10 Best Rare Video Games

Whereas we’re a good distance from their heyday within the 90s, Uncommon remains to be rightfully thought to be probably the greatest builders in gaming historical past.

Immediately, they’re finest recognized for his or her work with Sea of Thieves, which has quietly established itself as an unimaginable open world sandbox setting the place you play as a pirate crusing on the excessive seas.

Again in 2015, they launched Uncommon Replay, a group of video games from their historical past that lets avid gamers make a journey down reminiscence lane and keep in mind how this legendary developer even obtained to the place they’re within the first place.

To this present day, I am going to pop again into the greats like Banjo-Kazooie or GoldenEye 007, and I am rapidly reminded why Uncommon was held in such excessive regard and are remembered for extra than simply Donkey Kong Nation.

Within the spirit of that, let’s recap the ten finest Uncommon video games which have launched up to now.

10 Sea of Thieves

Ahoy!

Regardless of its lackluster launch, Sea of Thieves has turn out to be one of many best open world games, particularly when you play with associates.

Whereas there are targets in place so that you can observe, Sea of Thieves is at its finest while you’re partaking in natural content material. It is not all the time about working off a guidelines of quests, however crusing the excessive seas and discovering out what’s ready to be found.

Possibly it is buried treasure! Possibly it is fame and fortune! Or possibly its hazard lurking in darkish caverns.

Both manner, it is one heck of a time when you get the fitting crew collectively. Whether or not you are planning a treasure hunt, singing sea shanties, or fishing on the open sea, few video games can be as pleasurable as Sea of Thieves.

9 Diddy Kong Racing

A Worthy Competitor To Mario Kart

There is not any denying that Mario Kart has had extra success in comparison with Diddy Kong Racing, however Uncommon’s arcade racer is greater than able to holding its personal.

Initially launched for the Nintendo 64 in 1997, adopted by a Nintendo DS remake in 2007, Diddy Kong Racing is greater than a Mario Kart clone. The forged of characters is an absolute delight, with a few of their featured video games showing on this listing.

Better of all, although, is that Diddy Kong Racing does a superb job of preserving the gameplay contemporary. By providing three distinct automobile sorts, each race, even when it is performed on the identical monitor, feels completely different. The karts, bumper boats, and planes all deal with in a novel manner.

Diddy Kong Racing’s marketing campaign additionally stands out as one thing extra in-depth than what you’d anticipate from a racer, providing a considerably open world to discover, uncover ranges, and fiddle in.

8 Banjo-Tooie

Barely Too A lot Of A Good Factor

I do know I will catch flack for this, however typically, the reality hurts: this recreation is not pretty much as good as you keep in mind. Generally, you may have an excessive amount of of factor.

That is the case with Banjo-Tooie, the Banjo-Kazooie sequel that goes all-in on including to what’s arguably the right platformer.

Do not get me fallacious; Banjo-Tooie remains to be a unbelievable recreation, however the largest downside is the pacing. It is all over, due to the expansive ranges and lack of focus.

It is a testomony to how good the inspiration right here is that Banjo-Tooie nonetheless ranks as an unimaginable recreation. The core gameplay loop you recognize and love remains to be right here, in addition to the intelligent writing and memorable characters. I simply want it wasn’t such a bloated expertise.

7 Donkey Kong 64

An Glorious Gather-A-Thon

We’ll discuss concerning the Donkey Kong franchise lots right here, and for good cause, however we’re beginning with what is likely one of the largest Nintendo 64 video games of all time.

Donkey Kong 64 can typically undergo below its personal weight. The sport is large, with a roster of 5 playable characters and a seemingly infinite variety of issues to gather.

The sport desperately wants some high quality of life updates, most notably the flexibility to vary characters on the fly with out having to backtrack to a barrel. Even regardless of these points, it is an ideal transition of the basic Donkey Kong Nation video games introduced right into a 3D world.

Whereas we have not seen a 3D Donkey Kong recreation since, that is not as a result of Donkey Kong 64 is unhealthy by any means. If something, I am undecided how it may be topped.

Uncommon realized all the fitting classes from Banjo-Tooie and delivered an unforgettable expertise, full with easter eggs, unlockables, and platforming galore.

6 Battletoads

Glutton For Punishment

Oh, Battletoads. The sport all of us love however nonetheless get mad at. You recognize what I am speaking about by simply taking a look at that picture. You recognize the ache and struggling it is precipitated.

Earlier than I get on a rant, let’s speak about what makes Battletoads so nice. Its old-school beat ’em up motion holds up remarkably nicely at present, showcasing one of the best of 8-bit gaming that so many trendy “retro” video games purpose to emulate.

Sure, Battletoads goes to kick your butt, however you are going to love each second of it. We’re speaking about Soulslike issue nicely earlier than FromSoftware ever thought-about creating Darkish Souls.

In a manner, that is what makes this recreation so good: the sense of accomplishment you get as you progress by the sport. It is irritating, positive, however by no means utterly unfair, and better of all, you may play it with a good friend in co-op.

5 Good Darkish

Calling Agent Darkish

Since its launch, there was a contentious debate as to which Uncommon FPS is healthier: GoldenEye 007 or Perfect Dark. Each have their deserves, and Good Darkish has the benefit of being primarily based on an unique IP, with extra content material, expansive ranges, and extra polished graphics.

As I’ve stated a number of instances, larger is not all the time higher. It is a miracle that Good Darkish even works on Nintendo 64 {hardware}, as the sport has numerous framerate points, falling below the burden of its ambition.

It is a testomony to how good Good Darkish is that many individuals can look previous these flaws. Uncommon proved that they weren’t content material to relaxation on their laurels following GoldenEye’s success, they usually delivered a religious successor that is nicely value your time.

4 Donkey Kong Nation

Go Forward, Hum Alongside With The Music

I keep in mind the primary time we noticed Donkey Kong Country and thought we had reached the top of online game graphics. My associates and I have been so excited to dive into the world of Donkey Kong Nation, just for it to chew us up and spit us out.

Donkey Kong Nation is as onerous as you keep in mind, demanding platforming precision and excellence from its gamers. Nonetheless, it is not impossibly troublesome; as an alternative, it is an train in side-scrolling perfection. The sport calls for excellence from its gamers.

To be sincere, I did not anticipate something much less from the staff that introduced us Battletoads. For those who’re searching for a Super Mario game without Mario, look no additional.

From mine carts to vine swinging to rhinoceros driving, it is a platformer stuffed with cool moments and has an incredible soundtrack besides.

3 Donkey Kong Nation 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest

An Unimaginable Sequel

One of many best online game sequels of all time, Diddy’s Kong Quest takes all the pieces that made the unique Donkey Kong Nation so nice and constructed it into one thing even higher.

The controls are improved, the extent design remains to be impeccable, and the problem is good. Nothing is just too onerous or too straightforward.

All the pieces works collectively in concord to ship the overall bundle. The sport’s music and ambiance do a superb job of matching ingenious, inventive degree design, whereas the gameplay flows naturally from stage to stage.

The sport retains pushing issues ahead, by no means taking lengthy to replicate on what works. As an alternative, it introduces a wealth of latest concepts your manner that maintain you entertained all through, regardless of how typically you’ve got performed.

2 GoldenEye 007

It Nonetheless Holds Up Immediately

Okay, time to pound the desk for GoldenEye 007, a recreation I spent numerous hours enjoying as a toddler, having fun with the native split-screen co-op, and always replaying its pleasurable single-player missions (most notably Silo).

There are few console FPS video games which can be as well-designed as this. Sure, the Nintendo 64 controls held it again, however that simply reveals you ways unimaginable this recreation is that we spend 1000’s of hours enjoying it with inferior controls.

The second I performed this recreation with trendy controls, it was like enjoying the sport for the primary time; it dealt with like a dream, letting the gameplay and brilliantly crafted ranges actually shine.

When you’ve got by no means performed the modern-day remaster, I urge you to go test it out. You will not remorse it.

1 Banjo-Kazooie

The GOAT

Probably the greatest platformers of all time, and definitely one of the best for Nintendo 64, Banjo-Kazooie is gaming perfection.

Everybody is aware of concerning the recreation’s intelligent writing, witty humor, and loveable characters. Sure, all of them make the sport as iconic as it’s, however the place Banjo-Kazooie shines is its degree design and gameplay.

All the pieces has been rigorously thought out and deliberate, enhancing on the inspiration set by Super Mario 64. Every world is the right measurement, large enough to encourage fixed exploration however small and centered to the place all the pieces has its place and function.

There is not any getting misplaced in expansive, huge, boring environments right here. As an alternative, every nook and cranny of Banjo-Kazooie’s worlds invitations you to see what collectibles are ready so that you can uncover.

I play this recreation yearly for a cause. It is the right platformer, and Uncommon’s finest recreation ever.