Rayman

A colorful world full of pastel meadows, musical jungles and bizarre enemies, into which a hero without arms or legs steps, with only floating limbs. Rayman is a visually enchanting platformer that brought a piece of real joy to the Atari Jaguar and became one of the few titles that did the console credit even beyond the circle of 3D action fans.

Rayman is a classic 2D platformer, but with an exceptionally high bar in both difficulty and execution. The hero collects energy, frees imprisoned creatures called Electoons and gradually gains new abilities, such as a punch or gliding by means of his hair. The levels are inventively built, combining precise jumping with searching for secret spots, and gradually open up into a surprisingly extensive adventure.

Behind the game stands the French studio Ubisoft and the creator Michel Ancel, for whom Rayman became a springboard to a long and glorious career. The game was released in 1995 and, besides the Jaguar, also appeared on other platforms of the era, including the PlayStation and computers. It was precisely its hand-painted, richly animated graphics that made it one of the prettiest 2D games of its generation.

Rayman received a very positive reception and laid the foundation of one of Ubisoft's most successful franchises, which continues to this day through a whole series of sequels up to modern installments like Rayman Origins and Rayman Legends. A title born on the border of the 2D and 3D era thus became a long-lived gaming legend. On the Jaguar it was one of those rare pieces that had nothing to do with the console's failure.

The game must also be mentioned for its notorious difficulty. Rayman is beautiful to look at but merciless to play, demanding precision, patience and steady nerves. It is precisely this combination of charm and challenge that makes it an experience that rewards persistent players and where finishing carries real weight.

Why play: For a hand-painted, magical platformer world and for the beginning of one of Ubisoft's most beloved franchises. A demanding but gorgeous classic.