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Development of Rayman 2 was very long in time. It was first started as a 2D game that was cancelled in 1996 in favor of 3D technology. The final 3D game was finished in late 1999 and released for all the platforms of it's age. This long time in development made it a very good videogame for this new 3D era.

The cancelled 2D version

Rayman 2 was first intended to be a 2D game, which would have been very similar to the original Rayman in terms of graphics and gameplay. This 2D game would have been released for the Sega Saturn and Sony PlayStation.

Screenshot from the cancelled 2D version

The game would have had a much stronger similarity to the original game than the final version did. The art style would have remained very similar to that of the first game, as would the gameplay, with a few notable additions. The mechanical gameplay was to be more accessible and less difficult than that of the original Rayman game, but it was also to be more cerebral; puzzles would have taken on a larger role, as can be seen in the playable level which was included with the PlayStation version of the final game.

According to one magazine article, the game was due for release in the late Autumn of 1996. It is unknown exactly how near the game was to completion, but it seems that its music had not yet been composed when the game was scrapped. However, the magazine's article on the game stated that it's already in a fairly advanced state – expect to see a preview next month.

When the developers saw Naughty Dog's original Crash Bandicoot game at the 1996 Electronic Entertainment Expo, they became aware of the new gameplay possibilities offered by the 3D platforming genre. This lead to their cancellation of the sidescrolling Rayman 2 prototype in favour of the final 3D game.

Plot

The plot of the cancelled game was similar to that of the final Rayman 2. In the prototype game, Mr Dark has been defeated and has vanished from Rayman's island. Then, evil robotic invaders from space arrive, and Rayman has to defeat these invaders while rescuing his friends from their imprisonment – one character who was imprisoned by these robots was Betilla the Fairy. The robots planned to convert the entire planet into a cold ball of metal. A character named the Chief, similar in design to the General, would have been involved in the game's story, and probably would have played a much larger role than that of the General in the final version. It has been speculated that he was the game's villain, and was replaced by Razorbeard in the final game. All of the characters would have been limbless. Betilla, and possibly other characters from the original Rayman would have returned, and new friends would also have appeared to aid Rayman.

Gameplay

One of the most significant alterations to the gameplay was that the levels were now two-layered

Rayman riding the robot dinosaur

Rayman would have started the game with all of the powers he received during the original game, with the exception of the running ability. He would have gained additional powers as the player progressed. His telescopic fist would have been able to fly around more freely, and with greater momentum; punching and jumping in a certain way would even cause the fist to circle Rayman completely due to the centrifugal force. Rayman would have been able to punch through certain surfaces to open up secret passageways. As in the final 3D game, Rayman would have learned to swim. Rayman would have met new friends, and some of these would have followed and helped him during gameplay.

Rayman would have started using mechanical tools and devices. These would have included a plunger vehicle, a hook, a laser pistol, and a deviant (a device used to make Rayman's telescopic fist rebound). Rayman would also have been able to mount and ride certain vehicles and creatures, including a robot dinosaur.

One new platforming element was the addition of a 'cowardly' platform, which would shrink away from Rayman in fear should he approach it. Punching the platform would create a sparkling connection between it and Rayman, which would prevent it from escaping while the connection endured. This new power was to be called the platform fist. One of the most significant alterations to the gameplay was that the levels were now two-layered. Enemies in the background could fire projectiles at Rayman while he was in the foreground, Rayman would be able to teleport himself between layers by activating a device.

Another new addition to the game were floating, purple bombs. These explosives could be moved around the area by Rayman's punches, but would detonate upon contact with Rayman or each other.

Another new object was a small floating box with a hand protruding from it; some of these boxes floated stationary, but others moved horizontally or vertically. When Rayman punched the hand, his fist would bounce off it; this would allow Rayman's fist to reach otherwise unaccessible spots, such as an out-of-the-way life statue, or let him his a floating bomb from another angle. It was even possible for the fist to be bounced around between multiple floating hands.

Tings would have appeared in the game; unlike the sparkling, blue Tings of the original game, these Tings would have been silvery and metallic, and reflected their surroundings, like small convex mirrors. Life statues and exit signs would also have returned. Red flying rings would have returned, although, strangely, they functioned the same as purple ones, in that they did not sink when Rayman grappled them.

Playable PlayStation level

In the final 3D Sony PlayStation version of Rayman 2, the player can unlock a single level from the canceled 2D version of Rayman 2. This is done by collecting at least 90% of the Yellow Lums, then completing the Crow's Nest level. You can se the article from this prototype here.

(Source: raymanpc.com)

Storyboards and Concept art

Storyboards

Rayman 2 is a videogame with lots of animations that required storyboards. Here are some of the storyboards used for the development:

This first storyboard is from the final animation at Menhir Hills.

This second storyboard is from the original new game scene. There are some significant differences, like the boat and cell dessigns.

This third storyboard is from The Crow's Nest beginning scene. It has a sign in the bottom-right corner.

This fourth storyboard is from the Menhir Hills scene with Clark. Dialogues from this storyboard were very short.

Concept Art

During the development of the game, some concept arts were made by the development team. Some of them were included (and left unused) in the vignette.cnt file (see here). Others were made public on the internet:

In the last concept art, we can see the early dessign of Globox.

Very early in development

At this point of the development the game didn't had any HUD yet. Water effects doesn't exist, and only a few levels are shown, beeing incomplete and very different from final. Only some later pictures have lums, which had a different design with a big shinning circle and very small wings, including the violet lums that had no rings.

The woods of Light

A platform was between the two sides of the river. This platform would made posible to get the other side without using yet the helicopter.

The Sanctuary of Water and Ice

Some curved walls were at the two sides of the sliding track instead of pillars.

The Menhir Hills

Menhirs appeared from the electric triangle also seen in The Prision Ship instead of a Menhir house. In this screenshot an early violet lum without ring can be seen.

Whale bay

As can be seen in the screenshots, the water part of this level was unfinished. Water has a dull color, and there weren't any water effects.

In the last part of the level, the pirate boat sail was coloured red.

The Iron Mountains

It seems that Ly was meant to appear in this level for some unknown reason.

It seems that the Menhir part of this level was planned to be in a flying menhir instead of the final menhir that runs on the walls.

Video

At the time this video was made, lums were not developed yet. Rayman fist had a different dessign that doesn't bounce at the walls which can defeat robo-pirates with only one hit. Robo-pirates attacked with cannon balls. In this video we can see the test level (with the three mushrooms), a very early Sanctuary of Water and Ice, and some more indistinguishable beta/test levels.

Early in development

This screenshot was made during the development of the early HUD. The circular leaf still has nothing inside

At this point of development, cages had only a grilled side, been the rest plain metal (This cage design is however used in the final HUD)

At this point of development, an early HUD was made, with an early charset still present (unused) in the final game. Rayman face expression was changed with an eye more open than the other, this change was reverted in the final version. Two prerelease videos were made from this development point. A cutted test level is also noticeable.

Test level

The test level can be seen in some prerelease videos and screenshots. It uses textures from the first levels and it has water, a plum, a black snake, and two mushrooms of different sizes (There were three in the early video).