This review contains spoilers
SPOILERS AHEAD
I was very excited for this DLC. Like a lot of people, I am a big fan of the Rayman series. Rayman Origins and Rayman Legends in particular are two of my favorite games of all time. But the series has long laid dormant. Before Rayman in the Phantom Show was announced, the series' future looked bleak. Ubisoft has gone through many controversies as of late, including accusations of workplace abuse against series creator Michel Ancel that led to him resigning and retiring in disgrace. This DLC does its best to try to bring Rayman back into the public consciousness. While I had a great time playing more Mario+Rabbids levels, I wish they had gone a bit further with references to the Rayman series. The Donkey Kong DLC in the last Mario+Rabbids game felt like a love letter to that franchise, but Phantom Show is content to just make a few references to the series (and how this is essentially Rayman's "comeback").
The gameplay here is great. Rayman feels exceptionally powerful. While you can only use Rabbid Peach and Rabbid Mario to accompany him, their healing and up-close combat abilities compliment Rayman well. This also marks the return of The Phantom, probably the most memorable character introduced in these games. The music is a standout, incorporating sounds and motifs from past Rayman games. The Phantom also sings a very funny "diss track" about Rayman that echoes the one about Mario in the first game.
While I enjoyed Rayman in the Phantom Show a lot, I do have a gripe that will seem minor to some, but I'm sure others will understand. AT NO POINT IN THE GAME DO RAYMAN AND MARIO MEET! I get not wanting to overshadow Rayman's return, but it would've made for a nice ending cutscene. If it isn't going to happen in Super Smash Bros, it should've happened here. Maybe they didn't want to be too obvious, but I still feel it's a lost opportunity.
If you 100% Phantom show, you are greeted with a message that the developers teased was about Rayman's future. It reads:
"The bleakest dark yields to the faintest light; a light that exists within each of us. You are not alone, we are a multitude linked together by a thin red thread that sews together our hearts and souls. Tighten the knot and we will be together forever, lighting the way."
I take this statement to mean that Rayman lives on as long as there are still fans who love and play the games. We don't know what the future holds for Rayman, or even the Mario+Rabbids series of games. But for all the toxic traits associated with fandoms, they serve a major purpose: Keeping media, art, and stories alive years after their heyday. Our treasured memories are enough. But there's always the hope that we may one day see our favorite characters and franchises return to their former glory. It was nice to see Rayman again. I hope Globox is doing well too!
I was very excited for this DLC. Like a lot of people, I am a big fan of the Rayman series. Rayman Origins and Rayman Legends in particular are two of my favorite games of all time. But the series has long laid dormant. Before Rayman in the Phantom Show was announced, the series' future looked bleak. Ubisoft has gone through many controversies as of late, including accusations of workplace abuse against series creator Michel Ancel that led to him resigning and retiring in disgrace. This DLC does its best to try to bring Rayman back into the public consciousness. While I had a great time playing more Mario+Rabbids levels, I wish they had gone a bit further with references to the Rayman series. The Donkey Kong DLC in the last Mario+Rabbids game felt like a love letter to that franchise, but Phantom Show is content to just make a few references to the series (and how this is essentially Rayman's "comeback").
The gameplay here is great. Rayman feels exceptionally powerful. While you can only use Rabbid Peach and Rabbid Mario to accompany him, their healing and up-close combat abilities compliment Rayman well. This also marks the return of The Phantom, probably the most memorable character introduced in these games. The music is a standout, incorporating sounds and motifs from past Rayman games. The Phantom also sings a very funny "diss track" about Rayman that echoes the one about Mario in the first game.
While I enjoyed Rayman in the Phantom Show a lot, I do have a gripe that will seem minor to some, but I'm sure others will understand. AT NO POINT IN THE GAME DO RAYMAN AND MARIO MEET! I get not wanting to overshadow Rayman's return, but it would've made for a nice ending cutscene. If it isn't going to happen in Super Smash Bros, it should've happened here. Maybe they didn't want to be too obvious, but I still feel it's a lost opportunity.
If you 100% Phantom show, you are greeted with a message that the developers teased was about Rayman's future. It reads:
"The bleakest dark yields to the faintest light; a light that exists within each of us. You are not alone, we are a multitude linked together by a thin red thread that sews together our hearts and souls. Tighten the knot and we will be together forever, lighting the way."
I take this statement to mean that Rayman lives on as long as there are still fans who love and play the games. We don't know what the future holds for Rayman, or even the Mario+Rabbids series of games. But for all the toxic traits associated with fandoms, they serve a major purpose: Keeping media, art, and stories alive years after their heyday. Our treasured memories are enough. But there's always the hope that we may one day see our favorite characters and franchises return to their former glory. It was nice to see Rayman again. I hope Globox is doing well too!