RipTen Videogame Blog » Xbox Live

Double Fine’s New Adventure Game Breaks Kickstarter Record, Exceeds Fundraising Goal First Day

Michael Futter — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:30:45 +0000

If you happened to go to sleep early last night, you may have missed a little story about Tim Schafer’s DoubleFine Productions (Costume Quest, Brutal Legend and assorted other awesomeness) starting a Kickstarter project to fund a new game and documentary. The project, called DoubleFine Adventure Game, had an ambitious goal of $400,000 with a deadline of 34 days. In a matter of 8 hours, the project was fully funded with over 10,000 donors chipping in to make the project a reality. As of publishing, the project has nearly raised double its goal as nearly 17,000 gifts have come in. According to a tweet from Kickstarter, this is kind of a big deal:

Double Fine Adventure has broken Kickstarter records for most funds raised in 24 hrs & highest number of backers! kck.st/A9k3jH

— Kickstarter (@kickstarter) February 9, 2012

If you are unfamiliar with Kickstarter, the website was founded to help individuals and small teams find funding for creative projects. The charitable giving system in the United States is complex, requiring federal and state approval in order to collect charitable contributions and provide tax incentive for individual donors. Additionally, foundations typically do not award grants to those that don’t have a 501(c)(3) determination letter from the federal government. This means that the bulk of funding available in the country isn’t accessible by individuals or small-groups. As a society, we’ve lost the patronage model. There are few wealthy benefactors left that fund solo artists for the sake of new visual and performing works.

Enter: Kickstarter.

Kickstarter has turned the fundraising community on its ear by operating counter to contemporary fundraising practice. Instead of requiring the enormous infrastructure that comes with being a charitable organization, the site provides a vehicle for projects to receive crowd-sourced patronage. Instead of a single wealthy donor, Kickstarter encourages people to find a project they are interested in and make a gift in any amount. Whereas some fundraisers pay lip service to the, “no gift is too small” mentality, Kickstarter lives by it. The beauty of it all is that, once the project is funded, the creator retains complete autonomy in the execution.

There are no donors attempting to impose their will and no corporate entity focused on balancing the budget. Kickstarter ensures the integrity of the projects on the site by requiring an all-or-nothing agreement. Creators must indicate how much is necessary to complete the project as detailed. If the goal is not met, funds are returned to donors. This has bred creative promotion techniques, which, in turn, led to enhanced utilization of the site.

Double Fine decided to take advantage of the service for a number of reasons. First, they wanted to demystify the game development process. According to the Kickstarter page, Schafer and company believe that the larger a studio is, the less light shines through. One major component of Double Fine Adventure Game (the official name of the project) is to create documentary following the creation of this new game. Second, they want artistic freedom.

In the videogame industry, developers often require publishers in order to begin work. Retail games can cost well over $10 million to create, and smaller titles like those that appear on Xbox Live and Playstation Network aren’t exactly cheap, running up bills in the millions. Publishers want to see a return on that funding. It’s an investment. Using this Kickstarter project, though, gives Double Fine a great deal of creative freedom.

The project will take six-to-eight months and result in a classic point-and-click game and multi-part video documentary. Backers at the $15 level or greater will be part of a behind-the-scenes community, receive the game (via Steam when completed, gain access to the beta along the way and have the video series available as it rolls out. From there, the benefits for investment only get sweeter (all reward tiers include all lower-level benefits):

$30: HD download of the documentary, game soundtrack
$100: DoubleFine Adventure poster (suitable for framing), thanks in the game credits
$250: DoubleFine Adventure poster signed by Tim Schafer, Ron Gilbert and the design team
$1,000: Mini-portrait of the donor painted by the game’s artist
$5,000: Larger, original painting used in the final game
$10,000 (only one available and you’re too late): Lunch with Tim Schafer and Ron Gilbert, tour of the Double Fine offices

So, why is this such a big deal? While a number of independent studios have found success with Kickstarter projects, Double Fine is the largest and best known to ever pursue this avenue of funding. Given their success, we are very likely to see other mid-sized studios jump on the idea. It won’t become the exclusive way games are funded, but with so many interesting games dying on the vine due to lack of publisher interest, we could see a new injection of creativity.

Gamers tired of military shooters and cookie-cutter sequels are going to get their fix from a new drug. Finally, it serves as a reminder of how important reputation is. Every single one of those 17,000 donors is a pre-sale for the game. On Day 1, Double Fine Adventure Game turned a 100% profit provided Tim and team stick to the $400,000 budget.

Power to the people.

Call of Duty Elite Releasing Third Xbox 360 Map, PS3 Owners Still Waiting for First

Rick Givens — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:30:46 +0000

Modern Warfare 3 players REJOICE! But only if you have Call of Duty Elite, and only if you play the game on the Xbox.

On February 21st, Premium Members will be able to access the third map, Overwatch, which is next in the line up for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3′s Content Season for Call of Duty Elite. This third map will be available to Xbox Live Members with the Premium subscription a full week before PlayStation 3 owners even get the first map. PC? No word on that; nor when Call of Duty Elite will be available for that platform, so uncross your fingers and exhale, otherwise you will get arthritis and die.

Overwatch will be set at a construction site atop a New York City skyscraper. Featuring two levels and a near symmetrical layout, a central bridge and side routes will allow players to approach from multiple angles, while the lack of safety barriers will make it easy for you to belly flop onto the pavement if you don’t watch your step.

While Xbox Premium members are getting what looks to be all the content first, Activision states that PS3 Premium members will get the content before non Premium members. Somewhere down the road, those that didn’t sign up for the service, or who are PC gamers will get the content, maybe, one day….Okay, so no one really knows when the hell that will be, but the standard has been about a month apart for each platform. So, sometime in March PC gamers might expect the DLC, at full price.

Forza 4 “American Le Mans Series Pack” Available Today

Sam Naylor — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:30:49 +0000

A new DLC pack for Forza 4, the “American Le Mans Series Pack”, is available from today.

The car pack focuses- as you might expect- on Le Mans cars, but there are some others in the mix too. A modified luxury car, an “E3 award winner,” and some proper old fashioned muscle are also in the lineup:

·         2011 #2 Audi Sport North America R18 TDI: Featuring a closed cockpit design (the first such Audi Le Mans car fielded in more than 10 years), the R18 is a marvel of modern racing design. Featuring a lighter materials and a premium on aerodynamic efficiency, it’s little wonder the R18 TDI brought home top honors during the 2011 24 Hours of Le Mans.
·         2011 Panoz #050 Panoz Racing Abruzzi: A five hundred horsepower engine that will feel right at home tearing down the straights of Le Mans, the Panoz Racing Abruzzi’s tusk-like front end marries unique styling with impressive performance.
·         2010 Dodge Quinton “Rampage” Jackson Challenger SRT8: Owned by UFC fighter Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, this 2010 Dodge Challenger SRT8 is one of the most aggressive-looking cars ever seen in the Forza Motorsport series. With red and black rims that need to be seen to be believed, this Challenger will turn heads in Forza 4 the moment the race begins.
·         1991 Mazda #55 Team Mazdaspeed 787B: One of the most unique sounding cars in Forza 4, the Wankel rotary engine-equipped 787B is also legendary for its performance. It won the 1991 24 Hours of Le Mans race and the model was soon retired after FIA rules changes subsequently banned the use of Wankel-type rotary engines.
·         2011 Bentley Platinum Motorsports Continental GT: This Bentley Continental GT features a widebody construction that was custom created by Los Angeles-based Platinum Motorsports. The Continental GT looks great and features some serious power underneath the hood—two factors that contributed it to being selected as Forza Motorsport’s “E3 2011 Car of Show”.
·         1986 #2 Audi Sport quattro S1: Introduced in 1985 as a Group B rally entrant, this was the car that put Audi’s rallying program on the map. One of the most powerful Group B cars ever made, the quattro S1 held multiple hill climb world records in its day and is still widely regarded as one of the most incredible race cars Audi has produced.
·         1992 Alfa Romeo 155 Q4: A “compact executive” with the heart of a touring car, the 155 Q4 features a 2.0 liter turbocharged engine capable of 187 horsepower and an all-wheel drive drivetrain.
·         1995 Ford Mustang Cobra R: Long sought after by Forza’s Mustang fans, the 1995 Ford Mustang Cobra R is big and beefy American muscle at its finest. Its SVT-modified 5.8 liter Windsor V8 pumps out 300 horsepower and plenty of torque. The car’s legendary status is further enhanced by its rarity—just 250 Cobra R models were produced.
·         2011 Holden HSV GTS: More power, better handling, and new technology are all hallmarks of Holden’s 2011 HSV GTS. The car’s MRC suspension brings a responsive ride in the corners that, when coupled with the 6.2 liter V8, makes the GTS a joy to drive.
·         2011 Volkswagen Polo GTI: A great-looking hatchback with surprising grit underneath the hood, the 2011 Polo GTI packs a 1.4 liter twin charged engine combining both a turbocharger and a supercharger, belting out an impressive 177 horsepower in a compact size.

The pack is available from Xbox Live for 560 Microsoft Points.

Stephen “Stepto” Toulouse and Microsoft No More

Michael Futter — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 19:00:51 +0000

If Facebook is the place where we don’t talk to people we know in real life, then Twitter is the place where we talk, every day, to people we’ve never met.

I have never had the pleasure of meeting Stephen Toulouse in person, but I feel like I know him, at least in part. Toulouse, known on Twitter and elsewhere as Stepto, is a dog lover (my heart broke recently when he publicly shared a tragedy with one of his beloved pets), comedian and writer, but many know him best as the Xbox Live Director of Policy and Enforcement for Microsoft, a role he has just announced that he will be vacating on February 15, 2012.

This is a very bold step for someone who has been with the software and gaming giant for 18 years in a number of different roles. While he doesn’t have concrete plans for what he’ll do starting on the 16th of February (other than visiting family in Dallas and participating in the 2012 JoCoCruiseCrazy), there is no doubt that we will continue to see him at PAX, performing with Jonathan Coulton and tweeting his heart out about gaming. One thing we do know, is that he feels absolutely confident in the current and future states of the Xbox and Xbox Live products. In a truly adventurous move for the man who has been keeping our Microsoft spacebucks safe, Stepto isn’t leaving because he’s not happy. Rather, it seems like he’s taking his bow for exactly the opposite reason.

Stepto, from everyone here at RipTen, thank you for keeping Xbox Live safe. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for you.

If you’d like to read about Stepto’s plans for the future, along with his now-traditional farewell email to colleagues at Microsoft, head on over to his personal blog at www.stepto.com.

Mass Effect 3 Demo Offers Temporary Free Xbox Live Gold Access

Alex Co — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:00:42 +0000

In a rather good move from publisher Electronic Arts and Microsoft, the demo for BioWare’s Mass Effect 3 will offer Xbox players free temporary access to Xbox LIVE’s Gold service – presumably, so players can try the franchise’s first foray into multiplayer.

In a post on BioWare’s official forums, Chris Priestly of BioWare states, “The demo of Mass Effect 3 will include a limited time Gold access when you download the demo.” Though no specifics like how the access will be distributed and for how long is still up in the air.

The demo for Mass Effect 3 will hit the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 on February 14 and it will consist of a mission set early in the game’s campaign. If you bought Battlefield 3 new and used its Online Pass, the multiplayer component of Mass Effect 3 will be accessible on the same date. If not, it will be available at a later date on February 17.

Yeah, there are a lot of people complaining that the game has an online component, but at least this way they can try it AND then complain about how they’ll never play it.

Mass Effect 3 will be available this March 12 for the PC, Xbox 360 and PS3.

Source: IGN

The Simpsons Arcade Game Coming to XBL and PSN

Catherine Cai — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 23:00:42 +0000

Bring yourself back to the days when you frequented arcades. Perhaps you never did, or perhaps your only experience with the arcades was at the local Chuck E. Cheese. Regardless, The Simpsons arcade game was a classic, and if you’ve yet to play it you are truly missing out. Yes, I’m talking about that side scrolling beat-’em-up game where you control one of The Simpsons and proceeded down the streets of Springfield, destroying everything in your path. The story of the game eludes me, but I certainly remember that beating people using Bart was extremely entertaining.

All of this brings me to the reason behind this trip down memory lane. Konami has decided to bring the arcade game to both XBL and PSN. The port has three modes: Quarters, Survival, and Free Play. It will be offered on XBL starting this Friday, February 3rd, and on PSN on February 7th. However, PlayStation Plus members will be entitled to this game for the low low price of absolutely free! Unfortunately, Xbox gamers are going to have to fork over 800 MSP or $9.99 to fart like Bart.

[Via PlayStation Blog]

Rumor: Microsoft to Allow Real Money on Xbox Live this Year

Sam Naylor — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:30:56 +0000

Rumor has it that Microsoft will be phasing out their silly points system by the end of the year.

A source close to the company told Inside Mobile Apps that the points system for Windows Phone, the Zune marketplace and Xbox Live will be gradually removed, with MS telling developers for each platform to change their plans accordingly.

Instead real money will be the currency of choice, meaning that we no longer have to buy stuff in Magic Spacebux™ and have stupid tiny amounts left over in our accounts. Points left in accounts will be converted to your local currency, said the source.

Of course, a Microsoft spokesman said “we do not comment on rumours or speculation.”

Inside Mobile Apps via Joystiq

Xbox Live Arcade House Party Line-up Revealed, Dated and Priced

Garrett Hartman — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 22:00:15 +0000

Microsoft’s Major Nelson, via his blog, has revealed the full line-up for this year’s Xbox Live House Party. This is a particularly strong line-up with two of the Xbox 360′s anticipated titles. The Promotion runs from February 15th – March 13th. Here is the full list with dates and prices below:

Warp – February 15 for 800 MSP
Alan Wake’s America Nightmare – February 22 for 1200 MSP
Nexuiz – February 29 for 800 MSP
I Am Alive – March 7 for 1200 MSP

As a special bonus, those who purchase all four titles during this promotion receive 800 MSP back. Not a bad deal and a worthy line-up makes this a party that should be attended.

I Am Alive to Release March 7th as Part of XBLA House Party

Garrett Hartman — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:30:03 +0000

Ubisoft today announced that I Am Alive will be part of the XBLA House Party promotion and will be available on XBLA March 7th. Below is a description of the game from the press release:

I Am Alive follows an everyman’s journey to find his wife and daughter, who were lost during the “Event.” A year later, he finds Haventon, his hometown, in shambles. Buildings are destroyed, toxic ash fills the streets and society has been torn, causing inhabitants to take all necessary actions to survive.

In I Am Alive, players will be challenged by both the environment and the enemies. Stamina and resource management are key when being exposed to deadly atmospheres and scaling enormous buildings in search of supplies. The unique combat system requires players to utilize intimidation – cowards are easily swayed with an empty gun, while other enemies will put players to the test.

Check out the gameplay trailer here.

I Am Alive will cost 1200 MSP.

Xbox Dashboard Update Takes Color Out of Your Life; Microsoft Working on Fix

Catherine Cai — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 21:15:43 +0000

The recent Xbox dashboard update has reportedly washed out color from videos for some users. No, Microsoft isn’t throwing back to the days of old black and white TV.

Microsoft’s Major Nelson, via his Twitter, stated that Microsoft is on the case for the fix, although there’s still no ETA for when the fix will actually come about.

If you’re one of the unfortunate souls whose Xbox dashboard is currently spectrum-challenged, stay tuned. We’ll let you know as soon as there are any updates. For now, just pretend that you’re playing a videogame on a really old TV set.

[Via Joystiq]

New Tony Hawk Pro Skater HD Screens Kickflip it Old School

Garrett Hartman — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:00:15 +0000

Activision and Robomodo want to bring the Tony Hawk series back to its roots. No more gimmicky controls like with Tony Hawk: Ride, just solid tried and true gameplay with a standard controller. Tony Hawk Pro Skater HD will be the series’ first game on consoles that will be offered exclusively as a downloadable game.

The screens look solid and fun. Check them out below.

Tony Hawk Pro Skater HD launches sometime Summer 2012 on PSN and XBL.

UFC Undisputed 3 Demo Becomes Available Next Tuesday

Garrett Hartman — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:30:25 +0000

THQ has confirmed that a demo for UFC Undisputed 3 will become available next Tuesday (Jan. 24th) on PSN and Xbox Live.

Which fighters will be available and additional demo details will not be revealed until Tuesday as THQ teased in a Tweet:

Demo details and fighters included will be announced/revealed the day it launches, let your speculation continue =)

UFC Undisputed 3 releases on February 14 for the PS3 and Xbox 360.

via: Kotaku

New I Am Alive Trailer Shows a Unique and Varied Combat System

Garrett Hartman — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 22:30:26 +0000

Ubisoft has released a new trailer for I Am Alive which shows a unique and varied combat system. The video shows that the player must always be wary when interacting with human NPCs. Weapons and bullets won’t be plentiful, so it is often in the players best interest to avoid combat by bluffing convincingly and finding creative ways in offing enemies. Sometimes resorting to stealth with the old knife from behind to the throat is the best technique.

I Am Alive will release in Q1 2012 on Xbox Live.

The Darkness II Playable Demo Now Available for Xbox LIVE Gold Members

Garrett Hartman — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 18:45:46 +0000

2K Games today announced that The Darkness II demo is now available for download for Xbox Live Gold members.

The Darkness II is the sequel to 2007′s acclaimed Horror/Shooter hit The Darkness, that put you in the shoes of mob enforcer Jackie Estacado and his inherited connection/possession with a dark ancient evil force called The Darkness. The Darkness II promises new abilities such as Quad-Wielding, which allows players to slash, grab and throw objects.

While the demo is available now exclusively on Xbox Live, on January 24, the demo will become to all Xbox Live members, PSN and Steam.

The Darkness II will be available at retail of February 7th for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.

Dead Island ‘Ryder White’ Story DLC Announced – Screens and Details

Garrett Hartman — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 18:26:16 +0000

Deep Silver has announced new story DLC for Dead Island, which allows gamers to play out the story of Ryder White.

The DLC will focus on what Ryder had been doing in the events before and during the Dead Island campaign, and it shows his dual identities as a military man and a loving husband.

The content will bring with it several new hours of new content under a playable Ryder, as well as two new blueprints and weapons. It’s being billed as a single player campaign.

Ryder White DLC will be available on February 1 on Xbox Live, PSN and Steam.

Microsoft Denies Xbox Live Security Compromised

Brandon Fenty — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 08:39:07 +0000

When we start to talk about possible breaches of Microsoft’s online security, many gamers get paranoid. While known for being much more secure than some other online gaming networks (ahem, Sony), they are not totally immune to security breaches. Microsoft today responded to a scare about possible loss of personal data, stating that no data was stolen and that your information is secure.

“Microsoft can confirm that there has been no breach to the security of our Xbox Live service. The online safety of Xbox LIVE members remains of the utmost importance, which is why we consistently take measures to protect Xbox LIVE against ever-changing threats. Security in the technology industry is an ongoing process, and with each new form of technology designed to deter attacks, the attackers try to find new ways to subvert it. We continue to evolve our security features and processes to ensure Xbox LIVE customers information is secure. Online fraud and identity theft are industry-wide problems, and as such people using any online services should set strong passwords, not share those passwords across multiple services and refrain from sharing any personal details that could leave them vulnerable. As always, we highly recommend our members follow the Xbox LIVE Account Security guidance provided a thttp://xbox.com/security to protect your account.”

Well that lets us all sleep easier at night, knowing our Xbox Live accounts are safe. I mean, a big company that could stand to lose millions like Microsoft would never lie about something like this, right?

Modern Warfare 3 Nine-Month Content Drop Incoming

Catherine Cai — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 21:30:32 +0000

Due to Modern Warfare 3‘s success, Activision’s feeling a little bit generous. The publisher’s planned nine-months of content to be made available for Modern Warfare 3, first for Xbox Live Premium Elite users that will trickle down eventually to other platforms.

Starting January 24th, Xbox Live Premium Elite users will start receiving their nine months of “Modern Warfare 3 content season”, which will include new multiplayer maps, Spec Ops Missions, and new game modes. New content drops once every month. Non-premium elite users will have the content available to them a la carte, and they will be able to purchase the new content via Modern Warfare 3 content collections.

The first two content drops will be the multiplayer maps Liberation and Piazza. Liberation will be set in a militarized Central Park. Piazza goes the pastoral route and is set in an Italian seaside village.

The third content drop will be available sometime in mid-February. In March, the first content drops will be available for all users to purchase in the Modern Warfare 3 content collections.

Call of Duty Elite will also be giving away real world prizes to celebrate the new nine-month content drops, although currently details are scant. Stay tuned to RipTen for more news about the new Call of Duty Elite real world prizes when the announcement comes!

Microsoft Tweaks Indie Game Size Limits and Pricing On Xbox Live

Catherine Cai — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 09:30:21 +0000

Indie games published on Xbox Live can now be bigger and cheaper.

Microsoft has changed the maximum file size limit of indie games on Xbox Live from 150 MB to 500 MB. Indie developers also now have the option to price small games (< 150 MB) on Xbox Live at 80 MSP, the equivalent of $1, when before the pricing options were set at 240 or 400 MSP. This price reduction allows indie developers to price their smaller releases accordingly. Cthulu Saves the World, for instance, has already been reduced down to 80 MSP. Hopefully, it’ll see better sales figures at the reduced cost.

Microsoft announced that it was making these changes in order to ”enable our developers to make even better content for Xbox Live Indie Games.” Good news, indie developers. Microsoft still realizes that supporting indie developers is probably somewhat important. But no, access to the Xbox Live Indie Games section is still buried deep within the recesses of the new Xbox Live dashboard. Hopefully, Microsoft will realize that indie developers rely on the fact that Xbox Live users stumble onto the Xbox Live Indie Games in order to explore and buy indie releases. Otherwise, there’s really no reason for Xbox Live users, who usually wouldn’t (care to) be informed about indie releases to wander into the Xbox Live Indie Games section since it’s buried multiple clicks deep into the dashboard.

[Via Edge]

Xbox Live Now Has An Official iOS App

Brandon Fenty — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 21:00:55 +0000

While there have been many apps that have similar functionality in the past, Microsoft has finally released an app for iOS that allows you to access your Live Account. The app coincides with the launch of Microsoft‘s latest version of its dashboard.

Microsoft’s new app allows you to do many of the same things you could do from your Xbox console. For instance, you can view your games and achievements, message your friends, and even edit your avatar. Those Xbox community videos also show up on the main page, completing the Xbox experience. You can set up and use the new beacons feature to show your friends what games you’re itching to play when you get home from work.

All in all, the new app is a worthy download and better than any of the other, “unofficial” apps that are out there. On top of that, it’s a free download, so check it out!

RipTen Review: Rayman Origins (Xbox 360)

Dylan Duarte — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 04:47:19 +0000

Rayman: Origins is an odd little number. It’s a serious – damn serious – throwback to what games used to be. It’s an “old school” platformer if there ever was one. But what if it’s something more? Xbox Live and PSN and the internets are littered with “retro” games, nostalgic little numbers that hark back to a day when gaming was pure and simple. They’re all games of varying quality and the good ones do offer some semblance of what games were like back then. But what if Rayman Origins was different? Ubisoft’s latest doesn’t simply offer a gaming experience that mimics the gaming from my childhood, it is the gaming from my childhood. The simplicity, the mechanics, the difficulty – oh god, the difficulty. There are things in that game that I haven’t experienced for many years. Rayman Origins isn’t a tribute, it isn’t an homage. It’s actually a decades old platformer that’s been designed for the current generation of consoles.

I’m talking about time travel.

We’ve all been so obsessed with renaming French Fries to Freedom Fries, we’ve completely ignored the technological prowess of the French. Hell, the Large Hadron Collider is right there in Geneva, just outside of France. Maybe it was even used to bring Rayman Origins into the futu – look, I’m not a scientist. I don’t know squat about traveling backwards through time to retrieve older games. But what I do know is that I’m glad. I’m glad Michel Ancel has the balls to defy the time-space continuum in an effort to introduce a new generation to what platform gaming is all about.

Thank god they updated the visuals. You can’t just release a game from the past and expect it to compete in the graphics department. Ubisoft Montpeller have created a mind-blowingly gorgeous game. I’m going to go out a limb here, which is dangerous on account of my obesity, but in the four or so years that I’ve owned an HDTV, I think Rayman Origins might be one of the most beautiful things it’s ever displayed. And yes, I’m counting all of the naked ladies that have graced that screen. Even that hot blonde chick from Spartacus. You know, the shitty one that’s with that Claudius scumbag? Rayman Origins is vibrant and it just “pops.” It’s a complete pleasure to look at.

One thing that Ancel and his team of time travelers didn’t put a lot of thought into is how challenging games were back then as opposed to now. With a few exceptions (Ninja Gaiden immediately springs to mind) developers no longer put a lot of effort into a game’s difficulty. If I recall correctly, someone at Nintendo even mentioned difficulty no longer being a big concern. However, Rayman Origins does indeed have a Wii port. If someone who’s used to Kirby and Wii Sports and Mario Party gives Rayman a whirl, they’re going to drop dead in front of their television.

But for many people, that challenge will be the biggest appeal of Rayman Origins. I’ve been known to throw a hissy fit or twelve while gaming and Rayman Origins made me hate videogames, cartoons, and my stepbrother. He just sits there, watching me fail. That being said, with great difficulty comes great satisfaction once a particularly challenging segment has been conquered. Completing Rayman Origins, The Land of the Livid Dead in particular, made me feel like a goddamn king.

By far the most difficult portions of Rayman are the levels where you’re forced to keep moving at a rapid pace. I’m not talking about the time trials, though those are far from easy, but the levels in which the screen is forcing you along or you’re chasing something. These are the levels where you’ll die a couple dozen times in the span of five minutes, rip a clump of your hair out, dive back into it, and hate yourself. But again, these are also the levels that make you swell with pride once you’ve shown them who’s boss.

And then there’s the co-op, which plays a lot like the New Super Mario Bros co-op, in that all of your friends will cause you to die and then you will hate them. I played a good portion with my stepbrother, who normally won’t give a game the time a day unless it has fast cars or killstreaks. We didn’t do very well, and I spent a lot of the time hating him for it, but I still managed to have a lot of fun. It’s very, very hard to not get some sense of enjoyment out of Rayman, be it for the visuals, the humor, or what have you.

Sadly, I’ve heard from multiple people that they just can’t justify spending full retail price on a 2D platformer. Shame on you, all of you. You should drop to your knees and scream “take my money,” and then thank Ubisoft when they do so. Rayman Origins is a gem. It’s an absolute blast to play, fulfilling in the best way possible, and boasts a ton of content.

I have my complaints, of course. It bugs me that backtracking for missed Electoons is near impossible, forcing you to replay the entire level. And the difficulty curve is really, really sharp. One moment Rayman will feel like the stuff dreams are made of, the next an absolute living nightmare. There was a moment where I was hellbent on taking my frustrations out on Rayman’s score, threatening a close friend (and big time Rayman fan) that I would dock one tenth of a point for each consecutive death. Obviously, logic prevailed. Once I saw Rayman through to its end, I was a better person for it.

But I could’ve done it if I wanted to, Matt. I’m in charge here, not you.

Here’s The Rundown:

+ Amazing Visuals
+ Hilarious
+ Recaptures Fantastic Gameplay Once Thought Lost to the Tides of Time
+ Plenty of Content
+ Time Travel is Possible

- Sharp Upswing in Difficulty Will Catch Players Off Guard
– You’ll Spend a Lot of Time Replaying Levels
– My Stepbrother is Bad at Videogames

9 and 9.5 represent the pinnacle of the genre, a game that defines what that genre should be about. These scores are for games that you not only feel would be worth your purchase, but you would actually try to convince your friends to buy them as well.

Rayman Origins was developed by Ubisoft Montpeller and published by Ubisoft for the Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. The game was released in North America on November 15th, 2011 with an MSRP of $59.99. The copy used in this review was for Xbox 360 and was provided by the publisher. The game was played to completion, no thanks to my stepbrother.