Rayman Legends review for PS4, Xbox One

Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Also on: Wii U, Xbox 360, PS3, PC, PS Vita
Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Ubisoft Montpellier
Medium: Blu-ray Disc/Digital
Players: 1-4
Online: Leaderboards
ESRB: E10+

A year ago we were told that Rayman Legends was being put on hold thanks to poor Wii U numbers. Ubisoft decided to shoot for a multiplatform release that would be driven by holiday sales, and now just a few days shy of last yearโ€™s announced delay, Rayman Legends is seeing its second release on the PS4 and Xbox One.

We checked it out on Sonyโ€™s console, and thought you may have some questions about that, so letโ€™s try to answer them.

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As gorgeous as Rayman looks on the Wii U and fellow platforms, thereโ€™s logic behind assuming that more powerful hardware lead to a prettier product. At least, the advertised uncompressed textures on 3D models in the PS4/Xbox One versions suggest that weโ€™re in for a treatโ€“ although one which is frustratingly difficult to discern when I ran an A/B comparison between it and the Wii U edition. In fact, Digital Foundry has gone ahead and cleared it up for everyone that we donโ€™t need glasses, but in fact itโ€™s nearly impossible to improve Raymanโ€™s visuals even on new hardware. With no perceivable difference in fidelity, thereโ€™s no reason to worry about having an inferior PS3 copy.

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Inferior isnโ€™t just a sarcastic jab, either. Unlike the majority of ports that Rayman Legends has seen, the PS4 version is closest to emulating the inventive touch controls that were showcased on the Wii U, by use of the Dualshock 4โ€™s touch pad. Itโ€™s not much, but if itโ€™s the thought that counts, then players will enjoy using the touchpad to physically scratch off cards along with functionality as a camera which can be zoomed for taking screenshots. Considering that the game is ostensibly a work of art, thereโ€™s at least a small treat of appreciating it similar to the luxury of smelling the roses in any racing gameโ€™s photo mode.

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Thereโ€™s also the bonus of remote play, which arguably means that youโ€™re getting a free game to play on your Vita, as with any PS4 release. Surprisingly, the ability to scratch off cards is present by use of the Vitaโ€™s touch screen, further cementing the handheldโ€™s competency to play console games.

These small touches not being present on the Xbox One version, of course, are the better arguments to side with Sonyโ€“ unless the 10 extra challenges the Xbox One gets sound more valuable to you. Additional character costumes from Assassinโ€™s Creed are present on the PS4 version, with Far Cry 3 and Splinter Cell stuff on Microsoftโ€™s console. Outside of these additions, thereโ€™s not much else going on that we hadnโ€™t seen in the PS3/Xbox 360 variances of Rayman Legends.

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The definitive edition of this game is always going to be at home on the Wii U ? like it or not ? and while the compromises made to pretend it was never triaged for platforms beyond that arenโ€™t dealbreakers, theyโ€™re present on any and all consoles that donโ€™t have the word โ€œNintendoโ€ on them. If you donโ€™t mind Murphyโ€™s slightly handicapped functionality on ports of Rayman Legends, then the only deciding factors are what bonus costumes you care about, and whether you do or donโ€™t have a PS4.

Grade: A-
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