Rayman’s close companion, Globox, is responsible for a potentially catastrophic event. By consuming Andre, the Lord of the Dark Lums, Globox has infuriated the Hoodlums, who now intend to reclaim their master at any cost to the world in which they live. It is up to Rayman to save the day and discover a remedy to free Globox from the control of the Dark Lord.
Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc is a 3D platformer played from the third-person perspective. Rayman, the game’s primary protagonist, uses his jumping and punching abilities to make his way through various brightly colored stages. Globox and Andre, both contained within Globox, accompany Rayman and provide periodic commentary on the events that are taking place. Rayman’s primary weapon is his fist, which he can fire projectiles at enemies such as Hoodlums and other adversaries. These bullets are more lethal when Rayman charges his fist by holding the “shoot” button for an extended period.
The game is divided into a few different worlds, each with a few stages. After each level, the game is automatically saved. The player must complete a minigame in a psychedelic setting that involves surfing along light beams, and this must be done before moving on to the next area.
Rayman may also encounter power-ups, which temporarily grant him a unique ability. For example, the green power-up grants him the ability to shoot tornadoes, the blue power-up grants him the ability to use a grappling hook, the yellow power-up grants him the ability to fly for a short while, the orange power-up gives him the ability to shoot precisely guided missiles, and the red power-up gives him a mighty fist that can bash doors. These power-ups are always required to defeat a boss or another adversary on the level and progress to the next section of the story.
Rayman can track down and release the Teensies held captive throughout the level. In return, the Teensies will show their appreciation by removing the next section of the map or calling forth some goodies for him to gather. Rayman’s health gauge fills up a little bit more with each six Teensies that are set free.
There are many extras hidden throughout the levels, and if you manage to finish the stories with a high score, you’ll be able to unlock some funny animations and minigames.
You can play unique minigames on the Gamecube and the Game Boy Advance thanks to a link port that the GBA version of Rayman 3 features. Additionally, you’ll be able to download new levels to the GBA.
The original game has been faithfully ported to the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles, with high-definition visuals and a fluid framerate. They also added nine shorter games to the package.
