Rayman: 30th Anniversary Edition [REVIEW] – Party Like it’s 1995 

If there is one thing I absolutely adore in modern gaming, it is the growing push for historical preservation – it’s something we’ve seen a lot of from the likes of Limited Run Games lately, but when Digital Eclipse are on the case, you know you’re in for a peek behind the curtain of your favourite childhood classics. And for me, Rayman is right up there as one of the most iconic platforming mascots of the 90s, so firing up Rayman: 30th Anniversary Edition felt particularly special. It offers a definitive look back at the limbless wonder’s debut, though it should be noted that while the history lesson is brilliant, the actual execution of this birthday bash can be a little rough around the edges. 

Check out some screenshots down below: 

Let us start with the absolute best part of this package: the archival content. If you are a massive nerd for game development and preservation like I am, the interactive timeline alone is worth the price of admission. You get over 50 minutes of fascinating interview footage with original creators like Michel Ancel and Frederic Houde alongside early concept art and marketing materials, and believe me, getting to scour through the entire original 60-page game design bible is a genuine delight. 

The crown jewel of the museum, however, is a playable SNES CD prototype of Rayman from 1992. It’s only a tiny slice of gameplay, sure, but experiencing a cancelled piece of history that was previously lost to time is magical. Do I think it was good? Well… no, not really, but that’s not the point – it’s all about playing something that has been lost to time but that stands out as a special piece of Rayman’s history.  

When you step out of the museum and into the actual games, things can get a bit… well… repetitive. Rather than giving us a bundle of the first three mainline entries (which would have been a more impressive package), this collection packs in five different versions of the original 1995 Rayman. You get the PlayStation, MS-DOS, Atari Jaguar, Game Boy Advance, and Game Boy Colour editions, giving players a taste of the game in all different flavours. 

“Rayman: 30th Anniversary Edition is a lovely package that takes players on a nostalgic trip down memory lane” 

From a preservation standpoint, having all these variations in one place is fantastic. In reality, four of those five games play almost identically, and once you have tried the PlayStation version (which was the one that I gravitated to purely out of nostalgia), there is very little reason to tinker with too many of the others. The true standout is arguably the MS-DOS release, which comes bundled with over 120 extra levels from old expansion packs, whilst the Game Boy Colour version is also a nice surprise, given that it features entirely unique level designs rather than just being a downgraded port. The Atari Jaguar and Game Boy Advance ports, though? Yeah, there wasn’t much to entice me to play them. 

Going back to playing the original Rayman has been a real treat in itself though, with the game offering a charming and colourful adventure that’ll keep a big smile on your face. The level design is fantastic, Rayman himself feels great to control, whilst the world itself is full of wonderfully wacky sights that make it a joy to uncover. However, it is worth noting one thing: it’s hard. Rayman was never an easy game when I was younger, and even now, thirty years on, I STILL find it challenging. 

Thankfully, Digital Eclipse have implemented some incredibly welcome quality-of-life features to make life easier for players. The addition of a rewind button is a literal game-saver, letting you undo a cheap death without pulling your hair out, whilst you can also save your progress anywhere. There are even some cheats on offer in some versions of the game (remember those?), but just bear in mind that using them will disable your trophies/achievements.  

Check out some screenshots down below: 

Unfortunately, there is one sour point to this collection: the audio. The original soundtrack by the late Rémi Gazel has been entirely removed, with it replaced by newly recorded music from Rayman Origins composer Christophe Héral. While Héral is immensely talented, the new tracks simply do not match the vibe of the 1995 classic, and as someone re-visiting the game from my childhood, it feels like something is… missing. Add to that some weird audio bugs here and there and you’ll quickly find that the game could’ve done with a little bit of polishing (and, hopefully, a patch that brings back the classic tunes that players grew up with). 

Developer: Digital Eclipse 
Publisher: Ubisoft 
Platform(s): PlayStation 5 (Reviewed), Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PC 
Website: https://www.ubisoft.com/en-gb/games/rayman/editions/30th-anniversary