PotW: Rare qualities

PALGN Feature | Why can't the former legendary developer catch a break?

They say 'you’re only as good as your last game'. For Rare, while Viva Piñata had its fair share of critical darlings, it ultimately didn't translate into the goodness of mass sales the industry demands.

With the upcoming Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts, the Twycross farmhouse developer could very well be on its last legs in bringing the classic qualities of the likes of Blast Corps, GoldenEye 007, and Atic Atac back to its namesake. That said, it's an ironic testament to Rare's otherwise maligned legacy, that mere questionings of the developer's 'relevance' still make widespread headlines.

In some ways, such muckraking is inevitable when one of your former bosses unexpectedly and quite bluntly disses your integrity. On the other hand, apparently ignoring both the positive and/or negative feedback given to one's work doesn't exactly remedy the situation either.

The proverbial finger could be pointed at any particular pivotal moment in the last decade or so of Rare's mixed existence, but we'll let the PALGN Poll of the Weekers decide. Verily, who or what do you think is to blame for Rare's descent into 'irrelevance'?

Vote | View Results

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19 Comments

inigel

3 years ago

I think the ownership by Microsoft is going to be the popular vote.

Buttmouth

3 years ago

It's clearly because only the weirdo's are left over to make games. All MS bought was a name.

Sin Ogaris

3 years ago

Definitely because all the good talent disappeared. That's my take on it at least.

rankodour

3 years ago

I always regarded Rare as being ahead of the pack in terms of technology and pushing hardware while maintaining decent gameplay. After the N64 era, other developers simply caught up.

Microsoft wasted their money and Nintendo were wise to sell.

Buttmouth

3 years ago

^ Were Rare actually owned by Nintendo? Or just like a partnership or something. Wiki doesn't actually clarify this.

mikezilla2

3 years ago

BoomBoom wrote

^ Were Rare actually owned by Nintendo? Or just like a partnership or something. Wiki doesn't actually clarify this.

everyone iv asked has said they were " 2nd party "

ohayes

3 years ago

I dont think Rare is irrelevant, and the fact is that they have been making some great games lately

admeister

3 years ago

ohayes wrote

I dont think Rare is irrelevant, and the fact is that they have been making some great games lately

^ I think quite a few people would dispute that.

I voted for the first option, I think they've really struggled this gen (they barely even tried last gen) when it comes to their franchises, Perfect Dark and Banjo Kazooie being the examples. If they'd just kept things simple and properly in-line with BK, I'd have been itching to get my hands on it, but instead they've turned me off completely. At least they're doing one thing right by releasing the original BK on the 360.

harness

3 years ago

admeister wrote

If they'd just kept things simple and properly in-line with BK, I'd have been itching to get my hands on it, but instead they've turned me off completely.

That's incredible - you've never played it, yet you've written off completely ... good on you for supporting innovation like that.

I'd say at this stage in the life of video games, everyone's played the traditional platformer, and loved it. But that was then, and this is a gen where the best games have done something different from the mold. It's lightbulbs lighting up above peoples' heads that makes the human race go forward.

In any case, Rare games have certainly been 'not as good' as before. But maybe I've grown up since then, and just don't find games 'as fun' as before. I think it's wrong to count Rare out by any means. They're still making good games - by which I mean Viva - (PDZ was horrendous) so by all means they should continue. Sometimes life doesn't go your way and that seems the case when Trouble In Paradise doesn't sell as many as it should.

Jim Dash

3 years ago

Gamers appreciate Viva Pinata for what it is. The general public is a different story. The majority don't even pick it up to have a look at it. The cover is enough to put anyone off, the gameplay sounds 'gay' and any appeal is missing.

Now thats from personal experience, and the general reaction I get when I recommend it. Thats what you get for trying something different.

But I actually have to agree with Ads. I'm not even interested in Banjo 360. I don't like where they're going with it, deviating with all the vehicle gameplay. No, obviously I havn't tried, but all reports turn to 'bad move' and I'd tend to agree.

Benza

3 years ago

I don't understand the 'stuborness' comment about bringing old franchises back. The only one they haven't revisted recently is Killer Instinct wich can only be a matter of time now.

Infested Jibbs

3 years ago

One of the worst things rare is planning to do for newer gamers is to re-release banjo 64 via download, hype them up and then drop a steaming turd in the form of nuts of bolts.

It's like giving them a lick of a lollypop then serving up rhubarb.

It will only further remind gamers of how far from grace rare has fallen.

Benza

3 years ago

Ah yes thats right, you have a time machine and have allready played Nuts and Bolts. I keep forgeting that.

Jim Dash

3 years ago

Feel free to try it Benza, nobody's stopping you. As a fan, I have been following the game. All previews, videos, etc state the obvious - it is tripe.

Rare have changed. Perfect Dark was a bad sequel/prequel. Banjo will be too.

I hope you enjoy it immensely. You deserve to.

Infested Jibbs

3 years ago

Benza, think of me as Galileo.I KNOW the earth revolves around the sun, not the other way round.You may scoff and roll your eyes but you too will soon come around and realise banjo was doomed ever since the words 'platformer with vehicular action' were uttered.

(Yes, you read that right.I just compared myself to Galileo.Galileo must be spinning in his grave, or perhaps you'd argue the grave is spinning around him?)

Jaws

3 years ago

It's obvious to see that the talent behind these past games that won so many hearts has all left for greener pastures. Rare is now nothing more than a name with a former reputation.

If you loved GoldenEye, keep tabs on Free Radical - "Free from artificial company involvement, No distributor deadline preservatives and contains 80% former Rare employees"

canetoad

3 years ago

Because that old talent is just sooo good right now

... http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/ps3/haze

Jaws

3 years ago

You take my post too literally. Free Radical contains most; not all Rare employees..

I've never tried Haze, so can't really comment, but have you ever played the Timesplitters titles? Pure brilliance.

Benza

3 years ago

S.Jaworski wrote

Time splitters was fun, but it wasn't as good as rares previous rare fps games.

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