1. Rayman (PS)
I find it sad that only one person so far has put an entry from this franchise on his list. This series is exemplary.
The first title in this series that I played was Rayman 3. It was my first proper video game, and it still holds up today in terms of overall design. Its point system, combined with the drive to improve my score, adds a lot of replayability to the game. If not for my "1 entry per franchise" rule, this game would also be on my list.
I then moved on to Rayman 2, which is almost as good. It lacks the replayability of 3, but is still a great game in its own right.
After playing both of those games to death, I tried out the original. And...did not like it that much. It's really high level of difficulty, combined with the shitty PC controls, turned my much younger self off of the game.
A few years ago, an HD rerelease of Rayman 3 surfaced on the Playstation store. After realizing that that game was just as good as I had remembered, I decided to give the original Rayman another shot. I then proceeded to absolutely fall in love with it.
The game looks like a Saturday morning cartoon, and many of the sound effects are of a similar vein. The art style works very well. Considering that this is an early PS title, the graphics are surprisingly great. The multiple layers of backgrounds, each of which scrolls at its own rate, look particularly amazing. The music also deserves mention. I rarely notice music, whether in video games, movies, anime, and so on, unless it really stands out. I not only noticed many of this game’s tracks, but had them stuck in my head for days after playing. Each tune fits perfectly in the game, and can add atmosphere and tension when needed..
The game is comprised of five main worlds, each of which contains 3 or 4 levels of 2-6 stages each. A sixth world is unlocked later. Several of the worlds do not follow the typical platformer themes; for example, one world is composed of musical staffs, notes, and instruments while another is crafted from art supplies.
The gameplay is simple; Rayman can initially only walk and jump, though he quickly gains his signature fists and helicopter, among other abilities. Rayman must navigate his way through each stage to a ‘!’ sign that leads to the next one. This is not easy; while the first world is not too difficult, the challenge increases significantly in world 2, and continues to rise from there. Through trial and error, you will slowly learn the layout of an area and how to reliably navigate it. Very few deaths are cheap. Instead, most of them stem from mistakes. There is a way to reliably get through almost every part of the game. Repeating sections is rarely an issue, as checkpoints are generously laid out… most of the time. The game feels challenging at nearly all times, but rarely gives an impression of insurmountable difficulty. In addition, the levels are really fun to play through. Some levels, such as “Allegro Presto” and the entirety of Picture City, easily rank among my all-time favorite video game levels.
The bosses of are particular note. Each follows an attack pattern which provides an opening to deal damage. Through trial and error, you figure out how to dodge his attacks while chipping away at his health. These bosses exemplify the trial and error design philosophy on display in Rayman.
The only element that goes against this idea is the limited lives and continues. However, there is a code you can enter that resets your continues if they get too low. If you can beat the game without using it even once, I must congratulate you. You are a much better gamer than I am.
Unfortunately, the series took a steep nosedive after Rayman 3. Rayman 4 was supposed to be a 3D platformer that took level themes from the first game, and had the potential to be the best game in the series. However, it was cancelled, and instead replaced with a mediocre Wii-motion-control-gimmick minigame collection. Ubisoft cranked out several sequels to that title, instead of a proper Rayman game. From what I have seen, the recent Rayman Origins and Rayman Legends are a return to form, though I have yet to play either.
Rayman is a platforming masterpiece that I recommend to any fan of the genre. I consider it to be the best 2D platformer I have ever played, and my favorite game of all time.