Introduction
The last thread died, because five months between updates is too long. Especially when it's updates 1 and 2
Let's Play Rayman 2: The Great Escape
Rayman 2 is the second installment in the Rayman franchise, and the most influential and widely played game in the series. Released just about on every platform in one way or another, Rayman 2 was one of those games that set the bar for 3d platformers, despite being an odd one in many ways. Where other platformers of the era feature worlds with their consistent themes, Rayman 2 rotates through a number of environments, or even thematic presets, mixing and matching different elements in different levels. Where other platformers are clearly designed to be played with controller only, Rayman 2 has the best non-FPS keyboard controls I have ever played. You add on top of that the graphics that hold up to this day virtue of the game's art direction (there will be lots of swirl and spiral textures), and you get a timeless classic. The biggest flaw of this game, by far, is that the endgame is not technically polished and relies on a gimmick in its entirety. But that is a story for the LP itself.
More specifically, Rayman 2: The Great Escape is the non-PS2 version of the game (based off of the N64 version, if I'm not mistaken). The main difference between the PS2 version and the other versions is that the PS2 version (aka Rayman: Revolution) is that the latter has properly voiced dialogue (unlike the gibberish of the other versions), a hub world instead of an interactive level selection screen, and some differences in levels (including at least one boss that's missing from the other versions). I never had a PS2, so, alas, I can only play and Let's Play the mainstream version of the game.
The story
As per the convention for the Rayman games, the story doesn't carry over between the first Rayman and this, or between this and the following Rayman games. In fact, just about the only similarity between Rayman and Rayman 2 is the titular character. Now, if you have played later games, you will know that the new 2d Rayman games, Origins and Legends, are, as far as their setting goes, a Rayman setting with infusions from Rayman 2 and, to a lesser extent, 3.
In Rayman 2 the world is taken over by the technocratic pirates, who have enslaved the general populace of the realm. Rayman's goal is to stop them. Simple as that.
An acute observer will find parallels between the story of Rayman 2 and other child-friendly timeless classics, such as Wolfenstein: The New Order.
This thread is open spoiler zone, because the game is really old and it will probably take me a year to complete the LP (November 2017 fake edit: probably longer!).
Other Rayman LPs
Rayman 2 has an LP on the Archive, made by SirShakes and tentril about 5 years ago. Personally, I like it quite a fair bit, but judging by that thread, I am in the minority in that regard.
Rayman was LPd by nidoking back in the early days of LP, and although the videos are down, nidoking, being a benevolent entity that he is, reuploaded them to YouTube. Do recommend.
Rayman 3 has a
Rayman Origins by wugga is his magnum opus and you should go watch it. Go watch it. Close this thread and go watch wugga's lp of Rayman Origins, seriously.
Other Rayman games, such as Rayman Legends, the PS2 version of Rayman 2, and Rayman M still await their goonquerors.
Rabbids are a lie and I will petition for a sixer for anyone who mentions them as if they are something that exists (myself excluded).
The LP
Generally the LP will have one level per episode (barring a couple of places where it's logistically unfeasible, you know what I'm talking about). I will be 100% beating the entire game, because there's some minimal reward in form of little bits of lore thrown at you. It's also easy for the first third of the game because I have the early levels memorized.
Videos
