Limbless hero returns in 'Rayman 3'

Ho-hum. Another platform title for the PlayStation 2.

Before you doze off, however, make sure you give "Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc" from Ubi Soft a try. It's a gorgeous addition to the decade-old Rayman line, with tight gameplay, lots of color and excitement, and a few new tricks for the limbless wonder.

In the latest version, Rayman, his flying mentor Murfy, and his doofus sidekick Globox (voice by actor John Leguizamo) get into a mess of trouble after Globox swallows Andre, the Dark Lum Lord.

Lums, you'll recall, are those little glowing red globes Rayman collects on his travels. The dark lums are their evil counterparts, hence the Hoodlum in the title.

Besides defeating Andre, Rayman also has the task of freeing the simple-minded Teensies. They are constantly being abducted by the dark lums, who use them for target practice.

All the requisite platform clues are present, including the constant hopping from place to place and the brain-snarling puzzles that must be unraveled before you can progress.

You'll probably find the puzzles aren't quite as tough as in the past, but they're still a challenge. So are the rail-riding tests between levels.

Rayman collects a variety of special powers when he picks up cans of the Hoodlums' laser washing powder. For instance, a green can gives him a whirling burst of energy; a red can gives him a heavy metal fist.

Graphics get an A. Rayman continues its legacy as one of the best-looking games on the shelf. Warm pastels, dazzling effects and deluxe textures make it a visual treat.

Sound is another A. Great sound effects, an excellent variety of music in the background and hilarious voice acting keep your ears smiling.

Control gets a B+. The game plays smoothly and with no major glitches, making the genre-required jumping, hopping and hanging easy and accurate. It falls down in a common area -- the camera. It's usually where it belongs, but not always, making some jumps or combat situations harder than they should be.

"Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc" gets an A. The game carries on a proud tradition of innovation, solid gameplay and glorious graphics. Smaller levels and a lower level of difficulty may be perceived as flaws by some, but if you enjoy the platform genre, this is one of the best available so far this year.