If you thought that 2D side-scrolling platformers were dead, Rayman Origins will change your mind. Though it has all the standard environments you’d expect — jungle, fire, ice, underwater, and more — the artwork is so colorful and imaginative, it feels like a wholly new experience. Origins does nothing particularly new, but its youthful enthusiasm invigorates even the most basic platform jumps and mindless enemies.

As the game opens, Darktoons have overrun the Glade of Dreams and it’s up to Rayman and company to free each realm. Drawing inspiration from levels throughout Rayman’s 15-year history, Origins looks very much like a dream come to life. Even the platforms you jump on have eyes and sometimes hands. These are living worlds the likes of which we’ve never seen before in a game. But don’t worry: jumping, gliding, and punching are about all you need to know to get through what turns out to be a lengthy adventure.

It’s not all about collecting yellow lums and making your way left to right across the screen. There’s a healthy mix of chase scenarios (where you run a platforming gauntlet to catch a fleeing foe) and shooting sequences (like soaring on the back of a giant fly). The chase moments can prove to be an incredible challenge — particularly the final chase, which made us lose a few quarters to the OXM swear jar.

Origins features drop-in/drop-out local co-op play, so you can bring three friends along for the ride, playing as Globox or diminutive wizards the Teenies. In co-op games, you don’t die — you blow up like a balloon and can then maneuver around the screen to your nearest friend. All they have to do is touch you and you’re right back in the game. This revival system eases some of the frustrations you may encounter from a few of the more challenging sections later in the game.

However, the co-op has some limitations. The camera doesn’t always do a good job of zooming out enough for four players to co-exist on the screen. You can smack your friends, sending them flying across the screen, which often happens unintentionally and can lead to unnecessary deaths.

Though far from perfect and using some very standard gameplay mechanics, Rayman Origins is easily one of the best family-friendly games in years.

PUBLISHER: Ubisoft  •  DEVELOPER: Ubisoft Montpellier  •  ESRB: Everyone  •  MULTIPLAYER: : 2–4 in co-op (local only)  •  ACHIEVEMENTS: Easy  •  COST: $60

On Xbox 360

+ Amazing visual design style.

+ Solid 2D platforming fun for the whole family.

– Doesn’t really do anything we haven’t played before.

? Why doesn’t Rayman have arms and legs?

8.5