Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2880 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: UBI Soft
• Released on: 2006-12-08
• Platform: Nintendo Wii

Amazon.co.uk Review:
In a nutshell:
Rayman steps back into the limelight as he's brought in to protect the world from evil alien… rabbits? One of gaming's most beloved platform stars returns in a mini-game collection that makes Wario Ware seem sane.

The lowdown:
Apart from Mario, most other attempts from platform heroes to branch out into other genres has usually ended up in abject failure. Overseen by the series' creator though this features 80 of the weirdest party games ever conceived, including hammer throwing with cows and squirting rabbids with water to keep the door shut on them while they're in the toilet. Not all of the games are as short and simple as that though as this also includes various racing missions, a fully fledge flight game and ten different first person shoot 'em-up levels. Although each mini-game is introduced with a frequently amusing cut scene there's also a fully fleshed out multiplayer mode for most of them, including the shoot 'em-up levels where you get to play as either Rayman or one of the Rabbids.

Most exciting moment:
Whenever you complete a game in the story mode you can replay it any time via the replay mode. When playing the game like this you also get to dress Rayman up in an unlikely range of clothing, from afro wig to flared jeans and winged collars. It's not just for show either as it increases the likelihood you'll get a love letter from the Rabbids in the audience of each game!

Since you ask:
The Rayman series was created by Michel Ancel, France's most celebrated game designer. As well as the first two Rayman games he was also responsible for Tonic Trouble, the award winning Beyond Good & Evil and celebrated movie tie-in Peter Jackson's King Kong.

The bottom line:
Rayman's jump from platforms to mini-games is no misstep.-HARRISON DENT

Manufacturer's Description
Developed by acclaimed game designer Michel Ancel, This new Rayman game features the funniest, zaniest, wackiest antics ever when the world of Rayman is threatened by a devastating invasion of demonic rabbits! With the help of magical creatures, Rayman must battle to save his world from the bunnies.

Tame various creatures such as Sharks, Eagles, Rhinos, Spiders, and Angelfish. Each has their own unique capabilities that Rayman will be able to use to battle against the evil rabbits. Help Rayman save his world from the demonic bunny rabbits. They are nasty, mischievous, insane, and completely out of control. There are several types of rabbits and each has their own whacked-out characteristics.

With huge free-roaming environments and epic landscapes that mix real and cartoon style.

Customer Reviews

Its not a reason to get a wii, but is still loads of fun.
It doesnt take a keen eye to tell that mini games have become a genre all to themselves, cast under the long shadow of mario party.
Ubisofts limbless wonder Rayman reaches for the top place but does it deliver.
Raymans buddies have been kidnapped by masercistic bunnies, and now you have to compete for 15 days through double dare activities, to free them and yourself, its a convienient if skippy fram story, but it does mark your progress and give you a goal to set your eyes on.
The production values are through the roof with all the details drenched in the bizarness of Raymans world, even the licensed usic gets the flak of wierd.
The amount of costumes allow for a personal frankenstein of Rayman, or being a fahsion victim is good all time fun.
Each day offers 4 activities that make use of the various functions of the wii remote, with the occasional nunchuk only games. 3 games need to be cleared in order to advance, so if throwing cows isnt to your liking you can skip it, although completing all four unlocks more songs and costumes.
The main events are usually either a delightful plunger shooting or warthog racing, both of these events are really fleshed out with a wide variety of ebvironments and hotspots, the bunnies also come dressed in their own costumes such as sam fisher rom splinter cell.
the warthog races are definatly not mario kart material but they are just a bit more then running laps, also when rabids cant milk cows warthogs can drift.
Multiplayer and scoring games allow you to use what you have unlocked, this means no multiplayer out of the box, high scores unlock videos and tidius online scoring while the game remains offline.
Mulitplayer makes few consessions with split screen co op, but also a lot of waiting for turns, remember these are mini games not micro games.
Rayman will make you abuse your body, even though little movements can win you games going all out swinging is going to happen, especially when approaching some of the more frantic mini games with timers counting down, expect a jerk, jolt, joggle and probably other words as rayman trys to get rid of the cute bunny overlords. Sweating is a possibility.
the games themselves are various, funny, fun and well put together but by the second round youll see they are not that various.
By the third round youll grow suspisious of the dance floor game and how many times its going to resurface all be it with some new tunes and pacing, and while some games repeat the motions, with new window dressing and time limits, some like the dance floor are just repeats but just more difficult.
the enevitable nutshell, the games are fun by themselves and youll want to complete the overall game but marathon sessions can get deja vu, and possible collapsing. The party aspect offers alot of fun returns though watching someone spray carrot juice into a diving mask can make a delightful spectator sport at times.
Rayman Raving Rabids rolls triple six for carisma but the overall implementation is flawed, the games repeat core mechanics too often, many solo games go on for too long but good for alternating multiplayer.
Its obvious that the wii version is going to be the superior version it does limit the play by repeated games/ controls and possible strane.
Its a solid launch game (heavy on the launch).
But it is a very well polished game, alot of fun with or without friends and will become a partying sensation.

Graphics - 8
Sound - 8
Gameplay - 8
Design - 9
Value - 7

Overall - 8.5/ 10

A hidden gem
I was fortunate enough to obtain a Wii for my son this Christmas, and along with the console I picked up a couple of titles to go with it, one of which was this.

I have to say that after seeing my kids on this I had to have a go and I'm completely hooked! My previous experience of Rayman was as a platformer, but this is a collection of mini-games and a complete departure from the usual Rayman titles.

Each level consists of an arena, where upon you must complete at least 3 of the 4 challenges to open up the main gate. This takes you to an end of level game which you must pass in order to move onto the next arena.

The challenges themselves are inspired - not only do they make excellent use of the Wiimote & Nunchuk but because they are so short they never get chance to be boring or repetitive. Some of the games are simple "waggle the remote as fast as possible" (a bit like the old button basher games) and others require skill to complete a maze or puzzle within a given time. I have now played 6 levels so that's 24 different mini-games (plus boss battles) and the challenges are never so difficult that I want to give up but it grips you with that "just one more go" factor. There have been 2 mini-games that I thought were a bit lame and there is almost always a dance level as one of the 4 games, but as the game boasts over 70 games repetition has not been a problem so far!

[...]. Do yourself a favour - buy Rayman!

The all new rayman
Rayman is one of the many party mini games that has been released already for the wii. Playing as rayman you work your way through mini challenges in a bid to escape your captors.

There are plenty of mini games on offer here giving you a multitude of options to choose from. The mini games range from 15 second bites to some slightly longer ones including the dance game amongst others. Some of the mini games do suffer from wii remote problems where they do not respond as well as would be desired though this is inevitable with wireless gaming.

The games on rayman are for the most part very entertaining, I wouldnt say I laugh my head off at them like some reviewers but they are funny enough to make you smile and enjoy the game that much more.

This game is like a roller coaster in two minutes you may go from loving it to wanting to throw your wii out the window (some of those mini games can be exasperating again largely due to the responsiveness of the wireless technology).

Overall though if you have the patience for some of the more annoying mini games this is a good buy. Im not entirely sure about the age ratings as I think you would need to be over eight or so to really have any proper understanding of the workings of the game.

Finally I would like to point out that the bonuses on this game deserve special mention, on most games the bonuses are just pictures that you have no interest in. In rayman however the bonuses are quite funny little video clips and for the first time ever in a video game actually made me want to complete the game to see them all.

Overall a great little game for those distracted or bored few minutes you may have here or there. Well worth buying get it and share it with friends and family alike.