If you collect a certain number of Lums in each stage, you’ll be rewarded with a prize ticket. Now, back to those prize tickets I mentioned just now. In addition, you can access menu items, scratch prize tickets (more on these in a bit), and play Legends in its entirety on the touchscreen, which is really cool. Being able to carry out Murfy’s actions on the GamePad feels organic, and I can’t imagine how dull these levels must be if you’re simply using buttons to make Murfy do things. I played Legends on the Wii U, and I felt that the touchscreen controls worked great.
If you’re playing on the Wii U or Vita, every action is carried out on the touchscreen, while the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC versions use shoulder button presses.
These levels feature an auto-running Rayman and put you in control of the winged sprite/critter/thing Murfy, whose sole purpose is to cut down obstacles, move switches, and take out bad guys so the titular hero can get across safely. Murfy levels are easily the biggest change to the Rayman formula. They seemingly replace the quick treasure chest chases from Origins, and while they’re not as good as those fantastic levels, they’re still easy to appreciate and will totally test your skills. These particular levels are rather fast-paced, but they’re also some of the more challenging stages in Legends. They’re timed, too, putting the pressure on you and eliminating one of the three captured Teensies should you fail to meet any of the limit thresholds. These combine enemies and settings from two worlds, creating a bizarro land of sorts. Invasion levels unlock after you’ve completed a handful of levels. It’s almost a shame that these types of levels only pop up at the end of each world, because they’re truly a blast to play through. Everything you do, from smacking an enemy to collecting a string of carefully placed Lums goes along with the music, which just sounds awesome. These are variations of the standard platforming fare you otherwise get, and they’re ridiculously entertaining. They’re traditional, challenging, and above all, just really fun to play.Īt the end of each world is a special music stage. These levels are, for all intents and purposes, the most fun you’re likely to have with this game. You run around bashing baddies, collecting Lums, and saving Teensies. You’ve got regular platforming stages that play out pretty much like you’d expect out of a Rayman game. Speaking of levels, stage design varies greatly, and you’re treated to some lovingly crafted challenges that differ as you progress. You constantly unlock new worlds and levels, so you can go in a totally nonlinear path if you so desire.
The best advice I can give you if you don’t know exactly how to progress in Legends is to just let go and do whatever the heck you want. There are a bunch of wonderful levels crammed into each of the game’s worlds, and there are numerous rewards handed out for everything you accomplish. It’s so much bigger, in fact, that it may seem a bit daunting at first. Additionally, there are also several princesses that need saving (because what would a platformer be without princesses?), who immediately join your party of ragtag heroes upon being rescued.Īs previously stated, Legends is much bigger than Origins was. Once again, you’re tasked with saving the dimwitted Teensies and shiny Lums that act as a currency of sorts. The adventure begins after Rayman and friends awake from a century-long sleep that leads to nightmares taking over the land. The game delivers exactly the type of candy-colored, happiness-fueled experience you’d expect from Ubisoft’s limbless hero, and if you fancy yourself a fan of platformers or even just pure joy, you should pick up Legends without delay. Rayman Legends is bigger, bolder, and more colorful than Origins proved to be two years ago.
It would go on to become quite the sleeper hit, so it only makes sense that Ubisoft decided to release a direct follow-up. When Rayman Origins launched back in 2011, it delivered loads upon loads of unbridled joy and cheery entertainment.