Switch’s Rayman Legends: Definitive Edition is far from definitive
Before we go on, let’s stress that Rayman Legends is and has always been a highly enjoyable platformer — one of the best of the last five years — and it’s the same core game released today on Switch. As beautiful as ever, Legends is a great fit for Nintendo’s console hybrid, but there’s a problem: it’s called the Definitive Edition when the reality is that the port has so many small niggles that the label just isn’t accurate. Wii U, Xbox One, PS4 — all offer a tangibly improved experience. In some respects, the Switch version has more in common with the last-gen Xbox 360 and PS3 games. It’s still Rayman Legends, it’s still an excellent game — and yes, it offers up a 1080p presentation — but definitive? No.
Content-wise, it does at least offer a few additions but none of them are particularly exciting. All of the characters that were once exclusive to each platform now come together on Switch, which is nice, while Kung Foot gains a tournament mode with local WiFi support (which doesn’t extend to the main game as far as we can tell) but really — that’s it. We didn’t spot much else of note added to the mix, but continued play brought us to the simple conclusion that there are better ways to experience this excellent game.
The Definitive Edition’s issues are hardly game-breaking, it’s just that the collection of missed opportunities, annoyances and cut features creates a sort of momentum of ongoing dissatisfaction as you play — and this starts with the loading screens, which persist for longer than any other version of Rayman Legends we tested. For some stages we’re looking at upwards of 16 seconds, and although others can load faster, the reality is that the Wii U — a system notorious for extending loading times — manages to load up the same levels 50 per cent faster than the Switch — and that’s from the disc version of the game. Meanwhile, PS4 and Xbox One have no loading screens whatsoever. The PS Vita version was the previous record holder for the longest loads, but the Switch version manages to surpass it.
Does it actually matter? Well, firstly, it hurts the pacing of the game, since you spend a lot more time waiting between stages, making it less enjoyable to engage in time trials or a bit more onerous if you’re intent on collecting everything in each level. It takes time to load the level itself and then more time to return to the hub. It all stacks up over time and starts to grate — far less of an issue on other systems. We played from the NAND storage on the Switch itself. Copying to SD card saw a couple of seconds added to the experience, in line with our prior Switch loading time tests.
We can’t say for certain why this is happening, but one theory suggests that it is tied to file sizes and compression. On Wii U, the game weighs in at 6.7GB, but on Switch it’s been reduced to just 2.9GB. It’s even larger on PS4 and Xbox One, clocking in at around 9GB, as those versions make use of uncompressed art assets. Switch’s reduced storage footprint is great for saving space but that extra compression might be connected to the extra loading — it may be the case that the CPU is kept busy unpacking the data.
John Linneman presents the Digital Foundry breakdown of the Switch’s Rayman Legends port.
The extra compression also results in a very subtle degradation in asset quality too, which would make sense considering the reduction in file size. The experience isn’t impacted much at all, but when the camera zooms in during certain scenes, you can spot the difference. Is it really an issue? Possibly not, but should the problem manifest at all in a game dubbed the Definitive Edition?
Adding to the small niggles is occasional slowdown during gameplay. Granted, most of the experience runs at the target 60fps, but Switch has occasional issues in maintaining its performance level. What’s odd is that repeating these sections after death eliminates the issue completely, suggesting that — once again — these hiccups might be tied to behind-the-scenes asset decompression. Thankfully, it’s rare and ultimately not a big deal, but when the Wii U powers through these same sections without a hiccup it does feel a little disappointing. Taken together, none of our issues with the release are in any way game-breaking — but when you launch a version of a well-regarded title this much later, hosted on stronger hardware and with a Definitive Edition label slapped on it, we really shouldn’t be encountering these issues.
You’d also expect a Definitive Edition to feature the complete feature set of all the available versions — but this is not the case. Key features found on Wii U and other systems are not present on Switch. This is tied primarily to the Murphy stages. Essentially, on Wii U and PlayStation Vita, certain stages allowed players to use the touchscreen to interact with the game while an AI ran through the world. However, the non-touchscreen versions of the game introduced button-based controls for Murphy. It’s a very different experience but it works well enough.
Both options are available on Switch, which is fantastic, but it’s not the full implementation you’d expect from a Definitive Edition. Firstly, we’ve lost the ability to play using touch controls in multiplayer with one person controlling Murphy — this makes sense since you cannot use the touchscreen while connected to a television on Switch, but what about system link?
Rayman Legends was scalable enough to run at 1080p60 on all of the last-gen platforms, as you can see here.
On PS Vita it was possible to link systems together in order to play cooperatively with one person handling touchscreen duties while the other plays through the stage. It should have been possible on Switch (wireless co-op is available in Kung Foot mode), but this feature is not implemented at all. On top of that, we’ve lost the option to play with five players simultaneously, which is strange as we know that Super Bomberman R supports up to eight players on a single system. The Switch version follows the non-Wii U editions in capping the player count at four participants. Again, not a big deal, but this is supposed to be the Definitive Edition, right?
It could be argued that none of these features matter that much but the opportunity was indeed here to create a definitive edition of a really good game, but what we have here is a good, perfectly serviceable port — but one that could have been truly great. Of course, you do get the best handheld version of the game, but it feels like the key advantages of this version arrive courtesy of the Switch’s system-level hybrid gaming features, as opposed to any special effort from the developer.
So, if you’re looking to catch up on this really cool platformer, what’s the best way to play? If gaming on the go isn’t a concern, PS4, Xbox One and Wii U versions each offer significant advantages over this Switch release. The last-gen Nintendo console remains a great way to experience the game, especially if multiplayer is your focus. It looks every bit as good as the Switch version (slightly better, in fact) and loading times are less intrusive. Meanwhile, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One leverage the increased amount of RAM to offer uncompressed art assets and no in-game loading times at all.
Ultimately, we’ve got nothing against Wii U ports coming to Switch — in fact, we welcome them, as many titles stand to benefit immensely from Nintendo’s irresistible console hybrid concept. And yes, it’s great to see an excellent library release like this added to the Switch catalogue. But we expected more -
and it feels that a title renowned for its polish just hasn’t received the same level of attention as existing versions of the game, and that’s just a touch disappointing.
Game review: Rayman Legends: Definitive Edition is not what it seems
Rayman Legends: Definitive Edition (NS) – not definitive, but still good
Ubisoft’s classic 2D platformer comes to the Nintendo Switch, but is this really the best version of the game?
The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil In Me review — the best till last
Considering it was originally supposed to be a Wii U exclusive it’s ironic that we’ve played Rayman Legends on more formats in the last four years than probably any other game. It’s a sad irony though, because it’s never been particularly successful on any of them. Despite being one of the best 2D platformers of the last several years. And we doubt its fortunes are suddenly going to change on the Switch, especially as this is absolutely not the definitive edition.
Not that this version is any kind of disaster, but it doesn’t run quite as well as the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions, and it doesn’t have all the same features as the original Wii U edition. It’s not even really as good as the PS Vita version, which is what it most resembles. But if you weren’t a nit-picky video games reviewer you’d barely notice the differences between any of them.
Rayman Legends is a loose sequel to 2011’s Rayman Origins, a game rightly praised for its excellent visuals but which we felt lacked the full variety and imagination you’d expect of a top tier Nintendo game. Ubsioft’s Montpellier studio obviously agreed, as Legends takes everything that was great about the original and refines and augments it into something truly special.
Apart from anything this is one of the most visually stunning games we’ve ever seen, and those that dismiss it as ‘only’ 2D deserve a lifetime of generic brown landscapes and tedious simulations. Not only is the gloriously Gallic art style full of personality but the attention to detail and clever use of polygonal graphics means you can never guess what’s coming next, from being pursued by giant dragons and trolls to underwater sections of staggering beauty.
But what truly marks Rayman Legends out as something special is that it does fulfil the Nintendo promise of a new idea every level. This was one of the main failings of Rayman Origins, but Legends manages to almost effortlessly reinvent itself at every turn – despite a 12+ hour running time.
As ever the platforming feels a little floatier than the Mario bros., but the controls are nevertheless precise and reliable – with Rayman’s spinning haircut still allowing him to glide gracefully through the air. That’s an old trick for the series though and Legends eagerly piles on new features such as levels more focused on shooting, puzzle-solving, stealth, and just about every other game genre imaginable.
Rayman Legends: Definitive Edition (NS) – you can dress up as Mario and Luigi if you want
The pinnacle of this cross-genre pollination is probably the musical stages that play out at the end of each world. These use cartoon-ified versions of real songs (Black Betty in one particularly memorable stage) as you try and jump and punch your way through the stage in time to the music. The choreography is amazing and we would’ve quite happily have played a whole game based solely on that idea.
But that’s to take nothing away from the boss fights, which although relatively traditional in their pattern-learning structure are the very pinnacle of the game’s visual prowess. The mix of 3D graphics and 2D gameplay works amazingly well, and has still not been bettered in any similar title.
Origins came close, of course, and many of its levels are available to unlock within Legends, almost providing a 2-for-1 bargain. Just like the original game, and New Super Mario Bros., there’s also the option of four-player local co-op (but not online). But the game’s most interesting co-op feature involves Murfy the fairy from Rayman 2, and the way he works has always been the main point of difference between each of the different versions.
Rayman Legends: Definitive Edition (NS) – if nothing else, we hope this leads to a new sequel
Murfy was the focus of many of the GamePad-specific features in the Wii U version, where as well as making use of the controller’s motion sensors another player could control Murfy directly by using the touchscreen. This was of course impossible on the other home formats, and in the Switch version the computer controls him by default and you just press a button when you want him to do something (like cut the rope to release a bridge or distract an enemy).
The original touch controls are available as a separate option in handheld mode, but there’s no way to play these sections with a friend – as was originally intended. Obviously you can’t use the Switch’s touchscreen in TV mode, but the PS Vita allowed you to link two consoles and play co-op that way. But Ubisoft hasn’t bothered to do that here. In fact, the only notable effort they’ve gone to for the Switch version is to add an online tournament mode to the Kung Foot mini-game.
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And while the graphics are gorgeous throughout they don’t look like the uncompressed textures that the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions boasted, plus there are brief instances of slowdown. The loading times are also noticeably worse than on any of the other versions. They don’t ruin the game – none of these omissions and faults come close to doing that – but they do ensure that this can in no way be described as the definitive edition.
Although the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions are the prettiest versions of the game, in our book it’s still the original Wii U version that is the best. Its unique controls are what the game was designed for and, evidentially, they can’t be replicated on any other format. It’d be churlish of us to dock this version a point, considering we’ve given every other one 9/10, but considering it’s not even particularly cheap we can definitively say that this is not the definition edition.
In Short: Still the best non-Mario platformer ever made and a stunning work of imagination, but if anything this is the worst version so far – not the best.
Pros: Insanely inventive at every turn, with mountains of content that constantly one-ups itself. Superb graphics and amazing use of sound. Fantastic art design.
Cons: Murfy’s sections still worked best on the Wii U and PS Vita. Minor graphical issues and strangely long load times. No online multiplayer for the main game.
Score: 9/10
Formats: Nintendo Switch
Price: £29.99
Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Ubisoft Montpellier
Release Date: 12th September 2017
Age Rating: 7
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According to Eurogamer’s Digital Foundry tests, the Xbox One, PS4 and even Wii U versions of the game can offer a significantly higher quality environment, while the Switch version has more in common with the previous generation of games for the Xbox 360 and PS3. Yes, it’s still a great Rayman Legends, yes, it’s played in 1080p, but there are still significant downsides. In terms of content, there are a few innovations, but none of them are particularly significant. All the characters that were once exclusive to certain platforms are present here, which is nice. There is a Kung-Foot football match mode with support for local Wi-Fi play (unfortunately, this does not apply to the entire game). But that’s all, but familiarity with other aspects of the game speaks of shortcomings.
It is worth saying that some levels on the Switch take as long as 16 seconds to load. And while others may start faster, but on the Wii U, and from a disk drive, this process takes half the time. There are no loading screens at all on PS4 and Xbox One, and even the PS Vita version (the last record holder in this regard) loads faster. With active play, this can be noticeably annoying.
Why did such an annoying flaw come to light? It seems that the developers decided to save the disk space of the console and significantly compressed the resources of the game: if the Wii U version takes 6. Added to this are small performance drops during the game. In most cases, we are talking about a stable 60 frames / s, but sometimes it can drop to 55 frames / s. It is strange that after the death of the character, the repeated passage of the same moments passes without a hitch — apparently, this is due to the same unpacking of resources. Fortunately, this rarely happens and is generally not critical, but still it should be noted that even the Wii U always produces a stable 60 frames / s. You would expect a full edition of the full range of features available on various systems, but this is not the case. In general, users expect something more from the re-release of games released on Wii U in advance. And in the case of Rayman Legends: Definitive Edition, it seems that the developers simply reacted to the task without due attention, and this is somewhat disappointing.
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Legends (PS4, Xbox One) — now everywhere
The same game that we saw on PS3, Xbox 360, PS Vita and PC is out on Xbox One and PS4. Visually, it has not changed at all, interesting new content has not appeared. It just costs more.
One of the best games of last year managed to be released on almost all platforms (except for the weak 3DS), but for some reason ignored the new generation consoles. Ubisoft finally decided to fix this flaw. Here are just Rayman Legends for PS4 and Xbox One in no way, not one iota differs from the versions for PS3 and Xbox 360. The graphics remained the same (no wonder, the game is drawn after all), there were no new features.
However, the owners of PS4 and Xbox One will not have the opportunity to have the same fun, with a campaign, to run and jump to peppy music for a long time. There are no platformers on the new consoles and are not expected in the near future.
Rayman: Legends impresses not so much with the quality as with the amount of content, offers challenges and mini-games (football forever!), a long and varied campaign, plus reworked levels from the previous part of Rayman Origins. To add interest, you can make collections of animals, look for secrets, open stylish costumes for heroes.
Unfortunately, unlike the Wii U version, where Mario and Luigi ran, the authors did not draw thematic heroes for competing platforms (Krastos for PS4 or Master Chief for Xbox One, for example). On PS4, the «exclusive» is the Assassin’s Creed suit, and on Xbox One, Vaas from FarCry 3.
The developers have found a use for the touchpad on the PS4. It is used to remove the protective layer from lottery tickets, as well as to scale the image if you want to take a picture of a particular element of the screen. Unfortunately, the latter possibility does not make sense in this particular game. Drawn graphics when approaching becomes soapy, the clarity disappears. And you can take beautiful screenshots without this function thanks to the Share button.
It is unlikely that anyone will be pleased with such «photos»
Diagnosis
The best version of Rayman Legends was and still is on the Wii U, which is not surprising since the game was originally developed for this platform, with the touch screen in mind.
The same game that we saw on PS3, Xbox 360, PS Vita and PC is out on Xbox One and PS4. Visually, it has not changed at all, interesting new content has not appeared. It just costs more.
Pro:
- Rayman Legends is now on PS4 and Xbox One
Contra:
- If the game is available on any other platform, there is no reason to buy it today on PS4 or Xbox One
2014-02-17 21:00:00
Vitaly Kazunov
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