Rayman Arena
Encyclopedia
Rayman Arena, titled Rayman M in Europe, is a multiplayer party game developed and published by Ubisoft
. It consists of two modes: an arena fighting mode, and a racing mode. It is a 1-4 player game, or you can play with 1 player vs. the computer. There are three levels of difficulty: Beginner, Pro, and an unlockable Master. There are also 4 cups to be won in both the Battle and Race modes.
and Nintendo GameCube
, while Rayman M, features 8 playable characters with the PlayStation 2
and PC
versions of Rayman Arena:
in 2001 for the PC and PlayStation 2. The PC and PlayStation 2 versions of Rayman Arena were actually Rayman M, only edited in very minor ways, most noticeably changes from Rayman M in the intro movie, load screens, etc, to Rayman Arena. The PlayStation 2 version had changed since Rayman M, though not by very much.
As there was not a port of Rayman M to the GameCube and Xbox, the development team had made several changes to the game and released it on the GameCube and Xbox platforms. A few notable differences would include:
, based on the Rayman universe. In many ways, it is like half of a port of Rayman Arena, featuring conversions of the same race tracks, the same introduction movie and also character theme songs (it, however, lacks the battles from M, and the character roster is different). It is a 1-2 player game, and each race has 2 characters running (1 in certain game modes). The game was released 4 months after Rayman M/Arena.
Ubisoft
Ubisoft Entertainment S.A. is a major French video game publisher and developer, with headquarters in Montreuil, France. The company has a worldwide presence with 25 studios in 17 countries and subsidiaries in 26 countries....
. It consists of two modes: an arena fighting mode, and a racing mode. It is a 1-4 player game, or you can play with 1 player vs. the computer. There are three levels of difficulty: Beginner, Pro, and an unlockable Master. There are also 4 cups to be won in both the Battle and Race modes.
Plot
Nine characters are fighting to go challenge the great champion of the competition. In Rayman M, there are eight characters fighting to win.Characters
Rayman Arena features 9 different playable characters for the XboxXbox
The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
and Nintendo GameCube
Nintendo GameCube
The , officially abbreviated to NGC in Japan and GCN in other regions, is a sixth generation video game console released by Nintendo on September 15, 2001 in Japan, November 18, 2001 in North America, May 3, 2002 in Europe, and May 17, 2002 in Australia...
, while Rayman M, features 8 playable characters with the PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
and PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
versions of Rayman Arena:
- RaymanRaymanRayman is a platform video game published, produced and developed by Ubisoft and is the first game in the Rayman series of videogames. Originally released on the PlayStation in 1995, it was re-released for the Atari Jaguar, Sega Saturn and MS-DOS in 1996. It has also been ported to various formats,...
: The hero of his land. Uses his hair to glide. He is the main character of the Rayman games, he may be somewhat small in stature, but he makes up for size with speed, agility, and a highly like-able personality! His theme music uses some kind of banjo-like instrument and is a very catchy tune. He also has a skin of himself called Dark Rayman who is the main antagonist of the XboxXboxThe Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
and Gamecube version of Rayman Arena Though it is only one of Rayman's skins, the game refers to him as Dark Rayman. It is the same as Rayman except for his appearance: A slightly darker purple shirt, with an "X" on it, fairly orange shoes, red hands, a yellow bandana around his neck, and completely red eyes. You unlock him by completing the Master Challenges. His music is the same as Rayman, because it's his skin. (GameCube/Xbox only)
- Globox: Rayman's dimwitted friend. Blows up like a balloon to glide. He makes appearances in many Rayman games. He may be daft and awkward, but he has spirit. His voice seems to have changed since Rayman 3. His music uses a tuba-like instrument and plays a deep tune.
- Dark Globox: On the Gamecube and Xbox, you can unlock him. He's just like Globox but he is purple with a skull on his back. Another skin has a wolf on the back. He may look angry but he is actually is dumber than the actual Globox. Hangs onto an invisible purple lum to glide. His theme music is like... hundred singing frogs. It was used as Globette's theme in Rayman Rush (not to be confused with Uglette, Globox's wife) .(GameCube/Xbox only)
- Tily: A small, furry fairy. Uses her wings to glide. She seems to be Ly's sister. Her tune is happy and fairy-ish.
- Henchman 800: A robotic pirate. Uses the jet on his back to glide. He is a Henchman for Admiral Razorbeard. His music is a rock tune.
- Henchman 1000: An older model of the robot pirate. He seems to be a pirate/gangster/cowboy/salsa dancer robot. Like Henchman 800, He uses the jet on his back to glide. His tune is a rock n roll/rodeo tune.
- Teensies: Two senile old dwarves that work together in a race. One spins the other around the other's head to glide. In Rayman 2Rayman 2: The Great EscapeRayman 2: The Great Escape is a platform game and the sequel to Rayman. It was developed by Ubisoft and first released on October 29, 1999. It is considered to have raised standards regarding 3D, level design and game play, being praised by numerous reviews...
it shows that they forgot who was king so they took turns wearing the crown, and being king. Their music uses a synthesizer. - Admiral Razorbeard: Short in both stature and temper, Razorbeard is the robotic admiral of the evil robot pirates. Spins his arms around to glide. He was the final boss of Rayman 2. His music is robotic and evil-sounding.
- Razorwife: Razorbeard's awful wife, called Mrs. Razorbeard in the European version and the U.S. select screen. Flaps her arms around to glide. Her humorous tune is her dreadful opera singing.
Differences between versions
Rayman M had been released in EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
in 2001 for the PC and PlayStation 2. The PC and PlayStation 2 versions of Rayman Arena were actually Rayman M, only edited in very minor ways, most noticeably changes from Rayman M in the intro movie, load screens, etc, to Rayman Arena. The PlayStation 2 version had changed since Rayman M, though not by very much.
As there was not a port of Rayman M to the GameCube and Xbox, the development team had made several changes to the game and released it on the GameCube and Xbox platforms. A few notable differences would include:
- The menus had been changed; the space theme was gone and navigation was somewhat different.
- A single-player battle can only have up to 2 opponents (3 in a battle) at a time, unlike the other two versions where it was possible to have battles involving 3 opponents (4 in a battle).
- (Battle) The shoulder buttons/triggers on the GameCube and Xbox controllers were now used to lock-on to enemies.
- (Battle) The small circles representing health were replaced by six hearts. If you are hit, a heart is "emitted" from the player's body, and fades away very quickly.
- (Battle) Hearts can be regained; killing an enemy results in the gain of another heart.
- (Race) In Rayman M , whatever place you are in single player mode, the blue circle will show what place you are in, while in Rayman Arena, they will show the person that is in first place, will have a bigger face than the ones behind him. The person in first place, will have a picture and a yellow 1st place sign next to the picture, second place, more or less like the same, but will have a blue 2nd place sign with a blue picture of him (her, if Tily or Razorwife is 2nd), third place, will have a green picture and a green 3rd place sign, as the character in fourth place, will have a red 4th place sign and a red picture of that character.
- (Race) A race can have three people as well as in Rayman Arena, all the single player races would have four characters in a track.
Change of name
The game was originally intended to be entitled Rayman M in all countries. However, in some age rating systems, M is used to state that the game is for a mature gamer, causing the game name to be changed to Rayman Arena.Voice cast
- Eddie Crew as Voice Director
- David GasmanDavid GasmanDavid Gasman is an actor, director and translator who also directs dubbing of films, cartoons, video games and documentaries. He has appeared in many popular cartoons and video games, such as Rayman and Code Lyoko...
as RaymanRaymanRayman is a platform video game published, produced and developed by Ubisoft and is the first game in the Rayman series of videogames. Originally released on the PlayStation in 1995, it was re-released for the Atari Jaguar, Sega Saturn and MS-DOS in 1996. It has also been ported to various formats,...
, Dark Rayman (Rayman Arena Mac OS X/Xbox/Gamecube version) - Cindy Lee Delong as Teensie 1
- Jodi ForrestJodi ForrestJodie "Jody" Forrest is an American voice actress currently living in Paris, France. She has voiced Mrs. Pepper from Blues Clues. Trained as a dancer and actor, she is currently best known for voicing Elisabeth "Sissi" Delmas and other characters in the French animated television series Code Lyoko...
as Tily, Razorwife - Martial Le MinouxMartial Le MinouxMartial Le Minoux is a French voice actor who specializes in dubbing.-Television animation:*Fullmetal Alchemist *Kaleido Star *Kiddy Grade *King of the Hill...
as Henchman 1000 - Joseph Sheridan (voice actor) as Globox, Henchman 800, Dark Globox (Rayman Arena Xbox/Gamecube version)
- Ken Starcevic as Razorbeard, Teensie 2
- Billy WestBilly WestWilliam Richard "Billy" West is an American voice actor. Born in Detroit but raised in the Roslindale neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, Billy launched his career in the early 1980s performing daily comedic routines on Boston's WBCN. He left the radio station to work on the short-lived revival...
as Murfy
Rayman Rush
Rayman Rush is a on-foot racing game developed and published by UbisoftUbisoft
Ubisoft Entertainment S.A. is a major French video game publisher and developer, with headquarters in Montreuil, France. The company has a worldwide presence with 25 studios in 17 countries and subsidiaries in 26 countries....
, based on the Rayman universe. In many ways, it is like half of a port of Rayman Arena, featuring conversions of the same race tracks, the same introduction movie and also character theme songs (it, however, lacks the battles from M, and the character roster is different). It is a 1-2 player game, and each race has 2 characters running (1 in certain game modes). The game was released 4 months after Rayman M/Arena.
Characters
Rayman Rush features 8 playable characters:- RaymanRaymanRayman is a platform video game published, produced and developed by Ubisoft and is the first game in the Rayman series of videogames. Originally released on the PlayStation in 1995, it was re-released for the Atari Jaguar, Sega Saturn and MS-DOS in 1996. It has also been ported to various formats,...
: The limbless main character of the game and series. He uses his hair as a helicopter to glide and likes to use his torso as a ball. - Globox: Rayman's best friend. He blows up like a balloon to glide. While he might appear a bit awkward and clumsy, his oversized body hides a definite dexterity and fighting spirit.
- Globette : As shy as her husband Globox, she is yet a fierce competitor when it comes to racing. She blows up like a balloon and rotates her feet like a fan to glide.
- Admiral Razorbeard: Previously the main villain in Rayman 2, Razorbeard is the admiral of the robot pirates. He is always angry, irritable and mean. What he lacks in size, he makes up for in spite. He rotates his arms as a helicopter to glide.
- Henchman 800: One of Razorbeard's robot pirate lackeys. He glides through unknown means.
- Tily: A slight, fragile and impish little fairy who likes to perform kicks. She uses her wings to glide.
- Henchman 1000: An older version of the robot pirates, which came before the Henchman 800. He glides through unknown means.
- Razorwife (called Mrs. Beard in the character menu): Razorbeard's wife, who has a more refined and fashionable appearance, though thinly revealing the same traits as her horrible husband, only worse. She rotates her arms as a helicopter to glide.
Game modes
There are 5 game modes (only Championship Mode has multiplayer support):- Championship Mode: You will compete with a computer-controlled character (or a second human player if multiplayer is on). You have to finish 3 laps before your opponent to win. One victory in Championship Mode unlocks Lums Mode for the same track. With multiplayer, the screen is divided vertically.
- Lums Mode: Only available once the corresponding level has been unlocked in Championship Mode. In this mode, many Yellow LumsLUMSLUMS or lums may refer to:*London Universities Mooting Shield*Lancaster University Management School*Lahore University of Management Sciences*Lum's - A defunct U.S. family restaurant chain*Plural of lum...
are spread around the maps. You must compete with a computer-controlled character and win the 3-lap race. At the same time, collect as many LumsLUMSLUMS or lums may refer to:*London Universities Mooting Shield*Lancaster University Management School*Lahore University of Management Sciences*Lum's - A defunct U.S. family restaurant chain*Plural of lum...
as possible. If you win, the corresponding level will be unlocked in the Target Mode, Depending on the number of LumsLUMSLUMS or lums may refer to:*London Universities Mooting Shield*Lancaster University Management School*Lahore University of Management Sciences*Lum's - A defunct U.S. family restaurant chain*Plural of lum...
you collect, you will win a time bonus for Target Mode. - Target Mode: Only available once the corresponding level has been unlocked in Lums Mode. You will racing alone against the clock, shooting at butterflies that are spread around the level. Each butterfly you shoot gives you extra time.
- Time Attack Mode: You will run one lap on your own. The aim is to reach the next checkpoint before the timer reaches 0.
- Training Mode: This mode serves only as a means of familiarizing you with the tracks, and allows you to practice and master the game controls and tricks before a real challenge.
Voice cast
- David GasmanDavid GasmanDavid Gasman is an actor, director and translator who also directs dubbing of films, cartoons, video games and documentaries. He has appeared in many popular cartoons and video games, such as Rayman and Code Lyoko...
as RaymanRaymanRayman is a platform video game published, produced and developed by Ubisoft and is the first game in the Rayman series of videogames. Originally released on the PlayStation in 1995, it was re-released for the Atari Jaguar, Sega Saturn and MS-DOS in 1996. It has also been ported to various formats,... - Jodi ForrestJodi ForrestJodie "Jody" Forrest is an American voice actress currently living in Paris, France. She has voiced Mrs. Pepper from Blues Clues. Trained as a dancer and actor, she is currently best known for voicing Elisabeth "Sissi" Delmas and other characters in the French animated television series Code Lyoko...
as Tily, Razorwife, Globette - Martial Le MinouxMartial Le MinouxMartial Le Minoux is a French voice actor who specializes in dubbing.-Television animation:*Fullmetal Alchemist *Kaleido Star *Kiddy Grade *King of the Hill...
as Henchman 1000 - Joseph Sheridan (voice actor) as Globox, Henchman 800
- Ken Starcevic as Razorbeard