| System: Xbox 360*, PS3 |  |
| Dev: Ubisoft | |
| Pub: Ubisoft | |
| Release: March 20,2012 | |
| Players: 1 | |
| Screen Resolution: 480p-1080p | Fantasy Violence, Crude Humor, Mild Suggestive Themes |
As for the game's aesthetics, the revamped graphics are pretty decent, with modern effects enhancing the upscaled textures. Nobody will mistake this for a recently-developed game, of course. There's only so much one can do with early 3D models, and the rough edges are particularly noticeable on natural objects like trees. There are some occasional inconsistencies in the HD upgrade as well. On-screen text sometimes looks very sharp, but other times looks jaggy and pixellated. With a maximum 720p resolution, the game is likely to look better on a smallish HD TV than a big-screen, on which I imagine the relics of the original graphic design would be far more obvious.
Ubisoft made an unfortunate sound design decision in Rayman 3, deciding to fully voice all the characters. The result sounded like a lame attempt to be hip and zany back in 2003, so now it sounds like a particularly lame attempt to be hip and zany. Rayman himself is all right, but some of the supporting characters are cringe-worthy. It just goes to show that sometimes silent heroes are the best heroes. As for the rest of the sound, it's fine, but doesn't hold a candle to the impressively imaginative music and sound found in last year's Rayman Origins.
Gamers who miss old school 3D platforming should find a lot to like about Rayman 3 HD. After all, beyond Super Mario Galaxy, there hasn't been a lot of pure platforming in 3D lately, and Rayman 3 can scratch that itch. It comes with some of the usual problems found in the PS2 era, though, and its weird emphasis on high scoring plus the annoying voice acting keep it from being one of the best examples of early 3D platforming. Those who are simply looking for a great platformer, whether 2D or 3D, might want to skip this and reach directly for the far superior Rayman Origins.
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By Becky Cunningham Contributing Writer  @BeckyCFreelanceDate: April 2, 2012 |
Game Features:
