Alright, these next two paragraphs are going to be me talking about my personal experiences leading up to purchasing the game, so skip those if you just want my analysis of the game.
A while back, I had played the other Rayman games sans the first, so I decided to ask Reddit (I was young and foolish), and I quote, "Is Rayman 3 worth the buy?" Now, some friends of mine followed me on Reddit and thought this question was peak comedy, so it became an inside joke.
However, Rayman 3 wasn't a game I was particularly in a rush to get. I did eventually buy a copy on Gamecube, but it messed up after the first world, so I couldn't really answer the question. After that, I asked my father to get it for me for Christmas, but we soon after had a falling out and I haven't talked to him since, so no good there either. Finally, I got the GBA version of Rayman 3, but that game is worth its own review. Eventually, I realized the game was available digitally on the XBox 360, and bought it for $9.99 USD. It took me three years to get this game. But hey, I am typing this on a website named Backloggd.
Let's start the biggest improvement from Rayman 2: The combat. Rayman 3 has some of the best combat in a 3D Platformer I've played. That's a pretty low standard, but the combat can be fun. It simply feels better than in Rayman 2, but aside from that, the powerups and level design add much more to many encounters. Many of the bosses are really good too. Some can be annoying, but they often use the powerups in cool ways. I'd even call the final boss great if it didn't end with a turret section. Other than that, there's not much to say about the combat, but it does its job as a diversion from the platforming
...Is what I'd say if the combat wasn't so prevalent. As mediocre as the combat was in Rayman 2, it was usually done and over extremely quickly. In Rayman 3, It's half the game. If the combat was combined with platforming more often, I probably would've been fine with this, but the combat can still be pretty repetitive.
Honestly, the platforming lacks variety as well, despite the solid controls and movement. The powerups add a bit of variety, but the only platforming-focused ones are the flight and hookshot ones, which are pretty one-note in their use. You occasionally shrink down and race in a shoe, but these sections are pretty boring. All you do is ram into the other shoe a few times. In between worlds, you do race through this funky wormhole, which is fun, but if you were expecting sliding, plum-riding, or any other fun mechanic from Rayman 2, you'll be disappointed. Instead, the game starts with an on-rails flying section and ends with a turret section. Awesome...
Another gameplay note is that Rayman 3 is really easy. Most Rayman games are really easy, but 3 might be the easiest to beat. Throughout the game, I only died twice, and I'm not that good at these games. However, the scoring system kept me engaged (Even if it needed some work in terms of what it prioritized), so it's not that big of an issue overall.
Storywise, the game is far from great. Globox accidentally vores the main villain Andre, so he and Rayman go to a bunch of national stereotype doctors to try and un-vore Andre. Each doctor is just like, 'uh... I can't do anything. Now go to this guy.' It's a bit repetitive, but whatever. The Rayman series has never been known for its brilliant narratives or character studies (I mean, Legends didn't even have a story), but Rayman 3 was trying to be funny. Sometimes it is, but its often just annoying. Either way, I'm glad excess dialogue is often held during gameplay. Not just because I don't want a bunch of cutscenes, but because the VA dubbing is weirdly bad here. I'd imagine the animation sync is better in France or other Countries, but as a citizen of The United States of America, I am truly disappointed in the dubbing of Rayman 3.
Audiovisually, the game is quite good. The animations are mostly nice, there's a great variety of locations, Rayman's new design is great, and the artstyle is overall very good. While I can't say every track in the game is a bop, I can remember two that stick out, which were the snowboarding theme and the final boss theme.
So it's time to answer the question: Is Rayman 3 worth the buy? Honestly, I've been mulling this over for a while. I'm kinda between a 5/10 and 6/10. I suppose either way, Rayman 3 is only worth the buy if you're a fan of the series or 3D Platformers in general. Otherwise, Rayman 2 is a much better outing.
Well, I've played every Rayman game now, except for the first. I've heard it's rather hard. I'll have to see for myself.
A while back, I had played the other Rayman games sans the first, so I decided to ask Reddit (I was young and foolish), and I quote, "Is Rayman 3 worth the buy?" Now, some friends of mine followed me on Reddit and thought this question was peak comedy, so it became an inside joke.
However, Rayman 3 wasn't a game I was particularly in a rush to get. I did eventually buy a copy on Gamecube, but it messed up after the first world, so I couldn't really answer the question. After that, I asked my father to get it for me for Christmas, but we soon after had a falling out and I haven't talked to him since, so no good there either. Finally, I got the GBA version of Rayman 3, but that game is worth its own review. Eventually, I realized the game was available digitally on the XBox 360, and bought it for $9.99 USD. It took me three years to get this game. But hey, I am typing this on a website named Backloggd.
Let's start the biggest improvement from Rayman 2: The combat. Rayman 3 has some of the best combat in a 3D Platformer I've played. That's a pretty low standard, but the combat can be fun. It simply feels better than in Rayman 2, but aside from that, the powerups and level design add much more to many encounters. Many of the bosses are really good too. Some can be annoying, but they often use the powerups in cool ways. I'd even call the final boss great if it didn't end with a turret section. Other than that, there's not much to say about the combat, but it does its job as a diversion from the platforming
...Is what I'd say if the combat wasn't so prevalent. As mediocre as the combat was in Rayman 2, it was usually done and over extremely quickly. In Rayman 3, It's half the game. If the combat was combined with platforming more often, I probably would've been fine with this, but the combat can still be pretty repetitive.
Honestly, the platforming lacks variety as well, despite the solid controls and movement. The powerups add a bit of variety, but the only platforming-focused ones are the flight and hookshot ones, which are pretty one-note in their use. You occasionally shrink down and race in a shoe, but these sections are pretty boring. All you do is ram into the other shoe a few times. In between worlds, you do race through this funky wormhole, which is fun, but if you were expecting sliding, plum-riding, or any other fun mechanic from Rayman 2, you'll be disappointed. Instead, the game starts with an on-rails flying section and ends with a turret section. Awesome...
Another gameplay note is that Rayman 3 is really easy. Most Rayman games are really easy, but 3 might be the easiest to beat. Throughout the game, I only died twice, and I'm not that good at these games. However, the scoring system kept me engaged (Even if it needed some work in terms of what it prioritized), so it's not that big of an issue overall.
Storywise, the game is far from great. Globox accidentally vores the main villain Andre, so he and Rayman go to a bunch of national stereotype doctors to try and un-vore Andre. Each doctor is just like, 'uh... I can't do anything. Now go to this guy.' It's a bit repetitive, but whatever. The Rayman series has never been known for its brilliant narratives or character studies (I mean, Legends didn't even have a story), but Rayman 3 was trying to be funny. Sometimes it is, but its often just annoying. Either way, I'm glad excess dialogue is often held during gameplay. Not just because I don't want a bunch of cutscenes, but because the VA dubbing is weirdly bad here. I'd imagine the animation sync is better in France or other Countries, but as a citizen of The United States of America, I am truly disappointed in the dubbing of Rayman 3.
Audiovisually, the game is quite good. The animations are mostly nice, there's a great variety of locations, Rayman's new design is great, and the artstyle is overall very good. While I can't say every track in the game is a bop, I can remember two that stick out, which were the snowboarding theme and the final boss theme.
So it's time to answer the question: Is Rayman 3 worth the buy? Honestly, I've been mulling this over for a while. I'm kinda between a 5/10 and 6/10. I suppose either way, Rayman 3 is only worth the buy if you're a fan of the series or 3D Platformers in general. Otherwise, Rayman 2 is a much better outing.
Well, I've played every Rayman game now, except for the first. I've heard it's rather hard. I'll have to see for myself.
2 Comments
Thanks pal.
Angel_Arle
1 year ago