Rayman 2: The Great Escape
| Rayman 2: The Great Escape / Rayman 2: Revolution | |
|---|---|
| Nintendo DS game cover | |
| Developer(s) | Ubisoft |
| Publisher(s) | Ubisoft |
| Designer(s) | Michel Ancel |
| Series | |
| Platform(s) | Nintendo 64, Game Boy Color, PC, Sega Dreamcast, Sony PlayStation, Sony PlayStation 2, Nintendo DS |
| Release | April 10, 1999 (N64 and PC) March 8, 2000 (DC) November 16, 2000 (PS2) March 2005 (DS) |
| Genre(s) | Platformer |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
Rayman 2 is a video game. It is considered a classic game, as it raised standards regarding 3D, level design, game play, and had an unique story line, in which the player could go back to earlier levels of the game and finish certain tasks. It was released for the Nintendo 64, Game Boy Color, PC, Sega Dreamcast, Sony PlayStation, Sony PlayStation 2, and Nintendo DS. It is Rayman's first outing in 3-D.
Plot
Template:Spoiler Admiral Razorbeard is a pirate who captures Rayman and his friends. He leads a huge army of henchmen who are enslaving the inhabitants of Rayman's world, eventually taking Rayman himself. After Rayman and his best friend Globox escape, they track down the fairy Ly and find out that the robots have destroyed the world's core. The only way to fix the mess is to collect the Lums (the parts of the core) and find four masks that can wake up the sleeping god Polokus, who can destroy the robots.
Rayman is not alone in the game. He is helped by the good, but sensitive Globox who has the power to perform a magic Raindance. In the final battle of Rayman 2, Rayman must fight Razorbeard, in order to free the world of the evil pirates.
Gameplay and Level design
Rayman 2 is a breakthrough in the evolution of platforming games. Gameplay and level design of Rayman 2 is considered outstanding and original. The player is constantly faced with new challenges. The worlds are huge, giving the impression of a fairytale, magic landscape. Rayman 2 can duck, float, fly, jump, strafe, and shoot in order to defeat Razorbeard and his Henchmen.
PC/N64 Version Levels
The following are the levels for the PC/N64:
The Woods of Light
This level is the first level of the game. It is very simple. In this level, Rayman is introduced to Murphy, the Teensies, and baby Globoxes.
The Fairy Glade
This is the level where Rayman meets Ly and learns to swing from purple rings. It is a huge level, beautiful, with huge open spaces.
The Marshes of Awakening
In this level, Rayman meets Sam and the Guardian of the Cave of Bad Dreams. He has a chance to enter the Cave of Bad Dreams, if he knows the password.
The Cave of Bad Dreams
Rayman can compete against the Guardian of the Cave of Bad Dreams to win the Elixer of Life here.
The Bayou
Rayman makes his way through a swampy marsh here.
The Walk of Life
Rayman can enter here from the Bayou and possibly earn an energy refill.
The Sanctuary of Water and Ice
The first mask can be found here. Rayman fights the Guardian of the Sanctuary of Water and Ice, Axel, to get the mask and meet Polokus for the first time. Axel is a pretty hard opponent.
The Menhir Hills
Rayman is introduced to the shell on this level. He also meets Clark, who needs the Elixer of Life and tells Rayman the password to enter the Cave of Bad Dreams.
The Canopy
A not so hard level, and very fun to play. Rayman reunites with Globox here. Globox can raindance to help Rayman.
Whale Bay
This is a very beautiful level. Rayman frees Carmen, the whale.
The Sanctuary of Stone and Fire
Rayman gets the second mask here. He gets it by defeating Umber. Umber is hard to defeat.
The Echoing Caves
Rayman learns how to control flying kegs here. This level also features a secret entrance to a part of The Fairy Glade that cannot be accessed elsewise.
The Precipice
Rayman is chased by a pirate Warship and escapes through the mountains.
The Top of the World
An unique level. Rayman travels on a flying chair and lands inside a pirate stronghold.
The Sanctuary of Rock and Lava
Rayman travels through the swamps and into a lost temple flooded with lava. This is considered the hardest level of the entire game.
The Walk of Power
Rayman can enter here from the Sanctuary of Rock and Lava and possibly earn a golden fist.
Beneath the Sanctuary of Rock and Lava
Rayman fights Foutch, Axel's yellow twin who controls fire, and gets the third mask. Foutch is a very nasty enemy.
Tomb of the Ancients
Rayman fights Clark who is brainwashed by the pirates.
The Iron Mountain
Rayman has to free all of Globox's trapped children to get the 4th mask.
The Prison Ship
Rayman makes his way throughout the Prison Ship, searching for both Globox and Razorbeard.
The Crow's Nest
Rayman fights Razorbeard who is controlling a giant mech, the Grolgoth.
Versions
PC
The PC version, entitled Rayman 2: The Great Escape, features the sharpest graphics due to semi-high resolution support, compared to the Nintendo 64 and the Dreamcast versions of the product. It is compatible with computers ranging from around the year of 1999 to the present day.
Dreamcast, Nintendo 64, PlayStation
Entitled Rayman 2: The Great Escape, these three versions are very similar. A few of the differences are: The Dreamcast version has several minigames, and numerous changes have been made to the world map and final battle across these versions.
Nintendo DS
The game was being ported to the Nintendo DS under the title Rayman DS. Very few changes have been made to the game, though the touch screen is used for control. The DS version is very similar to the N64 one.
PlayStation 2
Entitled Rayman 2: Revolution, this version of Rayman 2 was released a year after The Great Escape. The PS2 release of the game featured some enchancements and some level revisions. The major upgrade was that most 2-Dimensional objects featured in The Great Escape have been replaced with 3D models.
Trivia
- It was known for a fact Rayman 2 on the Playstation version was shorter than it's N64 and Dreamcast counterparts at the time
- It was exclusive to the PS version of Rayman to have a bonus level if you would obtain 90% of the game's progress. The stage is a somewhat Rayman 2 like stage, in which the gameplay returns to the original Rayman for Playstation. The Antitoons were also exclusive enemies for the original
- Due to the fact Antitoons made it to Rayman 2, it was once rumored that Mister Dark was still alive, although it could be that they remained after his presumed death and most likely joined the Robo-Pirates.