Ubisoft has released Rayman: 30th Anniversary Edition for Nintendo Switch, a compilation celebrating the limbless hero’s debut from 1996. The collection includes five different versions of the original Rayman game, accompanied by bonus content and historical documentation. Published by Digital Eclipse, this anniversary package marks three decades since the fantasy platformer became Ubisoft’s first major commercial success.
The Rayman 30th Anniversary Edition bundles the PlayStation original alongside versions for Atari Jaguar, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, and MS-DOS PC. According to the release details, the Sega Saturn version is notably absent from the collection. Players control Rayman, an affable limbless character, through 17 stages across six worlds as he attempts to rescue caged Electoons and defeat the villainous sorcerer Mr Dark.
Each version included in the anniversary edition offers subtle differences for platform gaming enthusiasts. The Atari Jaguar release lacks full-motion video sequences and features reduced visual and audio quality compared to the PlayStation version. However, it compensates with an exclusive Arkanoid-style minigame that doesn’t appear in other versions.
Meanwhile, the handheld versions provide alternative experiences for portable play. The Game Boy Color release features completely original shorter stages that translate the console experience to Nintendo’s handheld system. The Game Boy Advance version displays a cropped viewport but benefits from cleaner navigation due to reduced animation frames, though it surprisingly suffers from frame-rate issues not present in other versions.
Extensive MS-DOS Content Expands Original Game
The MS-DOS release provides the most substantial additional content within the collection. According to the package details, it includes 24 extra stages designed for expert players, 40 fan-designed levels, and 60 additional stages created by Ubisoft developers. This brings the total number of playable levels far beyond the original 17-stage campaign.
Additionally, the collection features a single-stage 1992 prototype from Rayman’s original Super Nintendo CD-ROM development. The game was initially conceived for the unreleased SNES peripheral before transitioning to other platforms. While this prototype stage concludes within seconds and offers minimal gameplay, it provides historical insight into the character’s origins.
Modern Features and Historical Documentation
Digital Eclipse has equipped the anniversary edition with contemporary quality-of-life features. Players can access screen filters for authentic visual presentation, cheats for every included game version, save states, and a rewind function. These additions make the challenging platformer more accessible to modern audiences while preserving the option for purist experiences.
In contrast to the gameplay additions, the History section delivers comprehensive documentation of Rayman’s development journey. The collection charts every significant milestone from conception through release and includes over an hour of documentary footage. This archival material provides context about how the colorful platform game featuring themes like Band Land and Candy Chateau came to fruition.
Missing Elements in Anniversary Collection
However, the Rayman 30th Anniversary Edition has drawn attention for notable omissions. Despite numerous Rayman sequels and spin-offs released over three decades, the collection focuses exclusively on the original game and its variants. Many observers expected at least Rayman 2 to accompany the first installment in this retrospective package.
More significantly, the original soundtracks have been completely replaced across all versions. A new composition by Christophe Héral, who previously scored Rayman Origins and Rayman Legends, substitutes for the authentic audio. Industry reports indicate this change likely stems from licensing complications, with Ubisoft not fully owning the rights to the original musical scores.
The collection targets dedicated enthusiasts seeking comprehensive access to Rayman’s debut across multiple platforms. Future updates or additional Digital Eclipse releases have not been confirmed by Ubisoft at this time.
