Tag: Rare
News First 4 Figures Unveils 'The Great Mighty Poo' From Conker's Bad Fur Day
Update: Discounted pre-orders now live
Update: If you've been patiently waiting to add The Great Mighty Poo to your mantelpiece at home (haven't we all!?), now's your chance to do so. The statue is now available to pre-order with discounted Early Bird pricing available – all editions of the statue will increase to their usual price on 4th...
Random Sea Of Thieves' Twitter Account 'Won't Shed Any Tears' If You Play Zelda Instead
Good sport
Now that The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is finally out in the (Breath of the) wild, we think it's probably safe to say that a large percentage of the Nintendo community - and indeed the gaming community as a whole - is probably playing it today. Other developers and publishers know this too, of course, and rather than bury...
Random OG Donkey Kong Country TV Series Cast Reunites For Animated Short
Return to Krocodile Isle
If you're a fan of the Donkey Kong Country TV Series from the late '90s, then get ready for a sweet dose of nostalgia, because multiple members of the original English voiceover cast have reunited for a brand new animated short called 'DKC: Return to Krocodile Isle' from Alex Henderson Animation and Bootleg Dub Productions...
News Former Rare Director Joel Hochberg Has Passed Away
"Joel changed the course of history"
We've got some sad news on the industry front - with a Miami Herald obituary confirming the former Rare director Joel Hochberg passed away earlier this week, aged 87. Joel lives on through his wife, children, grandchildren and extended family. As highlighted by GamesIndustry.biz, he signed on with the Ultimate...
Random Rare Co-Founder Tim Stamper Teases 'Dream 64' Development Cartridge
"Dream 64 does exist after all"
Update [Tue 11th Apr, 2023 00:05 BST]: Tim Stamper has now posted a follow-up tweet featuring video footage of Dream 64. In it, he notes how it was "probably" shown at Japan's Nintendo Shoshinkai show (Space World) in 1996. In the video, there's a pirate mentioning how "the Nintendo 64 treasure does exist after all"...
Random Ex-Rare Dev Explains The Origin Of Donkey Kong Country's Name
Take me home, country roads
When you think of the titles of some of Nintendo's most iconic platform games, many of them just make sense as they are: Super Mario World, Kirby's Dream Land, and Donkey Kong Country. It all fits as a naming convention, right? Well, according to ex-Rare dev Kev Bayliss, the inclusion of the word 'Country' in Donkey Kong...
Video Digital Foundry's Technical Analysis Of GoldenEye 007 On Switch
Shaken or stirred?
GoldenEye 007's release on Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack (and Xbox) has stirred up a lot of talk among us video game enthusiasts, and naturally, Digital Foundry is weighing in on the situation. Dropping on the service just over a week ago, both the Xbox and NSO versions have come under a lot of flack for the controls,...
Random GoldenEye 007 Composer Reckons "Old Team" Would Have Done A Better Job On Emulation
But it seems they weren't consulted
Last week a video game miracle was performed with the release of GoldenEye 007 on the Nintendo Switch and Xbox. As unbelievable as it is to relive this classic first-person shooter on modern platforms, not everyone is necessarily overjoyed. Former Rare employee and GoldenEye 007 composer Graeme Norgate has...
News Xbox Acknowledges "The Journey" It's Been On To Revive GoldenEye 007
It's been a long one
No, you're not dreaming - Rare's legendary N64 shooter GoldenEye 007 is actually coming to the Nintendo Switch this week. After ongoing requests, it's finally making a comeback on the Switch Online Expansion Pack service this Friday. Although we'll never truly know just how difficult it has been to revive this classic...
Random Perfect Dark's Vision Of 2023 Is Quite Different To The Real Deal
No alien wars, thankfully
Over the years, narratives in pop culture mediums have hypothesised over how the future might turn out for the human race: in James Cameron's Terminator 2: Judgement Day, 1997 would have seen Earth decimated by Skynet's new-found sentience; Back to the Future Part II visualised a 2015 in which we'd all be cruising around on...
Random No, The Flower Pots In Banjo-Kazooie Weren't Swearing At You
Composer Grant Kirkhope has the proof
One of the most bizarre, yet enduring myths regarding the N64 classic Banjo-Kazooie is one that's perhaps a little NSFW. While developer Rare has certainly flexed its more cheeky side in the past with the likes of Conker's Bad Fur Day, many fans have mistakenly believed that the flower pots found within Mad...
News Two Unreleased NES Games Surface On eBay, Could Go For "Thousands"
A Napoleon RTS and a Power Glove game by Rare
Two unreleased NES games have been listed on eBay. The first is a prototype cartridge of a game called Battlefields of Napoleon (including all of the original packaging design), and the second one is a demo of a Nintendo Power Glove game developed by Rare. Napoleon was never released locally, but a...
Random A Look Into The Birthplace Of Banjo-Kazooie Developer Rare Ltd
Or 'Ultimate Play the Game', as it used to be known
As that weird android from Ridley Scott's Prometheus once said: "big things come from small beginnings". Or was that Lawrence of Arabia..? Anyway... It's a quote that can be attributed to the creation of many of our favourite game developers, but is perhaps most valid when describing the early days...
Poll Box Art Brawl: Duel - Star Fox Adventures
“Meanwhile, in a lost corner of the Lylat System...”
Hi everyone; welcome to another edition of 'Box Art Brawl'! We hope you've all had a fun and productive week since our last battle. Last time, we took a look at a GameCube classic with Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life to celebrate the recent announcement of its remake, Story of Seasons: A...
News Rare On GoldenEye 007's Return: "We Just Kept Talking Until We Made It Happen"
"There were lots of conversations"
Planets aligned a few weeks ago - with Nintendo announcing the N64 classic GoldenEye 007 would be getting a re-release on modern platforms. It's kind of a miracle, considering how long the game has been stuck in licensing hell. Rare's boss Craig Duncan has now shed some light on the situation behind the scenes...
News Footage Of Perfect Dark's Cut Feature 'Perfect Head' Emerges Online
Heads rolled
We often laud Rare's incredible library of games on the N64, and while the focus has recently been on its seminal movie tie-in shooter GoldenEye 007 over the past week, we want to turn your attention to Perfect Dark for just a few minutes. Footage of one of the game's cut features from E3 1999 has been shared online. As highlighted by...
Random Rare's Unreleased Game Boy Rival Is A True Handheld Marvel
Meet the "Playboy"... No, not that one
British video game developer Rare is undoubtedly best known for its close relationship with Nintendo back in the '90s and early '00s, before Microsoft outright acquired it in 2002. Indeed, games like GoldenEye 007, Banjo-Kazooie, and Perfect Dark have all cemented themselves as icons in the industry; games that...
News Banjo-Kazooie's Gruntilda Gets Stunning Statue, Pre-Order Now Or Else She'll Catch You
Update: Early bird pricing ends soon
Update: Early bird pricing on First 4 Figures' Banjo and Kazooie statue ends at 9am BST tomorrow, 16th August. If you've been tempted to pick one of these up, we'd suggest doing so before the prices jump up after that time! Original Article (Wed 27th Jul, 2022 16:30 BST): Known for her devilishly wicked...
News Microsoft Renews Trademark For Rare's Classic N64 Game Blast Corps
Viva Piñata, too
Video game trademark renewals are always happening, and while they don't necessarily mean something is on the horizon, they do tend to create some excitement whenever it's a classic game or series we haven't heard about for some time. The latest ones, as highlighted by Game Rant, are tied to iconic British developer Rare - owned...
News Rare's Banjo-Kazooie Is Rumoured To Be Making A Comeback
"Something's happening with Banjo"
Rare's Banjo-Kazooie - starring the bear and bird who made a name for themselves during the Nintendo 64 generation - is rumoured to be making a return. In the latest episode of the Nate the Hate podcast, game developer Modern Vintage Gamer suggested a revival could be on the way, based on some things he had been...
Video Fans Create Stunning Trailer For The Banjo-Kazooie Sequel We Never Got
Oh my guh-huh!
For many N64 owners back in the day, Rare was at the top of the game. Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie were two of the best platformers on the system and the bear and bird combo became iconic figures in the platforming mascot era. Fans were desperate for what they dubbed 'Banjo-Threeie', and that desire still lingers today. Before we...
Random Take A Look At GoldenEye 007 Played Across 4 Separate Screens
The dream multiplayer set-up!
GoldenEye 007 for the N64 is a truly seminal video game. It was one of the first examples of the FPS genre to demonstrate just how viable it could be on consoles, with an excellent single-player campaign backed up by a multiplayer mode that's still enjoyed by many to this day. Times, however, have moved on. Although...
News Classic Beat-Em-Up 'Battletoads & Double Dragon' Gets An NES Re-Release
Available for order now
The classic 1993 NES beat-em-up Battletoads & Double Dragon is getting a fancy new re-release courtesy of Retro-Bit Publishing. The Rare-developed crossover launched on NES before later making its way to the SNES, Genesis, and Game Boy. Retro-Bits collector's edition will include an individually-numbered deluxe hardcover...
News Ex-Rare Devs To Give Talk On The Development Of GoldenEye 007 (UK)
Tickets on sale now at The Centre for Computing History in Cambridge
GoldenEye 007 is one of the most revered video games of all time, known for its move into more realistic shooting mechanics after the likes of DOOM and Wolfenstein, and for proving the validity of FPS games on consoles. If you're based in the UK and are able to pop along to...
Video This Fan-Made Banjo-Kazooie Remaster Trailer Looks Absolutely Stunning
Unfortunately, you can't actually play it...
Even if Banjo-Kazooie is now Microsoft-owned, the bear and bird duo will always have a special place in the hearts of Nintendo gamers around the world. And although Rare re-released an improved version of the original title during the Xbox 360 generation, many fans are still left wondering what a proper...
Rumour GoldenEye 007 Remaster Could Be Announced In The "Next Couple Of Weeks"
"I think that Microsoft is going to be the one to announce that first"
Remember that GoldenEye 007 re-release we mentioned a while back? Well, it seems like we could be finding out more about it officially in the next couple of weeks. That's according to VentureBeat's Jeff Grubb, who said: I think that Microsoft is going to be the one to an
Video Ex-Rare Staffers Kev Bayliss And David Wise Are Sharing Their Secrets On YouTube
Music and art combine
Not so long ago, we reported on the news that former Rare staffers Kev Bayliss and David Wise had formed 'Salmandos', an "exciting new project" that celebrates their careers in the industry. As part of this, the pair have created DK Creations, a YouTube channel that sees them sharing their secrets and generally looking back on...
News Xbox Studio Rare "Immensely Pleased" About Banjo-Kazooie's Arrival On Switch
We've waited almost 24 years...
It was a bittersweet moment yesterday when Banjo-Kazooie arrived on the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack service. As fantastic as it is to see the UK developer's iconic duo return to a Nintendo platform after so long. It's now been nearly 20 years since Rare was acquired by Microsoft, and almost 24 since the...
Review Banjo-Kazooie - Peerless Platforming Perfection, And Now Available On Switch
"Kazooie, we're home"
This review originally went live in 2009, and we're updating and republishing it to mark the long-awaited return of Banjo-Kazooie to a Nintendo console, available as part of the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack N64 library. Back in the days of the N64’s prime, there was one firm that managed to stand out from the rest:...
News NES Classic Battletoads Is Getting A Physical Re-Release, But Only In Japan
Columbus Circle is launching a new version today
Battletoads is one of Rare's most beloved games from the NES era. An attempt to create a media brand that could rival the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Battletoads mixed platforming with side-scrolling combat, and is famous for its unforgiving difficulty level. It spawned several sequels (including a...
News N64 Classic GoldenEye 007 No Longer "Banned" In Germany, Could A Re-Release Be Coming?
Review process actively requested by "one of Nintendo's European partners"
Rare's legendary Nintendo 64 shooter GoldenEye 007 is believed to be stuck in licensing hell, but there's been a very exciting development in Germany that has now got fans wondering if it could finally be making a return. According to a number of sources, the game is no...
News Guh-Huh! Grant Kirkhope Has Released A Banjo-Kazooie Remix Album
And you can stream it right now
Banjo-Kazooie composer Grant Kirkhope has revisited the score for the N64 classic in a new album entitled Banjo Kazooie Rejiggyed. Comprised of 10 tracks, the album puts a new spin on classic tunes from Rare's 1998 3D platformer. You can listen to it on Spotify, Deezer,
News Banjo-Kazooie Is 'Coming Home' To A Nintendo Console Via Switch Online
Bayonetta's great and all, but B-K's back baby!
You could be forgiven for missing the biggest news buried in the latest Nintendo Direct — the real megaton that turned it into the finest 40-minute presentation Nintendo has ever assembled. No, we're not talking about a gameplay reveal for the elusive Bayonetta 3 or the long-awaited
Feature The Inside Story Of Mockumentary Sequel 'Bringing Back Golden Eye'
And it's all for a good cause
Rare's seminal N64 shooter GoldenEye 007 is coming up to its 25th birthday, and for a whole generation of players, it remains a pivotal experience in their gaming lives – a fact that was playfully acknowledged by Jim Miskell's 2017 'mockumentary' Going For Golden Eye, which focused on the fictional Golden Eye World...
Video Check Out This Fan-Made Remaster Trailer For Banjo-Kazooie
It looks good enough to play
Although Rare technically re-released an improved version of Banjo-Kazooie during the Xbox 360 generation, there are still many fans out there who have been wondering for many years now what a full-blown remaster of the first title would look like. YouTuber Project Dream has been working on a video series called...
News DKC Artist Steve Mayles Shares Gorgeous New Piece To Celebrate Donkey Kong's 40th
"Nostalgic for Kongs"
Today marks Donkey Kong's 40th anniversary, with the original game hitting Japanese arcades back on 9th July 1981. To celebrate the occasion, ex-Rare staffer Steve Mayles – now of Playtonic Games – has shared a lovely piece of new artwork featuring our favourite ape duo. You can see the full piece for yourself in Steve's...
Poll Box Art Brawl: Duel #86 - Battletoads
Let's not be Rash
Welcome back to Box Art Brawl, our semi-regular retro box art poll to decide the best regional variants from two or more territories. Last time went on an epic JRPG Dragon Quest in celebration of the series' 35th anniversary. Following a spirited duel between North America and Japan, it was the caricatured beast from the East that...
News F4F Reveals Banjo-Kazooie Mumbo Jumbo And Crocodile Banjo Statue
Pre-orders are now live
Update [Wed 12th May, 2021 04:55 BST]: Following on from last week's teaser, First 4 Figures has now officially revealed its Mumbo Jumbo statue and a Crocodile Banjo one. Pre-orders are now live on the official F4F website. The Mumbo Jumbo statue will be available as a standard and exclusive edition. Crocodile Banjo can be...
News Rare Gives Us A Side-By-Side Comparison Of Banjo-Kazooie's amiibo And Totaku
Who wore it better?
Last week saw the arrival of three brand new Super Smash Bros. Ultimate amiibo. For many, the highlight of the lot was the release of Banjo-Kazooie - you know, the Microsoft-owned character. While we think the overall design of this particular amiibo is already fantastic, Banjo's creator, Rare, has now gone one step further,...
"believe it or not"
Last weekend, Rare's cancelled Nintendo 64 project Dinosaur Planet was leaked online. It surprised many, including Kevin Bayliss - a former Rare employee who now works at Playtonic Games. With all the memories flooding back, in his words over on VGC, Kev has now revealed how the original star of the game was actually intended to...
News Rare's Cancelled N64 Project Dinosaur Planet Has Been Leaked Online
Take a trip back in time
Just weeks after GoldenEye 007 XBLA was leaked online, Rare's other cancelled project Dinosaur Planet has now appeared on the internet. This title started out during the Nintendo 64 generation around 1999, was cancelled for this system, and eventually resurfaced as Star Fox Adventures on the GameCube. You can read about how...
News Youtooz Is Releasing Official Banjo-Kazooie Figures, Pre-Orders Open Next Week
Tooty and Bottles, too
Banjo-Kazooie hasn't been sighted since Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, but that hasn't stopped the famous bear and bird from getting merch and more on a regular basis. If you've not already got a collectible based on this iconic duo sitting on your shelf, you might be interested in the Youtooz creation of this character dating...
News Nintendo Executive Blocked Remake Of GoldenEye 007, Says Former Rare Dev
There was "one guy" who didn't approve of it
It was a rather historic moment in the history of video games last week when Rare's cancelled XBLA remake / remaster of GoldenEye 007 was leaked onto the internet. The game nobody thought would see the light of day was finally released, even if it wasn't official. Following this, discussions immediately...
News No, Nintendo Is Not Solely To Blame For The Cancellation Of Goldeneye's XBLA Remake
A long-standing rights issue prevented this happening, it seems
You might've seen that GoldenEye 007 has been back in the news lately. We've known for a long time that Rare planned an Xbox Live Arcade remake of the acclaimed shooter and, courtesy of Youtuber G
Video A Full Playthrough Of GoldenEye 007's Cancelled Remake Has Leaked Online
Includes bonus multiplayer footage
The glory days of GoldenEye 007 appear to be a thing of the past on all fronts - with the 2007 Xbox Live Arcade remake of Rare's iconic Nintendo 64 shooter seemingly stuck in licensing Hell. While we likely won't ever get our hands on the game via an official release, as of today, we can at least get a better idea...
News New Letter Details Why Donkey Kong 64's Innovative "Stop 'N' Swop" Feature Was Removed
"We must ask that you remove this feature"
Stop 'N' Swop was undoubtedly one of the N64's biggest mysteries, and even now, we're still learning new things about it decades later. With six coloured eggs and an ice key scattered across Banjo-Kazooie, it was designed as a means of unlocking special content in the sequel, Banjo-Tooie. It was never used...
News Arcade1Up Is Releasing Its Very Own Killer Instinct Arcade Cabinet
Includes Killer Instinct 1 & 2, Battletoads and Battletoads & Double Dragon
Arcade 1Up - known for recreating classic arcade cabinet titles such as Mortal Kombat and NBA Jam - has revealed a cabinet for Rare's 1994 release, Killer Instinct. This is the same game that was ported to the Super Nintendo a year later - although there are notable...
Feature Banjo-Tooie Turns 20 - The Rare Team Tells The Story Of Bombs, Bugs And Bottles
"Bottles got what was coming to him"
Nowadays, there's nary a game that doesn't finish with a post-credits tease to tee up a sequel or spin-off. There's always a tantalisingly loose thread or Easter Egg hidden in the DLC hinting at a further instalment. It would be a very bold move, though, to name your sequel and directly reference it in a game...
Feature Perfect Dark Turns 20 - The Definitive Story Behind The N64 Hit That Outclassed James Bond
"We had a lot of ideas, and lots of clever people working out how to do them"
How do you follow GoldenEye 007? In the summer of 2000 – that's 20 years ago this month – Rare presented its answer: Perfect Dark, a sci-fi spy shooter centred around an alien conspiracy. It delivered a cool, competent heroine, a single-player campaign bursting with...
News Banjo-Kazooie Composer Posts Remixes For Halloween, With A Full Album Coming
Banjo-KazooiEP
There are myriad spooky levels throughout the history of video games, although one of the best has to be Mad Monster Mansion from Banjo-Kazooie (officially known as The Best Video Game Of All Time™ around these parts — when this writer's around, at least). Composer Grant Kirkhope recently put out a remix of that level's creepy...