wasn't feeling the 3DS version, everything is too teensy, it really feels like a console game ported down instead of a proper handheld game. I still want to play this game eventually though, one day I will get for the PS3.

I just started this on the PS3. I'm only maybe 5 levels in but it's really fun so far!

One thing I noticed from the 3DS demo: the shooter level was a cool and unique change of page from the platforming in the other two areas.

Really reminded me of Super Mario Land. Ubisoft really took a lot of inspiration from Nintendo when they made this game!

GameDadGrant said:

One thing I noticed from the 3DS demo: the shooter level was a cool and unique change of page from the platforming in the other two areas.

Really reminded me of Super Mario Land. Ubisoft really took a lot of inspiration from Nintendo when they made this game!

There was shooting levels in the original Rayman, too. Ubisoft has their own resident genius in Michel Ancel. Ancel's and Miyamoto's work feel very similar when it comes to platformers, but in many respects I prefer Ancel.

Im trying the 3ds demo now, but im not that in to it. First off, i think it is beautiful; however, i really dont like the controls and feel of the game. Some people say its because of the FPS drop to get it on 3ds, but i never otice framrate unless it dips below 30. I cant tell a difference between 30 and 60.

I think the game is a little hard. When i play a 2d platformer with iffy controls and this kind of difficulty i get really turned off of it. Ima play with it some more an see if i can make it through these levels. IF i can, i may buy it for 3ds. I hear a rumor that it will be an eshop game and reasonably priced... I may bite at that if it is true, i am not buying a cartridge for this.

Eff that level that is about chasing the guy in the shaded cave. I get near the end and cant make it to the edge of the platform when the pieces started falling down... I beat VVVVVV, i shouldnt have trouble with this lol.

Deerock69 said:

There was shooting levels in the original Rayman, too. Ubisoft has their own resident genius in Michel Ancel. Ancel's and Miyamoto's work feel very similar when it comes to platformers, but in many respects I prefer Ancel.

Super Mario Land still came first. Also, Gunpei Yokoi's team developed Super Mario Land, not Miyamoto.

Scrawnton said:

Eff that level that is about chasing the guy in the shaded cave. I get near the end and cant make it to the edge of the platform when the pieces started falling down... I beat VVVVVV, i shouldnt have trouble with this lol.

I know, right? That stage is harder than any of the Golden Temples from Donkey Kong Country Returns...! I still want to beat it, though!

Yeah, that stage was a bitch. And you have to start from the beginning every time, too. Annoying.

@Griptor
It's on the shelf!

@NoName
I also thought R made for a neat run button. Or it would've, if it were more comfortable to press.

Ba-bump!

So due to all the craziness of earlier this year (and me getting distracted by games like Rhythm Heaven Fever, Kid Icarus Uprising and Theatrhythm), I kinda shelved Rayman for awhile. However, upon finally entering the HD era (kicking and screaming) and getting a much larger TV for the living room as well as component cables, I decided to jump back in and give it another shot.

The difference is like night and day!

While nearly all older games look better on my SDTV, Rayman looks much improved with the component cables on a nice, large plasma. While it's still not quite as crisp as the HD versions, I can confidently say that it still looks phenomenal, possibly in the top 5 of the Wii, graphically-speaking. The animation and attention to detail are lovely and give the game a ton of personality and humor. And I can READ the text finally!

So with the game having a fresh coat of actually-visible paint, I went back to my old save file with a renewed interest in the title. I had stopped near the beginning of the fourth world long ago and just picked it up from there. As of right now, I'm fairly close to the end, complete with nearly all Electoons, Medals, and Speed Trophies, and it's been a great ride. The stage design is strong, the music is excellent, and the challenge level is just right. On more than one occasion I wished that the NSMB titles could be this ambitious in terms of spectacle and flair.

To be fair to Mario, though, I do think he's got the upper hand in level design. While I enjoy Rayman Origins' focus on Lum collection, and the mini-challenges that involve moving quickly when you get the big Lum (you know, with the pink Lums singing and all that), it does give the game sort of a weird structure at times. For instance, if you're going for the Medal and trying to get all the Lums, and kind of mess up a pink Lum section, the best and quickest way to try again is just to kill yourself so you respawn at the beginning of the room. There've been many, many times where I've done this, and it's kind of weird that the game encourages this sort of behavior...just seems like a strange design choice. At the very least, a menu option for restarting at the last checkpoint would've made a little more sense, although that's still not ideal.

(On a semi-related note, I also find it weird when reviewers complain that Mario hands out lives like candy and call it "easy" as a result. That's about as nonsensical as saying Origins is easy because you technically have infinite lives.)

The controls still do feel just a little too slippery to me as well. Sometimes it's a little vague where Rayman will wall kick vs. pull himself up on ledges, and it's also vague sometimes on whether or not he'll take that extra step up a wall or not as well. I don't always feel 100% in control of what the guy's doing, but for the most part, I do like the flotiness and general speed of the controls and gameplay.

Overall, I gotta recommend this one. I don't prefer it to DKCR, but it can definitely hang with the rest of the Wii's venerable set of 2D platformers--NSMB, Wario, Kirby's Epic Yarn, Return to Dream Land, and A Boy and His Blob.

On a side note--the multiplayer hasn't been as much of a hit with everyone. I think this sort of game is just a little too chaotic and "busy" to work as well in multi.

"This game is idiotic!"

Oh, that reminds me. I fired up the 3DS demo of this game the other night, and completed it in its totality. Did all the challenges in the "Jungle" stage, got the top score in the "Shooter" stage, and I even beat the "In the Shade" level!

Now that I've got the demo down pat (mostly) I feel I'm ready for the full retail release. Which for me, isn't until November. Sixth. That's like 4 months away. For crying out loud, Ubisoft. Good thing I've got Mario coming in just over a week's time.