Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc

Ubi Soft's enigmatic mascot hits the GBA one more time in an all-new adventure, but does this 2D platformer have legs?

There was a time when The Cult of Rayman (they are few, but they are proud) would salivate over any new product starring the enigmatic Ubi mascot. And while there still may be new thrills to be had in the latest version of Rayman on the PS2, here on the GBA the legless one seems stuck on repeat. Rayman 3 is very pretty, very playable, and?like most GBA games?firmly rooted in the past. Think of it as an expansion pack for the original Rayman Advance (the GBA port of the first Rayman game), and you?ll know what you?re getting into.

That being said, this is still prime 2D platformin?. Rayman has always been known for its artistry, and this game is no exception. The music is superb, and the Euro Looney Tunes sound effects will occasionally make you smile. The sprites are big and beautifully animated, which actually leads to one of the game?s major faults?it?s almost impossible to gauge what lies ahead. As a result, trial and error, and rote memorization of what platform pattern lies ahead are a major part of this Rayman experience.

The best new features in Rayman Trois are the ?Mode 7? 3D races that are actually fun instead of frustrating. The races are flat but fast, and there?s a good sense of scale. There?s also a cool GameCube link-up (provided you own Rayman 3 for the ?Cube) that adds new stages to the already daunting list of GBA levels. Rayman 3 has audio-visual appeal out le wazoo, but it?s still just platforming of the most straightforward kind.

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