Rayman Legends Retold preview – Breathing new life into a classic
Upon learning that Rayman Legends was getting a 3D remake, my reaction was probably the same as yours: okay, but is it really necessary given that the original is still playable on current formats? It looks great and remains extremely entertaining, too. But after going hands-on with that remake, called Rayman Legends Retold, I don’t care about that anymore. All I want is to have it in my hands so I can play more of it.
The key thing to note about Rayman Legends Retold is that it’s not a simple remake; think of it more as a reimagining. Sure, it takes the original game and gives it a 3D makeover, but it also adds more content and builds on its story. So, while it may feel familiar to those that have played the original, there’s a lot here that will feel brand new, making it welcoming to both series fans and newcomers.
Going hands-on with Rayman Legends Retold, the first thing that struck me was how gorgeous it looks. The original Rayman Legends looks great, but Retold takes things to a new level. A serious effort has been made to capture the style of the original game, but now, thanks to everything being made in 3D, additional effects such as lighting and particles help bring it more to life. It truly does look stunning – it’s perhaps the best-looking platformer around.
The other benefit of being remade in 3D is that Ubisoft can have more fun with the camera. Don’t be surprised if, during the middle of a level, the camera moves in to give a better angle of a funny interaction before moving back out. And there are lots of new story scenes here between levels, presented in a cinematic manner with full voice acting. Again, these are generally quite humorous, and really allow the personalities of each character to shine through.
When it comes to the actual gameplay of Rayman Legends Retold, it mostly remains faithful to the original. Rayman and his cast of playable friends retain their movesets, allowing them to run, jump, bounce and swing their way through levels in a responsive and rewarding manner. They can attack enemies, too, punching them or using a powerful downwards slam while in mid-air. Throw in Murfy, the Greenbottle you can command to cut ropes and tickle enemies in some levels, and Rayman Legends Retold very much feels like the Rayman Legends game you probably know and love.
Brand new here, though, are dragon riding levels, which will let you move from one area to another while making your way through the game’s story. These make full use of the new 3D format, with you riding into the screen in the same way you would in an on-rails shooter such as Afterburner or Panzer Dragoon. Along the way, you’ll have to move around the screen to avoid obstacles such as barriers and rocks, and shoot fireballs to dispatch foes and destroy objects. In one level I played, the camera shifted to a side-on view, too, turning the game into a side-scrolling shooter for a while.
To progress through Rayman Legends Untold you’ll need to rescue as many Teensies as you can in each level. Some of these will be hard to avoid, but others require you to seek out hidden areas or go off the main path and engage in some challenging platforming. There’s a huge amount of Lums to collect in each level, too, and these can be used to unlock additional “Invaded” levels. These typically put you against the clock, testing your speed-running skills and introducing additional gameplay elements such as a dark, ghostly version of Rayman who chases you.
Rayman Legends Untold promises to be every bit as enjoyable as the original Rayman Legends, then. Perhaps more, in fact. The move to 3D not only allows for more visual flair, but also a greater focus on telling a story and new gameplay experiences. Better yet, none of this comes at the cost of the fluid movements and responsive controls that made Rayman and his friends so enjoyable to run through levels as in the original. Also just like in the original, you’ll be able to play the game in local co-op with your friends and family members, too.
If you’re as excited about Rayman Legends Untold as I am, then, the good news is that its launch isn’t too far away: it’s set to release across PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2 and PC on 1st October this year. What’s more, it will be available both digitally and physically, and will cost just $39.99/€39.99, making it a bit of a steal.
