5 Best Games in Rare Replay

To answer that question that’s been lurking at the back of your subconscious these past few months — yes, Rare Replay is still just as good now as it was when it first launched back in 2015. Needless to say that such a hefty collection of Rare’s greatest accomplishments is a timeless product in itself, and arguably one of the better all-in-one packages money can buy in such a costly time. But if you’ve yet to experience what the keepers of all things wholesome has to offer, then boy, are you in for a treat.

Rare Replay launched with a solid lineup of instant classics; there were 30 of them, last time we checked. And yet, given the fact that not every soul and their neighbour has the flexibility in their daily lives to delve into everything the collection has to offer, we thought we’d update it. Or, squelch it down, if only to cast a spotlight on the absolute essentials that need your undivided attention, anyway. But don’t let us blabber on. Here’s what you should jump straight into if you’re planning on reliving those mighty highlights from Rare’s golden days.

5. Conker’s Bad Fur Day

Sure it’s a little boisterous and cooky, but it’s also one of Rare’s finest achievements, and not to mention the platforming game that dared to go beyond boundaries that, quite honestly, probably shouldn’t have been knocked back in its heyday. And yet, it happened, and it only went and scored lusciously high scores across the board for its humorous performances, absurd levels, and dynamic parodies. That was Conker’s Bad Fur Day, in a nutshell, and believe me when I say — it gleams much brighter on modern hardware than it ever did on Nintendo 64. Not that the cartridge copy was bad or anything, of course.

Conker’s Bad Fur Day is a lot of things; it’s a black comedy, action-adventure platforming game at its core. When all’s said and done, though, what it really is, is a charming tale that depicts a red squirrel’s lone journey home after nursing a stone-cold hangover. Sounds harmless on paper, sure. Having said that, when said post-hangover is met with the likes of Alien, The Matrix, Saving Private Ryan, and Van Helsing, one could argue that the journey itself isn’t quite as straightforward as one would’ve imagined. On the contrary, it’s an endless voyage through parody galore; a cathartic journey, clear as day.

4. Banjo-Kazooie

For something a little more, shall we say, family-friendly, there’s Banjo-Kazooie, yet another one of Rare’s all-time favourite platforming adventures. Without the profanity and crude humour that comes with Conker, the bear-and-beak duo brings something fresh to the table, and quite simply, a timeless story that holds up just as well today as it did when it first graced the 64 just shy of twenty-five years ago. And if the retro aesthetics don’t do it for you in 2023, then it’s worth checking out just for that sliver of nostalgia. And that killer opening banjo solo, of course.

Anyway, in case you missed it back in ‘98, Banjo-Kazooie tells the story of, well, Banjo, and his efforts to save his estranged sister who’s been kidnapped by the cliche-riddled witch, Gruntilda. It’s very Mario-meets-Peach, and it’s hands down one of the most quotable, and effortlessly enjoyable games on the entire Rare Replay docket.

3. Viva Piñata

Shortly before Rare transferred its focus over from mischievous platforming games to Kinect-based ventures, there was Viva Piñata, a cutesy farming and life simulation series that went on to span several iterations over a multitude of consoles. Words apart from its earlier works, the puffin-centric, candy-popping gardening sim wound up laying the foundations for something completely fresh for the Rare team, effectively giving the devs a little more wriggle room to explore new types of content.

Viva Piñata is a sandbox game at heart, and one that mostly revolves around managing your own plot of land and catering for the inhabitants that occupy it, be it a worm or a parrot. It’s wildly lighthearted and appropriate for all ages and backgrounds, and as such, fitting for such a list of Rare’s greatest achievements.

2. Perfect Dark

Perfect Dark, in case you missed it in all its glory, is a first-person shooter series that predates some of the most influential IPs of the early noughties. And while it certainly is no spring chicken compared to the likes of the all-father of 64 shooters (that’s GoldenEye 007, in case you wasn’t able to put two and two together), it is, all things considered, one of the most technically impressive shooters from its time. Just as well Rare decided to bundle it into the set in favour of 007, then.

Perfect Dark casts you as Joanna Dark, an elite agent who’s responsible for dealing with the alien forces that wreak havoc across the planet. Either alone or with another extraterrestrial-hating shepherd, players are invited to not only dispose of the invaders, but also branch out and solve the mystery surrounding an unwarranted conspiracy theory fuelled by a corrupt research organisation known as dataDyne. A lot to onboard, sure, but for those looking to sink their teeth into something a little beefier than Viva Piñata, it’s a no-brainer.

1. Battletoads

Given the fact that Battletoads was essentially a rip-off of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, it’s hard to believe that such a series actually went on to become something of a cult classic in the gaming community. And while the beat ‘em up saga was frequently slated for its ludicrously tough difficulty spikes, the fact still remained: it was loved across the whole industry, which is precisely why Rare made the call to add it to the Rare Replay roster.

In spite of all the unnecessarily unfair boss fights and convoluted level designs, Battletoads is still a fan favourite, and not to mention a go-to choice for avid speedrunners, also. Sure, its premise is a tad wishy-washy and its characters are a little cringe, but overall it’s one of the better games to exit Rare’s factory of everlasting wonders. And honestly, it ain’t half bad in 2023, either.

So, what’s your take? Do you agree with our top five Rare Replay classics? Let us know your thoughts over on our socials here.