Rayman level 02: Pin eraser

 In Rayman´s Designer engine, the A to B typical goal of a platformer videogame is also accompanied by a primary task of collecting blue orbs called "tings", normally 100 tings you must collect if you want to reach the goal sign and consider the level finished. As that, you can take advantage of the mechanic by creating obligatory paths that could be left behind if it wasn´t for the obligatory collectibles that the blue tings are.

I am explaining this because all of my levels designed here have this property. As a special trait exclusive from my creations, I also made another optional collectible which are 100 dark blue tings scattered across the map. These dark blue tings have the function of guiding you across the level, they aren´t mandatory to collect and don´t affect the game whatsoever.

This is the second map I created, called "Pin eraser". The motif of the name is because the end part where the goal sign is located is a vast eraser full of drawing pins (and other nastiness).

This level is what the trope considers it a "marathon level". Very large levels where most of the roster of enemies, textures and mechanics can be found in one single map. This is such a map, taking around 7 minutes to finish it. Well, at least there isn´t backtracking at all!

Another thing I´d like to point in the level is that is a "horror vacui" place. The world itself, a place where the terrain is stationery materials with a full wooden wall as a background, was inspiring to add multitude of staff in and out of your reach. Also, the map will have Rayman for a long time reduced of size (with a mechanic event that reduces Rayman half of his size, making his movements half the reach but also allowing him to cross areas too narrow to cross in normal size).

All this high "full furniture" going level, and the horizontal extension, tries to give a narrow feeling of crossing a very populated area of elements.

The last section, however, is a fresh breeze for all the extremety of elements previously. The last part, the Pin eraser that gives the name of the map, it´s actually more devoid of objects and elements, going in a semi-straight line to the end (having to avoid some enemies who will attack from the rear).

Video gameplay show. One long level I made (and one of the firsts as well). Here are the Image´s World (or Imagination World as I used to call it). This level introduces most Picture City events and obstacles with a heavy inspiration from Original Rayman and Brain Games (all those many elements surrounding you, the narrow feeling or the feeling you have painting stuff left, right, down and up you, for example).

 

The name of the map is because the last surface Rayman walks in is full of drawing pins, in & out the eraser: