Rayman 3D

[Asura]

We didn't appear to have a thread for this, so I thought I'd start one.

For those it has passed by, Rayman 3D is a re-make of Rayman 2, and is a launch title for the 3DS.

I've played about an hour of it so far, and it seems pretty fun - though I never actually played the original Rayman 2 in any of its incarnations so I can't really say if it is much of an improvement. The use of 3D in the game is pretty good though, and it gives an impression of how a new Zelda/Mario game will use 3D on the handheld.

There are some problems though. A few of us on here have seen it crash, and also, the framerate can at times get quite choppy which I've found really cuts into the 3D effect.

So what does everyone else think?

[SweatyTravolta]

I'm thinking of picking it up as it's £29.99 in Sainsbury's. Does the frame rate issue happen often and does it really effect your enjoyment of the game?

[Asura]

I'm thinking of picking it up as it's £29.99 in Sainsbury's. Does the frame rate issue happen often and does it really effect your enjoyment of the game?

I wouldn't have said it was hampering my enjoyment of the game, no.

[3.142]

I've ordered this as I just couldn't resist a platformer for my little 3D wonder-machine.

[idespair]

I loved this on the Dreamcast, so it's nice to play it again with an analog controller (the iphone version didn't really do it for me). There are some nice 3D effects, though I've noticed a bit of ghosting (which in fairness could be down to my astigmatism) and the framerate does judder on occasion. Still, it was a good game to start with and they don't seem to have messed around with it.

Strangely, every time I play it I find myself wishing for a 3DS conversion of Soul Reaver.

[Asura]

I loved this on the Dreamcast, so it's nice to play it again with an analog controller (the iphone version didn't really do it for me). There are some nice 3D effects, though I've noticed a bit of ghosting (which in fairness could be down to my astigmatism) and the framerate does judder on occasion. Still, it was a good game to start with and they don't seem to have messed around with it.

The ghosting isn't your eyes; when you see it, close one eye, and you'll notice you can still see it.

Strangely, every time I play it I find myself wishing for a 3DS conversion of Soul Reaver.

Definitely would get a conversion of SR2, as I've not played that one or Defiance (though already played the first through on two machines)

[locke_211]

I've played this for about an hour and enjoyed it. Not played the original either, so it's all new!

It's not crashed so far, but I've noticed the ghosting. None for me in Pilotwings or Super Monkey Ball, but noticeable here, especially in the cutscenes. Controls work very nicely.

It also has some good 3d effects coming out of the screen, which I'm a total fool for. Lots of little particles floating around, some of them out towards you. The depth on the title screen is also really impressive.

EDIT: Oh yeah, Gamestation are doing it for £25 when you buy a 3DS, if that influences anyone.

[tnman]

I can see what reviewers mean about it being a bit of a loveless port - no map on the touchscreen, iffy framerate, and fairly regular 3D ghosting gives it its bad reputation, but, coming to the game having never played it before, it's not too bad.

Like people have said, the stuff coming at you in the screen is brilliant, especially that green fairy thing with the ridiculous smile. Whenever he visits me and toddles off, his rainbow sparkle farts sort of drift off into the upper left part of my vision. Wow!

Only done the first proper level, and for the life of me can't find the last cage and seven yellow lums. I think they're in the area with the vines and the snappy fish, but the body of water is too big to hover across and you can't swim...

[TheSlugFormerlyKnownAsNap]

I cancelled this in favour of more promising games (reports were coming in that this was a lazy port with some technical issues), but I loved Rayman 2 back on the Nintendo 64 and may well get this when it hits the bargain bin. For those who never played Rayman 2, you're in for a treat. It truly is a little gem of a game. It was stonkingly beautiful at the time too.

[matt!]

I intend to get this when it dropsmin price a bit. Loved it on the DC and fancy playing it through again...

[Retroid]

I'd prefer a 3D popout version of Rayman 1 with all those extra levels from the Gold edition included...

(And maybe a level editor...)

[trickytree]

I intend to get this when it dropsmin price a bit. Loved it on the DC and fancy playing it through again...

Same here, it's certainly an underrated game and the DC version is the best.

I'd prefer a 3D popout version of Rayman 1 with all those extra levels from the Gold edition included...

(And maybe a level editor...)

Really? The first game's nice but nothing special, unlike the sequel.

[makkuwata]

I loved it on the Dreamcast, so splashed out the 59p for the iPhone version. Don't think I could go back to paying real money for it. Even if it does come with functioning controls.

[mushashi]

For those who never played Rayman 2, you're in for a treat. It truly is a little gem of a game. It was stonkingly beautiful at the time too.

What about those of us who did play it (the 'definitive' Dreamcast version too) and can't see why people would think it was anywhere up there with a 3D Mario game? even back then, it was alright I suppose technically, but it didn't hold my interest enough to complete it, the Edge score is a bit high, but I suppose correct for the time.

[McSpeed]

Remember Rayman DS, a launch game for the original Nintendo DS?

It was exactly the same game, sans 3D.

[matt!]

Remember Rayman DS, a launch game for the original Nintendo DS?

It was exactly the same game, sans 3D.

Not strictly true.

The DS game is a port of the N64 version.

The 3DS game is a port of the Dreamcast version.

Which is good because the Dreamcast version is commonly regarded as being the best one, as it has extra bits of gameplay and better graphics.

[TheSlugFormerlyKnownAsNap]

What about those of us who did play it (the 'definitive' Dreamcast version too) and can't see why people would think it was anywhere up there with a 3D Mario game? even back then, it was alright I suppose technically, but it didn't hold my interest enough to complete it, the Edge score is a bit high, but I suppose correct for the time.

I guess if you didn't like it then, you won't like it now. Unless the years have given you the wisdom needed to truly appreciate this game

But yeah, I really liked it a lot at the time and played it all the way to completion with sheer joy.

[Sprite Machine]

Didn't realise Rayman 2 had been ported so many times!

And I've somehow never played any of them. Hmm...

[3.142]

This is also proving to be a great little title. I've heard that this is a fairly loveless port - it is fairly bare bones, but the original game has charm in spades anyway. The animation is like watching the original Lemmings at times. Lots of character.

Scenes where the camera changes to an extreme angle are always good moments, and having a controllable camera to mess about with is a good distraction when you come across some good scenery.

I'd love to see this technology coupled with the NGP's specs and the iPod's screen. One day.

[Retroid]

Really? The first game's nice but nothing special, unlike the sequel.

Well to be honest I haven't played much of Rayman 2 apart from a little bit on the god-awful DS version...

But I rate Rayman 1 to be right up there with Sonic 1 and Super Mario World. It's so god-damn charming!

[MDY]

What about those of us who did play it (the 'definitive' Dreamcast version too) and can't see why people would think it was anywhere up there with a 3D Mario game? even back then, it was alright I suppose technically, but it didn't hold my interest enough to complete it, the Edge score is a bit high, but I suppose correct for the time.

See I massively preferred it to Mario 64 and played nothing else until I'd finished it - which I very rarely do..

Not sure why it's such a shoddy port though.. 3DS should easily have been able to crank this out at a decent lick - it should more or less match the DC grunt-wise and that was pushing a rock solid 60fps 640x480 (307200 pixels) where the 3DS is only 240x800 (192000).. with massively more memory etc.. and struggles with 30

[Paulando]

Also, Rayman DS was dogshit, thanks to the utterly awful controls. The iPhone version is even worse.

Been playing this a bit more tonight though, and I'm really glad I picked it up. It isn't perfect and it's a little rough in places, but it plays perfectly well.

[trickytree]

Rayman 2's just as charming, particularly the Dreamcast version.

[Asura]

One problem with this, unfortunately, is that whilst it does seem like a very good game, it's not really a portable game. For portable titles, I tend to play them in short bursts and like games that are either arcadey titles, or games that at least allow you to save anywhere.

Being a Dreamcast game that has been ported, except for closing the machine you can't actually save in the middle of a level. I've already had a couple of instances of restarting a level due to needing to put the 3DS away and come back later.

Maybe I need to trade it for Ghost Recon.

[Paulando]

Yeah, I'm enjoying what I've played of it, but I've found I'm not really playing it all that often - because when I start a level I have to finish it before I can switch to something else, and it can take quite a while sometimes. When it does a mid-level save, it should start you off back at that point, not dump you back to the map.

[locke_211]

Really loving this, as of 26% in! It gave me my first black screen error earlier, though. I don't mind it doesn't save exactly where you are, considering it saves the lums you've got and so you can often zip back through a level pretty quickly. I don't think the 3D depth is as great as Pilotwings, but, on the pause screen especially, there's some very nifty 'little dots coming out at the screen at you' effects. The analogue stick works very well and I don't see any problems with the quality of the port, though admittedly this might be because I've not played any of the others or the original! Nice game.

[Paulando]

Hey, I loved the 3D on that bit in the second level where you have to jump down platforms in a tall shaft to get to the bottom.

[Asura]

Hey, I loved the 3D on that bit in the second level where you have to jump down platforms in a tall shaft to get to the bottom.

Yeah, and sliding down through tunnels etc. does look pretty good.

[3.142]

I'm enjoying it a lot, but I've got stuck.

I need to go back to it to find out the name of the level so I can make a quick trip to Gamefaqs before continuing.

[Vorgot]

As someone who never played the original, but loves his platformers, I've been disappointed by all the reviews so far. But the (kind of) love on here is making me reconsider. Am a bit sick of the 3DS reviews in the media so far being overly critical for the sake of it.

Will have a looky and see if this is cheap anywhere