PlayStation 2

Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc

Rayman 3 is a great platform title. Rayman 3 is a great adventure title. Rayman 3 has splendid visuals. Rayman 3 has a stellar soundtrack. Rayman 3 is a must-have titles for anyone who is remotely interested in platform/adventure games. Rayman 3 for the PS2 doesn't have that GBA/GC connectivity, but is great nonetheless.

Whether you're a Rayman fan who can't get enough of the limbless wonder, or an action-adventure-platforming gamer who enjoys sarcastic wit, gorgeous graphics, smooth framerates, and creative character abilities, Hoodlum Havoc is for you. Its biggest flaws come in the smaller levels and simplistic puzzles solved via timed character abilities. But the attention to detail and quality alone presents a polished box of software that any self-respecting gamer should be proud to include in their library.

Although Hoodlum Havoc isn’t the longest of games out there, it packs in enough of an adventure to satisfy most platform fans. Hoodlum Havoc may be able to squeeze in 15 hours of gameplay for the main quest, but will probably round out about 10 hours for those who blow through the levels quickly. The bonus levels can add an extra few hours here and there, but only if you take the time to unlock them all. Luckily, most of them can be unlocked just by going through the main quest normally without trying to get an excessive amount of points.

As usual, the plot fanciful and incomprehensible, but - let's face it - you're not playing Rayman games for the storytelling. You're playing it to marvel at the gorgeously rendered environments, giggle at Globox's antics, and enjoy some good old-fashioned platforming done with a fresh twist. By that standard, Rayman 3 is a great success.

If you are in the market for a fresh, good Action/Platforming game, than look no further than Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc. It has a lot of comedy that will keep you entertained for a long time. The only drawback for this the fact that it will take only ten hours or less to beat, not including the bonus quests that are won through out the game. Other than that it is a good game that an entire family can enjoy!

All in all, Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc is a wildly entertaining, albeit somewhat short and simple, sequel to one of the best 3D platformers ever. Stylistically it has been tweaked just enough to not be a “more of the same” style sequel, but the fundamental dynamics that made the second game in the series so entertaining is completely intact. Really, Ubi Soft did a great job coming to an agreeable medium on Rayman 3. Fans of the series and newcomers alike should rejoice, for the limbless wonder hath returned.

Si la caméra avait été un peu plus docile, Rayman eut été un jeu presque parfait. On se retrouve tout de même avec la nouvelle référence en jeu de plateforme tous supports confondus de par ses graphismes superbes et un gameplay explosif et varié, ainsi qu'une ambiance unique grâce à un humour décalé omniprésent.

To sum things up, Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc is an excellent 3D platformer. Though the game is rich with extracurricular features, the main quest proves to be a little too short, and the game doesn't provide quite the same level of satisfaction as its predecessor. Ultimately, Rayman 3 probably isn't the mind-blowing follow-up that fans of Rayman 2 were hoping for. What Rayman 3 does is re-create much of the same lighthearted whimsy that made Rayman 2 so incredibly enjoyable, while differentiating the action enough for the game to stand up on its own.

It was just a little bit depressing to embark on this journey. I went in with the highest hopes, but ultimately left disappointed. While I still think that Rayman 3 has charms to offer, I can't help feeling like a lot of potential fell by the wayside. My hope is that the gorgeous and exciting Project BG&E, which is from the series' original creator and appeared alongside Hoodlum Havoc at E3 last year, is getting the attention that this game clearly didn't. Hopefully in time for the sequel promised by Murfy in one of the funnier bits of dialogue in the game, Ubi Soft's Rayman team can find its feet and bring the series back on track -- they have the vision, they've just fallen behind on execution.