Rayman Legends Retold, we tried the video game: first impressions

After years of absence from the spotlight, Rayman is preparing to return with Legends Retold, a project that has emerged in recent weeks through various rumors and which we had the opportunity to try for about two hours during an online presentation reserved for the press. This is still a preliminary version, and much of the information circulated about the game has not been officially confirmed. For this reason, it is appropriate to focus primarily on what we actually saw and played.

The first impressions, however, are decidedly encouraging.

• A platformer that focuses entirely on rhythm and variety
• Art direction and soundtrack are immediately convincing
• Too early to judge the narrative component
• What’s it like?
• When does it come out?

Rayman Legends Retold is a platformer that focuses entirely on rhythm and variety

From the very first minutes, Rayman Legends Retold delivers that sense of lightness and immediacy that helped make the Ubisoft character one of the most recognizable icons of modern platforming. The project's strength, at least in this initial phase, seems to lie in its ability to offer an accessible experience without sacrificing remarkable care in level construction.

The level design was the aspect that impressed us most during the test. Each section tackled introduces different situations without ever conveying a sense of repetitiveness. The game changes pace naturally and constantly pushes the player to adapt to new challenges, maintaining high attention without resorting to special gimmicks. This is a quality that often distinguishes the best exponents of the genre and, in these first hours, emerges with a certain clarity.

Art direction and soundtrack are immediately convincing

On the artistic front, the title is also in excellent shape. The visual direction immediately conveys personality and helps define a distinctive identity. Beyond the simple aesthetic impact, what is convincing is how animations and soundtrack interact. Every element seems to work in the same direction, creating an experience that is pleasant to watch and, above all, satisfying to play.

With controller in hand, the dominant sensation is one of remarkable fluidity. Movements respond precisely, and the action flows without particular interruptions. This contributes to making the gameplay extremely engaging, also because the game manages to propose consistently dynamic situations. During the test, we had the perception of a system capable of offering a good variety of approaches and maintaining a constant sense of discovery.

Too early to judge the narrative component of Rayman Legends Retold

It is still too early, however, to express a judgment on the narrative aspects. The two hours spent with the game are not enough to formulate evaluations on the story's context or the overall direction of the narrative. At this stage, it would be premature to go beyond what we actually had the opportunity to see.

Precisely for this reason, it is important to remember that we are dealing with a preliminary build. Many elements could change between now and release, and any consideration should be interpreted as a first impression, not a definitive evaluation. However, when a game manages to be fun from its initial stages, the signal is generally positive.

What’s Rayman Legends Retold like?

The feeling we take away from this test is that of a project that seems to have a good understanding of what has made Rayman, who recently turned 30, such a beloved character over the years. The series has gone through various phases of Ubisoft's history, always managing to maintain its own identity and to carve out a space in the platforming landscape. Rayman Legends Retold seems to want to start precisely from these foundations.

It will be necessary to await further information and a more advanced version of the game to understand the true scope of the operation. For now, however, the judgment can only be positive. The approximately two hours spent with Rayman proved to be entertaining and capable of fueling curiosity about what the rest of the adventure will hold. If the project manages to maintain this quality throughout, the return of the famous Ubisoft hero could represent much more than a simple nostalgic operation.

When does Rayman Legends Retold come out?

Rayman Legends Retold is scheduled for October 1, 2026. After the positive impressions that emerged during this preliminary test, it will be interesting to see if the final version will confirm the qualities shown in the first hours of gameplay and live up to the promises of a project that aims to bring Rayman back into the spotlight after years of relative absence.