Rayman Legends Retold, a reimagining of the 2013 platformer, is set to significantly expand its celebrated musical levels, aiming to capture the hearts of both long-time fans and new players. The game, recently delayed to December 3rd, will feature "a dozen" music levels, doubling the original's count.
Honoring the Original's Magic
The original Rayman Legends was lauded for its creative integration of music into its platforming gameplay. Its iconic musical levels, featuring gibberish renditions of popular songs, have become a hallmark of the franchise. Developers at Ubisoft Milan and Montpellier expressed a deep respect for the original game's design, ensuring that the transition to 2.5D visuals in Retold would not compromise the magic of these sequences.
"It has been one of the best experiences of my life, to be honest," said Marco Renso, animation and realisation director at Ubisoft Milan. He described the process of creating new musical levels as akin to "conducting a composition," where every element must work in sync with the music. The team aimed for a delicate balance of "goofy fun and platforming perfection," a sentiment echoed by Loïc Gounon, brand producer at Ubisoft Montpellier.
Expanding the Playlist
When selecting tracks for the new levels, Gounon noted the challenge of choosing from numerous options, with a goal to "please more people." The aim is for the new musical selections to resonate across generations, allowing parents and children to connect over shared or discovered songs. Two new musical levels have been revealed: one inspired by the Macarena, featuring a luchador boss dancing the iconic steps, and another drawing from MC Hammer's "U Can't Touch This."
The core gameplay mechanics, physics, and collision detection remain faithful to the original, running within the UbiArt Framework engine which is itself rendered by a newer engine for enhanced visuals. This approach, described as a "Russian doll" by Gounon, ensures the precise feel of the original game is preserved.
Embracing Depth and Accessibility
The move to 2.5D has also opened new avenues for visual storytelling and environmental design. Renso pointed to elements like zip lines in musical levels, which can serve as moments of visual spectacle rather than demanding constant player input, allowing players to "enjoy something in the background." This careful pacing ensures the game remains engaging without being overly demanding.
While Rayman Legends Retold retains a DNA of "die-and-retry platforming," Gounon emphasized that it is not an "hyper-casual" or a "most hardcore Metroidvania" experience. The goal is to attract players who enjoy a challenge while still offering a satisfying story completion, catering to a broad audience of platforming fans.
Ubisoft views Rayman Legends Retold not merely as a remake, but as a potential "new starting point" for the franchise. For developers like Gounon, who has a long personal history with Rayman dating back to the original PlayStation, the project is deeply meaningful. The team hopes Retold will not only re-engage original fans but also introduce a new generation to Rayman's "wonderful world."