Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc

Did You Know?

• By the end of March 2003, Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc had sold more than 1 million copies.
• The Game Boy Advance version received 82% on GameRankings and 83/100 on Metacritic.
• The Xbox 360 version received 69/100 on Metacritic.

Gameplay

Rayman's controls resemble those of Rayman 2: The Great Escape, but he uses long-ranged punches and occasional kicks instead of throwing Energy Spheres. Health is restored by collecting Red Lums. Rather than permanent ability upgrades, Rayman finds special Laser Detergent cans that grant one of five temporary power-ups: the Vortex fires mini-tornadoes; the Heavy Metal Fist increases strength and breaks certain doors; the Lockjaw provides extendable claw weapons for latching onto enemies, electrocuting them, or swinging across gaps; the Shock Rocket fires a remote-controlled missile; and the Throttle Copter gives a helmet for limited vertical flight. Later in the game, Rayman can pull a face that turns Black Lums left from defeated Hoodlums into Red Lums. The game features an arcade-style scoring system that tallies points from actions. When points are scored, a Combo mode activates, adding extra points to a separate counter; if scoring stops briefly, the Combo mode ends and the accumulated points are added to the total. Taking damage deducts one point. Points earned can unlock hidden content and, in some levels, grant access to hidden areas in later sections, making high scores important. Using a power-up from a Laser Detergent doubles all point values, including the penalty for damage. Until Rayman Raving Rabbids, players could submit final scores to a worldwide ranking on the RaymanZone website.

Plot

André, who supposedly grew from pure evil, appears and transforms Red Lums into Black Lums to join him. The group gathers enough hair from forest animals to dress as scarecrow-like Hoodlums. During this process, Murfy, a resident of the Fairy Council, discovers them. André and his Black Lums chase Murfy to a clearing where Rayman and Globox are asleep. Globox wakes and helps Murfy move Rayman, but accidentally removes Rayman's hands; Murfy carries Rayman by his hair, while Globox flees with the hands. Later, Rayman wakes and reaches the Council entrance with Murfy, finding Globox in a barrel. After Rayman retrieves his hands, André and minions appear, pursuing Globox into the Council. Rayman and Murfy learn André plans to taint the world's heart to create a Hoodlum army. André catches Globox, who accidentally swallows him. Rayman seeks a doctor to remove André from Globox, and Murfy warns that the Black Lum may force Globox to drink plum juice despite his allergy. Rayman meets three doctors: Otto Psi, Romeo Patti, and Art Rytus. Each attempts to purge André using parts of Globox's body as musical instruments; they succeed by collaborating in Art Rytus' clinic. André then teams with Reflux, a Knaaren Rayman had previously defeated.