Rayman DS - What's it like?

Grubdog

Banned
I did a bit of searching but I can't find ANY impressions / reviews of this title anywhere, it's out in Europe and just came out in Australia today, I need to know more about this game! Has it been confirmed that it's a port of Rayman 2? That wouldn't be such a bad thing cause Rayman 2 is the best Rayman, but does anyone know what extras it has, how it controls on DS etc?
 
Grubdog said:
I did a bit of searching but I can't find ANY impressions / reviews of this title anywhere, it's out in Europe and just came out in Australia today, I need to know more about this game! Has it been confirmed that it's a port of Rayman 2? That wouldn't be such a bad thing cause Rayman 2 is the best Rayman, but does anyone know what extras it has, how it controls on DS etc?

It did get a review, and that review said it was like a 55/100 or something.

Basically, they said it was horrible.

But I can't personally tell you about Rayman DS except to say that I loved Rayman 2!
 
I've played it a bit, and it's decent. Can't say I noticed problems with the framerate, but that's not a pet-peeve of mine. The thing that bothered me a bit is the controls. The "analogue" touch-control isn't as easy to use as the one in Mario, since you're restricted to a specific graphical representation of a button on the left side. You can't feel it, so if you miss it, you won't move, or you'll go in the wrong direction. It gets better with practice, of course, but I can see it being a problem later in the game when things heat up. The graphics are a mixed bag. They're detailed and very nicely coloured and animated, but the textures and effects are very blocky. Sound is standard Rayman, very unintrusive. The game is basically Rayman 2 on the N64 with worse textures and effects, and less precise controls. Which means that if you don't care about the graphics and get used to the controls, you'll enjoy it.
 
I saw a review. They gave it 4/10.

It said the controls were bad as it is impossible for a right handed person to use the stylus to control Rayman as there is no 3rd option like Mario64 which maps action buttons to the dpad. So you have to use the dpad for movement or the thumbstrap on your left hand.

The framerate is supposed to be bad and the camera is horrible too.
 
Sound is standard Rayman, very unintrusive.

Now now, that's a bit unfair. Having heard Rayman DS, I'd say that's one of the biggest flaws. Rayman 2 (PC, DC, and PS2 versions) had a fantastic soundtrack and it seems to have been destroyed on the DS. From MUCH lower quality versions of the original songs to completely different tunes in place of what was one great, it sounds awful.

All of the Rayman games have offered fantastic music, so I don't think one should gloss over that aspect so quickly (unless, of course, you couldn't care less about such things).
 
There aren't a lot of reviews out, but the only other two I've seen were really poor. Reading impressions of the game is more telling, however. It sounds as if the game is dark, runs at a terrible framerate, has control issues, sounds awful, and offers virtually nothing new. It seems to be, essentially, THE worst version of Rayman 2 to date. Worst visuals, worst audio, worst controls.
 
dark10x said:
It seems to be, essentially, THE worst version of Rayman 2 to date.
That's what it's sounding like. :(

A real shame too considering the DS hardware is capable of so much better. Shame on UbiSoft/DC Studios for this hack job.
 
Got the review, i'll try to sum it up what they say.

N-Gamer nr.1 2005 (Dutch)

- Graphics aren't good because of Dark colour palet, doesn't do game justice.
- Controls are frustrating.
- No good use of touch-screen.
- only thing that save's it from sucking is that's a port from the great Rayman 2
- There is nothing added to the port
- Good length and not easy
- edit: you also CAN'T change the controls.

Conc: If you compare this with Sm64 this is an easy port. Even though if you're a platformgame lover you've got to give this game a chance

grade: 6.5
 
Nothing added? I thought the game was delayed specifically to add some new 4 player wireless minigames? :/

And Dark, where are you hearing the audio complaints from? Is it worse than the N64/PS1 versions?
 
jarrod said:
Nothing added? I thought the game was delayed specifically to add some new 4 player wireless minigames? :/

And Dark, where are you hearing the audio complaints from? Is it worse than the N64/PS1 versions?

It seems worse than the N64 version, from what I could hear. The songs ARE based on the N64 version, but the actual quality of the samples seems lower. The N64 soundtrack was different from the other versions, just in case you weren't aware (PS1 version is the same as the other three), and the DS version copies that same soundtrack (while actually sounding worse). This is a pretty big deal to me, as the DC/PS2/PC/PS1 soundtrack is REALLY good at times. The intro, for example, still gives me shivers when I hear it...but the DS/N64 intro sounds like some generic crap from Jak and Daxter.

As for the minigames, someone said that the Euro version actually DOES feature those games, but the final US release does not (for some unknown reason).

If you want to hear the difference, go check out the second video listed under IGN's Rayman DS section and then head over to Gamespot and check out the videos for Rayman 2 Revolution on PS2 (DC review offers no videos). The IGN video shows the tail end of the opening flyby. The two bottom PS2 videos show the flyby and the prison sequence (which is in the DS vid). Remember, though, the PS2 videos have the awful English VA enabled (which is nothing more than an option).
 
I also missed one important point, seems enough for a new post

YOU CAN'T CHANGE THE CONTROLS...

(also, they didn't have any problems with the sound, they say that it fit's with the game.)
 
(also, they didn't have any problems with the sound, they say that it fit's with the game.)

Well, like I said, they used the inferior Rayman 2 N64 soundtrack as a base...and it doesn't even sound as good as what was on the N64. There aren't any glitches or problems with the sound, it's just that the quality is lower than any other version and many of the tunes aren't anywhere near as good.
 
Didn't ever play the PS1 Rayman 2, so I didn't know it changed soundtracks. I've only played the DC/N64 releases but I'm not much of an audio guy anyway (I didn't even realize a difference honestly).

This is really sad though. They somehow made a version Rayman 2 that looks worse than the PS1 version and sounds worse than the N64 version? Maybe they should've given it another 4 month delay, DS should be easily capable of better.

And the minigames aren't even in the American release? Ugh, it's Mr Driller all over again. :(
 
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