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Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc is the latest installment in the long-running and popular platform series for the PS2. While the basic feel and many of the gameplay elements are similar to previous games, Ubi Soft has implemented some interesting twists and new abilities that keep Rayman 3 fresh. As the plot begins, Rayman's pal Globox accidentally swallows the Dark Lum lord, incurring the wrath of the hoodlum army who will stop at nothing to get their leader back. During his adventure, Rayman will also meet Murfy a small fly who'll give him advice and encouragement along the way. You'll face many different foes including the Hoodmongers, that fire at you with their Boomstick Rifles. These are the most common enemy in the game's early stages, and can be easily defeated, especially at close range. Rayman will also face off against several boss characters that can be quite difficult to defeat. The levels are large and full of puzzles and obstacles that mostly involve tricky platform jumping. On each level, there are also numerous switches to pull, crates to move and doors to unlock. These gameplay mechanics are fairly standard for the genre, but Rayman 3's implementation of them is solid and enjoyable. In addition to the standard land based levels, Rayman 3 also includes several cool underwater and flying areas. These are pretty cool, and add more variety to the gameplay but fit the general feel of the game. While the majority of the game is straightforward platforming and action, some cool bonuses are included. These range from incredibly simple to unexpectedly difficult. Some of these levels act as tutorials that show you how to use the weapons, while others can be a bit weird, such as a psychedelic surfing section where you have to jump between moving platforms, while trying not to fall off. These are quite interesting and challenging and they do a good job of breaking up the action while still keeping the feel of the main quest intact. Overall, these bonus levels make for a more exciting experience, but don't seriously dilute the game's overall feel.
In order to fight the Dark Lums and their Hoodlum Army, Rayman can use several standard combat techniques at his disposal. As usual, he can use his trademark helicopter move to glide between sections and over gaps. However, he gradually descends when this is in use, so you need to time your jumps perfectly. As usual, Rayman can attack foes with his disconnected fists and holding down on the punch button causes his fists to spin, and once they reach full force, Rayman delivers a devastating hit. One interesting change in the mechanics of his fists is that he can aim them to reach around corners. This new technique allows him to hit enemies who are hiding behind walls effectively without risking a close battle. This is done by pressing down on the L2 button and moving the D-pad to aim your shots. During battles, you can also Lock-On to enemies to keep them in your sights by pressing the R1 button. When you're locked on, the camera automatically keeps them in your sights. Rayman can move around, strafe and jump when he's locked on, which adds to the strategy of these confrontations. In addition, Rayman can perform acrobatic moves like climbing up vines and walls plus he can hang from ceilings to move over large gaps.
Successfully implementing an intuitive control interface is an essential part in any good platform title, and Rayman 3's controls are up to the task. The gameplay flows smoothly and even the more elaborate actions are easy to learn and perform. If you've played the previous games, you should have no trouble jumping right in because the techniques and feel are quite similar. These new elements integrate seamlessly into the action. Unfortunately, the game suffers from some camera defects that occasionally interfere with the action. The camera is a bit sluggish and feels a bit jumpy. There are too many areas where the angle makes it difficult to see where you are. While you can manually control the camera angles, it becomes annoying after awhile. Another problem, is that the default angles are a bit sluggish and have trouble keeping up with the action when things get intense. You can easily lose sight of enemies, though the ability to Lock-On to opponents during battle mitigates this to some degree. However, most players should be able to work through these problems after awhile and find plenty to like about the game.
Despite some camera problems and the cloying
voice-overs, most platform fans will be pleased that the series remains true to
its roots in its overall look and feel. The new weapons are cool to use and a
nice addition to the series, but many familiar elements from previous games have
returned so veterans should feel right at home. Between the large levels and
mini-games, this should keep you occupied for hours. However, it seems that
Rayman 3's gameplay is a bit harder than it was in previous games because the
enemies are more aggressive. It's easier for Rayman to lose a life, and there
are several complex areas that are quite difficult. However, Rayman 3 isn't
impossible and most players should be able to progress through the levels
easily. Overall, Rayman 3 is a solid addition to the series that delivers a lot
of fun and excitement. Despite some technical problems, Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc
is a solid title that offers action and strategy that will please both die-hard
fans of the series and casual gamers alike.
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During
each level, you'll come across numerous jewels and collecting them will give him
points. He can find these in the wild or inside the many breakable Pig Pots
you'll find. Rayman also earns points by beating the bad guys. If he collects
enough points, they unlock hidden areas and levels. Players can also multiply
their points by chaining moves together. This unleashes the combo meter, but you
have to act quick because this disappears if you're idle too long. Along the
way, players can also find icons that give Rayman extra lives and energy. Rayman
also needs to look out for Lum juice, which he feeds to Globox to calm down the
Dark Lum Lord trapped in his belly. There are also some side-missions and hidden
bonus levels that you can complete during your adventure. As usual, the Teensies
have gotten themselves in a fix once again, as the Hoodlums have trapped them
inside cages and Rayman once again has to save them. While rescuing them isn't
absolutely essential in all cases, they usually drop of an extra can or items
for Rayman, so it's worth the effort to rescue them.
In
addition to these standard moves, the game offers a cool new weapons system that
allows Rayman can transform himself by earning high-tech super-powers. He
acquires these powers by hitting one of the special Laser Powder Washing cans.
Some of these can be found alone, but others are released when you hit one of
the hoodlums. There are several types of Super Powers and each one has a
different effect. These include the Vortex, which allows him to inflict a lot of
damage easily or can also be used to twist the mushroom platforms down to size.
Rayman can also acquire Heavy Metal fists that give him super shots and let him
punch through heavy walls and doors. One of the most interesting super powers is
the Lockjaw which can be used as a grappling hook to swing over large gaps.
Another weapon he can use is that Lockjaw. This is a retractable projectile that
can inflict a lot of damage on opponents. Rayman can also use the Throttle
Copter, which is an enhanced version of his standard helicopter move, that
allows him to fly longer and higher than he normally can. The Throttle Copter
also allows him to reach areas he otherwise wouldn't be able to. The coolest
Super Power weapon at his disposal is the Shock Rocket. When he uses this, the
action switches to a first person mode. As the Shock Rocket flies, Rayman can
steer it around corners and bends to hit a target. The Shock Rocket is powerful
and effective and since this is much smaller than Rayman, can be used to destroy
things you couldn't normally reach. Rayman's Super Powers are cool to use and
see in action, but they aren't gimmicks and are in fact, integral to completing
the mission. Some areas require Rayman to use the super-powers in order to
progress. The Super Powers are fun to use and this system meshes nicely with the
standard techniques because they feel like a natural extension of Rayman's
normal moves.
Visually,
Rayman's world is as lush and colorful as ever. Fans of the series will find the
surreal aesthetics that makes the series so appealing very much in evidence.
This installment feels more cinematic than previous games, and these cut-scenes
allow for more plot development and a deeper storyline. The character designs
are typically interesting with cool friendly and not-so-friendly animal
creatures. Rayman 3 moves at a very smooth rate with smooth character animations
and movements that look excellent throughout. The level designs are impressive
with large and colorful worlds to explore. Rayman 3's overall look is highly
polished with good light-sourcing used to create an evocative cartoon world that
feels alive. Rayman 3's music is a bit cooler than previous games, thanks to the
presence of Groove Armada, who wrote the title track, though most of the
soundtrack is standard light-hearted platforming background music. Numerous
actors are used to make the characters come to life, including John Leguizamo
who plays Globox. This sounds cool on paper, but the execution is disappointing.
While some of the in-jokes are funny at first, the constant chatter and ironic
commentary gets old quickly because the writing tries too hard to be hip. This
quickly becomes obnoxious and distracts from the game's otherwise outstanding
presentation. Still, Rayman 3 is one of the better-looking PS2 platformers, and
you can't fault design because Rayman's trademark eccentric feel very much
intact.