Rayman Advance

Review

by Gavin Frankle

Appearing alongside the GBA at launch, Rayman Advance is in actual fact a remake of the Rayman title that first appeared on the Saturn, PlayStation, and Jaguar. The back story tells of how Mr. Dark stole the Great Protoon, causing Rayman's world to descend into chaos. Monsters start to appear throughout the land and proceed to capture every Electoon they can find. Rayman, as luck would have it, is the world's guardian and sets out to free the Electoons and ultimately restore balance to the world.

Starting out, Rayman is capable of little more than walking, jumping, and crawling, but further into the adventure he'll be imbued with fantastic new abilities, such as a punching fist, a grabbing fist, the ability to hold onto platforms, and more. Though the title is laid out in a mostly linear fashion, these abilities must be used to uncover hidden surprises and find the Electoons in levels you've already completed. Only once you've freed every Electoon in the game's first five worlds will the sixth and final world be unlocked for play.

As enjoyable a title as it may be, Rayman Advance features the same trite platforming gameplay so prevalent during the 16-bit era. The six worlds that Rayman must traverse consist of a number of levels, each of which requires him to navigate a myriad of platforms and obstacles, exterminate any enemies he may encounter, collect Tings (100 of which will grant him an extra life), and destroy the six Electoon cages hidden within each level.

The scenery may change, but the gameplay seldom deviates from the above formula. To its credit, the title attempts to break the monotony of the platforming elements by including stages that see Rayman riding atop a giant mosquito in side scrolling, 2D shooter fashion, or escaping from constantly rising water by ascending higher and higher in the level. It's a little harsh to say Rayman lacks originality, because, quite frankly it does far more than many similar titles in the genre, but the question needs to be asked, "do we really need a port of a six year-old game that's already made a home for itself on three different consoles?" A moot point perhaps, but taken for what it is, Rayman Advance is an enjoyable 2D romp.

The early levels ease the player into the game, introducing various gameplay elements while allowing the player to get accustomed to the control. Later levels, on the other hand, require application of the various techniques you've learned throughout the adventure. More often than not, jumping sequences require an uncanny degree of precision, the lack of which will send Rayman plummeting to his doom, or worse, finding himself having to repeat a series of jumps in order to get back to where he originally fell. And that's probably the title's biggest flaw -- it's difficulty. It's a double-edged sword really, because while older gamers will no doubt relish the challenge, younger gamers, the ones to whom the title will appeal, will almost surely become overly frustrated by the difficulty of later stages.

Gameplay aside, it's the title's aesthetics that will draw children in. Bright, primary colors permeate every inch of levels that are themselves, teeming with life. Whether it's mushrooms that bounce up and down excitedly, butterflies that flit about the screen, or the dopey gait of the not-so-bright enemy characters, everything in the title animates with fluidity and is wonderful to look at. Rayman himself is an incredibly large character sprite and imbued with wonderful animation routines that help endear him to players. Backgrounds are a rich tapestry of colors, and though excellent, the art-style and look of certain worlds may not appeal to everyone.

It may pale in comparison to the likes of Super Mario Advance or Wario Land 4, but Rayman Advance offers solid platform-based gameplay and a good deal of enjoyment for those patient enough to reap its rewards.