Rayman Origins (PS Vita) review

The graphics are simply gorgeous – both characters and levels have a hand-drawn feel that wouldn’t look out of place on the pages of a storybook. Ubisoft created a brand new art framework for Origins, and the techniques used really help you forget you’re playing a game – animations are so fluid that they rival many children’s cartoons. Everything looks pin-sharp on the Vita’s screen, with plenty of detail preserved from the original 1080p console game.

Origins first appeared on Xbox Live and PSN as a download-only title, but thankfully very little has been lost in the translation from console to handheld. The crisp graphics, tight control scheme and full single player story are all present and correct, with the only major omission being the cooperative multiplayer mode. It’s a shame this didn’t make the cut, as it opened up different ways to complete each level, but the new Ghost mode is a reasonable replacement. Once you’ve finished each level, you can replay it against the clock to set times on a leader board, or to unlock medals that open up extra levels.

If you thought Mario was the only platform game worth playing, think again – Rayman Origins is an absolute delight from start to finish. Even if you weren’t a fan of previous entries in the series, this is a complete gem.