Rare is one of gaming’s most beloved developers, with a plethora of highly praised games throughout their long history. With 2015 being the 30th anniversary of the company, Rare has decided to release a collection of thirty of their best games, and it’s set to be released soon. With thirty games to choose from, some people may have a hard time deciding which games to play first, so let’s look at the must play games on Rare Replay.
Battletoads
Battletoads is the game that put Rare on the map. The game is well remembered for being one of the best looking Nintendo Entertainment System games and for also being one of the hardest games ever made. Battletoads still manages to make gamers throw their controllers in rage. Perhaps the most frustrating part is the infamous Turbo Tunnel section. Rare has included an infinite version of this section for gamers to try and place on the leaderboards; there’s even an achievement related to it! And yes… GameStop will finally have Battletoads.
Killer Instinct Gold
If you’ve been enjoying the new Killer Instinct, it might be a fun to take a look at the series’ past with the second game in the series. Take a look back at how complicated combos originally were or the extremely 90’s designs for Jago, Orchid and TJ Combo. Killer Instinct Gold may not be the most pleasing game on the eyes anymore, but the soundtrack still holds up pretty well, particularly the themes for TJ Combo and Maya. Killer Instinct fanatics might already own the arcade version of this game through the purchase of the Ultra Edition of Killer Instinct Season 2, but this version had many differences (some good). Players will even be able to get their c-c-c-combo breakers online if Killer Instinct 1 & 2 Classic are anything to go by.
Banjo-Kazooie
Banjo-Kazooie is no doubt Rare’s most famous game (well after games about a certain red tied gorilla and a certain super-spy) and for good reason. Super Mario 64 may have started the 3D platformer genre, but Banjo-Kazooie perfected it. The game features a cast of memorable characters, great gameplay, levels that are perfectly designed and a brilliant soundtrack composed by the one and only Grant Kirkhope. If you’re looking for the game that best summarizes what Rare is, as a company, then look no further than Banjo-Kazooie… Just be prepared to have at least one of the songs stuck in your head.
Jet Force Gemini
Jet Force Gemini was one of gaming’s earliest third person shooters. The game has become a cult classic, being brought up all the time during lists of best Rare and Nintendo 64 games. Though the original Nintendo 64 version had a notoriously tricky control scheme, that won’t be a problem in the Rare Replay version due to both sticks being utilized; this should make Jet Force Gemini a much less frustrating experience than it was in the past.
Perfect Dark
While Goldeneye 007 sadly cannot be included in Rare Replay due to various licensing issues, its spiritual successor Perfect Dark is included. Perfect Dark features one of gaming’s best female protagonists, Joanna Dark, a character who stands tall with the likes of Lara Croft and Chun-Li. Since the version of Perfect Dark being used is the Xbox 360 version, players will be able to duke it out with their friends in online matches. There’s even weapons and maps from Goldeneye in it! Say hi to Elvis for me!
Banjo-Tooie
While Banjo-Tooie may not be as good as the original game (arguably), that in no way means that it isn’t also a fantastic game. Banjo-Tooie features larger levels that have side missions which connect to different levels, a larger cast of characters (with returns from some favorites like Boggy) and a whole new set of moves. Banjo-Tooie even does the incredibly smart move of starting the game with all of the moves earned in Banjo-Kazooie! Banjo-Tooie does have a bizarrely dark opening though, especially for a family game.
Conker’s Bad Fur Day
You may have had to “make your own game” with Conker in Project Spark, but it’s time to go back and visit Conker’s first adventure. Conker’s Bad Fur Day is well known for its brash sense of humor that mixes a cutesy, cartoony world with adult themes and jokes. You will get drunk, you will witness a cartoon squirrel pee and yes…you will fight a giant, singing pile of poo. There’s a reason people want to see Conker come back so much; it’s because Conker’s Bad Fur Day was one of the few games to successfully mix comedy and gaming together.
Kameo: Elements of Power
One of Rare’s two Xbox 360 launch titles (the other being Perfect Dark Zero), this game was Rare’s attempt at a Legend of Zelda style game. The gameplay is unique, as it has the heroine shape-shifting into various creatures to help her make her way through the game. Kameo wasn’t the most popular game at release, but it has since gained a cult following. A sequel was in development but was ultimately canceled… Perhaps Kameo’s appearance in Rare Replay may lead to the sequel finally being released?
Viva Piñata
Rare’s answer to games like The Sims and Animal Crossing, Viva Piñata is easily the most beloved game Rare made after joining Microsoft. Viva Piñata (and its sequel) is perhaps the most relaxing game on Rare Replay, as it is just a simple little gardening sim. But it has a ton of that classic Rare charm. Though it does have a bit of addictiveness in the form of trying to collect all of the different species of pinatas, almost Pokémon style.
Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts
Perhaps the most controversial game in Rare Replay (and maybe even on this list), Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts has received a lot of negative feedback, because it was the first (and as of now only) Banjo game released since 2000. It drastically changed the gameplay, shifting from a 3D platformer to vehicle building/racing game with bits of 3D platforming thrown in. This greatly disappointed fans who were hoping for a game more inline with the first two. A popular and hilarious video from JonTron criticizing the game hasn’t helped its image either. But there is a section of the Banjo fanbase who look past what the game wasn’t and focus on what the game is… and they come out loving the game. So it’s best to try the game out yourself to see if you actually do like it. Now, if only we could get another game in the Banjo series…
Rare Replay is set to be released on August 4, 2015 only on Xbox One.
