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Publisher Ubisoft has released a new "overview" trailer for its upcoming remaster Rayman Legends Retold. The six-minute video reintroduces players to Rayman and his brick-thick pals, as well as shining a spotlight on the vibrant, colourful world known as The Glade of Dreams.
The trailer follows Rayman, Globox, Barbara the Barbarian, and Grand Minimus as the quartet journey through the glade, using both independent and cooperative actions to navigate the terrain and lay waste to the minions of the returning villain "The Magician", who has now separated themselves into the form of five "Dark Teensies".
It is up to our motley crew of misfits - not an IQ point between them - to explore the glade's realms, defeat the Dark Teensies and their armies therein, and return peaceful sleep to the denizens of the land.
The 2.5D platforming remake supports four-player co-op, adds a new sixth realm, and boasts a grab bag of new features including overhauled controls, a wealth of new power-ups, additional musical stages, and all-new 3D dragon-riding sequences, linking one realm to the next. Also on deck is a revised edition of Kung Foot, as well as the Cave Challenges, making their return from earlier Rayman releases.
Released back in 2013, Rayman Legends was the fifth title in the platforming franchise and is widely considered one of the series' best, most stylish entries. Originally planned as a Wii U exclusive, plans changed following numerous delays, along with disappointing sales for Ubisoft's ZombiU. This led the studio to change course and develop Rayman Legends as a multi-platform release.
Rayman Legends Retold looks mighty fine. The environments, rebuilt from the ground up in Snowdrop Engine, are vibrant and intricately detailed, and the character models (including a stunning revision of woodland fairy, Betilla) are alive with cartoonish, charismatic energy. There's even a bird with winged eyeliner much better than mine. Though I'll admit that's a Low Bar.
While sharp-looking presentation and dazzling visual effects complete an aesthetically inviting package, it remains to be seen whether the redesigned engine, overhauled gameplay, and bevvy of new features will add up to a compelling title - ultimately delivering the definitive version of a fan-favourite release... That already had a "definitive edition"... Umm...
We won't have to wait too long to find out, as Rayman Legends Retold launches December 3 on PS5, PC, Xbox Series, and Nintendo Switch 2.