Review: The more the merrier in 'Rayman Legends'

• %27Rayman Legends%27 follows the hero as he explores %27Glade of Dreams%27
• Wii U version lets users control more than one character
• Available for Xbox 360%2C PlayStation 3%2C Wii U and PC

While there are a number of high-profile video games on the horizon, many aren't appropriate for kids, tweens and young teens.

Parents looking for something suitable for their family should consider Ubisoft's Rayman Legends, a fun and frantic "platformer" that lets up to five gamers — maybe even Mom and Dad, too — play together on the same television.

Rayman Legends takes place after the events of Rayman Origins (2011), where a wacky cast of heroes awakes from a 100-year nap only to find nasty nightmares have again infested the once-idyllic world called the "Glade of Dreams." It is available now for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3/Vita, Nintendo Wii U and Windows PCs.

Rayman — the shaggy-haired character with hands and feet, but oddly, no arms and legs — and his quirky buddies set out to save the imprisoned Teensies, restore order to the universe and push back against the evil force.

At its core, Rayman Legends is a side-scrolling platformer that has you running, jumping and climbing through multiple levels, but you'll also battle baddies using an arsenal of unique moves per character. In fact, the Wii U version gives you the option to control a fly named Murfy, using the touch-enabled GamePad controller. You can tickle guards to distract them, for instance. Murfy can also rotate gears and platforms, cut ropes to move objects, dig paths and shoot a slingshot.

Including Murfy, up to five people can play the Wii U version in the drop-in-and-out co-op multiplayer mode (or up to four players on other platforms). Speaking of the Wii U, gamers can still partake in the fun if the TV is off or occupied, as Rayman Legends can be played on the GamePad controller's 6.2-inch touch-screen.

Sure, Rayman Legends is still a blast when there's no one around, but the game really shines when friends or family hop in and everyone works together to complete the many diverse levels (more than 80, in total). The game also houses competitive levels including the "Invasion" mode, secret areas to discover and costumes to acquire and wear. And while not as entertaining as the platforming levels, there are some rhythm-based musical stages, too. Not tested for this review, but there's also the option to play online with others.

Visually, the game is gorgeous. Between its colorful, hand-drawn environments and smoothly animated characters, Rayman Legends is easy on the eyes. The music is also top-notch, with some of the instrumental tracks based on contemporary and classic pop songs. Kudos to the talented artists and sound designers at Ubisoft Montpellier, based in the south of France.

Rayman Legends is a fun and family-friendly platformer that offers accessible controls, high production values and a ton of solo and multiplayer levels to play through. Should you be looking for something everyone in the home can play together, this game is it.

RAYMAN LEGENDS

Platform: Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii U, Windows PC, PlayStation Vita

Genre: Platformer

Developer: Ubisoft Montpellier

Publisher: Ubisoft

Website: http://www.ubisoft.com/

Price: $59.99 ($49.99 for PC)

Rating: "Everyone 10+"

Score: 3.5 stars (out of 4)

Contact Saltzman at techcomments@usatoday.com.