Since the start of modern videogames with the NES system back in the 80’s, each new console has always relied on a platform game icon to carry it forward. Nintendo and Mario became synonymous, as did Sega and Sonic. Sony got along with Spyro and Crash Bandicoot, but surprisingly never made a move to create its own first-party brand along with its two competitors. With such first-party muscle, it’s been tough for third party companies to introduce their own brand of fun. One that has had success is the Rayman series, and this is thanks to a continuing dedication to quality. If it has Rayman on the cover and isn’t Rayman Arena, you can be sure you’re in for a good time. A good while after Rayman 2 first assaulted our shores, Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc finally arrives – and with a new look for our limbless protagonist.


The idea of a darker game has become almost clichéd, an idea few games pull off with any grace. Here’s a hint… making a darker or more mature game requires more than killing off someone, or giving the hero spiky hair and have him out for justice (cough, Vexx, cough). That’s why when I heard the plot and story for Rayman 3 would be ‘darker and more mature’ I audibly groaned. The last thing I need is one of my favorite game characters rebelling against his parents and listening to Slipknot really loud in the basement. The other end of the spectrum would have Rayman opening the Bada Bing and running a Mexican coke ring. Neither option sounds very good.

Thankfully, the transition has been handled smoothly. Rayman and Globox are partying hard when the Dark Lums attack the countryside, pillaging the villages and turning everything into big, evil Hoodlums. This of course upsets our magnificent duo, so they rise to action. While at work, Globox opens his mouth to yell and a Dark Lum flies inside. Besides making wisecracks about eating arteries and intestines and having a passion for plum juice, this Dark Lum is also making Globox sick. So the original journey is to head to the doctor to make him well, afterwards the game becomes a search and destroy mission whilst hot on the trail of these Dark Lums. The game retains its charm and original sense of humor, only making the enemies (the new Hoodlum characters) darker and more menacing. They brandish big shotguns and capture little defenseless fairies. The worlds are also darker shades, lacking some of the bright and bold primary colors that made Rayman’s original adventures famous. This is all ace as far as I’m concerned, because Rayman 3 still plays like a dream.

The platforming elements are still the best fun, kept on track by solid control and plenty of enhanced features. The one enhancement that will get the most notice is the new ‘suit system’. Certain enemies and rescued allies will now drop colored cans that give Rayman a suit to wear. These suits give him special powers for a limited time, and are the key to unlocking other parts of the level to either bonus areas or just to progress at all. The suits give a wide range of abilities, from being able to shoot strong blasts that knock away columns to long range punches that act as clamps to help Rayman swing from dangerously positioned rings. The limited time is the real kicker, because the game will constantly use this to tease you with bonus areas. The game has bonus areas right at the spot where you would be if you flat-out ran from the power-up can to the area without stopping or being slowed down at all. Of course, missing these by a second or two is frustrating, but you can always go back and have at it again. This puzzle-solving gameplay is part of the continuing evolution of the series from straight 2D platformer to 3D. Instead of hopping platforms and bopping enemies, a key part of the goal is now simply figuring out how to open a door or get to the next area so you can jump the platforms there. Puzzle elements have slowly crept into the series and are clearly evident in Rayman 3. Some gamers will dig this, some won’t. I didn’t mind, so long as the game didn’t tamper with what made the series great – solid gameplay that mixes all of Rayman’s moves into an adventure usually more challenging than the competition’s. Rayman 3 doesn’t disappoint there (and doesn’t many other places too), so everything is gravy.

The real star of Hoodlum Havoc is the unique sense of humor that the Rayman series has always setup for itself. The writing and dialog is simply great, much wittier than I am used to in my gaming experiences. Just the constant witticisms from Murfy and the expressions from Globox are enough to bring a smile to the face. It’s one thing to script ‘funny’ events that are like weak jokes, but Rayman 3 actually succeeds in getting a chuckle many times.

The camera system of Rayman 3 is easy enough and always gives a good view, but its movement can get nauseating and I’m personally not a giant fan of it. It’s good and better than most games, but still not truly stable and takes too much liberty with zooming in and rapidly moving. Other problems would be the minigames that are randomly included in the game’s progression. Don’t get me wrong – the games are fun. But they are also pointless and time consuming, and disrupt the flow of the great platforming action. I feel they’re better left as an occasional treat instead of constant interruption… especially since they have little to do with the game. Rayman now skates, woohoo!

Overall, Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc is a proper continuation of the series and everything that made it great. There are several minor quibbles with the gameplay, but no more than say, Mario Sunshine. After all, Sunshine had the equally stupid minigames and a bad camera setup, the two issues Rayman 3 is saddled with. Funny and playing like a champ, Rayman 3 has gameplay that continues to show why this franchise should be taken just as seriously as Mario or Sonic.

Besides solid gameplay, the Rayman series has also been known primarily for some of the best visuals the industry has seen. The 2D installments had amazing and vibrant watercolor-looking artwork and liquid-smooth animations. Rayman 2 took the series 3D with interesting atmospheres, and Rayman 3 seals the deal with great character models, great animation and beautiful levels. Everything is of the highest quality, from the subtle animations of enemies and Rayman alike to the textures on the walls. The levels are vast and well planned, also packed with enemies. The character designs are very good, especially the new Hoodlums. They look like a slightly demented cross between Charles Bronson and a scarecrow, if that makes any sense. The icing on the cake would be a super-smooth framerate and loading times that are hardly noticeable. Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc is a hell of a looker, and one of the best looking games the Gamecube has seen so far.

The audio has been a weak point of the series, because although charming, the light ‘platformer music’ and gibberish speech weren’t exactly highpoints of the Rayman universe. Here, we get a nicely done score and more importantly, quality voice acting for all characters. This is very important, because the voice acting is what makes the humor work. The performances are nuanced when they have to be and likewise can be over-the-top when searching for the laugh. The game doesn’t sound as epic as a LucasArts title, but it sure beats what Rayman games had in the past.

Rayman 3 is a reasonably long title, around eight or more hours depending on your skill. The unlimited lives sort of destroys the challenge for us true old-school veterans of the finest platform games. It’s a highly enjoyable eight hours though, and the combo system along with bonus levels and unlockable content will have you keep playing in order to get even further into everything the game has to offer.

Overall, Rayman 3 is definitely worth a purchase if you’re a platform game fan looking for a new fix. Although it could be beat in a rental, this game is of such quality that I could see playing it through again and enjoying it with extra time spent unlocking everything. Besides, UbiSoft deserves support for continuing to bring us products of such excellence. While it has flaws, Rayman 3 is definitely more good than bad. Buy it!