What Rayman Legends Retold Is – And Why It Exists
Rayman Legends Retold is a modern remake of Ubisoft’s 2013 platformer Rayman Legends that rebuilds the original’s levels, art, and structure with new technology, added content, and updated multiplayer, while keeping its 2D platforming core intact for current-generation platforms. Developed by Ubisoft Montpellier with support from Ubisoft Milan, this game remake review finds a project Ubisoft describes as “more than a remake,” built in the Snowdrop Engine and framed around four pillars: a more connected world, an “immersive” 3D art style, a more ambitious story with redone cutscenes and new voices, and extra gameplay features including online four-player co-op and a brand-new sixth world. It is set to release across PC and modern consoles for USD 39.99 (approx. RM190), positioning Rayman Legends Retold as a mid-priced classic game revival rather than a full-priced blockbuster.
Visual Glow-Up: Gorgeous, Polished… and Familiar
Hands-on time with Rayman Legends Retold shows a visually stunning remake that flatters an already handsome game. The shift to a 2.5D presentation, with 3D elements framing the action, makes each stage feel like a layered diorama, inviting you to pause and take in the colorful environments and playful animations. Built on Snowdrop, the remake pushes higher fidelity lighting, sharper textures, and smoother effects without changing the fundamental feel of the platforming. The music and audio design benefit too, with Christophe Héral returning alongside Grant Kirkhope to refresh an already beloved soundtrack. New cutscenes and extra voice work hint at a more explicit story, though the preview build offered only a taste. In motion, this is the textbook Ubisoft remake: polished, cohesive, and respectful. Yet the visual upgrade highlights an awkward fact—the original Rayman Legends still looks excellent on modern hardware and never felt in need of rescue.
New Content and Co-op: Enough to Retell the Tale?
Beyond graphics, Ubisoft pitches Rayman Legends Retold as a rebuild of Rayman’s foundations through new structure and features. The headline additions are a large, connected world map, online four-player co-op alongside local play, and fresh mechanics such as Dragon Rides that link regions. These flying sequences, reminiscent of an animated setpiece, weave obstacle-dodging into transitions between areas and add spectacle without breaking the 2D focus. Classic extras like the music stages, Cave of Trials, and Kung Foot return, the latter rebranded as Kung Foot Evo to reflect tweaks. A completely new sixth world, The Land of the Living Dead, introduces an ability called the Power of Light, though details remain sparse from the work-in-progress build. According to Wccftech, Ubisoft calls Rayman Legends Retold “more than a remake,” but after a couple of hours, the experience still feels like a richly expanded version of a game that was already content-packed.
The $40 Question: Value, Accessibility, and Audience
The core tension around Rayman Legends Retold is not quality but purpose. The remake is priced at USD 39.99 (approx. RM190), a mid-tier tag that sounds reasonable until you remember the original Rayman Legends is widely available, runs well on current systems, and is often discounted to a fraction of that cost. For players new to the series, the question becomes whether online co-op, a new world, and refined presentation justify paying several times more than a frequent sale price. For fans who already own Rayman Legends on Steam or consoles, the value case is even murkier unless online play or the promise of new content is irresistible. Rumours that a free enhanced Rayman Origins may be bundled would sweeten the deal, but that too remains a classic game revival of a title already accessible, so it does not fully settle who this remake is truly for.
Remake Trends and Where Rayman Fits In
Rayman Legends Retold lands in a crowded era of remakes, where projects like Dead Space and Resident Evil 2 justified themselves by modernising games that aged mechanically or technically. In contrast, Rayman Legends never lost its footing; it plays smoothly, looks lively, and already stands as one of Ubisoft’s most acclaimed platformers. That makes this Ubisoft remake a curious case: more an exercise in brand maintenance and pipeline testing than an urgent restoration. As classic game revival strategies go, it shows both opportunity and confusion. On one hand, it keeps Rayman visible, offers an inviting entry point for new players, and adds online co-op that fans had long requested. On the other, it risks diluting excitement by retreading ground that did not need renovation, raising that persistent question: when everything still works, how much retelling is worth paying for?
