Rayman 2: The Great Escape

 PC
User Score
8.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 83 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 75 out of 83
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 83
  3. Negative: 3 out of 83

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  1. Gloone
    Apr 14, 2013
    10
    Beautiful, original art style. Great characters, especially their gibberish languages. Incredible, melodic orchestral soundtrack which ranges from mysterious to triumphal. Creative, varied, and challenging gameplay. Just a brilliant game.
  2. maxxy3000
    Mar 6, 2012
    10
    This was one of the first games i played as a kid on my PC, and I can honestly say, that it is still one of my favourites. Beautiful surroundings, graphics and characters; fun and challenging puzzles; a simple and strong story; and just an amazing playing experience.
    By far, one of the top games of its genre.
  3. MichMart
    Mar 1, 2014
    8
    Rayman 2 has a dark atmosphere (too dark for little kids if you ask me) and still a fairy and some minor stereotype scenes. The characters are good, but I don't know why they can't speak normal. But these are relatively insignificant picks and generally I enjoy this game!
  4. ShayHacohen
    Feb 23, 2013
    10
    My childhood favourite and still one of my favourite games.
    The world is beautiful and amazing (thanks to Michel Ancel a real genius), the gameplay is smooth and fun, the characters are awesome, and the plot, as a part of the brilliant world of Rayman, is also amazing.
  5. EremitaJ
    Jul 30, 2014
    10
    When I see critics prasising platform games and they do not speak about Rayman my heart is a little bit hurt. I mean, for it's time Rayman had one of the best controls and enviroments I've ever seen. The characters were cartoony and memorable and even with a bad fighting system, the game was true to it's roots and the pursuit stages are so iconic that they should be right next to MarioWhen I see critics prasising platform games and they do not speak about Rayman my heart is a little bit hurt. I mean, for it's time Rayman had one of the best controls and enviroments I've ever seen. The characters were cartoony and memorable and even with a bad fighting system, the game was true to it's roots and the pursuit stages are so iconic that they should be right next to Mario Bros.' first stage and Green Hill. Rayman will always be our dark little gem.… Expand
  6. ConnKon
    May 19, 2012
    9
    A true classic. Nearly a masterpiece. A lot of memories in this game. Without a doubt the best Rayman game
  7. mrnice
    Mar 28, 2013
    7
    2013 review: On PC, the 3D platformer has never had a golden age in the same way as on Playstation and N64. There's just something about a gamepad that invites finger-gymnastics and intense focus. The most highly polished N64 games were often exclusives. Mario 64 pioneered many things in 3D gaming, and with the high praise for Rayman 2, one could expect similar exclusivities in this game.2013 review: On PC, the 3D platformer has never had a golden age in the same way as on Playstation and N64. There's just something about a gamepad that invites finger-gymnastics and intense focus. The most highly polished N64 games were often exclusives. Mario 64 pioneered many things in 3D gaming, and with the high praise for Rayman 2, one could expect similar exclusivities in this game. But most of this game refines elements from Mario64 and Rare's platformer games. It doesn't make Rayman 2 a bad game... Just not the self-evident classic that Mario 64 still is. It's a different take, but it's a 'take' nonetheless. So is there any reason to play it in 2013? Yes, I think so, for the interested. The main reason is that the racing elements are on a level I've not seen in other platformer games. By racing I mean various sorts of fast motion through a terrain, with collectibles strewn throughout to catch in the high speed. These parts are uniquely well crafted. The other major achievement is the soundtrack. It makes inventive use of organic sounding instruments to undermine an atmosphere of fresh adventure. I can't imagine it could have been done better. The graphics, in high resolution, look up to date and very sharp, and I ran the game on a '07 midrange laptop without any hiccups. The difficulty level is tough, with several semi-impossible spikes. The difficult moments are made harder by the game's relatively unforgiving and old school save system. Some savepoints are placed at reasonable points in each level, but if Rayman loses all his health, a bigger portion of a level might have to be replayed (more than a couple of minutes). On PC with the notorious keyboard as input, some finer handling of Rayman can get lost in the pressed-or-not-pressed button states, whereas with a gamepad, one might find precision-gameplay more enjoyable. When I think of Mario 64, it's all those details that make it special: The haunted piano. The bigger/smaller level. The pyramid. The barking round thing. Stuff like that, that makes you wonder what the next level might be like. Rayman 2 is more like one long travel through the same kinds of terrain (varied with lava, grass, jumping, sailing etc... but never as wildly imaginative as Mario 64), with the pirate theme going throughout. I wasn't compelled by wonder of what could be next, but purely by the gameplay itself, and how there was little 'fat' so to speak, to enhance the gameplay experience, whether such would have been gimmicky or not. In short: I managed to make it through the game in a couple of days, it was mostly compelling throughout, but I would have liked more puzzles and less stress over the savepoints. I would also have liked for the levels to be more inhabited with various things, since the entire game reuses the same models and ideas a lot, although inventively. I'd also liked to be warned that this is hardcore gameplay in the same oftentimes frustrating manner as Mario 64 and other precision-platformers, although it looks kid-friendly on the box. (Conclusion: Solid above-average game, recommended at bargain prices, moreso if you're into precision platformers)… Expand
  8. Vixuzen
    Nov 3, 2013
    8
    It's one of the best platform game ever created. It has music which is pretty good (especially final boss theme). Boss fights are a bit boring though. Some levels look pretty much the same, but they are still different. Game is pretty easy and can get boring after completing it few times.
    Every gamer that loves platform games should play this game.
  9. Heisenberg93
    Mar 27, 2015
    10
    Rayman 2 was one of the first games that I played between the 90s and early 2000s, and one of the first games I had on PC. I had already tried the beauty of the first chapter, but when I put hand to the second chapter I really liked it a lot.

    The story was great fun, might seem trivial, but it was not for nothing. The characters obviously were beautiful, but besides Rayman stood out for    Rayman 2 was one of the first games that I played between the 90s and early 2000s, and one of the first games I had on PC. I had already tried the beauty of the first chapter, but when I put hand to the second chapter I really liked it a lot.

    The story was great fun, might seem trivial, but it was not for nothing. The characters obviously were beautiful, but besides Rayman stood out for the characterization Globox, Jano, Polokus and Razorbeard. The gameplay was pretty much perfect: funny and always varied (Walking shell and the Flying shell are an example), the difficulty in general was well balanced and the boss fights were beautiful and they required skills. Wanting to talk from a graphical point of view, the jump from 2D of the first chapter to 3D of the second, it was amazing. Not only Rayman 2 had an exceptional graphics, but the 3D game engine could compete with platform games of the same period as Super Mario 64. Last but not least, the soundtrack that was really well done.

    In my opinion, it's hard to find fault in Rayman 2. It's a game on the edge of perfection, and one of the greatest example of videoludic-art. A pearl of the late 90s.    … Expand
  10. mugsy
    May 10, 2020
    9
    Better than Rayman 3. Interesting, dark atmosphere and plot. Graphical style is nice.
  11. WalkingShell
    Aug 2, 2017
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Awesome game, with awesome visuals, a beautiful, memorable soundtrack, featuring lovable, cute characters, graphics that were really ahead of its time, a perfect difficulty curve, and good level design. I also like the dark and deep story. I love the creativity, love and effort put into designing this game. Games nowadays lack creativity. And what I mean by creativity is for example the walking shell in The Menhir Hills which you can ride when you tame. Also, the flower that guides you through the level in The Sanctuary of Rock and Lava. The bonus levels are also quite fun.… Expand
  12. Sarcastic_Devis
    Dec 14, 2021
    8
    Rayman è uno dei franchise che ho molto a cuore, e sono felice di aver finalmente ripreso la versione PC di Rayman 2. L'ho completato al 100%, e devo dire che, nonostante la difficoltà forse un po' troppo bassa, ha ancora il suo fascino dopo 20 anni.
  13. Tamal_VerdeUwu
    Sep 5, 2020
    10
    Uff, que joyita de juego vine a darle apoyo por que recien cumplio 25 años y ubicaca no ha echo rayman 4
  14. Jattaman
    Oct 5, 2022
    8
    Platform 3D molto bello, con una buona grafica, curato in tutti i particolari.
  15. LT_Gruber
    Jan 10, 2023
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Glorious sequel with a fresh new look and excellent platforming.

    The transition from the original Rayman to a new, fully 3D game called Rayman 2: The Great Escape was a big success and it brought forth a game with hours of content, a fresh look and amazing soundtracks.

    In Rayman 2: The Great Escape, you fight a horde of Space Pirates, lead by an admiral, called Razorbeard. He and his gang destroyed many worlds in the galaxy and now the world of Rayman, called the Glade of Dreams, is his next target. Razorbeard already imprisoned many Lums and Teensies, magical creatures that have been introduced in this new installment. Rayman fought hard against the space pirates but was eventually captured and imprisoned in the huge pirate ship of Razorbeard. Just when he thought everything was lost, he got rescued by Globox and escapes the ship.

    Now, Rayman needs to take the fight to Razorbeard once again, while freeing the Lums, Teensies and other new characters like Ly the Fairy, who aids you in your adventure.

    In addition, you need to collect the four masks of the elements, fire, water, air and earth, each guarded by a boss. The Teensies that you save serve as gatekeepers of the magical realms in the Glade of Dreams and unlock doors to the boss stages when you collected enough Lums. After defeating the boss, you go to Polokus, the spirit of the world itself and present him with the mask, which he snaps on top of his magical pillar thing. Collecting the four masks is the only way to stop Razorbeard.

    This story is excellent and surprised me in comparison to the first game, which was a lot more cliché and generic. Of course, I take the time period into account here.

    The fresh new mechanics in Rayman 2 are epic. You can still grab rings, destroy cages, just like the original Rayman, but in addition, you can now swim, carry plumes to use at other locations, climb vines and nets, and solve puzzles to progress in the game. Mainly, these puzzles consist of finding switches to open doors, but some require backtracking or coming back later because you need to complete a certain other level first to reveal the passage.

    On your journey, you unlock more powerful attacks and skills to help you on your quest. These abilities are unlocked by collecting enough Lums.

    I also really liked the bonus games in which you race against other magical creatures. In this race, your character moves on its own and follows the path. The only thing you need to do is mash the left and right button in turns as fast as possible to build up the speed meter. This was some intense stuff back then.
    In addition, you got levels in which you ski on the water while a lake creature carries you forward, you swim with a giant whale who produces air bubbles for you and best of all: The rocket races, in which you tame a bomb shell by riding it like a bull. When it gets tired, you jump on its back and need to complete the stage while constantly moving. These sections where hard as hell, but a lot of fun to play. Especially with the epic soundtracks that played in the background.

    Rayman 2 is a really big game with a lot of different levels, all themed differently, according to the elemental mask that you are after. You got volcanic levels in which the floor is lava everywhere, ice palace stages and underwater stages. Completing all the stages and collecting everything takes many hours and I really liked the new 3D world map in which you can choose the stage you want to play. It is nicely detailed and gives a certain charm to the game.

    The leap to 3D in Rayman 2 is really well done. The graphics look amazing for its time and the environments are filled with all sorts of life like butterflies, frogs, small creatures and fish. I really like the steampunk/gothic theme that this game has, a theme that can be seen in the later Rayman installments as well.

    The sound effects are nice and solid and enhanced my experience by a lot. The music is the best factor in this game. It is ridiculously good and has a mix between early techno, rock and orchestra. It is hard to compare but it sounds amazing.

    The final battle with Razorbeard was epic. I don’t know who comes up with the design for the final battles in the Rayman series, but just like the original Rayman and Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc, the final boss stage against Razorbeard was a hard and glorious fight with multiple stages that was a ton of fun to play. I felt really proud when I finally beat his ass and reflected on all my hard work throughout the game.

    In the end, I can only praise Rayman 2: The Great Escape and its excellent game play, improvements and new story and I would recommend it to everyone.

    Even today, the game aged fairly well in my opinion so it is just as fun to play today as it was back then.    … Expand