Rayman 2: The Great Escape

The original Rayman was one of those games you either loved or hated. Why? Because it was a surreal, French cartoon platform game with cutesy graphics and a ridiculous storyline. Rayman 2 is one of those games you'll either love or hate too. Yes, it's the same thing all over again, but this time in full 3D, Mario64 style.

Like its predecessor, Rayman 2 is a devious mix of old-school platform levels, bonus stages, power-ups and puzzles - nothing too taxing, but involving enough to keep your average PG Tips chimp happy. And, like the original again, Rayman 2 requires the patience of a saint and the reflexes of a true platform gaming professional.

Ultimately, Rayman 2 suffers from the same problem as its predecessor: it's too goddamn hard for its ideal target audience, which is girls, children and families. But if you don't mind the silly scenario or the cartoony graphics, and you're capable of getting our no-limbed hero from one side of a level to the other without losing all your lives, then there's much to be said for the game. First off, Rayman 2 is immaculately presented: the graphics are wonderful, being something of a cross between Trap Door(remember that one?) and The Teletubbies, while the music soothes the ears with various renditions of Ry Cooder, Danny Elfman and Massive Attack's most memorable efforts.

The gameplay is more open-ended than something like Crystal Dynamics' Pandemonium (which Rayman 2 pays more than a passing resemblance to in places), and it does have some memorable moments, but most people will probably agree that Ubi Soft have shot themselves in the foot by making Rayman 2 too difficult for the nippers.

Unfortunately, this sequel does not Involve Rayman tunnelling his way out of a German POW camp assisted by Steve McQueen and James Coburn, and the game is all the poorer for it. Instead, this love-it-or-hate-it offering sees the no-limbed Rayman fighting to regain his magical powers and save the world from Razerbeard and his evil pirate gang.

Guide the no-limbed one through the usual old-skool platform levels, bonuses, power-ups and puzzles. Although you can see from its cartoony graphics and daft scenarios that it's aimed at kids, Rayman 2 is still as damn tricky as its predecessor. The platforming elements may be over-familiar, but it's cute and endearing enough to keep you smiling.