Rayman was Ubisoft’s first major commercial success, the company going public a year after its release in 1996. A PlayStation launch title, it was originally conceived for the unreleased Super Nintendo CD-ROM before being developed for Atari’s Jaguar. A fantasy platform game that pops with oil paint colour, its stages encompass themes like the musical Band Land and sugar-laden Candy Chateau.
Rayman, a limbless, affable character, seeks to save the land from Mr Dark, a nefarious sorcerer. To do this, you must free six caged Electoons on each of its 17 stages set across six different worlds. As you earn new powers of combat and scenery traversal, backtracking is necessary to find cages previously out of reach. It’s a simple platform game, but one graced with charm and affection.
Despite the number of Rayman games and spin-offs released, this collection focuses only on the initial game. It includes the PlayStation original, the Atari Jaguar release, those for the Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance, and the MS-DOS PC version. The Sega Saturn release isn't present. While the PlayStation and Jaguar games are largely the same, the Jaguar lacks FMV, doesn’t look or sound as good, and nerfs the ice physics - but has an Arkanoid-style minigame included. Originally, it benefited from no loading times over the PlayStation, but that’s moot here.
While Rayman still looks good, its platform collision needs learning and its impressive animation means it takes a couple of seconds to duck and perform other actions. There are also many leaps of faith involved. The Game Boy Color version is the only other game in the collection that’s totally original, and is surprisingly good despite shorter stages. The Game Boy Advance version is cropped in, but like the Game Boy Color is a little cleaner to navigate thanks to fewer animation frames. For some reason, this version suffers frame-rate issues, however.
The MS-DOS release and its add-ons are of most interest, featuring 24 additional stages designed for expert players, 40 stages designed by fans, and another 60 levels designed by Ubisoft. Elsewhere is a single-stage 1992 prototype of the Rayman’s original Super Nintendo build. There’s almost nothing to see or do and it's over in seconds, but it’s interesting to see the game’s origin.
The package includes screen filters, cheats for every game, save states, and a rewind function. Like all Digital Eclipse releases, the History section is superb, charting every beat of its development and featuring over an hour of documentary footage.
If you’re a super fan of the original game and want every possible version of it, the package totally delivers. But considering how many Rayman games there were, including its sequels and spin-offs, it would have been nice to at least have had Rayman 2 included. The elephant in the room, however, is the absence of the original soundtracks. They have been remixed or replaced across the board with a nice composition by Rayman Origins and Legends composer Christophe Héral, likely due to Ubisoft not fully owning the rights to the original audio.





Comments 55
Wow, not having the original soundtracks is a massive L for this release and Ubisoft. The main reason people will pick this up is nostalgia, and with such a crucial element missing it will be very disappointing for most.
Rayman and I never quite clicked, but I wish everyone a lot of fun with this game, if they're going to get it! The lack of the OST is very regretable. Even as a non-fan of Rayman, I really enjoyed the OSTs.
Does it require Ubi Connect to play?
JFC, what is it with licensing and video games? Why isn't the deal just: "If you agree to create content for this video game we'll own the rights to, we have the right to use that content indefinitely"?
Replacing the music in a classic video game is tantamount to replacing Debbie in her Dallas film. You just mustn't.
Totally taints this release. Not sure I'm going to be able to accept that.
Thanks for the review, it further confirms my interest in this when the physical version comes out (in addition to finally playing Rayman 2 now that it's luckily on NSO) - that said, fingers crossed they'll be able to fix its straight up issues and hopefully also include the original soundtracks although that likely depends on licensing as already mentioned here!
"The original soundtracks are absent across the board"
0/10, total failure, what were they thinking? 😵💫
i guess licensing? they should explain themselves if they haven't.
(HOW did this release get a 7/10 without the music? it's not even published by Nintendo! 😂)
@theberrage No Ubisoft Connect, the game was published by Atari under the Ubisoft license.
These days, it’s a bit underwhelming to only include one entry in the series. A more robust collection with at least Rayman 2 would’ve been a more fitting celebration, imo.
After the initial disappointment that the original soundtracks weren't included, some of the replacement tracks grew on me. And the GBC soundtrack in general is FAR superior to what was originally on the cartridge.
That said, hopefully Ubi/DE is able to secure the rights to include the original OSTs as an option in an update.
Criticizing a Rayman 1 collection for not including Rayman 2 seems like criticizing something for not being what it isn't.
I disagree that including Rayman 2 wouldn't have been such a stretch. If anything, Rayman 2 would also be a prime candidate for a collection of different ports just like this.
My childhood version was the original PC Rayman 2, and this is the one I'd want to see the most. I know the Dreamcast version is the fan-favourite version. The PS1version has some significant level design differences. And the PS2 version significantly revamps the game and introduces a hub world, adds more collectibles and powerups, and rearranges the structure of the adventure.
I would argue that the different versions of Rayman 2 are MORE different to each other than the different versions of Rayman 1 in this collection.
It's NOT a simple matter of "this collection of Rayman 1 versions should have just snuck in Rayman 2 for good measure". .... That criticism seems ridiculous to me.
I'll get this on a sale. The backlog is out of control. Glad to see it's decent
I don't get why whenever company release compilation or games from the GBA library they always used an outdated emulator that can't stable the framerate or don't know how to turn those frame buffer off. All you had to do was go to the emulator setting, go to frame skip and turn the number to 0 or Off instead of Auto (or whatever number is there). Putting that crap on Auto will unstable the framerate. If you can't do your job of offering decent emulation of the game then at least give players the option to set the option themselves.
@gcunit Right?? Game music contracts never need to have any time restrictions, and supposedly this is also why Arkham Origins hasn't been re-released again because SOMEHOW the soundtrack is no longer licensed, again, SOMEHOW.
@The_Nintendo_Expat I was just about to ask the same thing. Maybe IP law works differently in France, but in America, that sort of thing tends to be either work for hire or publisher buyout.
@canaryfarmer
i actually potentially get it w Batman since the entire game is based in a license, and might include music from other games or movies and tv shows.
I do not get it here, and I suspect this is just Uni being completely out of touch with what users would want. especially since theyve already said they are "working on" making the OG music optional in settings.
@Serpenterror
its sad that potential buyers can have a much better experience "stealing" the game.
not the same. better.
@EarthboundBenjy
"I disagree that including Rayman 2 wouldn't have been such a stretch. If anything, Rayman 2 would also be a prime candidate for a collection of different ports just like this."
I feel the exact same way. 👍 if anything, limiting the scope of this project is one of the things they got right, in my esteem. this game is worth it and so is Rayman 2 (providing they got the emulation and music right...)
add on top that the input lag is bad this is a no buy
Think will stick with my Saturn version, which is the one missing from this collection.
Still hoping the original music can come back in this.
@Peteykins I get your point, but it’s not called the Rayman 1 Collection. Just an anniversary pack.
Oh....I'm glad the main complaint is the music. I saw some people were unhappy with this collection and wondered if it ran like crap. Hopefully the original music gets sorted out and they can add that in later, I've played a little bit of Rayman 1 but not enough that I'm even sure I would notice it's different.
I echo what some are saying regarding Rayman 2. There are so many versions of that game, and each port has something unique. It's hard to say there's a definitive version of Rayman 2, so it would make a great candidate for its own collection which included every possible version.
Regarding this one, as much as I'd like to revisit Rayman 1, I'm gonna wait to see if they patch in the old music before making a purchase. I haven't heard what has been included here but the original soundtrack was so great that I just don't understand why they'd change it. At least offer the option to have modern or classic music.
@gojiguy
my experience with the Switch era in general: game gets a good review on here, no mention of input lag, I buy it based on that, has input lag 😔
honestly i thought it was my tv or my controllers, until I tried "the other guy's" hybrid handheld console with the same stuff. ✌️
@The_Nintendo_Expat AFAIK, it was literally just the original composition music created for the game by the game's composer (like all the ambient background stuff) that is the issue. Somehow he got a limited time use contract for it???
While the soundtrack getting replaced is a major buzz kill, this collection also has quite a few other issues; such as moments of pretty noticeable input delay, the save function being broken across most of the games, the rewind function crashing the game if used too frequently (which it WILL be considering Rayman 1's infamous difficulty spikes) and the Jaguar version having a weird laying audio issue turning the soundtrack into an auditory mess. For a collection of multiple versions of one game for $20, that's pretty inexcusable and Ubisoft had better at least address these with a patch.
@canaryfarmer
yeah, that's what's weird to me, too. i guess we will never know unless the decide to tell us!
Missing soundtrack was a major letdown for me and almost soured the whole experience, but I grew to like the new tracks. The dreamlike atmosphere is still there, thankfully. Though I do hope they put in the og soundtrack, imo this is definitely still worth a purchase. It's clear lots of love was put into the package with all of the behind the scenes material and it is very novel to experience versions of Rayman 1 I would never have otherwise.
@The_Nintendo_Expat Yeah, I really wish more review sites would take the time to measure input lag as a baseline for all games, most ESPECIALLY any games that are retro ports/emulation.
I also wish Digital Eclipse would improve their emulation so this wouldn't be an issue in the first place...
They are missing the Saturn version, which is the port I have the most nostalgia for. Either way, im happy I can plsy this on modern platforms.
Not buying this until it has the original soundtrack.
Digital Eclipse does not have a Dreamcast or N64 Emulator. Therefore they would only be able to do Rayman 2 for PS1 which would be the version no one wants.
It is unfair to look at a collection of Rayman 1 and complain there is no Rayman 2. The collection is pretty clear what the focus is.
Of course all criticism of the music is fair.
They didn't even patch the thing.
Tho docking it points for something it never advertised is kinda stupid, honestly.
Any news about fixing the save game issue? I'm waiting for it and won't buy this collection (as much as I want to) if they don't address this
I feel like any desire to buy this would stem from nostalgia. Just like nostalgia, you rarely get that original feeling of the first-hand experience you are recalling.
@tseliot I agree that Rayman 1 is mostly a nostalgia play these days, which makes it all the more baffling why the music is gone. easily the most nostalgic aspect of the game isn't included.
@EarthboundBenjy Uhm, I assumed the reviewer was talking about the original 2D Rayman that got scrapped during development. The N64 Rayman 2 is already on Nintendo Classics.
@vio
Are you talking about the 2D Rayman 2 prototype that you get to play a snippet of in the PS1 version of Rayman 2 after beating Razorbeard and seeing the credits?
...The reviewer didn't say that. They just said "Rayman 2". How was I supposed to assume something that wasn't said?
@EarthboundBenjy Yes, that one. I didn't say you were supposed to assume that, just that I assumed that since Rayman 2 is already on Switch
I always hoped they’d do a Rayman remake collection similar to the Spurs and Crash ones. Instead we get this which doesn’t include the Saturn version and has the wrong music. Pass.
I'd have been happy if it was £30 and had a couple of Rayman 2 ports. Being a compilation of just 1 game and it's ports seems a bit odd as I can't imagine the PS, DOS and Jaguar versions are hugely different and what you'd gain from playing through several versions.
The soundtrack isn't an issue for me but I understand why some are not happy with this.
"See ya in Rayman 4!"
~ Murfy (2003)
Still waiting, Ubisoft...
@Westlondonmist DE has no N64 or DC emulator, how is Rayman 2 even possible for them?
@The_Nintendo_Expat
Emulation lag, at least one frame/17ms(If you're lucky) or more by default and no official score. Nice! You can jump on eBay and get the original 1995 Rayman PS1 disc for the same price as this collection. No lag, you get the OG music, and you get that legit authentic look by playing it on a CRT with an actual PS1. No contest. 😉
Well, as mentioned the Saturn version isn't present, and there were slight differences. I don't know why it hasn't been included, but it makes it a less comprehensive collection.
Still buying it, the main attraction for me being the MS-DOS version with all the additional levels. I already have original copies of the PS1, GBC, GBA and Saturn versions.
@Waluigi451 Yes, then they could port the HD version of 3 later. Bit of a shame that I'd have to go back to the 3DS to play the sequel and dust off my ps3 to play the one after.
@MirrorFate2 It's still possible, they actively choose not to pursue emulating N64 and DC games. It's also a flaw in the MK collection.
wonder how they managed the rights for the fan created content for the pc... now probably that would be all ubisoft owned in the T&Cs anyway, but in the late nineties?
@Westlondonmist Or they don't have emulators for these, like, AT ALL.
How the hell can you give 7/10 to games that have so much heavy input latency? I can't understand.
@gcunit It's a total deal-breaker for me. This game was my childhood obsession for years and the lack of the original music absolutely ruins it. They didn't even try to recreate the original music faithfully, which is beyond lazy. A few tracks have been recycled and given a jazzy coat of paint, but the rest is original and terrible. I can't believe this is composed by the same guy who did the fun soundtracks for Origins/Legends.
@romanista It's like creating content for LittleBigPlanet or Mario Maker. You use their assets, they own what you create.
@SykoMuffin I mean, they DID make Origins and Legends (and a metric tonne of those awful Rabbids titles).
@Ursaking yup i understand, just didn't expect that to be true for 90s games where you didn't had to agree to an EULA yet
Show Comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...