Rayman fans are over the moon after the announcement that the limbless hero will be featured in the next Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope DLC. However, there might be more to look forward to. The game's director, Davide Soliani, teased a return to glory for the French platforming mascot Wednesday. He also confirmed there will be a secret message if you finish the DLC with a 100% completion rate. The prospects of the first Rayman game since 2013 might come to fruition.

According to fan community leader ItzalDrake from Rayman Together, Sparks of Hope director Davide Soliani sent a message to the character's fanbase just before the launch of the Phantom Show DLC:

"I hope that all the community and all Rayman players support us as much as possible because I'm on a mission: my mission is to be able to bring Rayman back to the glory he deserves."

https://twitter.com/RaymanTogether/status/1694386555723342118

When was the last Rayman game released?

The limbless hero has been absent for a long time, which is strange as he was an important mascot for Ubisoft during the beginning of the studio's history. The last true game in the series was Rayman Legends, released back in 2013: a decade ago this month. If you want to go all the way back, the last 3D platforming adventure Rayman 3 came out in 2003. A fourth entry or even a follow-up to the 2D platforming subseries would be a dream for many fans of the series.

Soliani did not outright confirm a new game in the series, but as previously mentioned, he has teased a secret hidden message for those who 100% complete the DLC. "I hope for your support and I hope you like it!" he concluded in his message to the fans.

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Cblogs of 2/27 to 3/5/2021

-RedHeadPeak misses Dead Space like many of us.

-LaTerry shares the March Band of Bloggers prompt about what pulls you back into games.

-Gamingnerd looks at the history of Pokemon throughout the ages.

-Virtua Kazama sheds light on the top fighting games and DLC to look forward to in 2021.

-Black Red Gaming shares a list of his most anticipated games to be released in March.

-Captiosus shares his impression on the Final Outriders demo.

-Kerrik52 reviews Oddworld: Stranger's Worth as part of his Traveller in Playtime reviews series.

-Captiosus tries to define what "Games as a Service" means.

-Greglory13 reviews Cloud Garden.

-ThePacksHunt shares his thoughts on Vigor.

-Gamingnerd sheds light on some cool indie games.

-Eggs&BrewsterJr revisits Rayman 2.

-RedHeadPeak loves Link's Awakening so much he may not be yet ready for the Switch remake.

-Shoggoth2588 shares his gaming journal of February, his "birth-month".

-Samuel Dillinger shares his thoughts on his older Dtoid blogs.

-ChronoLynxx opens last week's TGIF open community forum.

Thank you all for this week's awesome content! As always, you all had a lot of interesting takes on a variety of topics. Thanks to Lord Spencer for providing us with the recap. If you'd like to see your own thoughts captured for posterity on the front page, then head on over to the Cblogs and have at it!

The post Do you miss the terrifying silence of Dead Space? appeared first on Destructoid.

Beyond Good and Evil 2 is going 'super well'

Fans have gotten into the habit of combing through Michel Ancel's Instagram posts for tidbits about the state of Beyond Good and Evil 2 and Wild, but today, instead of a new piece of artwork or a screenshot, they found a bittersweet surprise. After more than 30 years in the video game industry, he's leaving it.

Alongside a clip of a very cute (and very sneaky) fox, Ancel said he "decided to stop working on video games and fully focus on my second passion: Wild Life! My new project takes place in the real world and consists in a wildlife open sanctuary dedicated to education, nature lovers, and ... wild animals."

The creator of Rayman has stepped out amid multiple high-profile, company-wide scandals at Ubisoft.

Ancel didn't comment on the state of the company, but he did put a positive spin on the future of Beyond Good and Evil 2 and Wild: "the teams are autonomous and the projects are going super well."

For its part, Ubisoft wrote in a blog post today that Ancel "hasn't been directly involved in BG&E2 for some time now, as the team have been hard at work building on top of the solid creative foundation he helped shape." The company is "ramping up" with Ubisoft Paris and "aiming to share more and show you the game in action sometime next year, once we pass our next internal production milestones."

Wild Sheep Studio, the creator of Wild, hasn't commented on Ancel's departure yet.

To be frank, it's easy to be skeptical of both of these games – for different reasons – but I hope they turn out well. They've both been such a long time coming. As for Ancel, he's about to live his best life.

michelancel [Instagram]
An Update on Beyond Good & Evil 2 [Ubisoft]

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You have until May 5

In case you haven't noticed, Ubisoft has been running "free to keep" offers during the quarantine, starting with Child of Light, then extending into Rayman Legends and Assassin's Creed II.

If you click on all three of those links, you'll see that each announcement was covered by a different writer: that's how big of an impact they all had on various staff here at Destructoid. Wait, you missed the promo entirely? Well that's why I'm posting about it today!

Ubisoft just announced this morning that they are extending the offer for the trio through May 5. As usual, the "free to keep" offer only extends to the PC and is linked through their Uplay system. As a reminder, the whole initiative is called "Play Your Part," and was started "to support people staying at home by providing opportunities to have fun as they practice social distancing."

Again, all three of those games are worth playing, even in 2020. Although you probably have no shortage of things to do right now (maybe?), you may as well grab them all, even if you have no intention of playing them right now. Remember, it's for keeps!

Ubisoft Free Events [Ubisoft]

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Ubisoft has a month of stay-at-home deals planned

Rayman Legends is a fantastic game, and if you've somehow avoided it since 2013, here's a chance to get it for free. The eye-catching platformer is up for grabs on PC until April 3, 2020, at the Uplay store.

Seriously though, if you haven't run through Castle Rock before, I can't recommend it enough.

This free game deal is a part of a wider initiative underway at Ubisoft in light of COVID-19 and the ensuing stay-at-home orders. The company is hosting "a month-long series of offers, trials, and discounts to help everyone who is following health authorities' guidance by staying at home."

If that sounds like something you'd be into – Assassin's Creed and Just Dance are among the "free offers and trials" coming up next – then here's the dedicated freebie website to keep tabs on.

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But where's the live action Siege show?

Producer Adi Shankar, known for his animated adaptation of Castlevania and the upcoming Assassin's Creed show, is also expected to begin production on a series based on Ubisoft's 2012 open-world adventure Far Cry 3, specifically its tongue-in-cheek "Blood Dragon" sub-universe.

Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Vibe is still in its early stages, but the animated series is expected to help kickstart a "multiverse" of sorts, entirely comprised of Ubisoft adaptations. Other franchises from the publisher's portfolio expected to hit the small screen include a Rayman animated series, a tween/teen friendly Watch Dogs show, and even a series based on mobile game Hungry Shark, though details are incredibly slim on all of the above.

Despite all of this incoming idiot box programming, there is currently no sign of a high-intensity, Sicario-style Rainbow Six Siege series, which is a shame. Make the call, Ubisoft. I'd like to play Ela, I think you'll find my fee fair and affordable.

Adi Shankar working on another video game series [Gamesindustry.biz]

The post Far Cry 3, Rayman, and Watch Dogs shows to form Ubisoft TV multiverse appeared first on Destructoid.

Dad of War now $20

Sony has just announced that seven new games will be joining its "PlayStation Hits" lineup. A collection of various popular and best-selling titles, PlayStation Hits lets late adopters get some great titles on the cheap. I know I've certainly used it in the past since I'm a cheap bastard. I also missed God of War last year, but I can't refuse it for $20.

I wouldn't say everything below is worth playing, but you can't really go wrong with these prices. You're bound to find something worth enjoying in each title, even if God of War is the clear standout. Each new game will be available for $19.99 (physically and digitally) starting on October 4, 2019.

• Far Cry 4
• God of War
• Gran Turismo Sport
• Rayman Legends
• The Crew
• Uncharted: The Lost Legacy
• Watch Dogs

God of War, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, Gran Turismo Sport, and more, available at a great new price starting October 4 [PlayStation Blog]

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Honey, I shrunk the guy with floating arms

Rayman is one of those series that I'm glad never died.

So many mascot platformers were unceremoniously killed off (seriously, where's my Jersey Devil and Aero the Acro-Bat remasters?), but Rayman endured, even with new management. Origins, Legends, and even the mobile runners like Jungle and Fiesta were worth playing, and Mini is the latest attempt for the little guy to make yet another comeback.

Rayman Mini (iOS)
Developer: Ubisoft
Publisher: Ubisoft
Released: September 19, 2019
MSRP: Part of Apple Arcade ($4.99 a month)

It seems passé to tack yet another "runner" (but not endless!) to the Apple Arcade launch when we've seen so many of them in the past, but Ubisoft manages to exercise restraint here when coupled with the "full game without microtransactions" mantra of the Arcade itself.

Full stop, this is ostensibly a platformer where the protagonist just so happens to automatically run. Just like past Rayman mobile games, the art style perfected in Legends translates well to a smaller screen, as Ubisoft has managed to wring out every nuance on top of all of the color that this universe brings.

Best of all, there's full controller support now. In an instant, you can connect a PS4 or Xbox One remote to your iOS device and have at it with precision, or opt for the already fine touch scheme that uses quadrants of the screen to jump and slap. I really dig how there's a seamless swap between the control methods if you so choose (I found myself changing things up every few levels), as not every Apple Arcade game supports that: this is how it's done.

Although Rayman has run before, the whole "mini" angle (in which he and his friends are shrunk down to size) is enough of a gimmick to carry a full sequel. Although it's very easy to forget the scale for a number of stages, the development team mixes enough surprises in to keep you guessing and remind you that yes, you are very small indeed. This does mean that sometimes, it's an excuse to throw more hazards into the mix to compensate and add a grander sense of scale (which leads to a sparing sense of trial and error).

That said, it also opens up the level design a bit with optional paths, all of which lead to a higher score, more costumes, and a 100% completion rate. The runner formula is on full display here, including the frustration involved when you have to redo an entire level just to practice a tough sequence, but that comes with the territory (in one section I had issues with an enemy that you naturally feel inclined to dive bomb into, but falling into them led to more air to clear a gap).

Rayman Mini is yet another successful foray into the mobile arena for the series, and best of all, it isn't muddled by microtransactions. It's sad this isn't the norm, right? I can't stress enough how much cleaner the whole subseries is without IAP (in-app-purchases), to the point where it feels more in line with Rayman proper.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game through an Apple Arcade subscription purchased by the reviewer.]}

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Ubisoft is hosting a Rayman 2 speedrun right before E3

Here's a bit of a strange one. During E3 week, Ubisoft is giving out Rayman Origins, a gorgeous game that any and all platformer fans should check out. You won't have to attend the gaming expo in-person to earn the free PC title, but you will need to watch half an hour of a live stream – specifically, a Rayman 2 world-record speedrun attempt in honor of the game's 20th anniversary later this year.

When is it? Monday, June 10 at 10:30am Pacific. What do you have to do? Link your Twitch and Uplay accounts and catch 30 minutes or more of the live stream to get Rayman Origins on PC as a Twitch Drop. Glackum is the speedrunner in question, but you can tune in on Ubisoft's Twitch channel. The Rayman 2 record recently shifted to a player named Darnok_PL. The time to beat is now 1:15:22.

Basically, this stunt is a lead-in to Ubisoft's own E3 conference at 1:00pm Pacific on June 10. You probably have bigger and better things going on, so maybe just run the stream in a minimized window.

Not gonna lie, I dearly miss UbiArt and wish more games used that engine.

The post Watch a speedrun and you’ll get Rayman Origins for free on PC appeared first on Destructoid.

Classic Ubisoft character ready to throw fists. Literally.

Ubisoft and developer Blue Mammoth games has announced that classic platforming character Rayman is to be added to crazy competitive fighter Brawlhalla in November.

Rayman, who made his gaming debut in the classic PlayStation and Sega Saturn title of 1995, will join the colourful misfits and freaks that make up Brawlhalla's eclectic cast of characters. This news was met with trepidation by the community, some of whom were stoked to see the zero-limbed one joining the game, while others expressed disappointment that this appearance lessens the possibility that Rayman will be making an appearance in Nintendo's upcoming Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Whichever way you slice it, it's a fun crossover, Rayman remains a popular and recognisable character, even if he hasn't quite cracked the public conciousness the way that someof his brethern have. You will be able to take him into battle November 6, when Rayman launches alongside the Xbox One and Nintendo Switch ports.

Brawlhalla is available now on PC and PS4.

Rayman is coming to Brawlhalla on November 6th! pic.twitter.com/EbziS7Jy7Y

— Brawlhalla (@Brawlhalla) September 2, 2018

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A nice bouquet of late bloomers

I like to cling onto my consoles for dear life (as shown by my recent PS3 buying guide). I'm a little wary of anything new, I like what I know, and I'm incredibly tight-fisted when it comes to shelling out for new tech; this all means I'd much rather spend my hard-earned cash on games for the consoles I already have, rather than saving up for a new one – *ahem* Switch *ahem*.

Often, consoles become targets in their dotage for shovelware, movie tie-ins and pure kids' games, but you can find a handful of unsung heroes and surprising classics at the tail-end of console life cycles, if you dig into gaming history. And yes, this period in the life of a console contains a lot of JRPGs, but it is by no means dominated by the genre. There are even a few titles that you might not have known originally came out on a completely different, dying-out console, or were successfully ported to that console. So, let's check out a few critically acclaimed games that came out on a console that was heading into retirement.

I have not included games that also came out on the console's successor, so no Persona 5 or Breath of the Wild. Sorry!

1. Persona 4 (PlayStation 2), JP: 10 July 2008

Barely a “top 6” list goes by without me mentioning a Persona game, since they seem to somehow tick all the boxes. Persona 4 is definitely a step down in many ways compared to the Golden version that came out for the Vita four years later. But the vanilla version of Persona 4 would still be one of my favourite JRPGs of all time – no, scratch that, one of my favourite games of all time – if I did not have access to a Vita.

The game definitely betrays its prior-generation roots, looking very similar to Persona 3 (also a relatively late PS2 release). The UI and character artwork is gorgeous, but the in-game visuals are hardly complex or breathtaking. None of it really matters, since it more than serves its purpose as a solid “one more” JRPG with a nice slice-of-life diversion.

You'll never catch me saying anything truly bad about the most recent crop of Persona games, but you do have to wonder whether the game could have pushed the limits a little more, had it come out for the PlayStation 3. Unfortunately, Western demand for new Persona games was relatively muted back then, so it wouldn't have been profitable to push for a current-gen version. Yet the minimal differences between the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 versions of Persona 5 make me think that a PS3 version of Persona 4, rather than just an emulation, wouldn't have made much of a difference.

2. Fire Emblem: Thracia 776 (Super Famicom), JP: 1 September 1999/21 January 2000

Fire Emblem is one of the old guard when it comes to Nintendo series, and enjoyed a great deal of critical acclaim even before it became the more mainstream and widely-known series it is today. Fire Emblem: Thracia 776 was released long after the advent of the Nintendo 64, initially on the Nintendo Power rewritable flash cart and the following year on a standard cartridge.

Lauded as a punishing yet worthy entry to the series, Thracia 776 is notable for being one of the last games ever developed for the Super Famicom and for being the last home console game in the Fire Emblem series for another five years. A fan translation has since become available, but to this day, no official Western release has been on the horizon, despite Virtual Console re-releases in Japan.

3. Ace Attorney Investigates 2 (DS), JP: 3 February 2011

Another game that never saw the light of day in the US or Europe, Ace Attorney Investigates 2 continues the story of everyone's favourite snooty prosecutor, Miles Edgeworth, and a cast of kooky characters, such as the dopey detective Dick Gumshoe. Unfortunately, poor sales of the first Ace Attorney Investigates game doomed its sequel to obscurity outside of Japan, but the sequel has been popular enough there not only to see a DS release in 2011, but also an Android and iOS release in 2017.

Thankfully, the final version of a fan translation was released in 2015, so you can now get your hands on further sleuthing japes if you can't understand Japanese. In hindsight, it's in its favour that Ace Attorney Investigates 2 was a late DS release, since the DS is region-free but the 3DS isn't.

4. Rayman (Atari Jaguar), NA: 1 September 1995

The Atari Jaguar was a slightly botched creation prone to hardware failure, particularly if you also used the Jaguar CD; by the time the PlayStation was on the market, it couldn't keep up. This became more evident with the release of Rayman, which was originally planned as a Jaguar mainstay but was later extended to other, shinier consoles.

The sound fidelity of the Jaguar version of Rayman appears to be a common complaint, while the jaunty tunes of the PlayStation version are one of my positive memories of the first-ever outing of the armless adventurer. Unfortunately, the original Rayman was incredibly difficult for a very small child, and I ultimately wish that five-year-old me had had Rayman Legends at their fingertips instead of this slightly cruel ordeal. But it was a solid start to a lovely, whimsical journey that is ultimately one of my favourite long-running platformer series.

Comparing the sound of the cartridge Jaguar game to that of the CD Sega Saturn version.

5. Resident Evil (Saturn), JP: 25 July 1997

Unlike with the Jaguar version of Rayman, there are a handful of upsides to playing the Saturn version of Resident Evil, as opposed to one of the crisper PlayStation editions. Sure, Chris looks a little more...cuboid in the Saturn version, but it tried to make up for it with exclusive skins and a battle mode.

There are regular discussions as to which version of the original Resident Evil is the best, and both the DS and Saturn versions are often given a mention: part of a larger tradition of Resident Evil games varying massively and in very pleasing ways from port to port.

6. Ninja Gaiden (Sega Master System), EU: 1992

While the Ninja Gaiden series got its start on the NES in 1988, a single NG game was released for a Sega home console four years later, receiving a great deal of praise. Diverging from the story of the original games, it still managed to carve out its own successes through inventing the wall-to-wall jumping mechanic that would be used again in Ninja Gaiden for the Xbox.

By 1992, Sonic 2 was just around the corner, as was the concept of blast processing; the Sega Master System was well on its way to being shoved in a drawer. The Ninja Gaiden release for the SMS limped out of production, only ever seeing a release in Europe due to poor demand elsewhere. Despite all of its setbacks, including being restricted to a pretty out-of-date console, it was seen as a highlight of the series' origins.

What are your favourite end-of-life releases for a console? Which console do you particularly miss getting new releases for? Let me know in the comments down below!

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Because five straight hours of Peppa Pig can drive any man to the depths of insanity

I'm creeping into my late twenties, which means a lot of the people in my social circles are getting married and deciding to have children. Instead of buying sarcastic t-shirts about how I am very much not about that life right now, while secretly munching through my third packet of Farley's Rusks, I am actually quite stoked to become an auntie figure, or perhaps even a godmother sometime in the future. Kids are like library books – fun while they last, but you're glad to hand them back at the end. In part because of the smell.

Now, of course, any self-respecting auntie or uncle needs to teach their underlings the ways of the video game. Thankfully, the vast majority of "children's" games are more like fun for all the family, similar to how Harry Potter took off among adult readers. So, I've provided you with six suggestions of how to take some of the mind-numbing boredom and frustration out of babysitting, and find a way to share your hobby with your miniature chums.

As an aside, there are a couple of games I'm fairly sure will belong on this list, but I haven't played enough of them to feel confident including them. If you've played Yoshi's Woolly World, Kirby's Epic Yarn and Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, I'd particularly love to hear your thoughts on their suitability in the comments!

1. For the mini mechanics: Ratchet and Clank (PS4)

This entire article is pretty much thanks to Ratchet and Clank. I played it from start to finish last weekend, my face the picture of childish glee from beginning to end. Before then, I'd only ever tried out Ratchet and Clank 3, and felt a bit lost, since the game (quite understandably) presumes that you know what's going on and you know what you're doing by the third entry to the series.

The Ratchet and Clank re-imagining gave me reason to care for the characters, to squeal in delight whenever Clank did anything remotely cute and to giggle at Captain Qwark's buffoonery. It's about as close as you'll get to a full Pixar experience in a game, and while some of the levels too feel a little off-kilter and the signposting wasn't great in some areas, kids would absolutely love this if they had an adult to guide them through the trickier parts. I can't wait to introduce my cousin to games, and I think I might start off with this.

2. For the crafty kids: Tearaway Unfolded (PS4)

If I were to pick just one MediaMolecule game that would be a blast for kids, it's Tearaway (Unfolded just for the ease of playing it on a bigger screen via the PS4; the original Tearaway is not PSTV compatible in Europe).

The LittleBigPlanet series is one of my favourites, and it has plenty of potential to encourage kids to be creative and already start thinking about level design. However, Tearaway impressed me with how educational it is regarding actions and reactions from manipulating the wind; it also has some intricate puzzle-solving elements that both the kids and the adults will need to collaborate on to get just right. I felt a real sense of wonder as I played through Tearaway Unfolded, and I feel like it's a unique experience young children shouldn't miss out on.

If you want to follow this up with an entry from the LittleBigPlanet series, my favourite is probably 2.2 is also particularly good for smaller children, since it doesn't have some of the more complicated bells and whistles that 3 has, e.g. other Sack characters.

3. For the nature nerds: Flower (PS3/PS4/Vita/iOS)

If you're in the market for something to calm down your tiny terrors after they've scoffed down too many Jaffa Cakes, then Flower could be your saviour. Using the rotation sensors in the DualShock controller, the player controls a flower petal, swaying through the wind and collecting other petals, while sitting back and enjoying picturesque scenes of nature. Some kids might find its muted atmosphere extremely boring, but others will be mesmerised by the interactivity, and soothed by how sedate the game is. 

If you're looking for something relaxing and walking sim-like that's a bit more involved, alternatives would be Journey (by the same developers) or The Unfinished Swan for older kids. While more hyperactive, the original De Blob involves methodically decorating buildings in an environment by splodging paint everywhere, which might also distract some children who enjoy more repetitive actions.

4. For the curious collectors: Pokémon Crystal (3DS)

Don't know your arse from your elbow when it comes to Team Skull and Nebby? You're in good company, my friend. The 2nd generation of Pokémon has always been my favourite: there were just enough creatures out there to catch that proceedings stayed interesting, but the designs were still imaginative. Plus, I felt way more immersed in Johto than I ever did in Kanto; being able to convert Apricorns into special Pokéballs is still one of my favourite little quirks in the series.

Luckily, the presence of Pokémon Crystal on the Virtual Console for the 3DS means there's really no reason not to introduce younger siblings, young cousins or young footsoldiers to older varients of Pokémon – back when times were simpler and your worries were confined to Team Rocket. Hey, if you preferred the 1st generation of Pokémon, then this is a judgment-free zone; and Pokémon Yellow is also available for the 3DS. It's the perfect opportunity to show children that games that look a bit "old" aren't necessarily lame, and can more than stand up to newer, shinier versions. 

5. For the sporty souls: Mario Strikers Charged Football (Wii)

Me and my sister absolutely loved Mario Strikers Charged Football when we got our Wiis, way back in 2007. Yes, I said Wiis, because asking me and my sister to share anything was about as feasible as attempting to go for a casual stroll on the moon. But the one game we had a lot of fun playing together was this heavily simplified football/soccer game. The goal celebrations are cute and funny, the mechanics are dumbed down enough for anyone to join in on the fun, and there are plenty of ways to get a cheap goal or two in the back of the net. Don't torment the little ones by trying to explain the offside rule – instead get into an astro turf tussle with Bowser and a handful of Shy Guys.

6. For the adventurous rascals: Rayman Legends (pretty much any current-gen/last gen console)

This list would absolutely not be complete without Rayman Legends (which is scheduled to be a PS Plus game next month – nice timing!). I remember playing the first Rayman on PS1 back as a wee lass, and I have to admit that I didn't think that was a very child-friendly game. It was needlessly frustrating in parts, with a bunch of cheap deaths and powers that felt neither intuitive nor particularly helpful. Rayman Legends and its predecessor, Origins, wiped the slate clean and came up with a Rayman game that harks back to old days, while offering something much more accessible than in the mid-90s. While what I have played of Revolution and Hoodlum Havoc did a great job of transporting Rayman to the 3D platforming world, if you want to keep your Rayman 2D and simple, Origins and Legends are your best bet.

Honourable mentions:

• Theme Park World (PS1) – probably the best management sim for kids, it strips back a few layers from the original Theme Park while adding an entertaining mascot. Get a PAL copy if you can, since the voice acting is much better (read: superbly Scottish).
• New Super Mario Bros (Wii) – co-op Super Mario Bros – you can't go far wrong with the classics.
• Kuri Kuri Mix/The Adventures of Cookies and Cream (PS2) – play as two bunnies helping each other to traverse a map under a strict time limit. Single-player is a bit naff, but joining forces with a fellow puzzle fiend makes the game much more interesting.
• Mario Party 8 (Wii) – in my opinion, the best of the Mario Party games I have played. The train level is a blast, especially when the tables get unexpectedly turned on the poor sod in first place.

What are your top tips for games to play when you have younger relatives visiting? If you have kids, which games do you play with them, or what do they enjoy playing among themselves? Let me know in the comments down below!

The post Here are six games to play with the tiny humans in your life appeared first on Destructoid.

Looks like we've got a squirter on our hands

Splasher is a love letter to the twitch platforming genre, and it wears its influences on its sleeves proudly. The shadow of Super Meat Boy can be felt in almost every aspect of this game, but it introduces enough new mechanics to really make itself stand out from its inspirations.

The head honcho on the development team, Romain Claude, previously honed his chops as a level designer for both Rayman Origins and Legends. There are a ton of subtle nods to the franchise, among many others, as well. This may be Splashteam’s first game, but they’re hardly a bunch of amateurs. 

The level design is absolutely outstanding, and there’s always small introductions to mechanics before you’re actually expected to use them. Even in the game’s hub world, you’ll often have to learn some new trick in order to reach the next chapter’s doorway. This new skill will be essential once you get there. There’s no overt tutorials, and the progression feels like a natural evolution of everything you’ve been taught by past experiences.

Splasher (PC, PS4, Switch [reviewed], Xbox One)
Developer: Splashteam
Publisher: Plug In Digital
Released: October 26, 2017
MSRP: $14.99

The main distinguishing feature here is the protagonist’s use of a gun that allows you to shoot water and two types of paint. The pink stuff allows you to stick to walls, ceilings, and floors. The yellow goo turns these same surfaces into slimy launching pads that catapult you into the air. The blue liquid, water, is capable of cleaning up the yellow and pink slop as well as dispatching most enemies. These are mapped to the X, Y, and A buttons. 

You will, eventually, have to use all of these skills in tandem while switching liquids at a moment’s notice. Don’t worry though. The game starts you off pretty slowly and gradually eases you into the process. In later levels, there is a good deal of trial and error, and you will die countless deaths, but the game springs you right back into action from the nearest checkpoint. You’re never set back more than 10-15 seconds after any given death. However, every movement and action matters in your pursuit of success. You’re dodging saw blades and acid pits when jumping between small platforms as well as making sure that you are shooting the right liquid before you land. One wrong move and your ass is grass.

It can be frustrating at times, but it’s always your fault when you die. Anyone familiar with Super Meat Boy’s dark worlds will feel right at home here. Honestly, I wish Splasher had taken things a bit further in its difficulty. The last two levels start to approach the intensity of Meat Boy’s final chapters but never quite reaches the same demanding precision required. As a result, however, this is a great entry point for newcomers to the twitch platforming genre. It’s all very accessible, but there's still plenty here to entice folks looking for a decent challenge.

Once you complete the standard story mode, if you’re anything like me, you’ll probably find yourself wanting to go back and pick up any of the missed collectibles throughout each level. Although, if you’re looking for something a bit more challenging, the game offers two forms of speedrunning modes as well. One is the standard where you play through each course normally while attempting to gather collectibles and beat your best time. The other, titled Selfish Speedrun, is completely stripped of extras with the sole goal of finishing as quickly as possible. Both of these are fantastic additions. There are even online leaderboards for each level, where you can compete against your friends and strangers. I’ve never been much for this sort of thing, but Splasher makes a great argument for how much fun they can be. The whole game was built from the ground up with speedrunning in mind, and it really shows just how mechanically sound and memorable each level is when you’re tearing through them at top speed.

Then, of course, there’s the soundtrack. The damn thing is just wonderful. I can’t stress this enough. One of my biggest gripes with the newest release of Super Meat Boy is the altered soundtrack. It just doesn’t have the same amount of life as the original Xbox 360 release. Luckily, this game gets it fucking right. There were times that I just wanted to set my console down and indulge in impromptu, solo dance sessions, and I’m not ashamed to admit that eventually happened. It’s enjoyable enough at first, but I grew attached to it by the time I completed my playthrough.

While I do wish that there was a bit more of it, what’s here is phenomenal. This is a game I’ll definitely be revisiting for the foreseeable future. It manages to take a grab bag of various mechanics, lifted from its influences, and turn them into something totally fresh and unique. Splashteam knocked it out of the goddamn park with this one, and it’s absolutely criminal that I never got around to playing it on other consoles before this. This is an essential release for genre fans and a great introduction for newcomers. The Switch may be jam-packed with quality eShop titles right now, but Splasher is genuinely something special. It would be a shame to see it lost in the crowd.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

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I probably should've reported this yesterday...

Wait! Don't throw out the pumpkin or take down that tacky skeleton decoration just yet! There's still some Halloween gaming-related PR coming your way, as Ubisoft released a creepy gameplay trailer for the upcoming Rayman Legends Definitive Edition, coming to Nintendo Switch next month.

The trailer features imagery familiar to Netflix smash Stranger Things, but eventually segues to a bunch of buddies getting together to relive Rayman's 2013 adventure, newly revamped for the Nintendo console. In fact, they spend way more time on the former than the latter.

Rayman Legends Definitive Edition is available on Nintendo Switch now.

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'For his fourth adventure'

Designer Michel Ancel has given us Rayman fans something to daydream about: the prospect of an eventual new installment in the platformer series. Writing on Instagram as he's wont to do, Ancel said that "After Wild, after BGE2, we'll need to bring him back again ... for his fourth adventure!"

As desperate as I am for another Rayman, I'm curious about Wild and that enthusiasm also extends to Beyond Good and Evil 2. If these are the next projects Ancel works on beat by beat, I'd be stoked.

Worth noting: there was going to be a "Rayman 4" a decade ago and, despite its cancellation, there's a fair amount of artwork to show for it. Would you be down for another 3D adventure?

Michel Ancel [Instagram via reddit]

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Lame, man

I've been a huge fan of Rayman's revival period. After the Rabbids spun off into their own universe (which even got big enough to crossover with Mario recently), and Rayman fell into relative obscurity, I was extremely delighted to play through Rayman Origins and its even better follow-up, Rayman Legends. 

After only playing it on the Wii U, I was curious as to how well Legends' GamePad-centric mechanic translated to its ports and even how it played on the go. Luckily for me, a "definitive" version of the title collected all of the content spread across multiple ports and sought to deliver the best of both home and portable worlds. 

Too bad it only really nails half of each. 

Rayman Legends Definitive Edition (Switch)
Developer: Ubisoft Montepellier
Publisher: Ubisoft
Released: September 12, 2017
MSRP: $39.99

Taking place sometime after Rayman Origins, Rayman and his buddies have been sleeping while gross monsters and the like have wreaked havoc across the land. At the behest of a long bearded hookah smoker, Rayman and some compatriots have to save little blue fairy things called "Teensies." Saving these Teensies across Definitive Edition's many, many, many available levels and collecting Lums (little yellow fairies only factoring into a final level score and an unlockable toward the game's end) is how you progress. You'll unlock new stages and worlds almost constantly, so at least there's a good sense of progression throughout. It's even more pronounced in the Definitive Edition, as now there are many more characters and character skins (like a Rayman wearing a Mario hat or a Rayman with a suit of armor). So early on, it feels like there are a ton of collectables and fun to be had. But unfortunately, these massive piles of collectables devolve into white noise before too long. 

At least the gameplay is still as tight as ever. Running and jumping feels precise, and there are plenty of creative twists on platforming to keep the stages innovative for the majority of the time. Standouts are still, of course, the rhythm stages such as the famous "Black Betty" scored stage. These stages are platform design at its finest, and Definitive Edition definitely gave me an urge to replay some of the better designed stages. The worst aspect of this, however, is whenever the flying green friend Murfy is involved.

In the Wii U version, another player could use the GamePad's touchscreen and move Murfy around to interact with the level and help Rayman along. But in this version (and the older ports, apparently), Murfy is relegated to a button press as he automatically positions himself where needed. It's a bit cumbersome when trying to press a button to activate Murfy while jumping to platforms at the same time, or needing to quickly switch between the two in mid-air. It's such a strangely non-cohesive design choice for an otherwise tight game.

And for such a well designed platformer, this "definitive" port has far too many technical issues to ignore. While this still has the smooth animation and visual design of Legends, it doesn't look the greatest. Rather than feel like an updated version of a title initially released four years ago, it, uh, looks like a title released four years ago with even more compressed images. Compounding on this are the entirely too lengthy load times. To be honest the loading time wasn't a huge issue for me at first, but the more levels I played, the more I realized how much time in all I had spent waiting to play them. The waiting can be so egregious at times, it diminishes the easy and breezy vibe of Legends overall. As for the Switch's handheld mode, this works out better but I did notice a bit of slowdown in some levels. 

On one hand, I want as many people to play Rayman Legends as possible since it manages to reinvent itself and stay fresh with so many of its levels. The fact it's now available to a new audience with a slightly discounted price greases those wheels a bit too. 

On the other, there just isn't enough here to justify warranting a purchase of Definitive Edition. It's slightly worse than its prior counterparts (even forgoing the Wii U's gameplay twist with Murfy and not letting another Switch user connect and play in that particular way), and the only truly new feature is the ability to play a tournament mode in the Kung Foot soccer minigame.

Maybe I nitpicked Definitive Edition into oblivion, but there isn't a justification for such a wonky product that's the latest in a long line of ports. 

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game purchased by the reviewer.]}

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It's a thing of beauty

The demo for Rayman Legends: Definitive Edition is now live on Nintendo Switch, and with that, today just got a little brighter. Just head over to the eShop, go to "Coming Soon," and then shimmy on down past Troll and I and other listings until you find dear sweet Rayman. Or queue it up right here.

This is one of those ports that I don't need to replay, but totally will. I'm mostly going to play in docked mode, so I won't make use of the touch screen for rope cutting, and I'm not really into Kung Foot, either, but eff it -- it's cooperative Rayman! I'll take any excuse to run through this game again.

The demo has three levels, including the smile-inducing Castle Rock, and it supports drop-in co-op.

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The stuff of legends right here

Even though it released in 2013, Rayman Legends continues to live on. It was ported to PS4 and Xbox One early-ish into its lifespan. Now, it's coming to Nintendo Switch later this year. As it turns out, extremely good games can get away with this.

Ubisoft has just revealed that Rayman Legends will release on Switch on September 12. It's called a "Definitive Edition" even though the game never had any paid DLC. Instead, it's a host of Switch-exclusive features that serve as the extras.

According to the "key features" section of the Rayman Legends listing on Ubisoft's site, the Switch version will have four-player wireless multiplayer. There's also the ability to use the touchscreen when the Switch is undocked; swiping is useful for killing enemies, cutting ropes, etc. It's also said that there's now a tournament mode for Kung Foot.

The Switch adaption of Rayman Legends will be priced at $40. However, there's going to be a demo later this summer for anyone who's still wary. A demo should be all you need to realize that this game is seriously excellent.

Rayman Is Coming To Nintendo Switch [Ubisoft]

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Preserved

Last year, Rayman creators Frédéric Houde and Michel Ancel shared a cool discovery: an unfinished Super Nintendo version of Rayman that was believed to be lost to time. It was a neat piece of video game history, and this week, the story continues. Omar Cornut of Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap developer Lizardcube has dumped the prototype and put it online for folks to check out.

I've dumped a prototype demo of unreleased Rayman for SNES, here it is! (NB: very early dev build, not a full game) https://t.co/F3XB9XRhTA pic.twitter.com/oLhOdNDyHF

— Omar (@ocornut) July 3, 2017

Michel Ancel covered the news on his Instagram, adding, "It's our very first playable [build] (few screens, poor controls, no NPC). We made other levels and we should find them one day!"

There's also some quick footage of the prototype up and running.

It's a different look for Rayman -- a plumper look -- and I'm a fan.

[Via GoNintendo]

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Lady boner

Ubisoft is joining Sony and the PC Gaming Show on Monday, June 12 to showcase its upcoming titles and make us question our sanity. Ubisoft is sliding in just after the PC Gaming Show, beginning at 1:00pm PT / 4:00pm EST / 9:00pm GMT.

Just announced at the time of writing, The Crew 2 and Far Cry 5 are likely to be shown. Also just officially teased for the first time is the Egypt-based Assassin's Creed; chances of getting an official announcement and trailer are high. Hopefully there will be some sort of update on South Park: The Fractured But Whole, which is having a similar delay issue as the first game (hopefully that means it'll be just as good).

At the financial conference call today, Ubisoft stated it will "deliver some great games for the Switch," which includes "one new game not announced." Maybe we'll finally see something of the fabled Rabbids and Mario crossover role-playing game. Personally I'd like to see a new Prince of Persia.

Ubisoft's conferences are always the oddest ones, besides Konami perhaps. No official word on a host yet but don't be surprised if it is Aisha Tyler again. They're borderline cringe-inducing, but I don't mind the fun atmosphere they aim for.

Save the date! #UbiE3 goes live from the Orpheum Theatre on June 12th at 1pm PT. Stay tuned for the latest... pic.twitter.com/vHHLqnTJXc

— Ubisoft (@Ubisoft) May 16, 2017

The post Ubisoft E3 press conference time revealed appeared first on Destructoid.

M-M-M-MONEY SAVER!

Despite not owning an Xbox One, I've been consistently tempted to make the plunge with all of the Games with Gold titles Microsoft has given out. Even the less exciting months have had at least one strong title, but January is just loaded with good stuff. Killer Instinct Season 2 Ultra Edition is the obvious standout, but having Rayman Origins available is damn awesome (especially with Legends just being added to backward compatibility).

Along with that, you'll be able to grab The Cave, a Ron Gilbert-directed puzzle platformer, and Deathtrap, an action RPG set in the world of Van Helsing. Deathtrap will be available for the entirety of January while the other titles have limited windows. The Cave will be on offer from January first until the 16th with Killer Instinct and Rayman Origins filling in from the 16th until the 30th.

The best part about the Ultra Edition of Killer Instinct is that it comes with the classic Killer Instinct 2 arcade game. Microsoft actually did this in January with Killer Instinct Season 1 Ultra Edition being available on Games with Gold, so anybody lucky enough to grab that has a ton of content to work through. That new story mode sounds great, too, so color me jealous.

The post Microsoft is starting off the new year with some awesome Games with Gold titles appeared first on Destructoid.

On the 12th day of Ubi, my game save deleted...

Despite Ubisoft giving out a game each month for the past half a year, I forgot it was the 30th anniversary of the company. While I used to appreciate its risk taking when it came to developing new games, the company has become a bit complacent in recent times. Why rock the boat when the same old crap still sells?

That being said, for the next 30 days (well, 28 from the day of posting), Ubisoft will be giving away some goodies from its website. The event kicked off with Rayman Classic being free on mobile and then something happening today that I completely missed. I can't even find anything about what was given away, but there is still a whole month left of potential joy.

Ubisoft will also be holding a contest where 300 lucky winners will win one of the more recent releases from the company. Whether that means Watch Dogs 2 or simply the first one has yet been stated, but either way, this is cool. I think I'd rather opt for a slightly older game, since all of the stability patches will be present and accounted for.

This event runs until December 23, just a few days after the release of the Assassin's Creed film. I bet you forgot that was even a thing!

30 Days [Ubisoft]

The post Celebrate 30 years of Ubisoft with free stuff for a month! appeared first on Destructoid.

Joined by Burnout Paradise and Pure

In a bizarre (and pro-consumer) move, Rayman Legends for Xbox 360 is now backward compatible on Xbox One. While the game received a native Xbox One version in recent years, I guess Ubisoft and Microsoft are trying to gain some goodwill by not forcing people to double dip on a game they already own. That is pretty admirable, though I think anyone with an inkling of interest in Legends probably bought the current-gen version.

Burnout Paradise was announced as part of the Games with Gold program for next month, but anyone with a digital or retail copy can enjoy the game today on their Xbox One. Disney Interactive's Pure is also now available for play, even though no digital copy exists. Suddenly, those two dollar GameStop discs are going to be worth something.

I find it strange how a disc-only game isn't being sold digitally with this program. Every game requires a download to ensure compatibility, so clearly a ready-to-download version exists. I suppose this is a moot point, but I wouldn't mind having digital versions of a few of these backward compatible games to use on my Xbox 360.

Major Nelson [Twitter]

The post Rayman Legends is now backward compatible…wait, what? appeared first on Destructoid.

'Four people in the world have seen this'

Rayman creators Frédéric Houde and Michel Ancel have stumbled upon an unreleased, unfinished Super Nintendo version of the platforming game previously thought to be lost forever. Somehow, it still works!

"Incroyable!!!! We have found the old unique Rayman SNES ROM!!!! It was sleeping for 24 years ..... Time to wake it up!!!!," Ancel said on Instagram over the weekend. "4 people in the world have seen this," he then followed up. "We thought it was lost, but somewhere in the cold electronic circuit, something was still alive. And running at full 60fps!!! Should do a Switch version of this."

It's a treat to see rare games resurface. In this specific case, though, it sounds like not much more will come from the discovery other than footage of it up and running. The prototype is, again, just that: unfinished. Incomplete. (That said, a cooperative Rayman for Nintendo Switch would still rule.)

Prior to the find, Ancel had been posting images from Rayman SNES and lamented how it was never finished and that they had lost the build. "All these pixels are lost, like tears in the rain," he said.

_{[Image credit: Unseen64]}

I'm so used to the CD-based Rayman that we ultimately got on Jaguar and PlayStation that these graphics look super off, but without that frame of reference, I think the style is compelling.

[Cancelled] Rayman (SNES/SNES CD - Ubisoft - ~1991-92 ) [Video Game Densetsu]

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Free game

Rayman Origins is five years old this year and I can't think of a pure platformer I've enjoyed more in those five years. As part of Ubisoft's dirty 30 birthday celebration, it's free as hell to download right here. Just sign in with a Uplay account.

If this celebratory freebie is news to you, note that you've (also, I've) missed out on a free copy of Prince of Persia: Sands of Time and Splinter Cell. Four more mystery games will be released in the coming months as well.

The post Good-ass Rayman Origins is free as hell today, come get it appeared first on Destructoid.

August 17

Rayman Origins probably should have been bigger than it was. Ubisoft noted that the game was "profitable," but refrained from calling it a rip-roaring sales success, and only pushed 50,000 units in its first month of release.

Even so, it lives on as one of the great new multiplayer platformers of our time, and you can get a chance to correct your past mistakes by playing it for free on PC. Ubisoft has announced that as part of its 30th anniversary festivities, everyone can nab the game for free on August 17 on the official Club Ubisoft site.

Do it! And bring extra controllers and friends with you when you do.

Ubisoft Club [Twitter]

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Annnd cue the Black Ops bitching

Can we take a moment to appreciate how well Rayman Origins turned out?

After a slew of ports, 3D sequels, and spin-offs, Ubisoft finally worked its way back to the series' side-scrolling roots for a modern successor and the end result was this joyful, musical, brilliant game. It's so good! And its follow-up, Rayman Legends, somehow managed to top it.

If you haven't played Origins by now, I doubt its newfound compatibility with Xbox One will magically convince you to give it a chance, but you should. I'll be revisiting it soon for sure.

Major Nelson [Twitter]

The post The wonderful Rayman Origins is now playable on Xbox One appeared first on Destructoid.

And Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory

I'm with Brett: the lowest tier in the Humble Ubisoft Bundle is worth springing for if you haven't played Call of Juarez: Gunslinger or Grow Home or Rayman Origins. It's one dollar for all three!

The bundle's next tier up (around $8) is also worth considering, especially as of today now that Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon and Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory have joined the likes of Far Cry 3, Splinter Cell Blacklist, and Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China. I adore that neon bow and arrow.

With the exception of Gunslinger and Grow Home, which are redeemable on Steam, everything else is attached to Ubisoft's PC distribution platform uPlay. It's sort of like that mildly irritating cousin you don't particularly care for that you're obligated to put up with every few years.

Humble Ubisoft Bundle [Humble Bundle]

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So close, yet so far

Rayman has had a good run of it as of late. The last two console games -- Origins and Legends -- were fantastic platformers worthy of the highest praise. Now Ubisoft is testing the franchise's viability in the mobile waters with Rayman Adventures, and while it works, it doesn't as well as you'd hope, given how high the bar has been set.

The two defining features of Rayman games in the recent past have been vibrant, feel-good aesthetics and rock-solid controls. Mobile has no problem accommodating for the former; it's the latter that causes issues.

Rayman Adventures (Android, iOS)
Developer: Ubisoft Montpellier
Publisher: Ubisoft
Released: December 3, 2015
MSRP: Free, with microtransactions

Rayman Adventures is an auto-runner that often moves at a restrained pace. Swiping on the screen gets the titular character moving, tapping implores him to jump, and swiping again changes direction. And while many runners press ever-onward left to right, Rayman Adventures tries to avoid that trap, usually allowing the player to dictate the flow.

Keeping things from speeding out of control is a smart design decision, but not one that's quite consolation enough for inaccurate inputs. Chaining together swipes and taps works sometimes, but it's a bummer each and every time they don't. More damning, the rest of Rayman Adventures feels built around those moments when the controls falter.

The big picture going-on in Rayman Adventures involves saving Incrediballs. These quirky creatures help Rayman grow a tree higher and higher into the sky for whatever reason. Incrediballs occasionally appear fully grown, but they'll often take the form of eggs that need to be incubated (either by waiting or by using resources to speed up the process).

Incrediballs feel very much like a direct response to Adventures' lacking controls. The player can call on a number of them to assist them through a level. The game's broken down into three main level types: exploration-based, combat-based, and collection-based. For combat levels, each Incrediball acts as a shield for Rayman, a second (and third and fourth) chance for when the player inevitably runs into the tightly-placed enemies.

That's an example of Incrediballs acting as a crutch, but sometimes they're flat-out necessary. In collection scenarios, dedicated Incrediballs act as a magnet for the Lums; there's no performing well without their assistance.

Predictably, this all loops back to the fact that Rayman Adventures is a free-to-play title. Incrediballs grow tired and need to be fed in order to be used again. The game dishes out a fair amount of food, but you can always buy some with real money if the need arises.

To its credit, Rayman Adventures never gets heavy-handed with the microtransactions. There isn't any sort of mechanic that forces you to either pay or keep waiting, and resources seem to come at a constant enough clip that there exists the possibility it won't ever become an impediment (unlikely as that may be).

However, there's a flood of different consumables that make them difficult to keep track of: gems, golden tickets, food, and elixirs can all be earned/purchased, and they all feed right back into one another. For example, tickets (and more) can be bought with gems. That ticket you scratch off might award some food. Food's used to revive Incrediballs which are used to perform well in levels, where the likes of gems might be the prize. Round and round we go.

To what end, it's difficult to say. Scaling back and looking at Rayman Adventures as a whole paints it as a game where progress feels meaningless and sometimes confusing. But spending time inside the Rayman-patented lively world is a joy in small bursts, even if the execution is left wanting. Like those other Rayman titles, Adventures effectively captures the spirit of the franchise; it just has a hard time living up to the sterling precedent those games set -- a tall task that maybe the mobile format never had a chance of accomplishing in the first place.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game at launch. No microtransactions were purchased.]}

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Coming December 3 to little fanfare

People have said nothing but good things about Rayman Jungle Run and the third mobile Rayman game using the same assets (after Fiesta Run), Rayman Adventures, looks great. And while Jungle Run was limited as an endless runner (though, again, still pretty beloved), this one has full movement and exploratory platforming.

But it's on phones and the like -- coming out December 3, just announced -- so I'll probably skip it. I don't know why Rayman has been consigned to mobile; I suppose Rayman Legends didn't perform well enough, though Ubisoft kind of chopped its legs off with the whole Wii U exclusive/not-exclusive debacle around that release (I still hate the mosquito on non-Wii U consoles). Oh well. We had Origins, we had Legends -- great 2D platformers aren't too common these days. I'd still like to see Nintendo have another crack, but the company seems content with 3D or 3D on a 2D plane.

Something of a sad 20 year anniversary for Rayman, but the game might well be great and it's just me having a sad for not wanting to keep up with the times and game on my mobile. Though Apple TV owners can play the thing right now. Else-wise, December 3 for Android, iPad, and iPhone.

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