Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc

Description

Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc is a 2003 platform game developed and published by Ubisoft, marking the third major installment in the Rayman series. The game was released across multiple platforms including GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Microsoft Windows, and later on OS X, Game Boy Advance, N-Gage, and mobile phones. This entry follows Rayman in his adventurous quest to thwart André and his army of hoodlum soldiers from taking over the world.

This is the Game Boy Advance verison.

Gameplay

In Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc, gameplay mechanics are evolved from those seen in Rayman 2: The Great Escape. Rayman’s abilities include long-ranged punches and, occasionally, kicks. Instead of throwing Energy Spheres as in the previous games, Rayman restores health by collecting Red Lums. Unique to this game, Rayman can find “Laser Detergent” cans which grant him one of five temporary power-ups:

Vortex: Allows Rayman to fire mini-tornadoes.
Heavy Metal Fist: Increases Rayman’s strength, enabling him to break down specific barriers.
Lockjaw: Gives Rayman extendable claw weapons for attacking enemies or swinging across gaps.
Shock Rocket: Lets Rayman fire a remote-controlled missile.
Throttle Copter: Equips Rayman with a helmet for limited vertical flight.

The game introduces a scoring system where players earn points from Rayman’s actions, with a “Combo mode” that multiplies the score for continuous action. Using power-ups from Laser Detergent doubles the points earned, which can unlock hidden content and allow access to secret areas.

Plot

The story begins with the mischievous André, who transforms peaceful Red Lums into sinister Black Lums to join his ranks. The narrative unfolds as Murfy, a Fairy Council worker, stumbles upon André’s plot just as Rayman and his friend Globox are found sleeping. Chaos ensues as Globox inadvertently separates Rayman from his hands while trying to flee from André, leading to a series of events where Rayman must retrieve his hands and stop André’s sinister plan.

As the story progresses, André taints the heart of the world, aiming to create an unstoppable army. However, Globox accidentally swallows André, prompting Rayman to seek doctors who might extract the villain. After various attempts, André is expelled, but not defeated, as he teams up with Reflux to steal a powerful scepter and amplify his powers. In the climactic confrontation atop the Tower of the Leptys, Rayman manages to defeat Reflux and transform André back into a Red Lum by exploiting a newly acquired ability to scare Lums.

The game concludes with a twist, revealing that Rayman himself inadvertently created André in a prior mishap involving his detached hands and a frightened Red Lum, setting the stage for the game’s events.