Rayman

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Rayman

System(s): Sega Saturn
Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Ubisoft
Genre: Action
Number of players: 1
ESRB Sega ELSPA USK

Rayman, known as Rayman Yo! Electoon wo Sukue! (レイマンよ！エレクトゥーンを救え！) in Japan, is a 2D platform game developed and published by Ubisoft for several consoles including the Sega Saturn. It features a limbless character named Rayman (supposedly a lack of limbs meant he was easier to animate) tasked with saving his friends from the evil Mr. Dark. A Sega 32X port of the game was planned, but cancelled due to the system's poor popularity.

At the time of release the game was noted for its vibrant and detailed graphics, setting it apart from most other 2D platformers at the time. It was followed by Rayman 2: The Great Escape.

Gameplay

The game is split into six worlds, each one containing three to four stages each except for the final world, Candy Chateau. In each stage, the goal is not only to find the exit that lies at the end of each sub-stage, but also to find the six hidden cages per stage that hold Rayman's captured friends. While the game will continue to a certain point if all the cages are not found, Rayman can not enter Mr. Dark's hideout until all the cages are destroyed.

At the beginning of the game, Rayman only has the ability to walk, jump, and crawl. At certain points at the game, Rayman will recieve new powers from Betilla the Fairy, which will allow him to progress further into the game as well as re-search previous levels to find new secrets and cages. Some of these abilities include Rayman throwing his fist to attack enemies, forming a helicopter with his hair to slow his descent, and hanging from ledges.

Rayman starts each life with three hit points and a slow fist, but finding power-ups in the levels can increase his maximum health to five hit points, as well as increase the speed, power, and range of his fist attack. Blue spheres called tings are also scattered across the levels, collecting one hundred of these will earn Rayman an extra life, and they can be also used to pay a magician hidden in a few of the stages to transport Rayman to a bonus area.

Saving Data

The game makes use of the Saturn's internal battery back-up as well as the Sega Saturn Back-Up Ram Cart to save data for system configuration as well as progress. You can save a total of three games on the system RAM and three games on the Back-Up Ram Cart.