A Different Class of Game | Rayman Legends PS4 Review

Rayman Legends has been out for a while on last generation consoles and we have a review on the site already. However, a PlayStation 4 version of the game is now available and this review will focus on the differences between the two versions of the game, rather than on the game itself.

Rayman Legends came out last year and proved that it was one of the best games of the year. In fact, critics raved about the beautiful visuals and tight platforming controls and even made Game of the Year on several critic’s lists. With the game coming out so late in the last generation of gaming, there was a unique opportunity to revisit the game, add a few features and help flesh out a young library of games. Ubisoft realized this opportunity and decided to bring Rayman to the next generation of consoles. Early adopters of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One now get a chance to taste what these new machines are capable of, as well as having the ability to play a great game with new features that should appeal to them.

As soon as you start the game, you’ll notice that the graphics have been improved. The original version of the game looked amazing and the next gen version of the game looks just as good. The animations and textures are slightly smoother and the new hardware handles the game with ease. Loading screens are also greatly reduced so the game runs longer with fewer interruptions. The overall presentation of the game is slightly improved so if the game so while the game ran at 1080p at 60 FPS, this is a new platform for those that may have missed the original game. However, the core gameplay is essentially the same experience as before so if you already own the game, there isn’t a big performance reason to purchase this version. There is only a subtle upgrade to smoothness of some of the more hectic scenes in the game, while they weren’t a big issue on the last gen consoles, this generation it was a non-issue. Take a look at the video to get an idea of how the game looks and plays between generations of consoles.

However, there were special additions to the game that are specific to both the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 in terms of extra content and control intricacies. On the PlayStation 4, you’ll be able to use the touch pad in the middle of the controller to pause the game, zoom and pan around the environment. It isn’t a necessary element to the game, so mapping it to a secondary input worked out quite well. Beyond that, the console specific additions are limited to skins. On the PS4 you’ll get Assassin Ray, which is an Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag themed skin. On the Xbox One, you’ll get Splinter Ray and Ray Vaas, which are two skins based off the Splinter Cell and Far Cry 3 franchises respectively.

In the end, whether or not you upgrade is going to come down to preference. The game is still the same awesome game you’ve come to know and love. It plays almost exactly the same on the last generation as it does on the new generation. If skins and extras matter to you, then there is some new material to get involved in. However, it is relatively clear that this version of the game is meant to introduce a new audience to a beloved franchise. If you didn’t get it already; this is the version for you. However, if you already purchased and finished the game, you can comfortably take a pass; there just isn’t anything here that you haven’t experienced before.

This review is based on a review copy of the PlayStation 4 version of Rayman Legends published by Ubisoft