The Origin of the Species
posted by IllogicalJ (BROOKLYN, NY) Dec 1, 2011
Member since May 2005
5
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Don't believe in evolution? Pick up a copy of Rayman: Origins, and you'll see how to make a perfect platformer. What starts as dashing and jumping soon as you hovering, swimming, and running up walls, and whereas your primary goal at first is merely to finish a level, you'll also get awards for collecting everything within it, not to mention beating the time limits for each stage. You're always learning new tricks to move faster, from how to boost momentum on ice to how best to wall jump, and consequently, you're always discovering new things to love about the exquisitely hand-drawn levels and excitable soundtrack.
There's plenty of content here, and from the punny titles of each level to the secrets hidden within, this will remind platform fans most of a mash between Donkey Kong Country and Wario Land: Shake It. And while perfecting Rayman's as difficult as most games in the genre, it has one edge up on its predecessors: a forgiving checkpoint and infinite life system that allows you to perfect stages a section at a time, rather than being forced to nail it all in one go. (For the hardcore, you'll still have the increasingly unforgiving time trials and the unlockable bonus "treasure" levels, in which you chase a fleeing treasure chest; rest assured, this isn't Crash Bandicoot.)
A terrific learning curve that continues to push you, a checkpoint progression system that won't make you snap your controller, and a lush and colorful aesthetic that makes even dying a beautiful thing . . . did I mention that there's a co-operative mode, too, if that's your thing? I know I made an evolution joke at the top of this review, but in all honesty, if this game proves anything, it's the importance of intelligent design.
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