Players assume control of Rayman, a seemingly magical creature, complete with head, body, arms, and legs but lacking all the connecting parts in between. Over the course of 40 levels, Rayman searches for four masks to help conquer the nefarious Admiral Razorbeard, who is currently in control of Rayman's peaceful world. One of Rayman 2's most endearing qualities is the number of unique (and extremely humorous) characters you meet during the adventure; Rayman 2 crafts an engaging story around its well-designed game play and gorgeous 3-D graphics engine.

Game play consists of traversing dozens of diverse locations, including swamps, temples, pirate ships, and grasslands. Along the way, Rayman collects brightly colored "Lums," which can restore health, replenish air supply (when underwater), provide access to secret areas, and save the game position (like most console games, Rayman 2 only lets you save at certain points). The dynamic levels consist of standard running, jumping, and climbing sections, but also include spectacularly animated action sequences such as water skiing, rafting, and flying. Rayman 2: The Great Escape is an enthralling adventure with surprises around each corner; it's certainly one of the best platform games in recent memory. --Doug Radcliffe

Pros:

• Gorgeous 3-D engine brings the cartoonlike characters to life
• Simple, addictive game play provides hours of fun
• A game the whole family will enjoy

• Rigid game-save feature can create frustrations