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Oh Rare what happened? Once you’d have been described as a national treasure of gaming design, developing smash hit after smash hit. Now you’ve been reduced to releasing mediocre exclusive software for the GBA and X-box that don’t even hit the charts.
You simply cannot ignore everything this generation has thrown up from Rare. Starfox Adventures, Grabbed by the Gholies, Conker: Live and Reloaded, Donkey Kong Country (GBA), Donkey Kong Country 2 (GBA), Banjo Pilot, Banjo Kazooie: Gruntilda’s revenge, Sabrewulf and (heaven forbid) It’s Mr. Pants. Some are down right awful, others are nothing more than okay and that even applies to the ports of the already established Rare classics. Nine games since RARE was sold to Microsoft. Once upon a time nine releases by RARE could generate enough revenue to cure world hunger. Those nine releases barely broke even.
I am a mega Nintendo fan. A sad obsessed loser who can’t see beyond the mushroom filled world of Nintendo. Yet it is the “other” Nintendo fans that do the crowing over how Microsoft bought a “dead weight”, not me. For I am still a little sad. There were 4 groups who lost out on the sale of RARE. Nintendo, Microsoft, Rare and us. Nintendo because they lost their link to the western world, they lost their link to the casual gamer and they lost their largest ally. Rare because they lost their mentor, they lost the guidance of Miyamoto and his crew and the creative freedom that came with being a Nintendo second party. Microsoft cause they spent $375 million on a company that hasn’t even generated $1 million. And us because we’re rapidly losing sight of what was once Britain’s premier game developer.
So what happened? The wholesale changes of staff? Perhaps, but then this is RARE and this has been going on for years. The team famous for developing the legendary Killer Instinct and Donkey Kong Country games from the SNES were not the same team that made Goldeneye, Blast Corps, Perfect Dark, Jet Force Gemini and Conker on the N64. RARE expanded, lost members, gained new ones and got bigger and bigger. And every game they released was (mostly) a new classic to add to their list (Killer Instinct Gold and Mickey’s Speedway USA aside). You see RARE demand a high standard of game development. If this game development didn’t reach their high standard then they would happily take the game away for a few years and change it (Conker’s Bad Fur Day is a prime example). And more specifically Nintendo were happy to let them do it. After all they pretty much did the same.
So you cannot blame the new staff. After all RARE’s high standards are still there. Granted the Microsoft sale shake up may have damaged a few things but nothing on the level of damage that has been done. You see RARE WARE were nothing without their big Japanese friend.
They suited each other perfectly. RARE were a niche on Nintendo’s console, their beat ‘em ups, first person shooters, third person shooters and clever little titles were something Nintendo never created themselves. Add the intensely high production values Nintendo always offered and massive development periods together and you got a company that were the top of their field. Their other games, the westernised platformers and cartoony racers were equally fantastic because their parent company were the masters of both genres. Of course Diddy Kong Racing ruled, it was published by the makers of Mario Kart!
RARE without Nintendo are nothing. The biggest 3 sellers of the last 3 years have been DKC, DKC 2 (both on GBA) and Starfox Adventures. They are also the only 3 RARE developed titles published by Nintendo. But equally Nintendo without RARE are also lacking.
Football fans may be able to understand it in relation to the Steven Gerrard saga. If Gerrard (RARE) went to Chelsea (Microsoft) he would just be another member of the dream team and would shine less than he would at Liverpool (Nintendo). At Liverpool he is the fan favourite and centre of the team. RARE were the best of the Nintendo second party bunch. Camelot, Hal and even Retro had nothing on the mighty English development studio. Nintendo without RARE is like Liverpool with Gerrard. Still a quality team but lacking their star man.
Nintendo and RARE were always a match made in heaven, one without the other just is not right. Look at Nintendo now! They’re relying on exclusive third party support from Capcom, Namco (especially), Square-Enix and their second party Retro. Some are great but none of them match RARE for their homely touches. Donkey Konga, F Zero GX, Crystal Chronicles and Starfox Assault are solid efforts at games; they just lack the soul RARE titles always used to posses.
I look at RARE this Christmas and I hope. I Hope Kameo: Elements of Power, Perfect Dark Zero and even Donkey Kong Country 3 will find our beloved developer back on their feet. But Kameo has a Starfox style “let down” vibe about it. Perfect Dark Zero (like the issue with most of RARE’s current games) is too busy enjoying past glories rather than progressing into the future. And DKC3 is almost certainly going to lack that little something missing in the previous 2 titles.
Both Nintendo and RARE have their backs to the walls. No one cares for RARE on the X-box anymore and Nintendo’s beloved fanbase is, one by one, shaking its head and turning away. And if you visit their headquarters at night, you are sure to see the chief executives of both companies staring out the window… wondering what went wrong.
Dringo.
You simply cannot ignore everything this generation has thrown up from Rare. Starfox Adventures, Grabbed by the Gholies, Conker: Live and Reloaded, Donkey Kong Country (GBA), Donkey Kong Country 2 (GBA), Banjo Pilot, Banjo Kazooie: Gruntilda’s revenge, Sabrewulf and (heaven forbid) It’s Mr. Pants. Some are down right awful, others are nothing more than okay and that even applies to the ports of the already established Rare classics. Nine games since RARE was sold to Microsoft. Once upon a time nine releases by RARE could generate enough revenue to cure world hunger. Those nine releases barely broke even.
I am a mega Nintendo fan. A sad obsessed loser who can’t see beyond the mushroom filled world of Nintendo. Yet it is the “other” Nintendo fans that do the crowing over how Microsoft bought a “dead weight”, not me. For I am still a little sad. There were 4 groups who lost out on the sale of RARE. Nintendo, Microsoft, Rare and us. Nintendo because they lost their link to the western world, they lost their link to the casual gamer and they lost their largest ally. Rare because they lost their mentor, they lost the guidance of Miyamoto and his crew and the creative freedom that came with being a Nintendo second party. Microsoft cause they spent $375 million on a company that hasn’t even generated $1 million. And us because we’re rapidly losing sight of what was once Britain’s premier game developer.
So what happened? The wholesale changes of staff? Perhaps, but then this is RARE and this has been going on for years. The team famous for developing the legendary Killer Instinct and Donkey Kong Country games from the SNES were not the same team that made Goldeneye, Blast Corps, Perfect Dark, Jet Force Gemini and Conker on the N64. RARE expanded, lost members, gained new ones and got bigger and bigger. And every game they released was (mostly) a new classic to add to their list (Killer Instinct Gold and Mickey’s Speedway USA aside). You see RARE demand a high standard of game development. If this game development didn’t reach their high standard then they would happily take the game away for a few years and change it (Conker’s Bad Fur Day is a prime example). And more specifically Nintendo were happy to let them do it. After all they pretty much did the same.
So you cannot blame the new staff. After all RARE’s high standards are still there. Granted the Microsoft sale shake up may have damaged a few things but nothing on the level of damage that has been done. You see RARE WARE were nothing without their big Japanese friend.
They suited each other perfectly. RARE were a niche on Nintendo’s console, their beat ‘em ups, first person shooters, third person shooters and clever little titles were something Nintendo never created themselves. Add the intensely high production values Nintendo always offered and massive development periods together and you got a company that were the top of their field. Their other games, the westernised platformers and cartoony racers were equally fantastic because their parent company were the masters of both genres. Of course Diddy Kong Racing ruled, it was published by the makers of Mario Kart!
RARE without Nintendo are nothing. The biggest 3 sellers of the last 3 years have been DKC, DKC 2 (both on GBA) and Starfox Adventures. They are also the only 3 RARE developed titles published by Nintendo. But equally Nintendo without RARE are also lacking.
Football fans may be able to understand it in relation to the Steven Gerrard saga. If Gerrard (RARE) went to Chelsea (Microsoft) he would just be another member of the dream team and would shine less than he would at Liverpool (Nintendo). At Liverpool he is the fan favourite and centre of the team. RARE were the best of the Nintendo second party bunch. Camelot, Hal and even Retro had nothing on the mighty English development studio. Nintendo without RARE is like Liverpool with Gerrard. Still a quality team but lacking their star man.
Nintendo and RARE were always a match made in heaven, one without the other just is not right. Look at Nintendo now! They’re relying on exclusive third party support from Capcom, Namco (especially), Square-Enix and their second party Retro. Some are great but none of them match RARE for their homely touches. Donkey Konga, F Zero GX, Crystal Chronicles and Starfox Assault are solid efforts at games; they just lack the soul RARE titles always used to posses.
I look at RARE this Christmas and I hope. I Hope Kameo: Elements of Power, Perfect Dark Zero and even Donkey Kong Country 3 will find our beloved developer back on their feet. But Kameo has a Starfox style “let down” vibe about it. Perfect Dark Zero (like the issue with most of RARE’s current games) is too busy enjoying past glories rather than progressing into the future. And DKC3 is almost certainly going to lack that little something missing in the previous 2 titles.
Both Nintendo and RARE have their backs to the walls. No one cares for RARE on the X-box anymore and Nintendo’s beloved fanbase is, one by one, shaking its head and turning away. And if you visit their headquarters at night, you are sure to see the chief executives of both companies staring out the window… wondering what went wrong.
Dringo.
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Wow astounding nievety there.
Nintendo had to sell Rare off because the Rare employees wanted to go. If Nintendo stopped them they would have quit their jobs and started a new company with Microsoft regardless.
Nintendo hadsn't fallen out with Rare over game quality they'd fallen out with Rare because Rare weren't very good at keeping up with release dates. BECAUSE Rare wanted to make their games high quality and wnatedto take the time to get them right they kept delaying the release of the games and Nintendo had had enough.
This is why CBFD was published by THQ in Europe, Nintendo didn't want to bother publishng Rsre's final N64 games there in Rare's home territory! If that isn't a slap in the face to a company Nintendo was supposed to be partners with then I don't know what is!
Nintendo had to sell their share and the Stamper brothers negotiated with Microsoft for their part of the deal.
Nintendo had to sell Rare off because the Rare employees wanted to go. If Nintendo stopped them they would have quit their jobs and started a new company with Microsoft regardless.
Nintendo hadsn't fallen out with Rare over game quality they'd fallen out with Rare because Rare weren't very good at keeping up with release dates. BECAUSE Rare wanted to make their games high quality and wnatedto take the time to get them right they kept delaying the release of the games and Nintendo had had enough.
This is why CBFD was published by THQ in Europe, Nintendo didn't want to bother publishng Rsre's final N64 games there in Rare's home territory! If that isn't a slap in the face to a company Nintendo was supposed to be partners with then I don't know what is!
Nintendo had to sell their share and the Stamper brothers negotiated with Microsoft for their part of the deal.
Just hold on one god damn cotton picking minute!
Rare were bought by Microsoft! They were bought because Nintendo no longer wanted them! There MUST have been a reason for Nintendo to come to that conclusion! NAFF GAMES!
Conker being the exception, one of the last games from Rare before the end of the N64's life was Mickeys Speedway USA, a god awful game. If this was a taste of what was to come from Rare can't you understand why Nintendo wanted shot of them?
- The last word -
Nintendo would not have sold Rareware if the games they were planning to produce were going to be any good!
:-)
Rare were bought by Microsoft! They were bought because Nintendo no longer wanted them! There MUST have been a reason for Nintendo to come to that conclusion! NAFF GAMES!
Conker being the exception, one of the last games from Rare before the end of the N64's life was Mickeys Speedway USA, a god awful game. If this was a taste of what was to come from Rare can't you understand why Nintendo wanted shot of them?
- The last word -
Nintendo would not have sold Rareware if the games they were planning to produce were going to be any good!
:-)
Yep, if those are bad then that's it for Rare.
Yeah.
I think everyone's hanging on Kameo and Perfect Dark as the "decider" as it were. Both have potential to fall either way.
I think everyone's hanging on Kameo and Perfect Dark as the "decider" as it were. Both have potential to fall either way.
I would still suggest that they've simply skipped a generation.
Make games for this console (N64)
Now move it to this one (Cube)
Oh wait now it's on this one (Xbox)
Oh hang on that console's having a short lifespan it's now moving to this one (360)
Is it any wonder the games have taken a while to get sorted? Everytime they have a lot of it inplace on a system their target console is changed and they have to start again with more power to play with and with the pressure to be innovative and original with the new system whilst tryingto keep what they've already made in the game!
Add to this the fact that Rare are perfectionists and it's hardly surprising the games are taking a while.
Make games for this console (N64)
Now move it to this one (Cube)
Oh wait now it's on this one (Xbox)
Oh hang on that console's having a short lifespan it's now moving to this one (360)
Is it any wonder the games have taken a while to get sorted? Everytime they have a lot of it inplace on a system their target console is changed and they have to start again with more power to play with and with the pressure to be innovative and original with the new system whilst tryingto keep what they've already made in the game!
Add to this the fact that Rare are perfectionists and it's hardly surprising the games are taking a while.
Hedfix wrote:
>> Dringo wrote:
>> Starfox Adventures - one of the worst GAmecube games
>
> Made during a frosty relationship with Nintendo, carried over from
> the N64...
I'm with you on this one.
I reckon that if it had stayed as Dinosaur Planet, less rushed and had a properly refined combat system, it would've been fine game.
>> Grabbed by the Gholies - RARE get even worse
>
> Simple game, like Rare's earlier titles on N64 (wow wasn't Killer
> Instinct just SO great?)
Fair point. Only Rare had Goldeneye out within 6 months of the N64's launch. I guess there were a lot of shake-ups, people leaving, projects getting re-organised/restarted when the change-over happened, but they're taking a long time to recover...
>> Conker - a port with an over-complex live mode and a dissapointing
>> single player
>
> Aww diddums 'over-complex'? Original single player thrown as a bonus
> OH NOES!!!111
Well put it this way. Perfect Dark was "too complex" for a lot of my "Goldeneye-loving" friends to pick up and play. I guess when you have Xbox live that it isn't such an issue. The point is though, there's one thing depth as in there's a lot to master, but you can still have a game instantly accessable despite this.
As to the single player bonus thrown in, I know it's only a bonus game but Rare managed to make the port inferior in every way that the Xbox's awesome power over the N64 couldn't make up for. Also, it took them about 3 years to do it.
Maybe Rare are just on the build again, but they're still a long way from their glory days. That's why people are putting them down, because back in the days of the N64 they were Gods. The same thing applies to Nintendo to a lesser extent. I guess they hit such astronomical peaks in the days of the N64 that there was no possibility of anything other than a huge comedown...
>> Dringo wrote:
>> Starfox Adventures - one of the worst GAmecube games
>
> Made during a frosty relationship with Nintendo, carried over from
> the N64...
I'm with you on this one.
I reckon that if it had stayed as Dinosaur Planet, less rushed and had a properly refined combat system, it would've been fine game.
>> Grabbed by the Gholies - RARE get even worse
>
> Simple game, like Rare's earlier titles on N64 (wow wasn't Killer
> Instinct just SO great?)
Fair point. Only Rare had Goldeneye out within 6 months of the N64's launch. I guess there were a lot of shake-ups, people leaving, projects getting re-organised/restarted when the change-over happened, but they're taking a long time to recover...
>> Conker - a port with an over-complex live mode and a dissapointing
>> single player
>
> Aww diddums 'over-complex'? Original single player thrown as a bonus
> OH NOES!!!111
Well put it this way. Perfect Dark was "too complex" for a lot of my "Goldeneye-loving" friends to pick up and play. I guess when you have Xbox live that it isn't such an issue. The point is though, there's one thing depth as in there's a lot to master, but you can still have a game instantly accessable despite this.
As to the single player bonus thrown in, I know it's only a bonus game but Rare managed to make the port inferior in every way that the Xbox's awesome power over the N64 couldn't make up for. Also, it took them about 3 years to do it.
Maybe Rare are just on the build again, but they're still a long way from their glory days. That's why people are putting them down, because back in the days of the N64 they were Gods. The same thing applies to Nintendo to a lesser extent. I guess they hit such astronomical peaks in the days of the N64 that there was no possibility of anything other than a huge comedown...
Oh dear, you obviously missed what I was trying to say:
A frosty relationship could result in a lack of enthusiasm in the people working on the game making them simply finish it as they were contracted to do but with little care or pride taken. A rush job as the company prepared to sever ties with Nintendo. Or do you believe Rare simply decided to jump ship on a whim one day?
Handhelds? Don't make me laugh. It seems Rare treat handhelds with as much affection as other companies do. It's a big market to gain revenue from with only a very little amount of effort. I expect MS were eager to have the majority of Rare's skill applied to Xbox games rather than games for another system. Despite the profits Rare's gameboy games might bring MS are, no-doubt, very aware using Rare's image to it's fullest and would want to capitalise on that as much as possible maiing sure the innovation was for games on their own system(s).
A frosty relationship could result in a lack of enthusiasm in the people working on the game making them simply finish it as they were contracted to do but with little care or pride taken. A rush job as the company prepared to sever ties with Nintendo. Or do you believe Rare simply decided to jump ship on a whim one day?
Handhelds? Don't make me laugh. It seems Rare treat handhelds with as much affection as other companies do. It's a big market to gain revenue from with only a very little amount of effort. I expect MS were eager to have the majority of Rare's skill applied to Xbox games rather than games for another system. Despite the profits Rare's gameboy games might bring MS are, no-doubt, very aware using Rare's image to it's fullest and would want to capitalise on that as much as possible maiing sure the innovation was for games on their own system(s).
i loved starfox adventures, ok it lacked story and the end boss was the same one..AGAIN, but overall it was highly enjoyable.
Hedfix wrote:
> Made during a frosty relationship with Nintendo, carried over from
> the N64...
Sorry Hedfix but you are talking out of your rear!
Whatever the relationship with Nintendo, rare are a professional company. The staff wouldn't have been stropping around like spolit brats just because of a 'frosty relationship'. Millions of pounds are spent producing games and companies like Rare dont just throw them together.
> Oh yeah I ignored the handheld titles because I don't give a crap
> about them,
So why are you part of this discussion then?
and as for miaow.......
ROAR!!!!!!
> Made during a frosty relationship with Nintendo, carried over from
> the N64...
Sorry Hedfix but you are talking out of your rear!
Whatever the relationship with Nintendo, rare are a professional company. The staff wouldn't have been stropping around like spolit brats just because of a 'frosty relationship'. Millions of pounds are spent producing games and companies like Rare dont just throw them together.
> Oh yeah I ignored the handheld titles because I don't give a crap
> about them,
So why are you part of this discussion then?
and as for miaow.......
ROAR!!!!!!
Dringo wrote:
> Starfox Adventures - one of the worst GAmecube games
Made during a frosty relationship with Nintendo, carried over from the N64...
> Grabbed by the Gholies - RARE get even worse
Simple game, like Rare's earlier titles on N64 (wow wasn't Killer Instinct just SO great?)
> Conker - a port with an over-complex live mode and a dissapointing
> single player
Aww diddums 'over-complex'? Original single player thrown as a bonus OH NOES!!!111
Oh yeah I ignored the handheld titles because I don't give a crap about them, every company could release re-designed atari games for them with fancy licences for all I care. I certainly don't rate a developer like Rare by their handheld offerings. Oh look another licenced platformer for a handheld that's the same as all the others because it'll sell regardless.
Oooh look Half-Life 2 for DS nad it's been turned into a platformer!!!111
Miaow
> Starfox Adventures - one of the worst GAmecube games
Made during a frosty relationship with Nintendo, carried over from the N64...
> Grabbed by the Gholies - RARE get even worse
Simple game, like Rare's earlier titles on N64 (wow wasn't Killer Instinct just SO great?)
> Conker - a port with an over-complex live mode and a dissapointing
> single player
Aww diddums 'over-complex'? Original single player thrown as a bonus OH NOES!!!111
Oh yeah I ignored the handheld titles because I don't give a crap about them, every company could release re-designed atari games for them with fancy licences for all I care. I certainly don't rate a developer like Rare by their handheld offerings. Oh look another licenced platformer for a handheld that's the same as all the others because it'll sell regardless.
Oooh look Half-Life 2 for DS nad it's been turned into a platformer!!!111
Miaow
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