Hoodlums (Rayman)

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The Hoodlums are the (fictional) main villains of the video game by Ubi Soft. Hoodlums are large sacks of cloth under which huddles a Black Lum. They come in many different types and colours as well as abilities and strengths.

The Black Lums

A Black Lum is a small, fluffy, sapient, black Lum, of low intelligence and high malevolence, and capable of reproducing at an alarming rate. Initially, the only one is André, but he soon creates more by transforming the Red Lums in the Crossroads of Dreams into creatures like himself. Black Lums themselves are basically harmless, although swarms can strip an Aardvark of fur in a matter of seconds, and André is able to attack Fairies without difficulty. However, they weave animal hair into outfits that resemble potato sacks, which, when coupled with the amazing powers of Laser Washing Powder, function as combat fatigues. A Black Lum wearing one of these outfits is known as a Hoodlum. In the Desert of the Knaaren, Rayman gains the power to transform Black Lums into Red Lums by pulling a face.

Types of Hoodlum

There are many varieties of Hoodlum, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Examples include:

Grim Keeper

These are large Hoodlums with giant wooden shields who attack by unleashing young, grenade-bearing Hoodmonger Privates First Class from under their robes. Retired private tutors, Grim Keepers joined the Hoodlums to practice the negotiated delivery of tidbits on a large scale. They also enjoy tennis.

Heckler

Hecklers are especially large and powerful Hoodlums, who are invulnerable to most attacks. They can only be defeated using the Heavy Metal Fist, and even then they are still not weak. The cannons they use, although undeniably powerful, are actually constructed from seatless toilets.

Hoodboom

These mirthful Hoodlums throw grenades containing volatile cocktails at foes. They are also exceptionally intelligent, and the only Hoodlums capable of counting up to three. They are also noted for their fondness for poetry. The Hoodbooms' collective works are published in an anthology entitled Don't Take It Anti-Personelly, which has certainly sold more than three copies.

Hoodmonger Officer

These are the highest ranking Hoodmongers, as evidenced by their decorations (which take the form of brightly coloured clothes). Officers attack using firearms that launch bullets in three directions, making them difficult to dodge.

Hoodmonger Private First Class

These are the most common enemies in Rayman 3. They are exceptional marksmen, and excellent shots with rifles. Privates First Class are also fond of card games. They are often employed for manual labour. A Private First Class is the star of the Wanna Kick Rayman series of DVDs, a series of lessons providing ideas for killing Rayman.

Hoodmonger Soldier

Soldiers are ground-based Hoodlums who walk everywhere. They use rifles which fire small clusters of ammunition at targets. Soldiers are also trained in camouflage, and wear bright purple outfits to disguise their varicose veins.

Hoodoo

Gifted sorcerors, they protect other Hoodlums using magic force fields. They are also of note for being the only Hoodlums capable of appearing and disappearing who don't have careers in politics and steal from the state coffers.

Hoodstormer

These are particularly annoying Hoodlums that are capable of flight. However, the propellers they wear to achieve this make walking difficult. Hoodstormers attack with shoulder-mounted cannons.

Lavomatrix

Lavomatrices are customised washing machines. They can fly, shoot, and launch tractor beams. They have won the hearts of a number of housewives, making them invaluble in swelling the ranks of the Hoodlum army.

Slapdash

Slapdashes are unbelievably stupid, even by Hoodlum standards. By far the weakest type of Hoodlum, they do not carry guns, preferring to launch boxing gloves on sticks at adversaries, a practice which stems from their taking of the staff order to "gain the upper hand" literally, when it was intended only as a figurative expression.

Spinneroo

Spineroos are paranoid prison guards, which spin around at high speed to ensure that nobody sneaks up on them from behind. They wear chainmail which protects them from most of Rayman's attacks, although they can be destroyed by a loaded Heavy Metal Fist.

Stumbleboom

These are Hoodbooms on stilts, allowing them to cross dangerous terrain. They are beyond the reach of most of Rayman's attacks, but the Whirling Vortex power-up destroys their stilts, turning them into regular Hoodbooms.

Notable Hoodlums

André

André is the primary antagonist of the game, as well as the first (in the opening cutscene) and last (in and outside of cutscenes) enemy to appear. He is small but strong, extremely bad-tempered, and fond of making wisecracks and drinking fermented plum juice.

He is first fought by Rayman inside the Fairy Council. For the duration of this fight he is disguised as a Hoodmonger Private First Class. Afterwards, he flees through the Fairy council, hoping to transform the energy from the Heart of the World into an army of Hoodlums and use them to get revenge on Rayman. Unfortunately for André, before he can reach the Heart he is accidentally ingested by Globox.

Following the advice of the Teensie monks who guard the Heart, Rayman and Globox go visit various witch doctors, who eventually manage to force André to leave by playing classical music. André, however, escapes and employs Reflux, and the Hoodlums regroup.

Eventually, Rayman tracks André down and turns him into a Red Lum, much to Globox's dismay, as he had grown fond of André. This is not the end of the André, however, as Rayman's hands sneak off whilst Rayman is asleep and transform André back again.

Reflux

Reflux is not himself a Hoodlum, but he is an important member of their army, and he does wear a hood occasionally. Reflux is actually a Knaaren, and the champion of Gumzi's Arena. Following his defeat by Rayman, he is treated with contempt by Gumzi and takes to mooching around in the tunnels. It is here that he meets André, and the two join forces.

Reflux steals the Ancestral Sceptre from Gumzi and summons the Leptys, the god of the Knaaren. The Leptys gives him the power of great strength, as well as providing André with energy to multiply. In this form, Reflux serves as the true end boss of Rayman 3.

Toots

Toots is never seen save for in the form of pictures. She is the only female Hoodlum ever mentioned, and operates the intercom in Hoodlum Headquarters, claiming to work at the welcome desk. Globox falls in love with her voice, and is eager to meet her. However, when he reaches the room which purports to contain the welcome desk, Toots is not present. However, there is a cut-out of a female, bikini-clad glewt. Believing this to be Toots, Globox rushes forward and attempts to hug the cut-out, and falls into a strategically-placed trap door. Toots also appears as a target in the firing range. Hoodlums are penalised for shooting it, as it is intended to represent an ally.

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