Console gamers might be aware that Rayman Legends just launched on Xbox 360 and other platforms this week. By all accounts, Legends is another sublime platformer like Rayman Origins before it. Awesome for Xbox owners, but how about mobile Windows platforms? Don’t they get any love?
Turns out they do! Windows 8 and RT users, anyway. Rayman Jungle Run, one of the finest Xbox Windows 8 games in town, got a major update recently. The free update adds 20 new levels, pushing Jungle Run’s grand total up to 70 levels. Pictures and impressions after the break!
Grabbing the new levels
The update itself doesn’t automatically include the new levels – just the ability to download them. I guess Ubisoft wants to let players decide whether to use the extra storage space on their devices or not. Users will need to select the “20 More Levels” button and then agree (?) to the free download.
More levels to love
The first set of new levels is called Pirate Ship. You’ll see the titular pirate ship in the background of 6-1, but you won’t face it until 6-7. At that point, the flying ship chases after Rayman or Globox, firing cannonballs into the foreground. You’ll have to jump quickly whenever the cannon aims for the platform you’re running on!
The second new level set goes by Giant Plant. These levels are filled with fast-growing vines. Rayman and team won’t have to wait as long to fight the Giant Plant boss (first seen in Rayman Origins). It pops up in 7-3, chasing our heroes. You’ll have to quickly punch switches to open pathways in order to stay ahead of tthe massive creature. If it catches up, it’s instant death.
These new levels add some beautiful backgrounds not formerly seen in Jungle Run. They also bring a few mechanics back from Origins, such as moving background pieces. Sometimes the only way to go is up, and Rayman must jump between huge pieces of land falling from the sky. It’s high intensity platforming.
Pirate Ship and Giant Plant also include two brand new Teeth of Death levels. To access these stages, you’ll need to collect five or more teeth in each new area. Collecting a tooth involves grabbing all 100 Lums in a level. Once you’ve got enough teeth, prepare for some super tough platforming challenges.
Achievements
The new levels sadly don’t bring any new Achievements to the game. Free updates seldom do. But they do potentially make the game’s hardest Achievement ‘Lums Survival’ a little easier.
The Achievement requires players to collect 3600 Lums in a single run without dying. The game always provided a potential 4500 Lums to grab by the end of 5-9. After the update, a player who reached 5-9 without getting enough Lums could just go on to the new levels. It’s not all that likely that someone would get to 5-9 in one life without enough Lums though.
Could Windows Phone be next?
This update is great for Windows 8 players, but the Windows Phone 8 version has yet to be updated. Hopefully Ubisoft plans to show Windows Phone some love soon too.
- Rayman Jungle Run – Windows 8 and RT – 58 MB - $2.99 – Store Link
- Rayman Jungle Run – Windows Phone 8 – 49 MB - $2.99 – Store Link
