What Rayman Legends Retold Is, in Plain Terms
Rayman Legends Retold is a modern remake of Ubisoft’s 2013 2D platformer Rayman Legends, rebuilt in the Snowdrop Engine with upgraded 2.5D visuals, new story content, a fresh explorable world structure, and online co‑op, while preserving the original’s level design and platforming spirit. Ubisoft pitches the project as “more than a remake,” positioning it as a way to “rebuild Rayman’s foundations” after a wider internal reset and layoffs. It is being developed by Ubisoft Montpellier with support from Ubisoft Milan and launches on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2. Priced at USD 39.99 (approx. RM190), it sits in a middle tier between full‑price new releases and low‑cost legacy ports, which puts pressure on its value proposition when the original Rayman Legends remains widely available and often heavily discounted.
A Premium Ubisoft Remake With Eye‑Catching Tech
On a technical level, Rayman Legends Retold fits neatly into the emerging category of premium game remake. The Switch 2 version has been in development for about a year, and Ubisoft says its level of detail is “approximately the same” as the PS5 build, even with four players on screen. According to Ubisoft’s comments to VGC, the Switch 2 version targets 60 frames per second in both solo and four‑player modes, uses ray tracing, outputs at 1080p in handheld, and reaches 4K when docked through DLSS, aiming to be “on par with the Xbox Series S [version in terms of] quality.” That puts the remake among the more technically ambitious Switch 2 games announced so far, and makes the colorful world of Rayman, Globox, and Barbara a natural candidate to show off new hardware without changing the series’ side‑scrolling identity.
New Worlds, Dragon Rides, and Story Tweaks
Beyond sharper graphics, Rayman Legends Retold adds a set of structural and content changes meant to justify its status as more than a visual clean‑up. Levels are framed in a more immersive 3D art style, with 2.5D scenes that add depth to backgrounds and foregrounds. Cutscenes have been redone, new and returning voice actors are featured, and the soundtrack expands under composers Christophe Heral and Grant Kirkhope. The biggest headline addition is a brand‑new sixth world, the Land of the Living Dead, plus dragon ride sequences that link regions into a larger, connected overworld. These dragon rides play like short obstacle‑filled flying stages that stitch the campaign together. Fan‑favorite extras return, including the music levels, the Cave of Trials, and Kung Foot Evo, an updated take on the original’s chaotic local multiplayer mode.
The $40 Question: Who Gains Most From This Remake?
Where Rayman Legends Retold becomes harder to place is its audience. At USD 39.99 (approx. RM190), it is clearly marketed as a premium re‑release rather than a low‑friction port, yet the original Rayman Legends still looks strong in 2D, plays smoothly, and remains easy to buy on current platforms, often at steep discounts. For newcomers, the remake offers the most feature‑complete version, especially if you care about online four‑player co‑op, the new realm, and modern conveniences on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Switch 2. For existing fans, it is a tougher sell unless you are eager to replay the campaign with upgraded art, new cutscenes, and added systems. Rumours that buyers might receive an enhanced Rayman Origins would improve the package, but Origins is also already accessible elsewhere, so it only partly answers the value question.
Does Rayman Legends Retold Justify Its Existence?
As a game, Rayman Legends Retold is built on a strong base: the original remains a standout 2D‑style platformer with inventive levels and playful cooperative chaos. Hands‑on impressions suggest the remake preserves that core while dressing it in beautiful new art and some genuinely appealing additions. As a product, though, its purpose is less obvious than ground‑up reimaginings like the Dead Space or Resident Evil 2 remakes, which revived games bound to aging technology and clunky design. Rayman Legends never needed that kind of rescue. The players who benefit most from this Ubisoft remake may be those entering the series through Switch 2 or newer consoles and wanting the most modern, online‑ready version. Existing fans already have good ways to play Rayman Legends today, so Ubisoft still has not fully answered why this retelling matters for them beyond visual spectacle.
