System: PS Vita
Dev: Ubisoft Montpellier
Pub: Ubisoft
Release: February 14, 2012
Players: 1
Screen Resolution: 544p	Comic Mischief, Mild Cartoon Violence, Suggestive Themes

I cannot help but keep a smile plastered to my face when the music is on, starting right at the logo that appears upon launching the game. It's chock-full of classic cartoon slaps, wails, gasps, and so many other sounds that never seem to get old. The gibberish speak throughout reminds me of a cross between Simlish and something out of a Monty Python skit, so it's pretty hilarious. Equally humorous is the music, which is scored beautifully, and when you add constant inclusions of a jaw harp and ukulele, it's hard to stop smiling.

The one sad omission in the PS Vita version is multiplayer. The four-player campaign on the consoles had less to do with strategy and more to do with seeing how often you could jump on your friends' heads, but it was a fun way to get a group involved nevertheless. Instead, the Vita version adds a Ghost Mode where you can race through a level against your friends' clear times, which can be posted on the Vita's Near application. Also, you can collect hidden relics through the campaign, which will reveal pieces of two giant murals at your home base. Neither adds extreme value to the game, but they are still nice additions in lieu of multiplayer.

Rayman Origins is something truly special in today's gaming world. Not only did Ubisoft successfully re-imagine a classic and endearing mascot, but they brought him back in a 2D platformer that couldn't even slightly be classified as outdated. With so many games nowadays clinging to dark humor and violent pleasure, it's infinitely refreshing to see a game like this come out of the woodwork. You may think yourself a hardcore gamer with little care for a game such as Rayman Origins, but everyone needs to smile once and awhile, and this one will surely stretch those cheek muscles upward.

By Sean Engemann Contributing Writer @CardCanuck Date: February 27, 2012