Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc

Rayman - famous for his helicopter hair, lack of limbs and wacky adventures. And for being one of the most popular platform game stars in recent history. Now he's back in his biggest, most impressive game yet.

The 'Hoodlum Havoc' of the title refers to the pesky enemies that become Rayman's newest nemeses. The story goes that, after the wicked Dark Lum Lord was scoffed by Rayman's pal Globox, he released an army of his furry, freaky Dark Lums to help him escape. The Dark Lums took various forms, known as Hoodlums, and wreaked havoc upon the land. Naturally, the world now looks to Rayman to restore the peace.

Such a tricky mission means Rayman will need a few more tricks up his sleeves (if he had them). And this time, the floppy-haired hero has packed a suitcase full of trickery that would make a magician jealous. Each new power changes Rayman's look: altering from his simple tunic and neckerchief to some of the most outlandish outfits imaginable. Examples of his new arsenal include the Heavy Metal Fist (grants powerful punches to smash obstacles and Hoodlums), the Lockjaw (a Hoodlum-bashing grappling hook) and the Vortex Fist (bestows Rayman with the ability to throw whirlwinds from his hands).

But Rayman 3 isn't about simply bashing buttons and hoping for the best. Each enemy has a weakness that must be discovered and exploited with the correct combination of techniques. For instance, some creatures require a simple blow to the side while others need a powered-up punch to send them packing. Like previous Rayman games, each enemy has been designed to be as weird and wacky as possible. The Hoodstylers, the leaders of the Hoodlum army, are sharp-dressed soldiers that carry giant weapons called Boomsticks. Red-hatted Hoodbooms are skilled at turning almost anything into an explosive weapon, while Grim Keepers are the Hoodlum's rear guard - ready to launch a volley of explosive Grims at anyone approaching.

That's just a small slice of the Hoodlum presence you'll come up against. Add in their group-fighting skills and giant, transforming bosses and Rayman's got a real fight on his hands. This fight will take him from the relative safety of the Fairy Council lands, across the Hoodlum-infested forests and factories, to the spooky Land of the Livid Dead. Each level is represented in glorious graphics that bring Rayman's world to life like never before. Plus there are plenty of minigames and psychedelic sub-quests (such as speeding through a power-up packed tunnel) to keep you occupied, beyond the normal puzzle-packed platform gameplay. Plus there are even secret videos for you to unlock.

With its smooth graphics and lifelike animation, Rayman 3 is like a living cartoon. In fact, the talents of two well-known cartoon voice artists were employed to bring life to the characters. John Leguizamo (Ice Age, Moulin Rouge) plays Rayman's portly pal Globox, while Billy West (Ren and Stimpy, Looney Tunes) is Murfy, the inquisitive fly who?s always cracking jokes. Rayman 3 Hoodlum Havoc is chock-full of comical moments, first-class platforming action and brain-teasing puzzles. And if you get yourself a copy of Rayman 3 for Game Boy Advance, you can use your GCN game to download extra levels in the handheld version, via the Nintendo GameCube Game Boy Advance cable!