All
the great things about Rayman: Origins on the console have been shrunk
down into a neatly-packed Vita sized offering, but it leaves behind co-op, the best
part of the console experience.
Rayman: Origins was one of the best games of
last year and a complete re-invigoration of the Rayman character. Its art style
is staggering, its music and characters full of charm and its levels are both
fun to play and deviously challenging
Nearly
everything that made Rayman: Origins great made the translation to the
Vita version, with the exception of perhaps the best feature, its co-op. The
console version was four players, allowing a couch full of people to team up
and take down the game's many challenges; but this Vita version allows for only
one player - no adhoc multiplayer or online multiplayer to be found. That's a
real bummer, because I enjoyed this game as a social experience and now on my
own, I find it to be less appealing.
The
game's many worlds are split into multiple levels and you'll run through them
first on a mission to collect and save Lums and Electoons, but you'll return to
run time challenges and to race for secret collectibles. Levels rarely are
annoying or overly difficult (though there are a few tricky ones towards the
end), so you'll want to come back to re-experience them or try your hand at a
challenge or two.
The
graphics and visuals are lush. I can't really think of a better-looking, more
aurally pleasing game on the market and shrunk down to the Vita's screen, it
doesn't lose any of the fidelity or charm. That UbiArt Framework engine is no
slouch, because everything is beautifully drawn, animates smoothly and sounds
amazing. And just as looks exactly like it did on consoles, it handles exactly
like it did on consoles.
The
Vita version includes some new touch mechanics, like being able to zoom in and
out with a screen pinch, and it includes a new Ghost Mode, which has you racing
in parts of levels against a computer-controlled ghost character. There's also
a new gift mode for use with the Vita's Near system that allows players to send
and receive gifts, but I wasn't able to test that out on this review.
If
you're a solo player or not bothered by the lack of multiplayer options, buy Rayman:
Origins. It's a best-in-class platformer that will delight and challenge
you; if you're looking to take your multiplayer Rayman: Origins playing on the
road, this probably isn't the version for you.
