Rayman Legends First Impressions

Title Screen for Rayman Legends

Nintendo is set to release its new console on Sunday. The main drive of the new Nintendo product is that the controller has a tablet screen. I got the chance to play some of the new system’s upcoming titles at an invitation event called the Wii U Experience. While I enjoyed the standard Mario platformer at the event, one game in particular surprised me. The demo of Rayman Legends showed me what a third party mascot-driven platformer would feel like on Nintendo’s new system.

Rayman Legends is a two-dimensional platformer game set to release exclusively for the Wii U in contrast with New Super Mario Bros U. It is the follow-up to Rayman Origins, the gorgeous 2D platformer that came out last year for just about every system available. The demo I played only supported two players, but I suspect it should support four regular players and one on the tablet controller like the Mario counterpart. Unlike the Mario game, you can play it with the Pro controller, which I found familiar enough because I didn’t need to use the analog stick on the right side.

Gameplay mostly consists of Rayman’s last title, but it’s still has plenty to offer. On the regular controller, I guided Rayman jumping, running, and hovering through a short stage. Sometimes I uncovered secret rooms, one of which challenged me to catch all of the creatures on the screen, only possible through the second player’s use of the tablet controller. The tablet player can manipulate the environment by moving and rotating objects, and the tablet user can take down enemies. The best part of the demo was running through a delightfully metal landscape with rock blasting in the background to let me know exactly when I needed to run and jump to complete the sequence. It was especially great because I was given headphones to hear the virtual concert in action. I even returned to the booth because I screwed up the first time, and I wanted to hear the interactive symphony start to finish in one try.

Rayman Legends comes out for the Nintendo Wii U in its launch window. If you love platformers, Mario is a safe bet, but you should give the limbless mascot adventure a chance. If you’re unsure, try last year’s Rayman Origins and see if you like it. Maybe if Rayman Legends sells well Ubisoft will consider development on a certain other character-based adventure.