Rayman 1: Opening, Title Screen & Part 1: Pink Plant Woods (3/6 Electoon Cages)

BONJOUR! My first playthrough of a game that's neither Japanese nor American, but French!

For my childhood, this was one of the hardest games I've ever played. I NEVER managed to beat it as a kid, even after getting as far as beating the fifth world. But now, I will present my first time beating this game, ever.

There are multiple versions of this game, but right now, the PS1 version is the most accessible, and what I'll be playing through, here.

Unlike most games where you could see the credits after beating the final boss, the only way to even get to the final boss is to get 100% first! I'll explain why below as I explain this game's story.
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As the Magician narrates, there was once a wonderful, whimsical world where no one had limbs. This world was kept in balance and harmony by an orb known as the Great Protoon. However, this peace could not last...

One fateful day, a mysterious dark figure known as... Mr. Dark, stole away the Great Protoon. A fairy know as Betilla tried to fight him for it, but her power was not enough and she was forced to retreat. Without the Great Protoon, all of the Electoons that were gravitating around it went loony and scattered themselves all over the world in a panic.

Without the Great Protoon keeping the world in balance, more crafty characters and creatures showed up, captured every Electoon they could find, and locked them up in blue cages. There was only one hero who could save them all...

"RAYMAN! TO THE RESCUE!"
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The Limbless Wonder's job in this game is to travel through 5 different regions across his world, facing all of the baddies that threaten him, and break open every cage he finds in order to free the Electoons inside of them.

In order to achieve 100% in this game, and face Mr. Dark at the very end, you MUST break open every single Electoon cage. This is not optional. It has to be done in order to ever beat the game!

Interestingly enough, Mr. Dark will watch your progress the whole time using binoculars to represent the game's map screen.
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As I said above, there are 5 different regions of adventure to be had in this game, each with their own distinctive theme and style. The first one of these is The Dream Forest, which is full of... well, forests, as well as woods and swamps.

The first of the Dream Forest's levels is Pink Plant Woods, where the first area of it is where you can learn Rayman's most basic controls. There aren't any enemies, here, but you'll still instantly die if you fall into the water, something every single Rayman game after this fixed for the better by letting him swim.

The second area is a bit more dangerous, as its full of poachers, hunters, and Antitoons. You can't fight any of them, yet, but you can use the Circle button to have Rayman do a scary face that makes the taller poachers run away.

The third area lets Rayman meet Betilla the Fairy, who grants Rayman his first power: Literally throwing a punch. The punch can kill enemies and knock down giant plums to stand on. You will also need this in order to break open those Electoon cages.

Rayman has 5 powers in the game, and once he gets each of them, the Betilla areas that he gained them from won't be accessible again upon revisiting the levels they came from. The rest of these powers along with the Fist will be needed to reach every cage in the game.
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The Magician will also make appearances in some levels. Pay him some of your Tings to go through a Bonus Round. Get all of the Tings in this before time runs out to get a free 1-UP. If you fail or leave before then, you'll have to pay him more. If you've already gotten a 1-UP from a bonus per play session, you'll only be playing through it again to beat your own records until you reload your game.
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I don't get every Electoon cage in this level, because I lacked all of the powers needed to reach them. I will return to Pink Plant Woods later on to get the remaining cages once I have all of the necessary powers.