Zero Punctuation: Super Mario 3D Land & Rayman Origins

[Motakikurushi]

Always been a fan of the Rayman franchise, apart from the Rabbids who are not part of the Rayman franchise and are rather fodder for shoddy Wii shovelware, and Rayman Origins I find to be a wonderful, great, good, fun, fantastic, nice game. I'd even go so far as to consider it the best retail release of 2011. Special mention goes to the underwater segments which are among the best water levels in video games and are so mesmerisingly beautiful that I would gladly replay them over and over again. It's just inspiring to see a game like this on a console again.

 

[hermes]

Its weird how much Yahtzee praised Rayman while the reception to it from most other reviews were luke warm at best.

88/100 - Xbox 360
87/100 - PS3
92/100 - Wii

If someone threw water that lukewarm at me my face would melt off.

Point taken. I guess what I was trying to say was there didnt seem to be that much genuine excitement.

Perhaps the most tragic thing about Rayman is that it had very little marketing support from the publisher and was released to compete on the same week as Skyrim, AC: Revelations and MW3 (being better than at least two of those games, but no one would know)

Ubisoft practically sabotaged this game because it didn't know what to do with it. Which is a pity because its easily the best platformer to be released to a proper console in years.

 

[hermes]

Too bad that Rayman Origins devolve a lot from Rayman 3. I don't have nothing against nostalgia but, REALLY?!

Besides, the PS3 version looks like the Wii. C'mon Ubisoft!

I haven't realized the Wii was capable of crisp, HD graphics.

Or is it because it has beautifully hand-drawn 2D graphics? In which case, I believe you have no soul and have no business talking to you... be gone, foul beast!

 

[PH3NOmenon]

I got a little confused here, but Rayman: Origins did get a Wii release as well, right? I seem to recall reading that somewhere, as I seem to recall a line that could be paraphrased to "there's no excuse for not buying R:O, as it's out on all consoles and it's great on every single one."

Not mentioning that simply because you hate the Wii seems a bit over the top, Yahtzee.

 

[erbkaiser]

I know Rayman Origins is quite good, but it's not worth a full 60 euros to me. I might pick it up once it drops to below half that. Also, Ubisoft is just about the last company I want to give money to, with their insane DRM schemes and their blatant extortionism (buy Rayman if you ever want to see your precious BGE2...).

 

[matt87_50]

WHAT! you were born in the 80s how could you POSSIBLY suggest that OTHER decades were shit...

EDIT: I was also born in the 80s, though late enough not to experience it in person, as someone from Brisbane, and hence someone who would HAVE to endure relentless 80s music if they dared to turn their radio on during a weekend, I can't really imagine him defending them.

 

[CapitalistPig]

Ha, I remember the old Rayman on the playstation, could never get past the music level. That level was crazy hard, least for someone of my age, given that it came out of the playstation I'd have easily been under the age of ten when I got my hands on it.

Rayman was SOOOO long. I never beat it either. I was only a little sprout but I gave it my all. But by god just when I thought there cant be more there was more. Loved it though.

 

[TheFederation]

moviebob is gonna have some words with yahtzee

I think people tend to exaggerate this "moviebob is a Nintendo fanboy" thing quite a bit. He may show a general preference for them, sure, but he's certainly not going to attack anyone for disagreeing. Hell, I believe he's gone on record saying that Yahtzee's reviews are great.

[citation needed]

what i mean is in one (or two) of moviebob's actual video's, he called Super Mario 3D Land something like "fun shrunk into a game", so he won't like that yahtzee doesn't like it

 

[Mechanix]

The thwomp comment had me laughing for so long.

 

[Sovvolf]

Rayman was SOOOO long. I never beat it either. I was only a little sprout but I gave it my all. But by god just when I thought there cant be more there was more. Loved it though.

Hahaha, indeed, it stretched on. Also loved it and played it frequently as a child. Kept trying and trying but just couldn't get there. Always felt sorry for the mosquito, liked how, after fighting it, Rayman just high fives it and they become pals. Shows you that you don't need to have games full of grit and swearing for them to be fun.

I just replayed Rayman 2 on the N64 and GODDAMN! THAT GAME IS DIFFICULT!
It was one of those games that pushed the N64 graphics to the limit.

I was never aware the second game came out on the N64. I knew it came out on the PS2 (I own a copy) though not on the N64. Honestly, I was never really fond of the second one (if its the one I'm thinking of) I didn't like the transition to 3D.

3D platformers seldom work well. Games like Sonic, Mario and Rayman were built for the 2D plane and work best there. That said if wasn't too bad, this is the one with the pirates right?

I couldn't get past the arts and crafts level... and as an aspiraring artist that hit below the belt abit.

I think I remember the art one, think that may be the one I'm thinking of other than the music one. Think that maybe the one I got stuck on. Either way, it was a really hard game... Fun but hard. Think what really added to the difficulty was the lives system which I honestly think should eat a dick.

Live systems were pretty much built for arcades or artificial lengthening and the sooner they are rid of the better.

 

[Jungy 365]

PLEASE EVERYONE! Escapist and Yatzee, withdraw all coverage and support from e3 this year unless they dtop supporting SOPA, watch this video to understand more.
http://penny-arcade.com/patv/episode/stand-together-the-gaming-community-vs-sopa-and-pipa

DO THIS THING! DO IT NOW!

 

[Mangue Surfer]

Too bad that Rayman Origins devolve a lot from Rayman 3. I don't have nothing against nostalgia but, REALLY?!

Besides, the PS3 version looks like the Wii. C'mon Ubisoft!

I haven't realized the Wii was capable of crisp, HD graphics.

Or is it because it has beautifully hand-drawn 2D graphics? In which case, I believe you have no soul and have no business talking to you... be gone, foul beast!

No no no no, no. Same thing. Plug the Wii and PS3 on the same TV, play the game(s?) and come back here. worst, the Wii version is cheaper, WHY?

 

[FallenMessiah88]

It's too bad that Rayman Origins have tanked so much in terms of sales, because it really looks awesome. Well, it is decided. It is time to rekindle my relationship with Rayman. The only question now is which version I should get? The PS3, Xbox360 or the Wii version.

As for Super Mario 3D Land. It looks just like the other newer Mario platformers. Good, solid, platforming action with lots and lots of nostalgic charm. Plus, I have been meaning to get a 3DS for some time now, if only for Resident Evil: Revelations.

 

[FFMaster]

So hes not anti nintendo (by his own words), but took another chance to just beat on anything he could for no apparent reason (even if its BS, as hes talking abotu the ps3 in the vid which is ALSO pushing sodding 3d).

Yes origins is a very good game (still playing it myself) and it is difficult (very glad they don't have lifes as it would be annoying but i shoudl point out that the pushing you back to a certain point to lengthen gameplay does happen in that game, with the need to get certain ammounts of electoon (not an issue if you are slightly ocd like me ) and the time trials meaning you have to start from the start of hte level if you fail) but seriously the nintendo bashing is just getting old

 

[The Crazy Legs]

Always been a fan of the Rayman franchise, apart from the Rabbids who are not part of the Rayman franchise and are rather fodder for shoddy Wii shovelware, and Rayman Origins I find to be a wonderful, great, good, fun, fantastic, nice game. I'd even go so far as to consider it the best retail release of 2011. Special mention goes to the underwater segments which are among the best water levels in video games and are so mesmerisingly beautiful that I would gladly replay them over and over again. It's just inspiring to see a game like this on a console again.

Thank god! Someone finally said it! What do those goddamn Rabbids have to do with Rayman altogether? I boycotted the Wii altogether for such treachery! Whose idea was it to keep the title: Rayman, but make it have nothing to do with the original series anyways?!

 

[Marik Bentusi]

Perhaps the most tragic thing about Rayman is that it had very little marketing support from the publisher and was released to compete on the same week as Skyrim, AC: Revelations and MW3 (being better than at least two of those games, but no one would know)

Ubisoft practically sabotaged this game because it didn't know what to do with it. Which is a pity because its easily the best platformer to be released to a proper console in years.

Wait, what? Skyrim and MW3 is one thing, but ACR was developed by UbiSoft as well. What the hell? Aren't the studios connected?
Tho I guess they wanted to throw as much as possible at the Christmas market to maximize sales. Which of course is a stupid idea when everyone does it, and especially if you're increasing your own competition with your own games. Who the hells gets paid for these marketing decisions?

I know Rayman Origins is quite good, but it's not worth a full 60 euros to me. I might pick it up once it drops to below half that. Also, Ubisoft is just about the last company I want to give money to, with their insane DRM schemes and their blatant extortionism (buy Rayman if you ever want to see your precious BGE2...).

Inclined to agree (well, the only console I own is a Game Boy Color, but if I had a console, I would think about that price twice as well). The thing is that it looks really great and is full of soul and I want to encourage developers to do more games like that. But while the art design is very charming and the platforming more than solid, story- and character-wise it's not exactly what I'm used to from Rayman 2 and 3 for example.

And of course the elephant in the room that UbiSoft has pretty awesome devs that are being oppressed by the publishing department.
"HEY GUYS GUESS WHAT"
"WHAT"
"NEW ASSASSIN'S CREED"
"FUCK YEAH"
"SAME TIME PERIOD, SAME PROTAGONIST"
"...we have to fill it with gimmicks and pull some significant story-stunts without actually making any progress, right?"
"YOU KNOW THE DEAL"

 

[hermes]

Perhaps the most tragic thing about Rayman is that it had very little marketing support from the publisher and was released to compete on the same week as Skyrim, AC: Revelations and MW3 (being better than at least two of those games, but no one would know)

Ubisoft practically sabotaged this game because it didn't know what to do with it. Which is a pity because its easily the best platformer to be released to a proper console in years.

Wait, what? Skyrim and MW3 is one thing, but ACR was developed by UbiSoft as well. What the hell? Aren't the studios connected?
Tho I guess they wanted to throw as much as possible at the Christmas market to maximize sales. Which of course is a stupid idea when everyone does it, and especially if you're increasing your own competition with your own games. Who the hells gets paid for these marketing decisions?

I know... And its not the first time (altough this is one of the most notorious because a genuinely good game was sent to the slaughterhouse).

Ubisoft has a history of releasing several games on the very same day. Its almost like their fiscal year ended in Nov 15th, and everything remotely close to holiday has to be ready for that date or be delayed to next year.

 

[newwiseman]

That was one of the best episodes I've seen, can't wait to see another dual review.

 

[Skweebl]

Losing interest in Yahtzee. It's getting hard to take his contrarian views seriously when they don't have at least some basis in fact. He still cracks some pretty funny jokes, but it's just lame how every one of his Nintendo videos is just him hating on Nintendo in general rather than focusing on the game itself. Yahtzee is a nice novelty, somebody who doesn't buy into the hype and "tells it like it is," but it's wearing thin. It's hard to take him seriously anymore when he does the same shit every week.

 

[Fusioncode9]

Finally someone who doesn't consider SM3DL a platforming masterpice. Didn't think anyone else thought it was half-assed and paled in comparison to the Galaxy games.