Last summer, I discovered Rayman Origins for the first time and fell totally in love with the game. Rayman Origins’ whimsical gameplay and accompanying music were the perfect quick diversion when I needed a study break. I was, however, disappointed with one aspect of the game: Rayman Origins initially includes zero playable female characters. Later, in the game, you unlock a teensy that seems female, but she appears to be the lone playable female character in Rayman Origins. This seemingly female teensy is characterized by pink dress and over-exaggerated eyelashes, neither of which I can really relate to. So, when I learned that Rayman Legends would include not just one but ten playable female characters, I was excited to check it out. Unfortunately, I was quick to discover that in Rayman Legends you still cannot begin the game playing as a female. This is because the majority of the playable female characters must be saved before they are unlocked. These female characters must be saved despite the fact that they are by and large referred to as “warrior princesses.” They seem more princess than warrior to me, if they must be saved before they can be useful.
Despite countless hours playing Rayman Legends, I have thus far only managed to save five of these princess warriors. (Largely because I dislike the particular levels I must beat to save them). However, the five princess warriors I have saved all sound pretty capable on their own:
- Barbara, “a strong and fierce warrior”
- Aurora, “a warrior princess”
- Twila, “an acrobatic warrior”
- Estelia,”the princess from the Fiesta de los Muertos”
- Selena, who “embodies the dark side of Fiesta de los Muertos”
In addition to these five princess warriors, somewhere along the way, I managed to pick up a Teensy Queen, who appears to be a non-warrior princess, and “who only has eyes for her childhood hero: Rayman!”
So, as of now, my female character choices in Rayman Legends involve playing either a warrior princess (all of whom look vaguely threatening) or a lovesick Teensy Queen. I don’t really want to play a lovesick anything, so I’m left with the warrior princesses.The warrior princesses are all very similar to each other in design, with different weapons and clothes. (They do have clothes!) Incidentally, the male characters don’t seem to need weapons. I have yet to run across a male character who is carrying weapons around. I suppose the guys don’t need them. In fact, none of the male characters seem very warrior-like at all. Rayman is not really a warrior; he doesn’t even have limbs! Rayman is whimsical and often silly, but never threatening.
So, why do all but one of the females need to be warriors? The problem for me is, in the context of this whimsical game, I can’t really identify with a warrior-type character. The female characters in Rayman Legends simply aren’t as fun for me because they aren’t as whimsical and fun as their male counterparts are allowed to be. Not that there is anything wrong with playing a warrior in certain games or contexts (or, I guess, with playing a lovesick fool), but it just doesn’t work for me in this particular game. I would rather play a character like Rayman who is described as “always raring for a fresh adventure to save the world;” or Sir Gilbrax, “a very famous knight.” Out of the thirteen playable male characters only one, Raynesis, is described in a threatening manner similar to the warrior princesses: “A desperate case in need of serious anger management.” But, one threatening male character still leaves me twelve whimsical male characters to choose from.
While I’m happy Rayman Legends includes playable female characters, I would love to see playable female characters that are on par with playable male characters. Maybe we will see this in the next release of Rayman, but until then, I feel the playable female characters remain essentially unplayable, for me at least.
