Rayman 2: The Greater Escape

Rayman 2: The Greater Escape (or Rayman 2: The Great Escape HD) is a 3D action-adventure platformer video game published by Ubisoft and developed by their Milan studio, which originally worked on the Game Boy Color port of Rayman and Rayman 2 Forever. It is a expanded, high-definition remake of the same-named game, which was originally developed by Ubisoft themselves and released in 1999, including everything from it's every previous port, especially the Dreamcast version (which Michel Ancel himself considered as it's definitive version) and Rayman Revolution. It is released worldwide on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Microsoft Windows (on Retail and Steam forms) and Nintendo Switch in November 18th, 2022. Rayman Arena: Ultimate Multiplayer was released in 2023 as a stand-alone expansion of Rayman 2.

Gameplay
Like the original, Rayman 2 is a 3D Platformer which is played from a third-person perspective and the player has control over the camera, though in some situations this control is limited to only certain angles. At several points in the game, the player loses control during cut scenes, which typically show dialogue between characters.

By collecting lums (small bodies, or shards of magical energy), the player can unlock more information about the game world and its back story, which can be read by standing still and pressing a specific button for some time or can be allowed to purchase extra upgrades. Some back story is also obtained through (optional) instructions from Murfy, a "flying encyclopaedia" who provides explanations on all kinds of gameplay elements. Along the way players will fight Robo-Pirates, solve puzzles and collect lums. Collecting enough lums gains the player access to new parts of the world. Part of the lums are hidden in small cages, in which other freedom fighters or Teensies are imprisoned, and can be obtained by breaking the cages.

Rayman starts the game with minimal abilities, and he can gain more abilities as the game progresses. The main weapon available in the game is Rayman's signature telescopic fist, Eventually, his fist will become more powerful. Rayman can also enter a strafing stance, which allows him to easily aim orbs & punches whilst avoiding enemy attacks. He later gains the ability to swing over large gaps using Purple Lums. Rayman is also able to use his helicopter hair to slow his descent while jumping, with some segments later in the game allowing him to fly with his hair. There are also various items Rayman can use throughout the game, such as explosive barrels he can throw, giant plums he can ride on to carry him across dangerous surfaces, and rockets he must ride on to access new areas.

In addition to the main, story-based level sequence, there are also several levels in which the player can gain bonuses in a time trial and extra minigames. Additionally, by collecting all lums and breaking all cages in a level, the player unlocks a bonus level in which one of Globox's children races against a robot pirate. When the player controlling the child wins the race, Rayman gains health or a power-up.

Features/Changes

 * There's new prologue and epilogue sequences, showing us how the Robo-Pirates came to the Glade of Dreams and how Rayman was captured at the beginning of the game while Ly's voice is heard, like in this video. The epilogue sequence shows the cast having a party in Globox Village, while Rayman and Ly are seen relaxing together on a destroyed warship as they watch fireworks, like in original concept artwork, teasing a relationship between them in future games/media such as Rayman 4: Darkness Returns and it's sequel cartoon show (aiming for older fans and closer to source material, unlike Rayman and the Moldies).
 * If a player completes the game with 100%, a post-credit sequence shows that a few Robo-Pirates and Razorbeard have survived and vow to have revenge with Rayman with a Dark Lum. The Dark Lum escapes and turns into Dark Rayman.
 * If the player 100% the game, they’ll also get an 16:9 version of the Dreamcast port.
 * The PlayStation 5 port supports both the DualSense controller's features, haptic feedback (while running, attacking enemies, collecting Lums, feeling your helicopter hair while gliding, flying up through air/wind currents, the magic orb while charging it via Accumulation skill, etc.) and adaptive triggers (accelerating/boosting while riding on shells, aiming your telescopic fist while strafing like in Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc, the Baby Globox running in a bonus stage, etc.).
 * Rayman's design is similar to that of Rayman 3 and later games.
 * Various trophies and achievements for the PlayStation, Xbox and Steam versions.
 * Upgraded and modernized graphics with an art direction similar to that of original concept artwork, those made by a concept artist Giacomo Boni and slight Origins/Legends vibes on it.
 * The remake runs at 60fps and at 1080p on the PS4 & Xbox One with a higher performance/resolution, and ray tracing available for the Next-Gen & PC ports.
 * Additionally, the Nintendo Switch version runs at 30fps and 720p (Docked) & 480p (Handheld).
 * Instead of being a collectible, Lums Radar can be used via the options screen, allowing Rayman to track the nearest Lum close to his position, like Sparx in Spyro Reignited Trilogy.
 * The point system from Rayman 3 returns, which players can use as a currency to the multiple shops in the game.
 * Returning from Revolution, each stage is split into multiple segments and will save inbetween segments.
 * Unlike Revolution, the game will automatically save without stopping gameplay.
 * The ability to choose between an original or a new orchestral soundtrack via options menu like in Spyro Reignited Trilogy and Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled.
 * Expansive, albeit polished versions of the open-world maps from Rayman Revolution (only without Lums to collect and have seamless transition in each section of the Open World).
 * However, if the player doesn't like this from the game, they can choose the option to allow a world map system from the Nintendo 64 version.
 * A better, more intelligent camera system that can be freely controlled with a right stick, except in certain situations.
 * Characters are more expressive, especially in cutscenes (which are also changed).
 * A new, slightly more engaging, accessible and competent combat system, which has both Rayman's telescopic fist (similarly like in Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc) and his magic orbs, which is weaker than his fist but faster to use, along with a new skill tree powered by points.
 * Most of the voice cast from previous games such as David Gasman (Rayman), John Leguizamo (Globox), Billy West (Murfy) and Ken Starcevic (Razorbeard) reprise their roles for the remake, with new voice actors for some of the cast as well, such as:
 * Grey DeLisle as Ly the Fairy
 * Mark Hamill as Polokus
 * Dee Bradley Baker, Rob Paulsen & Tom Kenny voicing various Teensies
 * Tom Kenny also voices Sssam the Snake.
 * John DiMaggio as Clark the Giant and Ninjaws
 * Tress MacNeille as Razorwife and Uglette
 * David Kaye as Henchman 1000
 * Scott Menville as Spyglass Pirate
 * Kevin Michael Richardson, Fred Tatasciore, Gilbert Gottfried and John DiMaggio as Temple Gurdians
 * More languages (albeit subtitled for this time other than Japanese and as well as other languages that would have the remastered audio and some of their dialogues changed such as Tomokazu Seki as Rayman himself, Koichi Hashimoto as Razorbeard and Koichi Yamadera as Globox, featuring Hiroshi Fujioka himself as the Narrator) besides those in the original game like English and Raymanese (original language) are added too.
 * The other languages that aren't dubbed (aside with French, German, Italian and Spanish; albeit in remastered and somehow reworked form), will also be used for subtitles too, including new ones such as Bisaya and Tagalog/Filipino.
 * All kinds of exclusive stuff from other ports such as The Knowledge of the World, bonus areas like Globox Village, ability upgrades, mini-games/challenges, Ninjaws as a boss in The Sanctuary of Stone and Fire, bringing back interesting scrapped elements, etc. are included.
 * The People of Prhys will debut in the remake after having been previously scrapped from the original game, with Tily (who first debuted in Rayman M) appearing as one of them, giving Rayman side missions in various stages/levels (or open-world maps if the player chooses them) where he visited earlier, rewarding him with points for the skill tree and a temporary Power Fist power-up for the duration of one level.
 * Like in the PlayStation version, the Guardian bosses are given personalities (which are explored in depth) and speaking roles.
 * There are now 6 Masks of Polokus instead of 4 and all have gameplay properties. Rayman can put them on and use their powers in both combat and platforming. However, they have a meter which will be depleted once he uses them and will only come back once he collected a Pink Lum, which will restore some power to it.
 * Fire allows the player to burn items and throw fireballs towards enemies, leading them to burn to a crisp faster than using fist-to-fist combat.
 * Water allows the player to breath underwater for longer and throw bubbles to enemies which will, trap them. It also allows Rayman to perform the Rain Dance, which will grow plants and control the weather.
 * Air will make a mini-tornado that shrinks down enemies and special platforms to access them, like the Vortex power-up from Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc. Rayman can also Spin Jump, which makes him invincible and glide a lot slower for a bit, but will completely deplete the meter.
 * Earth will allow the player to carry heavy objects faster and can bring giant rocks from the ground to throw them at targets.
 * Ice allows the player to freeze enemies and water, which makes Rayman capable of walking on them.
 * Lightning allows the player to use electrical powers and a lightning grapple hook which will stun enemies when grabbing them, similarly to the Lockjaw power-up from Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc and Cole McGrath from the inFamous games.
 * Instead of Globox's kid giving Rayman another mask, he will obtain a Silver Lum which allows him to fly for a short amount of time, similarly to the Throttle Copter power-up from Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc.
 * Whenever Rayman obtains a mask after the stage, a cutscene will play which shows Razorbeard and his several antics, including Razorwife and a new character, Henchman 1000 (who originally debuted in Rayman M). These were included to lighten up the tone of the game slightly.
 * Henchman 1000 also appears as a new recurring boss which gets progressively harder throughout the game. He acts as Razorbeard's assistant and second-in-command (much to Spyglass Pirate's dismay), who is programmed to serve him no matter what, even though he secretly dislikes him.
 * More Lums, cages, new levels (such as Sanctuary of Lightning and Air, The Desert in the Sky, The Ice Cream Caverns, Fruit Frosty Forest and Treetop City and enemies are added.
 * The total Lum count is now 1500 instead of 1000.
 * Some unlockable outfits throughout the Rayman series, along with those from other Ubisoft games such as Altair/Ezio, Jacob Frye, Aiden Pearce, Marcus Holloway, Sam Fisher, Domingo "Ding" Chavez, Tonic Trouble's Ed and the Prince of Persia are included. Similarly, the same can be said with unlockable Ubisoft crossover music as well (especially if the player either got old save bonuses of any other Ubisoft game on any of their consoles for both of these things via using a Ubisoft Connect account).
 * Some of these costumes are among pre-order bonuses, later being released as downloadable content.
 * The DLC content released after the game was released on stores are:
 * A texture/model pack, that changes everything back to their original polygonal appearances in the original 1999 game, with some characters like Razorwife and Henchman 1000 having those from Rayman M/Arena.
 * A new story campaign that re-tells the events of an original 1995 game in a 3D-platformer fashion, along with Rayman's origin story at the beginning when he washed ashore and was discovered by fishermen while sleeping, new elements and more bosses (with old ones getting new attacks/strategies) like in a fan remake, Rayman Redemption.
 * For the Nintendo Switch version, there would be Amiibo support that includes Nintendo-based outfits for Rayman, cosplaying himself as Mario (like in Rayman Legends), Kirby and Link.

Development
A remake of Rayman 2: The Great Escape entered development in the middle of 2020 and was created to be a next-generation showcase of platformer games on next-gen hardware, following Activision's Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time and Sony's Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. It was also made to help test the waters for new Rayman games, as a new mainline console game hadn't been released since 2013 and didn't know if Rayman would sell well, due to Ubisoft’s focus on more mature properties.

It was revealed to the public in a Ubisoft Forward event on May 2022 as a surprise announcement at the end right after a new gameplay/release date trailer of Beyond Good and Evil 2. However, it was leaked earlier on the PlayStation Store the day earlier. It was also Michel Ancel's last Rayman game he developed and worked on before his retirement (even though he was credited as a producer and involved with the cartoon alongside Soliani). Additionally, Davide Soliani, creator of the Mario + Rabbids series, is the new director and producer of the series as of this game.

Remastered ports of Rayman 3 HD with cut content from the original 2003 version (such as Groove Armada's Madder returning) and Rabbids Go Home (originally a Wii-exclusive; albeit with edited controls and DualSense/trophy & achievement support, though Joy-Cons stay similarly like the Wii Remote and Nunchuk on it's Switch version) for next-gen consoles were also revealed, alongside the original 1995 game being added on PlayStation Plus Premium as part of it's classic line-up.

The game was dedicated to Gilbert Gottfried, who was known for his numerous roles in various films and television shows before he died from recurrent ventricular tachycardia in April 12th, 2022. He portrayed as Foutch, the guardian of The Sanctuary of Rock and Lava, thus making it one of his last roles.

Reception
Rayman 2: The Greater Escape received "generally favorable reviews" according to review aggregator Metacritic. Multiple aspects of the game were praised, such as the upgraded visuals, attention to detail, the new additions to the game and the faithfulness to the original game.