What Rayman Legends Retold Is and Why It Exists
Rayman Legends Retold is a modern remake of Ubisoft’s 2013 2D platformer Rayman Legends, aiming to rebuild the game with new visuals, a connected world, extra content, and refreshed storytelling while keeping the original’s acclaimed level design and playful tone. Developed by Ubisoft Montpellier with support from Ubisoft Milan, it arrives on PC and current consoles at USD 39.99 (approx. RM190) instead of a full USD 70 (approx. RM333) blockbuster price. Ubisoft describes it as “more than a remake,” outlining four pillars: a larger connected world, an “immersive” 3D art style, expanded narrative cutscenes and voice work, and new mechanics like Dragon Rides, online four-player co-op, and an entirely new sixth world. That ambition sits beside a nagging question: how much change does a platformer remake need before it feels essential rather than optional?
A Gorgeous Platformer Remake That Reminds You How Good the Original Is
Hands-on impressions underline how strong the core game remains. Rayman Legends Retold keeps the tight, creative level layouts that defined the original platformer while wrapping them in a 2.5D presentation built in Ubisoft’s Snowdrop engine. Environments gain depth through 3D elements, water and lighting effects pop, and character animations look even more expressive without altering the underlying physics or momentum that fans remember. The music and audio design receive similar care, with Christophe Héral returning and Grant Kirkhope joining to reinforce the punchy rhythm of chase sequences and musical stages. According to Wccftech’s preview, Rayman Legends “still looks great, it still plays great,” and the remake “will more than remind you” why it is held in such high regard. That strength, however, undercuts the sense that a remake is necessary when the original remains attractive and readily available on modern hardware.
New Content, New Co-op, and the $40 Question
Ubisoft tries to justify Rayman Legends Retold’s USD 39.99 (approx. RM190) price point with additions that go beyond sharper visuals. Online four-player co-op joins returning local play, answering a long-standing wish from fans who wanted to team up without couch constraints. Dragon Rides now link regions, turning world transitions into obstacle-filled flying sequences that add spectacle and mechanical variety between stages. A completely new sixth world, The Land of the Living Dead, introduces the Power of Light ability, although Ubisoft has kept deeper details under wraps. Familiar extras such as the Cave of Trials and Kung Foot, now reworked as Kung Foot Evo, return as well. Even so, the preview questions who this package targets: new players can buy the original Rayman Legends on platforms like Steam, where it often drops to low sale prices, while existing fans must decide whether online co-op and one extra world justify paying again.
Who Is This Remake For: Existing Fans or Newcomers?
Rayman Legends Retold lives in a strange middle ground. For players who never touched Rayman Legends but enjoy polished platformers, it is an easy recommendation in terms of quality, yet the value calculation is less clear when the original is inexpensive and accessible on modern devices. For existing fans, the appeal centers on online co-op, enhanced presentation, and curiosity about the new world and cutscenes. However, the core campaign remains structurally familiar, and the hands-on preview found that Retold often feels like a reminder of how good Rayman Legends already is rather than a reinvention. Rumors that the remake could include an enhanced Rayman Origins would add perceived value, but even that would bundle two games that already hold up well visually and technically. The tension between preservation and novelty defines this platformer remake and may limit its audience to dedicated series followers and new players who want a definitive, up-to-date edition.
What Ubisoft’s Remake Strategy Signals for Platformers
Rayman Legends Retold also reflects a larger shift inside Ubisoft. Following a “major reset” that reorganized its studios into Creative Houses and cut staff, the company is leaning on proven franchises to rebuild trust and financial stability. Choosing Rayman, a series with critical respect but less recent exposure, hints at a strategy of reinforcing foundational brands rather than chasing only giant live-service hits. This platformer remake follows a wider industry pattern where publishers revisit beloved games with modern engines and selective new content rather than full reimaginations, as seen in recent horror remakes that radically overhauled structure and tone. In contrast, Legends Retold plays it safer, focusing on fidelity and modest expansion. Ubisoft’s approach suggests that future platformer remakes may adopt similar mid-tier pricing and feature sets—appealing visually and technically, yet conservative enough that questions about necessity and target audience will remain part of the conversation.
