Rare Ltd. Is certainly not the powerhouse development team it was when working alongside Nintendo. With successful titles across the Nintendo Entertainment System, Super Nintendo, and especially Nintendo 64, Rare seemed like a company that would thrive forever. Since its partnership with Microsoft, fans have yet to see sequels to many of their favorite Rare games. Here is a list of five franchises that need to make a comeback.
Battletoads
A new Battletoads game has yet to be seen in the modern era of gaming. Rare could go in many directions with the franchise, and a new entry in the series would undoubtedly get the attention of many. Whether Rare decided to make a 3D action-adventure Battletoads or keep the series’ side-scrolling roots imtact, a current-gen Battletoads game would garner many a gamer’s attention.
Killer Instinct
Fighting games are seen everywhere nowadays, and with popular fighting franchises such as Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat receiving technical upgrades and gameplay enhancements, it would only make sense to bring back another fan favorite. Fans have been hoping for a new Killer Instinct game for years, and Rare has hinted at the resurrection of the franchise. While rumors plague the internet, fans long for a new Killer Instinct title.
Conker’s Bad Fur Day
Conker has appeared in a number of different games, and during the Nintendo 64’s final years the red squirrel's persona was repackaged. Instead of a cutesy character, Conker was turned into a crude, perverted protagonist. Despite the change, Conker’s Bad Fur Day was just as good as Rare’s previous platformers which starred cartoon-like characters.
Bad Fur Day was remade for the Xbox in 2005, but a sequel was never seen after that. Rare would definitely benefit from reviving this classic platforming franchise for the Xbox 360 as loyal fans of Bad Fur Day have desperately wanted a new Conker game since the original Nintendo 64 game’s release.
Banjo-Kazooie
While a new Banjo-Kazooie game appeared on the Xbox 360 in late 2008, many fans who had hoped for a more traditional entry in the series were disappointed with the outcome. The two Banjo-Kazooie titles on the N64 were known for their platforming, puzzle-solving, and item-collecting gameplay elements, while the Xbox 360 game focused heavily on vehicle construction and transportation.
The game was praised by many and rejected by others. So while the game may have been an overall success, it would be great to see the bear and bird duo in a game that hits closer to home. Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie are easily two of the greatest platformers ever created, and with today’s technology, a new game in the same vein as those two could thrive, keep longtime gamers happy, and gain new fans.
Jet Force Gemini
In 1999, Rare released its sci-fi third-person shooter Jet Force Gemini. The game instantly received mass praise from both fans and critics, and it garnered a massive legion of followers. The game was a huge success for Rare, but a follow-up was never released. No mention of a Jet Force Gemini 2 has ever really been made, but if such a game had been released for the N64, fans would have rejoiced.
It seems as though Jet Force Gemini was really a standalone game, but a sequel would definitely be something fans could look forward to. With graphical upgrades, tweaks to the gameplay, and online multiplayer, Jet Force Gemini 2 could easily be a hit and something fans of Rare’s games would appreciate.
5 Rare Games in Need of a Sequel
It is true that Rare Ltd. is no longer the progressive, innovative development team that it once was. With very few releases, Rare has taken a backseat to many other developers. Still, if the company could bring back many of its most prominent franchises via proper sequels, it could easily establish a fan base much like it did back when games such as Banjo-Kazooie, Conker’s Bad Fur Day, and Jet Force Gemini were entertaining millions of fans.
David Sanchez - David Sanchez is a college student and freelance games jounalist. What was once a hobby for him is now a passion, and he looks to someday ...
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