'Rayman' video game a blast from the past

— -- Itching to take a break from military shooters and fantasy role-playing games? Take a spin with Ubisoft's Rayman Origins, a retro 2D side-scrolling platformer that returns the 15-year-old series to its roots.

Yes, that's right, the quirky Rayman is back — the odd-looking character with hands and feet but no arms and legs. He is joined by old friends, too, in the once-idyllic world of The Glade of Dreams.

The charming game is a blast to play, especially with up to three friends in the co-op (cooperative) multiplayer option.

The story is a bit hard to follow, but has something to do with a supreme being known as Bubble Dreamer, who dreams the world Rayman and his pals play in. But the gang's snoring disturbs a mean old granny from the Land of the Livid Dead, who then sends an army of nasty creatures into this dream state. This also causes Bubble Dreamer to have nightmares, which further complicates matters by unleashing Rayman's nemesis, Mr. Dark.

Similar to the original Rayman— but now with high-definition graphics and outstanding animation — you'll run, jump and fight from the left side of the screen to the right. There are 12 unique environments, including jungles and an underwater world, with more than 100 characters to interact with, collectibles and secret areas to find, and many dozens of obstacles to bypass as you work your way to the exit to each level.

There are also some fun aerial levels, a few action levels that have you firing projectiles at enemies, and epic boss battles that take some wits to destroy. The game cleverly folds in new skills and gameplay elements throughout the 60-odd levels.

The controls are tight and responsive in the PlayStation 3 version tested for this review. In the co-op mode, the main protagonists — Rayman, Globox and the two Teensies — each have their own strengths and abilities. Players can work together to accomplish goals (such as standing on another's shoulders to free some Electoons in a hard-to-reach area). Friends can jump in and out of the game at any time.

Between its charming retro gameplay, four-player co-op and clever art style, Rayman Origins is a highly recommended time-waster for gamers of all ages. It might've been overlooked by higher-profile video games leading up to the holidays, but be sure to take a spin with this side-scrolling adventure — and be sure to invite some friends in on the fun.

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Rayman Origins

Platform: Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii

Genre: Platformer

Developer: Ubisoft

Publisher: Ubisoft

Web site: rayman-origins.com

Price: $39.99

Rating: "Everyone 10+"

Score: 3.5 stars (out of 4)

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Contact Saltzman at techcomments@usatoday.com