Rayman Legends is Nintendo Power’s cover story for its latest issue.
The magazine provided a bunch of new details about the game, including an overview of the brand new underwater world. We’ve also received clarification that players will in fact control Rayman and the other heroes throughout most of the single-player campaign, switching to Murfy only during specific sections.
Lots of Rayman Legends details from the magazine are posted below.
General/gameplay details
– Ubisoft really wanted to make Rayman Legends because of the GamePad
– Ubisoft Montpellier was one of the first third-party studios to receive Wii U dev. kits
– Michel Ancel says that the environment is very important in a platforming game, and the GamePad allows players to change the environment in new/different ways
– Up to four players lead Rayman and company through level level with Wiimotes or Wii U Pro controllers
– Fifth player manipulates surroundings with Murfy on the GamePad
– Murfy can cut ropes, lower platforms, turn gears
– Turn gears with the gyroscope
– Murfy can be mischievous as well
– It’s possible to take a health bottle from someone who’s about to take it and give it to another player
– Murfy can use the environment to wreak havoc on other players
– Ex: take lava and dump it on someone’s head
– The team wants the GamePad player “to feel like they have an identity in the game’s world”
– In single-player, you’ll mostly control Rayman or one of the other playable characters
– Temporarily switch to Murfy when you reach certain sections
– In these cases, AI will take over the other character
– Developers promise that the AI will perform flawlessly
– No mosquito levels
– New character in each world
– Barbara is from the medieval world
Improvements made to the Origins formula
– Platforming mechanics improved over Origins
– Ex: in Origins, if you jump-kicked while running you would basically stop in midair and drop down; now you keep moving forward
– Different structure this time around as well
– Travel to any of the five worlds out of the gate
– This choice was made so that players could have options, especially if they get stuck on a level
– Ubisoft considers each world to be its own legend
– Each has its own mini story and personality
– Each world also focuses on a particular gameplay mechanic and highlights particular skills
– Abilities are all available right off the bat
Olympus world
– Nintendo Power saw an Olympus world
– Level called “Swarmed & Dangerous”
– Tons of ferocious shadow creatures chase Rayman and the others throughout the level
– Murfy can hold back a few creatures at a time
– Only works for a bit before too many of the creatures appear
– Usually need to lose a swarm by using its own momentum against it
– Ex: drop off a cliff and quickly come to a stop on the narrow ledge below
– Creatures will keep going and run into the lava
– Can kill the creatures by triggering fireworks
– Level comes to a close as the creatures chase you into a palace
– Need to jump over a little purple minion who is scrubbing the floor
– Legends has a lot of humorous touches like the above
– In the game, you’ll come across a big brute with a hammer and shield to make him drop his guard
– Murfy can tickle his armpit to drop his guard
– Another Olympus world level: Murfy holds a magic shield over the heads of the other characters to protect them from Zeus’ lightning bolts
Magic Beanstalk world
– Nintendo Power also saw Magic Beanstalk’s “Orchestral Chaos”
– Stage has players jumping, swinging, and punching to the beat of the music
– These stages have the nickname “Platform Hero” within the studio
– Traverse a giant beanstalk in the level
– Thorn-covered vines will close in around you
– Drop below the clouds in the middle of the level and into a violent storm
– Rain pours around you, with some lightning strikes
– 8-10 music stages in the final game
– At least one per world
– Some feature original tracks made by composer Christophe Heral (Rayman Origins, Beyond Good & Evil)
– Also features remixed music like “Eye of the Tiger” in flamenco style with gibberish vocals and a little kazoo mixed in
– “Wo Hoo” from The 5.6.7.8’s
Underwater world
– Exclusive sneak peak showed to Nintendo Power
– Jules Verne-inspired environment
– Story will be more James Bond
– Secret underwater base
– Need to infiltrate it
– Levels play with light and shadow
– Need to remain cloaked or risk being spotted (and fried) by the base’s security system
– In one room, players have to avoid a sentry’s spotlight
– Another room: swim between glowing jellyfish
– Murfy will need to manipulate light sources or create shadows in some levels
– Ex: hold a discarded robot head in front of a rotating floodlight
– Rhythm of these levels will be somewhat different from Origins
– Not just a matter of running full steam ahead
– Some sections will have lots of traps and electrified water
– Will have to platform over mechanical objects, climb into an air vent, and navigate through a dark room
– The team didn’t just want to make an underwater world with just new fishes
