This game is a perfect example on how to make water levels that do not suck.

I love when this game gets the praise it deserves. It and its sequel are phenomenal games.

Miss this series, Rayman Origins and Legends truly imo is one of the best games Ubi has put out there, maybe even the best platformers I've ever played, and I've played a lot of them

Oh hey, Rayman gets recognition!

That's weird that the newer Rayman, for all its awesomeness, seems to have been almost completely forgotten by the general public. It is beautiful, it's goofy, it's got a very distinct over-the-top aesthetic, it has wonderful gameplay and bizarre sense of humour. It's quick but manageable, challenging but not frustrating, it has an oitstanding soundtrack, and generally it looks, feels and plays great. So great, in fact, that it tricked me into believing I actually liked platformer games. (I later found out I didn't. I just liked Rayman). Why has it been forgotten then? Mario is a cultural phenomenon and the icon of platformers. So is Sonic, if only for having been so consistently bad for so many years. There have been indie darlings, like Shovel Knight, that were lauded as breakthroughs in the genre. But Rayman? It seemed to have flown completely under the radar. I mean, Origins created some buzz but Legends was forgotten by the end of the year it was released in. What went wrong with it?

The character designs in _Team Fortress 2_. Each class is designed to be visually distinct from the rest so that you can quickly determine what your team mates are doing, which is important in a team-based game. It's the same thing in the _Doom_ reboot. Each enemy has a different shape, color scheme, and way of moving that makes them easy to identify at a glance so you know what weapons and strategies to use, which is important in a fast-paced shooter where you can be engaging several dozen enemies at one time. This is also done well in _Left 4 Dead_.

Rayman origins is a better Sonic than Sonic.

Rayman Origins, Rayman Legends, DKC Returns and DKC Tropical Freeze have got to be the best side scrollers of the last decade. Mario is still the Godfather of the genre, but there's no denying the impact the new DKC games and the new Rayman games have had on me.

I loved the tom and jerry part :)

uses art as an inherant part of the gameplay? Okami, you LITERALLY DRAW WHAT YOU WANT. Need a bomb? Draw a Q! Need to cut something? Slash it with a line! Need wind? Draw a loop de loop! Need to sprout trees? Draw seed dots on the ground.

"I just wanted to let you know you're beautiful" awwwwwwwwwwwww

I didn't see anyone talking about it but, Kirby Epic Yarn ?

I can think of two games that blend art and gameplay amazingly. Castle Crashers and Shovel Knight. :'D

Rayman is literally my childhood. This game has an extremely special place in my heart.

You express really well the reasons I love these games so much! Both Origins and Legends are pretty much perfect platformers. Gorgeous & beautifully exuberant games with a real sense of joie de vivre! I get really psyched just thinking about 'em :D

If I were a game developer and you made a video like this about a game I made, I'd probably cry. I'm not a game developer, of course, but it's heartwarming to see a video this well-put-together so successfully articulating what makes a game great, especially when it's a factor you can tell the developers put so much love and effort into. They'd probably feel really validated to see this.

Hmm... Fancy Pants Adventures comes to my mind.

I'm a game designer and currently making a game with my friend, and one of our main inspirations are the two latest Rayman games. Particularly Legends. I absolutely ADORE these games. They are SO good. Hoping for a new one soon...

I feel like the game Limbo kind of this art melding into gameplay effect, though that's probably helped a lot by the fact that there's no detail to it, it's all in shadow. I can't think of a game that does this sort of thing as impressively as Rayman Origins. (Though the games Baten Kaitos and Baten Kaitos Origins do sort of come to mind. It's not quite in the same way, but a lot of the backgrounds and maps in those games look like paintings, with interactable and aesthetic set pieces blending together, making it feel a bit more like a cohesive world.)

This is my favorite 2d platformer of all time, just hearing the music makes me so happy.

GUYS! RAYMAN ORIGINS IS FREE ON UPLAY RIGHT NOW!! JUST FOR 1 MORE DAY! HURRY AND GET IT!!

Hands down Ori and the Blind Forest.

Rayman Origins was great, but I truly feel like legends improved on it in almost every category. origins should still be regarded as a very fluid platformer, because it is, but legends fully embraced that aspect. Subtle improvements like not making you have to annoying hit enemies twice, attack multiple times to get an electoon/teensy, and the new way that double lums worked really tied the whole package together for me.

I always enjoyed the old PS Rayman games as solid platformers, but Origins and Legends blow everything else in the genre screaming out of the water. The games are visually spectacular in general with their super distinct stylistic sense, bright colors, and supremely fluid motions. I remember games back in ye olde 16-bit heyday marketed as being like "playing a cartoon", but nothing comes anywhere close to nailing that angle like modern Rayman does. But cool stuff to look at ultimately doesn't amount to much if the gameplay isn't there, which it is with these games in SPADES. Every point made in this video is exactly what makes modern Rayman such phenomenal (and, disappointingly, grossly underrated) games. Everything the platform genre has built to and should be is here. There's no padding; everything feels swift, tight, controlled, and a hell of a lot of fun as a result. These games have got what can be a pretty vicious learning curve at times, but the point is not to go barreling in figurative guns blazing - as you'd mentioned, once you get into the swing of things, it feels great to be able to keep up with and play by the game's rules, and win. I've gone a bit gushy here, but I'm always so pleased to see Origins and Legends get the praise they so greatly deserve, and for all the right reasons. Cheers.

This is really helpful! Trying to catch up on all the youtube video's I've missed in the past few months. Always a pleasure seeing snowmaN on my sub list.

Love the series, always happy to see more! Also you gave me terrifying flashbacks when you showed that final level... Sooo many hours lost to that level...

Okay, imma subscribe. Love the style of commentary, and how informative it is.

Thank you so much for this wonderful video. I have been in stone-cold, hardcore love with Origins since I first played it on my brand spankin' new PS Vita back in 2012, and this video does such a great job of explaining *why*. Can't wait to watch more in this series - though I think I have to hold back on the Undertale one until I've actually gotten around to playing it...

Rayman games deserve more recognition, the most fun and entertainment i have ever had in my childhood and up to date come from it, and i get so happy when someone brings it up in a positive light!!

DKC Returns, DKC Tropical Freeze and Rayman Origins, Legends are like 2 brothers and 2 sisters, 4 siblings.

your comparison of he art in this to art in cartoons was so helpful; great review!!

3:50 did you mean to do that pun

This game is objectively a masterpiece

One of the best 2D platformers and one of my favorite games of all time. SUCH a blast to play.

Man I seriously hope they come out with a sequel to Legends soon. That game was literally one of the best games I've played in that whole generation. Surprised people aren't more vocal about it.

love your Good Game series. So positive and it makes me feel good. Getting addicted

I compliment your channel and sub, and you bless us with a video on one of my most favourite games ever! As for other games where art meets gameplay, dropping walls and chandeliers on enemies in Diablo III was fun. Same with the Arkham Knight environmental takedowns. And the SC: Conviction interrogations, though those only happened in very specific parts.

I got Rayman Origins off a bundle at some point and am yet to give it ago, looks like you have convinced me! :)

in regards to the question at the end of the video, all I could think of that came to mind right away was Jet Set Radio Future. Rayman Origins and Legends are probably the best games Ubisoft has made in years. Their bigger franchises usually disappoint me but the Rayman games are a breath of fresh air.

Man, your videos are getting better and better, keep up :D

Sonic Generations. There's a lot of background stuff that u can interact with like the different paths in the beginning of Chemical zone.

You've gotta do Oddworld Abe's Oddysee and Abe's Exoddus! Great games

Thanks for making a video on this game man, it really should be more known amongst the gaming community.

Loved the topic on this video, please do more of this. subscribed

I got rayman origins from a kmart bargin bin for 5 dollars

How about Ori. Uses stunning art and beautiful music to keep from being frustrated from intense sections.

great episode ... as always ! you rock man

Awesome series and channel, this motivates me to create a best possible game! All the best!

This game is nearly perfect. It hurts the eye to see a significant portion of the public overlooking this game. It's even more offensive when you see a typical blind fanbase, like Sonic fans for example, when mediocre games like Sonic Generations had a more popular impact than a work of art like Rayman because the fans accept any shit, it's really sad for the industry in general. Not always elite level design is praised in this modern generation of gamers, but at least Rayman had some level of success.

Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze does a lot of the same things that you praise Rayman Origins for. Its levels are filled with environmental assets and background/foreground objects that are not only just for show, but are integrated into the gameplay of the level itself. Like in the dark underwater level there are non-interactable fish swimming around that act as a flashlight that you can follow around to see where you're going. And a lot of times the scenery that you see in the background is not just for show either, it's an actual part of the level that you will come to later on in the level.

Wow man! Good eye and analytical skills. Your videos are soooo inspiring and full of positive energy! So happy to have someone to learn from. Keep up the good work! I was wondering, could we expect a video in near future, on how to iterate good game designs and what to keep in mind when working on our first projects? Best wishes!

I hadn't seen this episode before, truly excellent work. I love the Tom & Jerry point of reference used to show the contrast to Rayman's truly seamless living world. I haven't gone back to replay 'Origins' since 'Legends' came out and turned into one of my all-time favorite games, but I think I'll definitely give revisit it soon thanks to this video.

Definitely super paper Mario, the use of changing perspectives changes the way you see the designs

Your voice is so smooth and nice

Hey snomaN, loved the video! IMO, I feel like Limbo has that kind of feel as Rayman Legends/Origin. Even though it's not an action platformer, you really feel like every part of the landscape is interact-able and this is complemented with the physic engine that the game uses throughout the entire game. Stay awesome, dude!

When he talked about about “The Land Of The Livid Dead”, I was kinda surprised that he didn’t talk about the music

A very small example I could give is the final boss in Majora's Mask. At first it appears that you're just in a solid room and after having the four boss masks placed on the wall, they provide no other interaction. However, after two solid hits on the mask they turn into light-ball-shooting enemies themselves. Also, the fact that it is possible to complete the entire fight as Deku Link makes it awesome. The deku flower patterns on the floor first appear to be for decoration, but if you actually attempt to play the boss fight as Deku Link and give yourself a challenge, you'll find out that they're fully functional deku flowers. Kind of like rewarding you for endangering yourself, and also slightly for mocking the mask that tried to make you harmless by putting you in that very same state you're in right now. It doesn't really provide strong coherence in the fight itself, but it's just that slight "This apparently is also possible with what you're given" what makes it stand out in a similar way to me.

Rayman Origins : Great Gameplay, Good Graphic. Rayman Legends : Good Gameplay, Great Graphic.

This is my favorite series Snowman! Keep up the good work.

i know this is totally random, but this video just brought so much memories back, and hearing the music in the back just made me literally cry of happiness because of the memories of 4 year old me in 2013 first playing rayman console games, thank you :)

Rayman is underrated

At the start i always thought: DK TROPICAL FREEZE :D

Absolutely subscribing!! Great video and a great game :)

Man I remember this game It was so much fun and introduced me to the Rayman series and this is the game that made me buy Rayman legends

I would say Castle Crashers is the closest to an art style like this one! For sure! Great video by the way!!

I don't know if this counts, but the first Metal Slug game was full of interactive background. The sequels sadly removed this, making everything that was interactive pixel art instead of the realistic style of the background...

What you say about your environment constantly changing is exactly why I love Motorstorm: Apocalypse. The better you do, the more destruction you get to witness! (And dodge!)

I've played the game before, but you've made me see a bit of stuff that i didn't even realized before. Or maybe i just forgot how good the game looked and feels. Either way, good video! it was enlightening, and much more informative than I anticipated, which is always a good thing.

Rayman origing reminds me Earthworm Jim

I thought ubisoft was just on crack when they made this game

Stupendous video. Well written and thought-out. I originally was going to cite Donkey Kong Country Returns and Tropical Freeze as other identities in which the art and scenery blends seamlessly with the interactive environment, but you beat me to the punch. I guess I could mention FEZ here, then. This game tinkers with and acknowledges its own graphic composition, as it uses the pixel-and its component in the third dimension, the cube-as the whole base for the game, in every each one of its facets. Ergo, the game’s pixel art is not merely an aesthetic choice from the developers. It also plays an indispensable part in the level design, story, mechanics and philosophy of the game.

Hey I love it when you make these videos!

I definitely agree with your analysis, and the newer Rayman games were a tone of fun, but as someone who has been a Rayman fan since the earlier parts of the series, I have to say that the newer games seem to lack something that the older games had, and that's a true feeling of adventure. Don't get me wrong, the new games have some cool environments and they definitely have a sense of bigness to them, but I feel that once you finish the games, there is less of a feeling of accomplishment. Let me elaborate: In Rayman 1, you traveled through a cartoon-esque world to stop a mysterious villain who has thrown the land into chaos. While there definitely is some cartoon silliness in the game, there is also a sense of magic to it, like a world of whimsy and wonder. Plus, it felt like you were travelling the land, from the highest mountains to the darkest caves, taking down the big bads of each area and finally facing off against the main enemy. You were the hero and it made you feel like one. Rayman 2 expanded upon this further. It changed the aesthetic of the world to more of a traditional European style fairy land, with a healthy dose of Celtic and Russian influence. Though it was different, it actually increased the feeling of adventure as it gave the world a feeling of hidden mystery that you had to uncover, which culminated in you awakening the creator of the world to help you conquer the villain. The villain in question was an invading force that overtook the land and enslaved its people, and though the concept of them is still silly (Robot Pirates), the game gave a certain weight to them, making them feel like a legitimate threat. You felt like even more of a hero in this game, and there was a real sense of accomplishment in the end. Rayman 3 changed this somewhat. While it retained the magic and whimsy of the previous games, it added in attempts at hipness, snarky humor, and pop culture references which diminished the overall feeling of wonder and adventure. Plus, the main threat wasn't quite as imposing as previous ones had been, feeling more like wayward souls that you had to police. However, through all that, there was at least still some feeling of adventure and magic through it all, and there were definitely threatening elements in there (the Knarren, for example). The newer games, to me, seem much less like adventures in comparison and much more like romps. Like, it's more about just running and jumping through the environments having wacky fun, not really about stopping a villain or an invading force and saving the world. The games don't really give you a sense of what's going on beyond basic description, and once it's over, it's like "oh.....okay." Now, there's nothing wrong with wacky fun, but the Rayman series always showed that it was a little more than just that, and it's disappointing that we've had to lose some elements of the series in the transition. Dman, that was a long comment. Sorry, had to get that all that out. Hopefully you'll see where I'm coming from, and maybe there are others that see it the way I do. I don't know, but I personally think that Rayman should be more like what the fan game Rayman Revenge of the Dark is trying to do, as much as I enjoy the new games.

Rayman aking a better sonic game than sonic

Watching this video I had a higr nlast of nostalgia from plating this game when I was 8/9. I loved this game, after a lot of playingnI got to Land of The Livid Dead, it was so fun, going fast, dying, going fast and eventually flying throught the level, and laughing alot. Thx for looking back at this game and making me remember such an awesome game.

yay another episode of good game design. this is my favorite series by you

I'm supposed to be playing game of war but this one player keeps kicking my ass.

The first 3 Crash Bandicoot games

This is the first video i watched by you. i have to say, this was amazing! +1 sub! :D

This was a fantastic analysis

I wouldn't say rayman origins is near perfect. is is extremely good and very fun but has some serious flaws that ruined some parts of the game for me

Cuphead is art!!

Great video. Your content continues to improve. Keep it up!

Thanks for the great video! I wouldn't have ever really thought about using art as a gameplay principle until you brought it up, but now that you've explained it I can contemplate several uses of it. A game that uses some of these might be the original Yoshi's Island, given it's vivid animations and background-foreground tricks.

Moincreft

Hey, really nice video! It's such a good thing Ubi decided to create this whole series of "UbiArt Games" in parallel to the Tripe-A titles. While on the same subject, I would like to mention the Vanillaware games. All the games they've made so far use hand drawn sprites and background. Ever since I've been fascinated by this choice of artstyle, it's like you're playing a painting or an animation. And the great thing about it, they will look just as beautiful as they are now, also in the future.

That boss fight is brilliant... Can't wait to pick this game up, as well as the sequel!

Great choice using that Rayman disco song at the end. My absolute favorite part of the game before the final chase.

Yay! A new GGD, I love these so much!

Another game that fits this description is Ori, a good looking game with seamless visuals and gameplay to art elements. Awesome video as always, keep it up!

Nailed it, man. Great analysis.

I love when you talk about my childhood

“The perfect combination of grotesque and adorable. All while being memorable” Yep. That’s The whole Rayman series in a nutshell

Please never stop this series. I do have a suggestion though, could you do an episode on duality of controls? Something like Metroid Fusion. Mark Brown did one that was great but it didn't really cover on how to make it universal.

The way you talked about Rayman Legends having stages set to music really reminded me of the Touhou Project series. Completely different games of course, but Touhou utilizes music in a similar way; often the creator would write the music first and then design the stage and bullet patterns around it. Just thought it was neat.

THANKS FOR MAKING THIS this game does not get the recognition it deserves.

Sno I always love your videos so much

Great vid as always! Your analysis is on point, and the video is engaging all the way through! Hmm, another game that uses its art as an inherent part of the gameplay... I can't think of one >.

This is hands down my favorite platformer of all time. Some day, some day!!!! I'll make it through the Land of the Livid Dead.

Great video!