The Rayman 30th Anniversary Edition is a fun trip down memory lane, effectively letting you experience the franchise's origins from the comfort of your Nintendo Switch. While the physical edition includes some fantastic collector's items, the collection itself feels like a missed opportunity due to a lack of variety in the actual game lineup. I’m giving this a 8/10.
A Deep Dive into Rayman's Roots
It is hard to believe that Rayman debuted in 1995. To mark the milestone, Ubisoft released this collection earlier this year, and the physical release finally adds some tangible value for fans. Inside the case, you get a poster, stickers, and pictures—a great set for anyone looking to decorate their setup. But beyond the physical trinkets, you are here for the software.
The collection includes five distinct versions of the original Rayman: PC, PlayStation, Atari Jaguar, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance. You also get access to the demo of an unreleased SNES prototype, which is a fascinating look at what could have been. Diving into the PlayStation version provided an immediate hit of nostalgia, and once I disabled the CRT filter, I was struck by how beautiful the game's vibrant colors still look today.
Performance and Portability
The games run perfectly on the Nintendo Switch. While the versions are largely similar, there are subtle differences. The PlayStation version remains the superior experience, thanks to the iconic 'yeah' jingle upon completing levels—a small touch missing from the PC and Jaguar ports. The Game Boy Advance version was a surprise standout, offering a zoomed-in perspective that makes the game look even better on the handheld screen, though it does increase the difficulty by obscuring some ledges.
The standout feature for enthusiasts is the History segment. It functions like a museum tour, featuring clips with the creators and Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemont. Learning about the development pivot from the scrapped SNES version to the Jaguar and eventually the PlayStation release was genuinely interesting. Ubisoft should consider this the gold standard for how to present gaming history in an anniversary collection.
The Verdict
My main gripe is the lack of breadth. Having four near-identical versions of the same game is fine for history buffs, but the package would have been significantly improved by including Rayman 2 and 3. As we look forward to the upcoming Legends Retold, which includes Rayman Origins: Enhanced Edition, it is a shame this anniversary collection didn't aim to bring all the main outings together. Still, for what it is, it is a loving tribute to a gaming icon.
- Excellent historical museum section
- Beautiful, vibrant visuals
- Great physical collector's items
- Misses Rayman 2 and 3
- Too many near-identical versions of the same game