REVIEW: Rare Replay

Rare Replay is the ultimate collection for fans of the developer and gamers in general. Not only is it a compilation of some of the most addicting games ever made, but it also guides you through the history of the video game industry. The evolution of gameplay, graphics and overall complexity can be experienced as you play through each title presented in chronological order. We played through each game and loved each one. While some games are those that should be experienced in short doses, like the Jetman franchise, other like Kameo and Grabbed by the Ghoulies draw you in so much that it is hard to put the controller down. It is hard for us to pick a favorite as we have been addicted to Kameo, Battletoads Arcade and Grabbed since the collection came out. Instead of talking about the compilation as a whole, we will go through each game and discuss some of its interesting aspects. For those wondering if you should purchase this title, the answer is a resounding yes. Every Xbox One owner should experience Rare Replay. Scratch that, every gamer should experience Rare Replay.

Jetpac (1983)

Jetpac is a shooter developed and published by Ultimate Play The Game. Ultimate Play The Game later evolved into Rare when they started developing for Nintendo’s consoles. Interestingly enough, the game initially released on the ZX Spectrum and VIC-20. The objective in the game is to collect parts and fuel for your spacecraft and go to the next planet. You also have to shoot the countless aliens attacking you. The title is as entertaining as it is challenging. Such games also serve as great way to experience the early days of the industry.

Lunar Jetman (1983)

Lunar Jetman is a follow-up to Jetpac but instead of fueling a spacecraft, you have to locate and destroy alien bases on the surface of the moon. The gameplay is much more complex as you can control a moon rover, have to transport a bomb, and drop it onto the alien base. You can really sense the speed at which the industry was evolving back then.

Atic Atac (1983)

Atic Atac takes place within a castle where the player tries to find a golden key. The one innovation I noticed was how you can choose from three different classes. The wizard, knight and serf can access different passages so it makes playing as each class unique.

Sabre Wulf (1984)

Sabre Wulf is about a traveller who falls into a deep chasm and must battle the indigenous creatures in order to escape. You have to recover four pieces of a lost amulet that grant you safe passage. The title has a lot of enemy variety and introduced many new gameplay elements. The game could also be played by two players at the same time.

Underwurlde (1984)

Underwurlde stars the Sabreman from Sabre Wulf but this time the fellow traps himself in underground caverns. Dormant creatures and carnivorous plants wake up in the hope of a meal. The poor Sabreman must travel farther down to confront the ultimate evil and make his escape. It is interesting to see how sequels were treated back in the day. Changing the perspective introduced new ways to play the game.

Knight Lore (1984)

The game uses a filmation engine to achieve its three-dimensional look by using isometric projection. It is regarded as a revolutionary title and was the first to popularize the isometric adventure genre.

Gunfright (1985)

Gunfright is another isometric game but it is a shooter where you have to eliminate outlaws. The shooting mechanics are surprisingly good for a game featuring that perspective. It came as a nice surprise because all of us here love shooters.

Slalom (1986)

Slalom is a skiing game and it is a lot of fun. It is easy to control and plays smoothly. It came as a surprise to us because it was not something we were expecting to be part of the collection. None of us had experienced it before.

R.C. Pro-Am (1987)

This racing title is excellent and the fact that it introduced speed boost is remarkable. It requires skill and patience.

Cobra Triangle (1989)

Cobra Triangle is another game that took us by surprise because it involves controlling a boat but switches up gameplay mechanics. Sometimes you go race around and other times you are trying to defuse bombs. It is really good and shows the versatility of Rare.

Snake Rattle ‘n’ Roll (1990)

Snake Rattle ‘n’ Roll is a platformer where the objective is to eat creatures and ring the bell by increasing you weight. You control two snakes and the gameplay mechanics are rather unique. It was also another surprise as it took us a while to figure out what we had to do. We had never come across a game like this before.

Digger T. Rock (1990)

Digger T. Rock is a great exploration game where your main tool is a shovel. You shovel away dirt to reveal passages and get around the level. You can see its influence in many modern indie titles. It is always fun to revisit history.

Solar Jetman: Hunt for the Golden Warpship (1990)

Solar Jetman involves controlling a ship and its occupant around an area trying to avoid enemy fire. It is another installment in the Jetman franchise. After the ship is destroyed, the occupant is unprotected but can still complete the objectives even without the ship. It is an interesting game that really makes you see the evolution of the Jetman series.

Battletoads (1991)

Battletoads is a brawler that is great fun even after all these years. It is a great introduction to all the different characters. We enjoyed playing it but the arcade version that came out a few years later really blew us away.

R.C. Pro-Am II (1992)

The game builds upon the original and makes there racing experience even better. Reviews cite these games as the inspiration for titles like Super Off Road and the Mario Kart.

Battletoads Arcade (1994)

We have a confession. None of us had played Battletoads up until now and Battletoads Arcade is incredible. The brawler is perfect and features responsive controls. The enemies are varied and quite different. The best parts of the game have to be the animations when Rash or one of his amphibious brethren sees a large enemy. Their eyes pop out and they look genuinely terrified in a hysterical manner. The other aspects that stood out are the varied levels and how unique the bosses are. This game has to be one of the best brawlers ever made. Plus, the moment when you kick an enemy towards the camera is perfect.

Killer Instinct Gold (1996)

Killer Instinct Gold is a great way to revisit the classic and get acquainted with the characters. While the new version is one of the best fighting games ever made, it is still great to revisit the franchise’s roots. The nostalgia is strong.

Blast Corps (1997)

The game is rather unique because it features a lot of destruction. You control a bulldozer or other vehicles that are supposed to clear the way for a nuclear missile transport. Failing to do so sets the device off and destroys the city. As odd as it sounds, the fact that all buildings you see are destructible is quite a technical achievement.

Banjo-Kazooie (1998)

Banjo-Kazooie is still one of the best platformers ever. The controls are so good even by modern standards. The best parts about the game are the hilarious characters and dialogue. It was a great start to the franchise. We wish a new Banjo-Kazooie comes to Xbox One one day.

Jet Force Gemini (1999)

Jet Force Gemini is a third-person shooter which features rich alien worlds to discover. While the shooting mechanics are a little strange, the interesting characters and environments make it a treat to play.

Perfect Dark (2000)

Perfect Dark reminded us of GoldenEye 007 with its movement and shooting. The controls feel different to what modern gamers are accustomed to but are still really good. The unique style was definitely a trip down memory lane as well as a reminder of how shooters used to play.

Banjo-Tooie (2000)

The title built upon the original and gave us even more hilarious dialogues. We loved it mostly because it is just so funny.

Conker’s Bad Fur Day (2001)

Conker’s Bad Fur Day is an action platformer that is just hilarious. The humor is crude and there is plenty of alcohol and tobacco use. The game also contains profanity, vulgar humor, and dozens of pop culture references to films. This title has to be one of our favorites because it is bold and pushes boundaries. Conker has to be one of our most favorite characters of all time.

Grabbed by the Ghoulies (2003)

Grabbed by the Ghoulies has been remastered for Rare Replay. It runs at 1080p 60 FPS now and looks incredible. It has to be one of the most beautiful titles in the collection. The graphics are crisp and the reflections on the floor just look amazing. If you compare it to other games coming out nowadays, it can even give them a run for their money. Apart from that, it involves exploring a mansion infested by supernatural creatures and rescuing your companion. The creature design and story are great and it is a lot of fun. Upgrading it to modern standards really elevates the experience.

Kameo: Elements of Power (2005)

Kameo: Elements of Power is an action-adventure brawler where you play as the titular character. Kameo is an elf princess that attempts to thwart the evil plans of her sister Kalus and the troll king Thorn. Kameo’s gameplay revolves around the ability to shapeshift into different creatures depending on the puzzle. The graphics are absolutely stunning and considering that this game came out a decade ago, they are a sight to behold. The amount of foliage on the ground and detail in the environment is a testament to Rare’s technical abilities. The controls are perfect which is something we were not expecting given its age. The story is fantastic and draws you into the world. Apart from that, there are plenty of upgrades for each of your abilities. None of us had played Kameo before and it is fair to say that we were blown away.

Perfect Dark Zero (2005)

Perfect Dark Zero is a great shooter that features good shooting mechanics and an effective cover system. The graphics are also stunning for a game that is a decade old. We were surprised by it on a technical level and loved the character of Joanna Dark. The multiplayer really make the game.

Viva Piñata (2006)

Viva Piñata is all about building a garden and accomplishing tasks related to that. It is a relaxing title that is surprisingly very popular among Xbox 360 gamers.

Jetpac Refuelled (2006)

Jetpac Refuelled is a remake of the original Jetpac with high-definition graphics and more than a hundred levels. Playing Jetpac and then the remake is quite an experience because the transition is stunning. It shows you how far the industry has come. Moments like these are what make Rare Replay stand out. We love the history of our industry and that made our day.

Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise (2008)

The sequel to Viva Piñata expanded on the game’s mechanics and built upon the original in many ways. It was even better than the first one and fans loved it.

Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts (2008)

The title focuses on constructing vehicles but the standout aspect the game has to be the graphics. It was interesting to see Banjo, Kazooie and other characters rendered using latest techniques.

Rare Replay also features developer interviews and other videos that that are unlocked through a progression system. The more you play and attain certain milestones, the more behind-the-scenes content you can view. Our favorite interview would have to be the one about Battletoads Arcade and how the designers discuss making the final boss of the game invulnerable for almost a minute to make the fight feel satisfying.

There are a few issues in the collection that must be addressed. As expected some of the game are dated and this presents an interesting dilemma for us. For example, Killer Instinct Gold is difficult to go back to due to its controls and performance. Updating them would have improved the experience but then it would not have been an accurate representation of the original title. Apart from that, some Xbox 360 games like Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts suffer from slight performance issues on Xbox One. Luckily, these issues do not detract from the overall experience and Rare has already released a few patches to address these concerns.

Another amazing feature is the rewind button. Some of the games, like the original Battletoads and Snake Rattle ‘n’ Roll are quite challenging so being able to rewind when you get gobbled up is a great touch. You should try it out when you are stuck in a tight situation.

The title will provide you hundreds of hours of gameplay if not more. While you might not love every title like we did, you will definitely find a few favorites like each one of us and play them a lot. The replayability is endless especially for games in the Jetman franchise that require you to attain the highest score possible. At $29.99, it represents amazing value.

We thought Halo: The Master Chief Collection was the ultimate compilation of games but Rare Replay has topped it. There is so much variety, content and enjoyment packed into the experience that it is hard to beat. Apart from that, the menu system to access all the titles is a work of art in itself. The song that celebrates thirty years of Rare is also superb. You can feel the love that went into making this collection and after experiencing everything, you understand why the studio is so important. Their history and innovation can be felt in the wider gaming industry to this day. As mentioned earlier, every gamer should play Rare Replay because it is bursting with the love of games. Do yourself a favor and buy this title right now. Seriously, drop what you are doing and get Rare Replay right now. The wait for Sea of Thieves just got harder because Rare states that it is their most ambitious game yet. We cannot wait to play it after Rare Replay. You can write us down as lifelong fans at this point.