Rayman 2: The Greater Escape

Rayman 2: The Great Escape is a 3D action-adventure platformer video game published by Ubisoft and developed by their Montpellier studio (which worked on a series since the first game). 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, Steam and GOG.com forms) and Nintendo Switch in the 18th March 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 fist, Eventually, his fist will become more powerful Rayman can also enter a strafing stance which allows him to easily aim orbs whilst avoiding enemy attacks. Rayman 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 powerup.

Features/Changes

 * There’s a new Prologue and Epilogue sequence, showing us how the Robo-pirates came to the Glade of Dreams and how Rayman was captured at the beginning of the game. The Epilogue sequence shows the Globox Villagers having a Party while Rayman and Ly the Fairy teasing a relationship
 * If the Player 100%s the game 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
 * 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.
 * 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
 * There’s more types of Robo Pirates in the game than any other version in Rayman 2 leading to more Enemy encounters
 * Returning from Revolution each Stage is split into multiple segments and will Save inbetween segements
 * 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.
 * However, if the player doesn’t like this from the game, they have the option to allow the World Map system from the Nintendo 64 Version
 * A better, more intelligent camera system.
 * Characters are more expressive, especially in cutscenes (which are also changed, like this video being a example).
 * A new, slightly more engaging, accessible and competent combat system, which Rayman's telescopic fist (similarly like in Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc) along with a new skill tree powered by Points and Lums
 * Most of the voice cast from previous games such as David Gasman (Rayman), John Leguizamo (Globox) 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 and Uglette, Mark Hamill as Polokus, Dee Bradley Baker, Rob Paulson & Tom Kenny voicing various Teensies (Tom Kenny also voices Sssam the Snake) and John DiMaggio as Clark
 * More languages (albeit subtitled for this time other than Japanese and as well as other languages that would have the audios get remastered and have 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.
 * 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
 * Fire allows the Player to Burn items and throw fire balls to 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 performs the Rain Dance which will grow plants and control the weather
 * Air will make a mini Tornado that will shrink enemies and special platforms
 * Earth will allow the player to carry heavy objects faster


 * There’s a new recurring boss called Henchman 1000 which gets progressively harder throughout the game, he acts as Razorbeard’s Assistant and second in command 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) and enemies are added.
 * The Total Lum Count is now 1500 instead of 1000
 * Some unlockable Ubisoft crossover outfits and as well as usable ones from the start (Ezio, Connor, Edward, Jacob, Sam, Aiden and Marcus in particular for the starting parts of the game) such as Rayman cosplaying as Ezio, Connor, Edward, Jacob Frye, Aiden, Marcus, Sam Fisher, Domingo "Ding" Chavez, Tonic Trouble's Ed and even the Prince of Persia himself 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).
 * For the Nintendo Switch version, there would be Amiibo support that includes Nintendo-based cosplay outfits for the cast such as Rayman himself cosplaying as Mario, Shulk, Marth and Link.

Development
A Rayman 2 Remake entered development in the middle 2020 and was created to be a next-generation showcase of platformers in Next-Gen Hardware. It was also made to help test the waters for new Rayman games.