Ubi Soft’s Rayman character is the Rodney Dangerfield of action-platform characters. While smart, funny, and very hip, the poor little guy just can’t get any respect from most gamers. It’s hard to see why, as the little guy has starred in some of the finest platformers (both 2-D and 3-D) gaming has seen in some time.

Basically a direct port of the incredible Nintendo 64, PC, and Dreamcast versions, the PlayStation’s RayMan 2: The Great Escape has a lot going for it. Great gameplay, amazing visuals, and outstanding sound all combine to make this platform title kick butt. As the Rayman 2: The Great Escape story goes, evil mechanical pirates, led by Razorbeard, have enslaved the inhabitants of Rayman’s world. You must help Rayman collect four magical masks to wake up a god who will make those pirates walk the plank.

Rayman 2: The Great Escape is a lot of fun, and as you make your way through the adventure, you must pick up fragments of energy called “lums.” Along the way, you will also be required to free cute characters that have been put in cages and enslaved by the evil pirates.

There is plenty of eye candy in Rayman 2: The Great Escape, the upbeat music is a joy to listen to, and the voice work is one of the best parts of the game. The control scheme is very intuitive, which is essential for any platformer. It’s very easy to pick up, but even the best gamer will still love mastering the environments.

Rayman 2: The Great Escape is one of the best platform games ever made for the PlayStation. The game is challenging and addictive, and will appeal to gamers of all skill levels. –Todd Mowatt

Pros:

• Great gameplay options
• Incredible cartoonlike graphics
• Realistic character AI and intuitive controls

Cons:

• Younger gamers may find this game appealing, but perhaps too challenging
• Gameplay becomes a little monotonous at times