Rayman Jungle Run Review: More than just a pretty Windows Phone 8 platformer

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Rayman Jungle Run Review: More than just a pretty Windows Phone viii platformer

Despite his games' typically loftier quality, limbless hero Rayman is generally bottom known than his contemporaries like Sonic and Mario. Starting out on the Atari Jaguar, Playstation One, and similar platforms in 1995, the original Rayman stood out thanks to its beautiful 2nd graphics, unique atmosphere, and excellent soundtrack. Two stiff 3D sequels followed – you lot tin even get 2003'south Rayman 3 on XBLA, in fact.

Rayman kept a depression profile after that, only showing up in the spin-off Rayman: Raving Rabbids minigame collections. Soon the Rabbids games left Rayman behind to go their own series, most recently with Rabbids Become Telephone for Windows Phone vii. Information technology seemed similar Rayman had forced into retirement, doomed to live on just in the minds of nostalgic gamers.

Luckily for platform gaming fans, Rayman came dorsum from obscurity with 2022'south sleeper console hitting Rayman Origins. The quaternary mainline Rayman game returned to 2D graphics, and how! Origins boasts i of the near striking visual styles in all of gaming, non to mention pretty much everything you could want in a platformer. And now Rayman Jungle Run from Pastagames and Ubisoft brings that same 2nd goodness to Windows Phone 8 in a truly killer mobile adaptation.

Big hero, small bundle

Mobile versions of panel platformers often apply virtual sticks and buttons in order to translate the game blueprint faithfully to touch screens – await at Sonic CD or Little Acorns for two of the best examples. Simply some gamers merely can't get their heads effectually virtual sticks, deplorable to say.

Thus Pastagames made the wise determination to change Origins' design ever so slightly when creating Jungle Run. They took away the stick and made Rayman run forward automatically. Hither players tin mainly focus on the hero'southward jumps and other moves instead of having to conform to adjust to the learning bend of virtual controls. Just tap anywhere on-screen and he leaps in the air, simple as that.

Moves like Jagger

Rayman tin simply perform normal jumps and jump off of walls in the get-go of Jungle Run'southward v sets of levels, but that'due south but and so the game tin ease you into more advanced moves. In the second globe he gains the power to hover during jumps by pressing and property the screen. Some of the game's trickiest sections involve hovering between walls of thorns as air currents push you along. Starting in the third earth, Rayman can run up walls and forth ceilings – non different Sonic the Hedgehog.

Rayman's concluding move comes along in the 4th earth: punching. He can punch to pause down wooden barriers, trigger switches that toggle platforms or spiked balls, and kill enemies. A virtual punch push shows upwards at the bottom-correct corner of the screen once Rayman learns punching. This throws the convenience of the controls off a bit because up until and so many players volition probably tap the right corner to jump. In one case the fourth earth comes along, you're forced to start using the left side. Pastagames should have implemented an option to choose the dial button's location.

Lum's the word

Even though Rayman runs on autopilot in this adventure, it notwithstanding feels very much similar Origins, but faster. Jungle Run's stages characteristic lots of twists, turns, and hidden areas for players to discover every bit they hunt for Lums. Each level holds 100 of the floating yellow collectibles to grab. We'll talk near the reward for doing and then in a moment.

Besides collecting individual Lums, Rayman will also need to keep an center out for Skull Coins. Each i is worth twenty Lums (as opposed to 25 in Origins). The developers sometimes place Skull Coins quite deviously then that you'll cease upward exactly 20 Lums short by level'south end because you didn't discover a particular cranny forth the way. Only for the near part, I managed to score the full 100 after but a few retries and without seeking help online.

Tough stuff

Your reward for collecting all 100 of a phase'southward Lums is a single Tooth of the Expressionless. Each of the five worlds has i Land of the Livid Dead level that costs 5 teeth to unlock. The Livid Dead levels prove the game'due south greatest challenge, as each ane requires precise timing and memorization in order to survive. Experienced platforming game players volition probably master them with practise, but other players might not be able to handle them. Incidentally, the game's Friends Leaderboards simply keep track of Livid Dead completion times.

As the Livid Expressionless levels volition remind yous, Rayman can lose his life in a few different ways. Falling into bottomless pit does him in, of course. But Rayman dies from a unmarried hit by default, and so thorns, spikes, and enemies can all knock him off in the glimmer of an eye as well. The more perilous levels tend to have at least 1 centre particular which will give Rayman an actress hit when collected. Surviving normal levels won't normally testify very difficult though. The levels are short enough that y'all can return to what killed you lot and try again in short society anyhow.

Achievements

Much like Rayman Origins, the difficulty of Jungle Run's Achievements runs largely at odds with the game's inviting aesthetic and casual-friendly gameplay. Sure, collecting 3600 unique Lums over the course of the game and even scoring all fifty Teeth of the Dead won't evidence likewise much for platforming veterans.

No, the stuff Ubisoft asks us to practice in one run is where it gets tricky. Jungle Run has Achievements for collecting 500, 1000, 2000, and 3600 Lums in a single playthrough, all without dying or restarting a level. The first two will come up with practise, just getting 3600 Lums in one life for 'Lums Survival' takes some doing. You'd have to survive until stage 4-9 at the primeval. Realistically, anyone who gets the Achievement volition do so in the fifth world. At least the game has 4500 total Lums, so you tin miss a few and all the same unlock it.

If yous cartel to endeavor 'Lums Survival,' I take two pieces of communication. First, get every unmarried Tooth of Death in society to practice and acquire the basic levels. So head to YouTube! It's filled with multiple perfect runs of each level. Watch a perfect run before y'all play a level, play it, and and so watch the next level, and then on. In this way, yous'll always be prepared for whatever a level has in shop.

Overall Impression

Rayman Jungle Run is one of the best Xbox Windows Phone games available, whether we're talking about Windows Phone 7 or 8. On the surface, it has the Origins-style visuals that ooze with color, depth, and charm going for it. The several catchy tunes that bike every bit y'all play and catchy audio furnishings don't hurt either.

Most importantly, Jungle Run is only a joy to play. Simple and nigh perfect controls will become players into the swing of things in a hurry. After that, the first-class level design and pursuit of Teeth of the Expressionless adds staying ability. You COULD just run through the game in an hour or two. Simply unlike most games with collectibles, you'd be missing out on half the fun if yous didn't rail down each and every Lum.

Rayman Jungle Run – Windows Phone viii – 49 MB - $2.99 – Shop Link

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Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/rayman-jungle-run-review

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