Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc

Play Magazine

Rayman 3's most awesome attribute, as incredible as the movies, dialogue, and gameplay are, is a level of visual splendor that defies everything I've come to know about lighting effects in a video game. [Mar 2003, p.47]

Nintendojo

Innovation makes the experience feel awesome all the way through, whereas squirting a water pump with Mario lost its appeal to me within the first three hours of gameplay.

Cheat Code Central

The one-liners and crazy situations alone are worth the price of admission. I don't want to give too much away but if the thought of being defecated on by a witch in her outhouse sounds bizarre to you, welcome to Rayman's world.

IGN

Whether you're a Rayman fan who can't get enough of the limbless wonder, or an action-adventure-platforming gamer who enjoys sarcastic wit, gorgeous graphics, smooth framerates, and creative character abilities, Hoodlum Havoc is for you.

GameCube Europe

The scenery looks so stunning that it tempts you to explore every corner.

Nintendo Power

At times, the camera shows the action at awkward angles, but for the most aprt it's spot on. [Apr 2003, p.134]

Gamer.tv

A 3D platforming game set over a multitude of levels, there are lots of nifty ideas at work here... enjoyably offbeat and unexpectedly impressive.

GameCritics

This self-referential back-and-forth sets this game apart from the crowded market of platformers that it mocks and imitates with equal finesse.

GameSpot

Doesn't blow the doors off Rayman 2, but it does further refine the formula, is completely worthy of the Rayman name, and is also one of the best platformers we've seen on the GameCube thus far.

TotalGames.net

Aside from a few new gameplay aspects, this is "Rayman 2" all over again.

G4 TV

Probably the game's biggest flaw is that it doesn't do anything new to woo over gamers who don't like platformers. But it does take a waning game style and pump it so full of energy, humor, and near-psychotic malevolence that you may have to play something tame such as "Ty the Tasmanian Tiger" just to come down afterward.

NintendoWorldReport

An amusing caper, but not an epic adventure like Rayman 2. Rayman 3 has some very strong qualities, but its brevity just cannot be ignored.

Nintendophiles

From the story, to the music to graphics to the gameplay, Rayman 3 is fun to play.

Yahoo! Games

Displays almost Zelda-like creativeness in its monsters and environments.

Deeko

With memorable voice acting, exciting gameplay and and great graphics, Rayman 3 is a 3-D platformers dream come true.

Gamestyle

I loved playing Rayman 3, its fun, colourful and very funny... Just don’t be expecting either a major leap forward for the platform game genre or a stiff challenge as its lacking in both.

Total Video Games

Special. More than just a simple upgrade, with loads of exciting and original levels, complete with a great developing storyline that will keep you pleasently happy along the way.

Four Fat Chicks

“Rayman 2” was a better game, but Hoodlum Havoc nevertheless ranks as one of the best platform titles available. It's polished, smooth, and done with care and affection. The levels are gorgeous, inventive and worth exploring.

Eurogamer

It's pretty, it's quite a challenge, and is loaded with rewards. But you'll quickly come to the conclusion that for all its charms, it doesn't offer enough new ideas, and that its competition is just too strong.

GamePro

It’s kinda clever, but once you get the basic formula its not very challenging.

GameSpy

The creators' scatterbrained ideas for ways to improve Rayman 3 over its direct predecessor has left the game shackled with a lot of half-baked, completely non-cohesive concepts and generally dull, repetitive, and tiresome gameplay.

GMR Magazine

Snide voice acting turns cutesy bit players Globox and Murfy into electronic annoyances, and Hoodlum Havoc revels in its lame humor. [Apr 2003, p.68]

Edge Magazine

There's a certain amount of wit and flair evident throughout Hoodlum Havoc's cut-scenes, and there are certainly some very slick production values. The problem is that, in terms of raw enjoyment, the game is somehow underwhelming. [May 2003, p.104]

netjak

Sloppy and uninspired.