BODY: More than a decade after it first dazzled players, one of the most beloved 2D platformers of its generation is coming back โ and a hands-on preview suggests it still holds up beautifully.
Ubisoft's Rayman Legends Retold launches December 3 as a remastered take on the 2013 original, a 2D action-adventure built for up to four players in local co-op. It arrives on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2 and PC, with cloud availability planned via GeForce NOW and Blacknut.
The standout quality, as GAME Watch's preview emphasizes, is how radically the game shifts from area to area. One stage plays as a tight, precise platforming gauntlet; the next becomes a rhythm-driven musical level where every jump and punch lands on the beat. That constant reinvention is exactly what earned the original its reputation, and the "Retold" version preserves it while layering in new elements to freshen the experience for returning fans.
The preview notes that the core appeal endures: fluid controls, gorgeous hand-drawn-style visuals, and level design that stays inventive from start to finish. Even years later, the reviewer found it genuinely fun to play โ a rare compliment for a re-release that could easily have coasted on nostalgia.
For newcomers and lapsed fans alike, the four-player couch co-op remains a highlight, turning tricky stages into chaotic, laughter-filled group runs.
The insider take
From Tokyo, the timing is telling. Launching a polished 2D platformer as a day-one Switch 2 title signals Ubisoft's confidence in Nintendo's new hardware as a home for accessible, family-friendly games โ a segment where the Switch brand dominates in Japan. Local co-op still resonates strongly here, where living-room multiplayer never faded the way it did elsewhere. Pairing that with cloud services like Blacknut hints at Ubisoft hedging its bets across both traditional consoles and streaming-first players in the region.
Originally reported by GAME Watch (Japanese).