Tag: Rare
News Banjo-Kazooie Composer Explains Why He Thinks Another Game Is Unlikely
The "overriding factor" is money
There have been ongoing requests over the years for the revival of Rare's famous bear and bird duo Banjo-Kazooie, but will fans ever see this series return? The game's composer Grant Kirkhope already spoke about this earlier in the year - mentioning how he had "zero hope" for a new entry, and now in an interview...
News Crash And Spyro Dev Wants To Partner With Team Xbox For A Crack At Banjo
"Banjo's been hibernating long enough, right?"
Having helmed well-received entries in the Spyro/Skylanders and Crash Bandicoot lines, developer Toys for Bob has form with 3D platformers featuring beloved childhood characters. Perhaps unsurprisingly, according to a new interview, the team would be interested in reviving another fan-favourite series:...
News First 4 Figures Teases New Banjo-Kazooie Statue, Pre-Orders Open Next Week
Update: Here's a look at the Definitive Edition
There hasn't been a new Banjo-Kazooie game for many years now, but there are still plenty of fans out there eager for more. Although it's not a game, First 4 Figures has shared a sneak peek of its new statue - Banjo's sister Tooty, who is captured by Gruntilda in Rare's original Nintendo 64 adventure...
News Rare's Original N64 Shooter Could Be Inducted Into The 2025 World Video Game Hall Of Fame
This year's finalists have been revealed
Every year, The Strong Museum announces its 'World Video Game Hall of Fame' finalists and for 2025 and after missing out in 2023, Rare's iconic Nintendo 64 first-person shooter GoldenEye 007 is back. It's up against some tough competition including the following list of games: Age of Empires (1997) Angry...
News Banjo-Kazooie Composer Has "Zero Hope" For A New Entry
We're inclined to agree
Just days after Moon Studios' lead Thomas Mahler expressed his desire to see the Banjo-Kazooie franchise in the hands of a "really talented developer", original composer Grant Kirkhope has taken to social media to say that he has "zero hope" in a potential new entry (thanks, Eurogamer). He then went on to say that a new...
Random Upcoming Banjo-Kazooie Mod Is A Nostalgic Trip Through A Bunch Of N64 Classics
Get jiggies with it
Back in 2021, modder Mark Kurko revealed a first look at his monster project, 'BK Nostalgia 64'. This love letter to the N64 and Banjo-Kazooie (whodathunkit with a title like that?) was originally slated for a Christmas 2024 release, though through a variety of complications, the modder has decided to push things back to 2025...
Poll Okay, It's Time To Ask The Obvious - Will We Get Donkey Kong 64 On NSO?
The game turns 25 in Europe
Donkey Kong 64 — not the most beloved of Rare's titles, but probably the developer's most ambitious 3D platformer — turns 25 here in Europe today, 6th December 2024. DK and friends have a lot to celebrate lately: the Donkey Kong Land trilogy on Game Boy has trickled onto NSO over the past few weeks; the Donkey Kong...
News Banjo-Kazooie "Washer Banjo" Revealed, Here's A Sneak Peek
Pre-orders open soon
First 4 Figures has released all sorts of high-quality statues and with this in mind, it's now teasing a "sneak peek" of its latest Banjo-Kazooie figure. This one is based on the transformation "Washer Banjo" and pre-orders will be opening in 10 days on 3rd December 2024. If you sign up to the First 4 Figures email, you can...
Random Iconic 'DK Rap' Song Has Been Remade 25 Years Later
With help from rapper 'Substantial'
If you've been a part of the Nintendo gaming community for a while, then chances are you're well acquainted with 'DK Rap', the charming introductory theme tune seen in 1999's Donkey Kong 64. It's gained significant notoriety and love over the years, though many fans do concede that the song isn't actually that...
Anniversary Donkey Kong Country Is Now 30 Years Old (SNES)
King K-O-N-G
Believe it or not, Donkey Kong Country for the SNES has turned 30 years old after originally launching in the UK on 18th November 1994. Often regarded as one of the greatest platformers of all time, Donkey Kong Country was the first in an SNES trilogy from developer Rare, and was really the game that properly kickstarted a fruitful...
News 'Nintendo Music' Update Adds Classic SNES Soundtrack, Here's Every Song Included
Another Donkey Kong Country banger
Nintendo's new music app is the gift that keeps on giving with a new update today adding 36 tracks from Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest. Yes, you can now listen to everything from the iconic "fanfare" opening, Funky's theme, Stickerbush Symphony (Bramble Blast), Forest Interlude (Web Woods) to the Disco...
Random Rapper Doja Cat Debuts 'Bouncy' Conker-Inspired Halloween Costume
"Ooh, that big tail of yours is far too tickly"
Halloween has come and gone, which means celebrities around the globe are naturally taking to social media to try and one-up each another with their chosen costumes. Video game outfits have become more and more popular over the years, but while many folks like to dress up as Mario, Princess Zelda, or...
News Xbox Studio Rare Excited About The Return Of Banjo-Tooie Next Week
"Another modern way" to revisit the sequel
Nintendo delivered quite a surprise for N64 fans this week, announcing Rare's 3D platformer Banjo-Tooie would be joining the Expansion Pack service next week on 25th October 2024. As part of this announcement, Rare (known nowadays for titles like Sea of Thieves) has taken to social media to voice its own...
Feature Catch-Up Crew: Donkey Kong Country - "I Liked His Big Red, Er, Ribbit-Bag?"
Catching up with the DK crew
Welcome aboard once again for this edition of Catch-up Crew, the series where the senior staff of the USS Nintendo Life do what every good crew should do on a seat-of-your-pants cosmic adventure - adjourn to the observation lounge for a conference. Yes, we're back at the table to discuss a classic video game that at...
Random Donkey Kong Country 3 Fan Creates Incredible Epoxy Resin Statue
Yes, we want one
There have been some truly gorgeous video game statues in our time, from the likes of the First 4 Figures Samus Gravity Suit statue from Metroid to the ludicrous Ghosts 'n Goblins statue from Dream Figures. We love one-off designs though; statues that likely won't be made available to the general public,
News Switch Online's Latest N64 Release 'Perfect Dark' Appears To Have Some Emulation Issues
"It's like playing on a 2007 emulator"
Switch Online's N64 library didn't get off to the best start, with select games like The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time filled with a bunch of emulation issues. Nintendo rolled out updates for the app in response to this and since then the situation has somewhat improved. Unfortunately, it seems one of the...
Random Another Banjo-Kazooie Funko Pop Is On The Horizon, But It's Still Pretty Horrifying
Pre-order, if you dare
If you cast your mind back to earlier in the year, you might remember the horrors of the GameStop-exclusive Banjo-Kazooie Funko Pop. With its big head and soulless, staring eyes, the figure was... well, a Funko Pop, but it was also an acknowledgement that the Rare pair still exist, so we'll take what we can get. Now, Funko...
Poll What Switch Online Rare Game Are You Playing This Weekend?
Five more titles have joined the service
Five more Rare games have this week joined Nintendo's Switch Online + Expansion Pack service. The first four titles are available in the base tier and the N64 release Blast Corps is available in the premium tier subscription. With these games now available on the service, it's got us wondering which one...
Review Blast Corps - An Absurd, Exhilarating, Explosive Gem From Rare's N64 Days
Time to get moving
This review originally went live in 2013, and we're updating and republishing it to celebrate the game's arrival in Switch's N64 library via the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack. Long before the massive mainstream appeal of video games that exists today, successful developers were surprisingly free from the shackles of big...
Random Some Rare Fans Are Upset About The Latest Switch Online Announcement
"Rare Replay should have been announced on Switch"
The latest Partner Showcase from Nintendo was packed with all sorts of surprises and another standout announcement was the news five more classic Rare games would be coming to the Switch Online service. These titles include games like Killer Instinct and Blast Corps, and while it's welcome news for...
News Five More Classic Rareware Games Come To Nintendo Switch Online Today
Blast (Corps) from the past!
As part of today's Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase, Nintendo has announced that five of the now-Microsoft-owned Rare's titles will be available today via Nintendo Switch Online. The games are: NES Snake Rattle ‘n’ Roll RC PRO-AM Super Nintendo Battletoads in Battlemaniacs Killer Instinct Nintendo 64 (
News Social Media Post Heavily Hints Toward 'Sea Of Thieves' Switch Release
Or does it..?
As we await for official word from Microsoft's Phil Spencer, Sarah Bond, and Matt Booty on what the future of Xbox will look like going forward, a cheeky social media post from the official Sea of Thieves account appears to be heavily hinting toward a multi-platform release. Posted a day before Xbox's big 'business update', during...
Rumour Rare & Microsoft's Sea Of Thieves Could Be Sailing Onto Switch
Plundered
The Xbox and Microsoft rumours are flooding the news at the moment, aren't they? And there's another one sailing into view — Microsoft exclusive Sea of Thieves, developed by Rare, is reportedly being considered for Switch and PlayStation. Giant Bomb and Game Mess Mornings host Jeff Grubb claims that he's heard that "that was the one...
Review Jet Force Gemini - Another Rare N64 Gem, Flawed But Fun
Start wins
This review originally went live in 2013, and we're updating and republishing it to mark the game's arrival in Switch's N64 library via the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack. The Nintendo 64 and Rare go together like Banjo and Kazooie. The developer was behind several of the stellar titles found on the system, many of which were...
News Xbox Acknowledges Fan Requests For New Banjo-Kazooie Game
Phil Spencer: "Banjo fans, I hear you"
Rare's famous bear and bird duo Banjo-Kazooie made a return via Nintendo's Switch Online service last year, and ever since then, fans have been calling for a proper comeback. There have even been some rumours doing the rounds about a possible revival, so what are the chances of something like this ever...
News Switch Online Is Expanding The N64 Library With Rare's Jet Force Gemini
Coming this December
Update: Nintendo of America has now confirmed the game will be coming to the Switch Online service locally this December. Original: Well, here's some surprising news! Nintendo has revealed the Switch Online + Expansion Service will be adding the Nintendo 64 title Jet Force Gemini. Unfortunately, there's no mention of a...
Video What's Going On At Playtonic, The Studio Behind Yooka-Laylee?
A Rare find
It was almost 10 years ago that a group of former Rare developers got together and established Playtonic Games. This was a team consisting of many of the minds behind Banjo-Kazooie, Donkey Kong Country, and other such classics, so when their first title, Yooka-Laylee was released in 2017, we were relieved to see that level of creativity...
News Pre-Orders For A Stunning Banjo-Kazooie Statue Are Now Live
Another gem from First 4 Figures
Toy and model company First 4 Figures has launched pre-orders for a new product called 'Banjo-Kazooie Duet'. Based on the 1998 N64 classic Banjo-Kazooie from developer Rare, the statue comes in three flavours, each accompanied by a rather eye-watering price tag. The first is the standard model showcasing the two...
Random Star Fox Dev Thinks Star Fox Adventures "Was Too British"
"I think Star Fox is a very complex title"
The Star Fox series has been a bit of a mixed bag, hasn't it? There have been huge genre shifts, recreations, and attempts to capture that same magic that the SNES original — and the N64 sequel — captured. Now, in an interview with VGC, Dylan Cuthbert, a programmer on the original Star Fox and Star Fox...
Video The N64 Kart Racer That Deserves To Be On Switch
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, eat your heart out
If you had a Nintendo 64 growing up, we bet you had Mario Kart 64. This was many people's first Mario Kart game, and the rest is history. Of course, you can play it on the Switch thanks to the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack. Alongside Super Mario Kart and Mario Kart: Super Circuit (both on NSO too)...
Random Former Rare Dev Shares First-Ever Drawing Of Conker
No, he still doesn't have a neck
Former developer at Rare Chris Seavor has been sharing video game history on Twitter. And today's little tidbit is a pretty fun one — Seavor has found the first-ever drawing of Conker the Squirrel. Seavor teased his followers earlier today about "some 'curious' old scribbles" that he found, and as promised, he...
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...
