GENRE
	Platformer
	DEVELOPER
	Ubisoft Montreal
	PUBLISHER
	Ubisoft
	LOCAL WIRELESS MULTI-PLAY
	No
	Wi-Fi/GLOBAL ONLINE MULTI-PLAY
	No
	MICROPHONE
	No
	EXPECTED RELEASE DATE
	December 14, 2004
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Rayman, an unusual videogame hero with no arms and no legs, but who still retains his hands and feet, has always been the star of unique platforming titles on several systems in the past. This isn't his first time appearing on a portable, since he did show up in a launch title known as Rayman Advance when the Game Boy Advance was released back in 2001. However, this does look to be one of his biggest debuts to date. It will be his first time appearing in full 3D on a handheld, and with the capabilities of the DS, that's just the beginning.

media

impressions

This new Rayman adventure will be the hero's first time to appear in 3D on something that's not a home console system. With the graphical capabilities of the DS, this game will look absolutely beautiful and plays like a gem. The graphics will take Rayman through an endless array of gorgeous environments, such as pirate hideouts, waterfalls and sea caves.

Besides the gorgeous graphics, though, Rayman also has a slew of special abilities at his disposal which will make this game incredibly fun to play and explore. Throughout the some fourty-five different unique areas in the game, you will be able to use Rayman's special talents to not only run and jump, but also to fly, swim, ski, even fly on rockets and riding on a whirlwind.

One of the great things about Rayman DS is how it takes advantage of the DS's second screen. Most platform and adventure games have several status indicators which are almost always present on the screen. Things such as health, items collected, maybe a small map, etc. The developers at Ubisoft got smart and moved almost all of these indicator icons to the lower screen. This keeps the action on the top screen free from clutter and makes the game feel much more "open," as if you have a larger view of the action.

Speaking of the second screen, not only does it store the status of Sir Rayman, but it is also used to control the game's camera. In the center of the screen is a large, cheery image of Rayman's face. To his left and right are large arrows. Tapping either one of these with the stylus or even your thumbs (which feels much more natural) will swing the camera in which ever way you need to. There's even a bar which indicated how far you've swung the camera.

word on the street

The vibe says that this will be a unique Rayman experience, something that can only be accomplished on the Nintendo DS. Rayman Advance was one of the highest-selling launch titles for the GameBoy Advance, and Ubisoft is poised to repeat itself with Rayman DS.

press release notes

• Lush Environments
  • Race and battle through 45 intricately designed areas.
  • Explore waterfalls, deep sea caves, and pirate hideouts rendered in rich 3D.
• The DS Advantage
  • Monitor your progress, track your lums, and keep an eye on Rayman’s health on the interactive bottom screen of your DS.
• Diverse Fast Paced Gameplay
  • Run, jump, ski, swim, and fly with your helicopter hair.
  • Fly rockets, ride whirlwinds, and surf lava flows on the road to victory.
• Top Selling Nintendo Handheld Franchise
  • Rayman Advance, for the Game Boy Advance, was among the top-ten selling launch titles in 2001.

overall

This is definitely going to be game that you're going to want to check out, whether you've played a Rayman game before or not. If you're a fan of 3D platformers at all, you'll definitely want to give this game a try. Rayman's unique abilities make his games a shout different than your average platformer, and the DS is only going to expand on them even more. Keep a close eye on this title folks; it's going to be a good one.