Rayman Legends Retold - September Preview

Announced back in June, Rayman Legends Retold is something I’ve been excited for since we first got our hands on it during the first preview event. We’re now just nine days out from the release of the remake, and we got another look, this time deeper into the release, and found out some more details of what to expect on October 1st, when Rayman Legends Retold releases. As stated before, the remake has massively updated the visual style and looks beautiful. The gameplay is still true to the action-adventure platformer, and it is all playable in 2-4 player co-op as well as single-player.

Invited back for good behavior, Ubisoft gave us another look at the middle and latter portions of the remake. This time our look included a musical level and the all-new area added for this version. Though, and I want this stressed fully and with no hint of complaining from my end despite the frustration at the time, our remote preview was slightly hampered by some sort of input delay or lag. I know another person had issues with lag, but again I want this stressed: This isn’t an issue with Rayman Legends Retold, but simply the fact that it is a remote preview.

The majority of what we saw, however, was the third realm “Mystic Mesa” (previously “Fiesta de los Muertos”) featuring a lot of food-based platforming and Mexican-influenced culture including the boss battle in “Wrestling with a Giant!” We saw a bit of “Iron Shell” ( previously “20,000 Lums Under the Sea”), which I may have played a level or two I wasn’t supposed to as I explored around the hub area here because it was gorgeous. The final thing we had hands-on with was the new sixth realm, “Land of the Livid Dead.” The latter is dark, mysterious, and full of magic.

Part of me wonders what more I could say without it seeming as if I am shilling, simply because I am going to praise a lot of what we saw. Albeit, I caveat it with something. This time out, we also got a look at some of the features that are meant to help those with accessibility needs. Due to the aforementioned lag and such (last time I’ll mention it), I did check out the “Fairy Blessing” option, which gives you some sort of invincibility and the ability to place yourself anywhere in the level.

As I say, I had to use this feature eventually due to severe input delay. Otherwise, I’d still be fighting the platforming of several segments. This is actually the caveat here. If we see performance issues on launch that result in lower-than-desirable frame rates or input lag, or even if you have severe stick drift with your controller of choice, this can really impact how enjoyable you find Rayman Legends Retold. This is especially true if you are a weirdo that shuns any use of accessibility. My use was after multiple hampered attempts at challenges simply to progress for this article.

With that lengthy “disclaimer” aside. There is more of that very enjoyable, “I want to keep playing” platformer that I played back in May – unsurprisingly. Like the majority of Rayman (the series), Legends Retold oozes charm with every musical beat, every scene where the characters show their personalities, and indeed, throughout gameplay. One of the things we got access to this time out was the costume shop, unlocking many different looks for the playable characters. 70 different options according to a preview video.

Though the majority of our time was with the “Mystic Mesa” levels full of food and culture, I think I did prefer the underwater spy-infused “Iron Shell,” dodging lasers and mines as you find all the Teensies. Yeah, it is a bit darker, a bit grimy, and a bit focused on somewhat stealthing around all those line-of-sight mines. The hub world for this realm, though, is also stunning in how it hides secrets of its own beyond the levels themselves. It feels like it has an extra depth over the others we’ve seen thus far.

One thing we’ve not been able to play during our two preview events has been the challenge modes or even Kung Foot. I should say the latter has some influence in challenges to capture King and Queen Teensies, but that’s as much of the football challenge as we’ve been given access to. We do know, however, that Challenge Modes will have leaderboards for those who hate themselves and love Games Done Quick. It is part of the game I think certain people will enjoy, yet for me it is little more than an addition I’ll rarely engage in.

The final portion of our preview was our travels to the new sixth realm, “Land of the Livid Dead,” where Betilla gives you a new power to take on the new challenge of the area. Before it is even said, yes, Betilla has been changed here from a manic pixie boobarella from Rayman Origins to a more general, very large fairy woman. The internet will still be the internet and get horny for her. With Betilla’s Fairy Radiance power, however, you travel this land of large-scale destruction where magical purple vines have spread across the land, but retract upon shooting the power.

As I say, some of what we saw was possibly hampered by issues outside of our control (I tested for stick drift issues post-preview, found none), and I don’t think they fully impacted the enjoyment in the light of day. The platforming is still fun, the collect-a-thon-like exploration throughout is a nice balance of challenge and exploration, and the overall presentation of Rayman Legends Retold is very inviting. I might not be screaming “let me keep playing” as I did with the first preview, but I think you can understand why.

With Rayman Legends Retold releasing in a little over a week, I am excited more so to play the game itself properly instead of previewing it. Like the first preview, I can’t wait to see the full release on October 1st and get to play more of one of the best platformers of the last decade and a half. Rayman Legends Retold is stunning, fun to play (when you don’t have issues), and this remake feels like a love letter to the Rayman series as a whole, with every bit of love and care put into it.