It's time for another round of Pick One! This week, to celebrate a bunch of classic Rare games (and others!) being added to the cloud for the first time, we're taking a look back at some of these beloved titles.
Which is your favourite? Remember, you can only pick one!
Let's take a look at what we're working with:
Banjo-Kazooie
Since 1998 you’ve been waiting for this moment. Your chance again to stop Gruntilda the mightily ugly witch from turning Banjo's cute sister, Tooty, into a monster. This is Banjo-Kazooie, the first adventure. Now lovingly enhanced and packed full of its original platforming goodness. All the worlds, all the Jiggies and even the legendary Stop N Swop gameplay if you own Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts. Marvelous.
Banjo-Tooie
The bear and bird’s second outing available in full. Loads of rollicking fun to be had here and with the legendary Stop 'N' Swop feature reinstated. The best use of a backpack in a game ever!
Jetpac Refuelled
Open up a vast array of levels, engage in battle over Xbox Live, post to the Leaderboards and play for new Achievements. The original 1983 classic is also included. Provides at least 500% of your recommended daily intake of laser-based alien extinction.
Kameo
"A mystical action-adventure game available on Xbox 360, where the ability to morph into unique and incredible warriors allows Kameo to search out and battle ever-present evil. Continuing its legacy of creating dynamic puzzles, immersive combat and enormous environments, Rare fuses multiple genres..."
Perfect Dark
Perfect Dark: Rare's classic sci-fi tale of firefights and first contact. First released in 2000, it comes to Xbox LIVE Arcade with all its established qualities bolstered by modernised visuals, extra framerate fluidity and the opportunity for global multiplayer shootouts. The continuing story of Agent Joanna Dark, following her early years as portrayed in Xbox 360 launch title Perfect Dark Zero.
Perfect Dark Zero
Her name’s Dark, Jo Dark. And this is the story of how England’s female super agent became who she is, from humble beginnings as gun-for-hire to premier league spy. When a straightforward corporate snatch mission leads to a global conspiracy, Joanna Dark and her father get sucked into a world conflict invisible to the public setting Jo on her path to becoming a Perfect Agent.
Viva Pinata
Attract and tame your favourite Piñatas. There are more than 60 species that roam wild on Piñata Island.Personalise everything from the grass at your feet to the hat on your Piñata's head.Welcome to Piñata Island, enjoy your stay!
Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise
Welcome back to Piñata Island where Prof. Pester's latest scheme has lead to disaster.Visit the scorching desert or icy wastes to trap new species. Train them, dress them, then send them to a party! We’ve new Piñatas, new activities, new features and new secrets, so come visit and find out why people never want to leave.
Let us know which of these classic Rare games is your favourite below.
Comments 18
My top 3 from this list:
But Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts is better than all those games combined.
Conker’s Bad Fur Day?
Banjo Tooie, only because Conker isn't a choice.
I think you only included Game Pass Rare games, but Goldeneye, Conker, Diddy Kong Racing, etc are all missing.
Perfect Dark is my favorite game of theirs. I love the solo missions and the multiplayer (which you can also play solo)
I really enjoyed Kameo on the 360, Really underrated game..
I voted for Perfect Dark, although I may have considered Perfect Dark Zero if it had split-screen co-op.
Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts is my favourite Rare game.
I just played through Perfect Dark this week for the first time, and it was very much enjoyable overall. It's pretty ambitious for an N64 game, but I suppose that's part of what made it so special in the first place. I loved GoldenEye back in the day, but I never got into PD for whatever reason. Glad I finally gave it a fair shot though, as it's actually pretty unique, even by today's standards, and it was definitely fun to play.
Donkey Kong country
Jet Force Gemini!
Banjo-Kazooie is one of my favorite games of all time. It holds an immense amount of significance for me as my first 3D game and first N64 game. Couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve beaten it.
Believe it or not, Nuts & Bolts is why I got a 360. And tbh that game is not as bad as people make it out to be.
Criminal that Conker isn’t a choice.
I put more hours than I’m willing to admit into Viva Piñata around the time it launched. Addictive as hell.
Why is Jet Force Gemini missing?
Conker, Goldeneye, and Viva Piñata in that order are my favorite Rare games. I honestly liked 95% of the stuff they made, bought and played it all. However I know I spent the most time on those 3 by a large margin.
Conker's Bad Fur Day!
The first Banjo-Kazooie is a perfect game and a perfect story. Banjo-Tooie is awesome and a bit too complex and Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts is a great game but not a platformer. Building your own vehicles to beat records and challenges is very satisfying. I still haven't beaten Banjo-Kazooie: Grunty's Revenge.
Viva Piñata (Trouble in Paradise) is one of the best games I've ever played and I played it on Xbox One (I skipped Xbox 360).
Grabbed by the Ghoulies is a great "arcade" game, I enjoyed it a lot. Very underrated. It's exhilarating and rewarding.
Goldeneye 007 is the perfect shooter with the perfect campaign. Perfect Dark and Perfect Dark Zero are great as well.
Conker's Bad Fur Day is, ironically, the prettiest Nintendo 64 game and looks awesome on Xbox One and on Series X/S. It's also very exciting to play because it's not a collectathon (that I also like).
The Donkey Kong Country trilogy is the best 2D platformers ever.
Donkey Kong 64 is a bit uninspired.
Killer Instinct, 2/Gold and 3 are great. I played Gold the most.
Diddy Kong Racing, like Viva Piñata did with Animal Crossing, destroyed Mario Kart 64. Diddy Kong Racing is brilliant.
I haven't played all Rare's games yet because I wanted to start with the oldest in Rare Replay and not just play them but get the milestones.
The original Perfect Dark by a mile.
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