Support NeoGAF

[Archtreyz]

I've loved video games for ages now. My first console was a Genesis, and ever since, I've had at least a few consoles from every generation. Growing up, I loved Nintendo games, especially games from Rare. Banjo-Kazooie, 007: Goldeneye, Perfect Dark. While I'd argue these games don't hold up as well today as I'd want them too, one game in particular still withstands the test of time:

Star Fox Adventures
I know, I know. It's not a real Star Fox game, but a Zelda-clone with Star Fox shoe-horned into it. But the game is ridiculously fun, and Fox in particular stands out as having more of a personality. The voice acting and writing is a bit stilted now, but it still a blast to play through, with it's cool worlds and interesting enough characters.

So tell me GAF, what is the best game by Rare?

 

[Platy]

Banjo-Kazooie for me.

Blast Corps is a good runner up

 

[TheDinoman]

Banjo-Kazooie and DKC2 are their greatest triumphs, I say.

 

[Lagamorph]

Goldeneye.

To this day I'm salty about it not being in Rare Replay.

 

[Sir_Crocodile]

To go back and replay now, Donkey Kong Country 3 or Diddy Kong Racing.

Goldeneye was mindblowing back in the day, though I find myself going back to play it a lot less then the above.

 

[Deleted member 471617]

Conker's Bad Fur Day

Refined everything in the two Banjo games plus it was Rare's last Nintendo 64 game, was one of the console's last games to be released and was Mature rated which at the time was rare for Nintendo and it's console's. Awesome game and love the intro. Stupid logo!!! LMAO!!!

 

[Celine]

Donkey Kong Country 2.

Runner-ups: Banjo-Kazooie and Blast Corps.

 

[OnPoint]

 

[James Scott]

Original Banjo

 

[dukie85]

DKC2, and then Perfect Dark at #2

Dunno how I could forget my favorite fighting game series, Killer Instinct...

 

[Shig]

Donkey Kong Country 2.

Runner-ups: Banjo-Kazooie and Blast Corps.

*brofist*

Jetpac is still a great little time-waster, too.

 

[parabolee]

Perfect Dark

Still return to on a regular basis. Sublime gameplay (once you turn auto aim off and set control scheme to 1.2).

 

[Google]

 

[bluexy]

Just in terms of industry impact, definitely Goldeneye 007 and Donkey Kong Country.

 

[HvySky]

 

[Necron]

The one and only Conker's Bad Fur Day.

Something like it will probably never be done again.

 

[Finky Spunky]

Perfect Dark

Still return to on a regular basis. Sublime gameplay (once you turn auto aim off and set control scheme to 1.2).

Anyone know why this was remastered but not goldeneye?

 

[Plumpbiscuit]

 

[Renna Hazel]

Banjo-Kazooie is one of the greatest games of all time. DKC2 is right behind it. Gaming just hasn't been the same without Rare

 

[Sir_Crocodile]

Anyone know why this was remastered but not goldeneye?

rights issue

 

[Nokagi]

Probably Goldeneye for me. So many good memories from that game. Killer Instinct( 1st one) would be a close second.

 

[Google]

Anyone know why this was remastered but not goldeneye?

Licensing.

 

[LeleSocho]

DKC1 or Banjo Kazooie

 

[Brandon F]

Anyone know why this was remastered but not goldeneye?

Yes licensing and rights claims are the reason.

 

[Crayolan]

Donkey Kong Country 2.

Second is Banjo Kazooie.

 

[Keinning]

Viva Piñata

Fight me

 

[RoseBell69]

It is simply Star Fox Adventures.

 

[TheJoRu]

These guys get it.

Spoiler

I like both games in equal measure, they're quite similar.

 

[HvySky]

Viva Piñata

Fight me

No reason to fight. You speak the truth.

These guys get it.

Spoiler

I like both games in equal measure, they're quite similar.

Yup. Either game is valid as they're both amazing and criminally overlooked.

 

[Kinsei]

DKC2

Banjo-Tooie, Banjo-Kazooie, Perfect Dark (Better than Goldeneye), and Viva Pinata Trouble in Paradise are also really close to being the best.

 

[VDenter]

DKC2 or Banjo Kazooie. Its all downhill from there though.

 

[G0523]

Star Fox Adventures
I know, I know. It's not a real Star Fox game, but a Zelda-clone with Star Fox shoe-horned into it. But the game is ridiculously fun, and Fox in particular stands out as having more of a personality. The voice acting and writing is a bit stilted now, but it still a blast to play through, with it's cool worlds and interesting enough characters.

Out of curiosity, when was the last time you played that game? I'm wondering if it still holds up. I tried giving it many shots in the past but it just got too dull for me.

Anyway, my personal pick would have to be Banjo-Kazooie. I still play this game once every couple of years when I get that 3D platform itch and it's just so charming and fun to play. Its secrets with Stop 'n Swap obviously made it stand out against other games at the time, but it really is a top-tier effort from Rare. It's a collect-a-thon but it doesn't overwhelm you with it being one. It's just right.

 

[The Lone Dragon]

Battletoads games.

 

[Celine]

Just in terms of industry impact, definitely Goldeneye 007 and Donkey Kong Country.

Absolutely, by far Rare best selling games ever (in million of units):

(Second list are the games Rare fully owned the license after the split with Nintendo).

 

[DyslexicAlucard]

At the time of release? Goldeneye, for sure. It was amazing when it released, and set the standard for a generation.

As for a game that holds up well? I think Viva Pinata would be my pick. I can't imagine that game aging poorly.

 

[dietdracula]

Donkey Kong Country 2

Blast Corps

Perfect Dark

I think about all three of these fairly often. Getting that 102% on DKC2 is still one of my great video game triumphs.

 

[Gestault]

For my taste, I think the later Donkey Kong Country games on SNES and Viva Pinata on 360 are veeery high on the list. The more I think about it, this isn't an easy question.

 

[Triforce141]

Single player? Banjo Kazooie

Multi player? Goldeneye 007

 

[OrbitalBeard]

Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest and Banjo Kazooie

 

[frankie_baby]

Conker's Bad Fur Day

Refined everything in the two Banjo games plus it was Rare's last Nintendo 64 game, was one of the console's last games to be released and was Mature rated which at the time was rare for Nintendo and it's console's. Awesome game and love the intro. Stupid logo!!! LMAO!!!

There were boatloads of M rated games on the n64

 

[nelo_inc]

For me Donkey Kong Country, mainly because nostalgia i admit.

Runner-up: Banjo-Kazooie.

 

[hydruxo]

Banjo-Kazooie and DKC2 are their greatest triumphs, I say.

Agreed.

 

[zeexlash]

My favourites have been the Donkey Kong Country trilogy, Goldenye 007 and Viva Pinata.

 

[Keinning]

No one voted Nuts & Bolts just to be a contrarian? I'm so proud of you GAF

 

[Zukkoyaki]

Gotta go with Banjo-Kazooie.

Honorable mention to Diddy Kong Racing, aka the best kart racer ever.

 

[Archtreyz]

It is simply Star Fox Adventures.

Thank you. Finally someone agrees.

 

[capitalCORN]

Jet Force Gemini.

 

[purseowner]

Viva Piñata.

 

[RedZaraki]

I think it's Banjo Kazooie

 

[NeoZeedeater]

NES Battletoads or Cobra Triangle, depending on my mood.