Admiral Razorbeard and his gang of robot pirates have enslaved all the creatures in Rayman 's world, including the peaceful Teensies and the Lums, which give life to the earth. Rayman has been captured by the pirates as well and is lamenting his troubles in his prison cell when he meets his good friend, Globox. Globox has smuggled in a silver Lum, given to him by the great fairy, Ly. With the power of the silver Lum, Rayman is able to once more shoot his fists. With his power restored, the pair escape the flying prison ship and embark on another adventure to save the entire world!
Rayman 2: The Great Escape is a 3D action-adventure game that follows the story of Rayman . Unlike its predecessor, this version features free-roaming environments and unique abilities for Rayman , such as his hair being able to hover like a helicopter. He can also climb certain walls and ceilings, use special purple Lums as projectiles, and ride strange warheads with legs. The goal of the game is for Rayman to find four masks that will reawaken Polokus, the spirit of the world. These masks are scattered throughout various worlds, which can be accessed by collecting yellow Lums. Collecting these Lums rewards Rayman with new powers and life meter extensions.
The game was released on multiple platforms, including the Nintendo 64, Windows, Nintendo DS, Dreamcast, PlayStation, and PlayStation 2. The Dreamcast version includes exclusive mini-games in Globox Village, while the PlayStation version has altered levels and new areas. Each platform version offers unique features and changes to the game's mechanics and gameplay. For example, the 3DS version features a dynamic difficulty curve, while the PS2 version adds minigames and exclusive items.