Rayman Origins is an absolute delight. From the charming introduction to the destruction of the final name in ‘Credits Sequence! Part Deux’ there’s so much enjoyment to be found in hopping, skipping and jumping through sixty plus levels, all the while throwing fisticuffs at anything that moves – friends included – never-ceasing to amuse. Even when tempers fray and those tricky treasures live up to their reputation, the game keeps on entertaining (these fury-crafting moments are arguably the game’s most fun, it has to be noted).

Through its own volition – and title – Rayman Origins throws us back to an age where all that was expected of a game was to provide players with entertainment regardless of style or even substance. Bold yet humbly going about its business we are forgiving of Rayman Origins’ wafer-thin story its cheeky yet amiable ‘Press Start to Play’ modus operandi. Origins operates as a game that accepts its supposed reboot status and fresh beginnings but is suitably aware of what lay before; it plays down its simplicity through stunning set pieces but establishes its bare-bones mode variance as early as possible.

“Rayman Origins is simplistic, untainted side-scrolling fare of the highest order.”

We are privileged to receive a game that combines a well-orchestrated utilisation of modern-day technology to create stunning vibrant environments with a PlayStation circa 1995 personality. Found within enchanting level designs and a glorious infusion of colour and music (the soundtrack deserves a separate release) into proceedings is a more than palatable yet elementary side-scrolling experience serving up sharp recollections of Rayman in 2D (and to a lesser extent the first Sonic games). This concoction – a potent blend of the raw old and glossy new – provides players with just what they need to play, expertly balanced and housed within a striking eccentric visual showcase.

There is no drive for ground-breaking game engines, no QTE-laden ‘events’, no motion peripheral implementation or gameplay shake-up experimentation; Ubisoft completely pass on Uplay inclusion or content-padding price-tag justifying extra mode expectations and purely zone in on one definitive target. All sterling efforts on the parts of Michel Ancel and the team at Ubisoft Montpellier are focused on creating an incredible unified adventure, and damn right too: Rayman Origins is simplistic, untainted side-scrolling fare of the highest order and while there are few out there who would perhaps pre-emptively attest that the game should have remained a downloadable title, they had only play through Origins start to finish to realise their misjudgment. The purchase here would not be a regretful one; this is a game you could easily dig out of the collection and return to in years to come.

I sincerely hold Rayman Origins up as a game worthy of recalling to the future generation as a highlight of the current era of gaming: this is no current generation-defining game by any real stretch but in terms of consistent quality, continuous enjoyment and a justification of the reasons for gaming… well, this is such a game that merits recognition. More than worthy of giving to the uninformed and presenting to sceptics of the hobby, delightful doesn’t even begin to describe the experience had with Rayman Origins, co-op or otherwise. It should not be seen as a successful reboot or a simple throw back to a bygone era of gaming but instead a return to form for the Rayman series and a stellar tribute to the previous generation.

We yearn for games to break the mould but at the same time accept that the sequel/remake system is firmly rooted in our postmodern society trundling along powered by an idea tank running on fumes; we deserve more games like Rayman Origin, a breed of game that has such evident and admirable care and attention for the art for that it has a greater effect on its player(s) than games that formally follow and vainly attempt to set the trends.

“This is a wondrous game and there are no words more apt to describe Rayman Origins in one than that.”

It should not always be about developers and publishers striving to be the pinnacle of success, forever competing in a highly profitable yet ultimately futile venture where perfection and perfect contentment has been established as achievable to a fickle audience now expecting such. What Ubisoft Montpellier have done with Rayman Origins – and what Double Fine Productions did with their take on Sesame Street earlier this year – is look to produce a game that is pristine in appearance and constantly enjoyable to play yet nothing more and nothing less.

You could whiz through and wash your hands of Rayman Origins in under ten hours if you must – if you are comfortable with viewing this and other games as dispensable commodities it will give you what you want and you can dispose of it as you see fit when done. Take your time and just revel in the modest yet refined beauty however, and this superb game – with no intention to embellish for emphasis of a point here – has more than enough potential to last you months.

Feel free to collect all two hundred and forty Electoons, ace every level for medals and time trial trophies, catch-all the chests, play through the wonderful bonus level, scour every nook and cranny for all Lums and walk away with a hard-earned 1000G/Platinum trophy if you must, but remember this: after all your endeavours and attempts to reach perfection, you’ll find that a game is capable of providing you with ever more entertainment in the same pillaged places still remains.

Even if husked out, discarded in return for the next game release and left on the pre-owned shelves of shops to gather dust, if you feel like another round you’ll have two more save slots available to necessitate a justified return to the glorious Glade of Dreams. Rayman Origins is worth holding onto though: it may not be the staple diet of a modern gamer but it is a flawless exhibition of generation-leaping gameplay married to sublime presentation. This is a wondrous game and there are no words more apt to describe Rayman Origins in one than that; are you convinced that you need this game in your life yet?