Top 10 Video Games By Rare

“Jetpac” is among one of the fun retro games from Rare, not to mention of the most challenging. As a daring Jetman, the player must reassemble and refuel a rocket ship to escape a distant planet. This wouldn’t be so difficult if fuzzy aliens didn’t keep floating in your way. “Jetpac” will constantly keep you on your toes, well except for when you’re skyrocketing between platforms. If you’ve got a copy of Donkey Kong 64 lying around, you can unlock a fully playable version of Jetpack hidden inside the other aforementioned title - if you collect 15 Banana Medals.

Based on its title, you wouldn’t expect “Blast Corps” to be a puzzle game. Perhaps “puzzle game” isn’t the best way to describe this explosive experience, though. It’s really more a thinking man’s destruction game. The player must use their noggin and use a selection of bulldozers, trucks, and giant robot mechs just to clear a path for a very fragile nuclear missile. A true ode to the art of blowing things up, Blast Corps is an often forgotten gem that is

It’s unfortunate that you can’t mention “Diddy Kong Racing” without bringing up another N64 kart racer. While “Mario Kart 64” came out first, “Diddy Kong Racing” is still one of the most exhilarating and imaginative racing games ever. Plus, it incorporating air and water racing into the equation long before Mario did. The game further comes complete with colorful characters, distinctive racetracks, and an infectiously catchy soundtrack. Admit it, the theme for Ancient Lake still occasionally pops into your head. Also, plan on seeing Banjo and Conker resurfacing later.

One of the best and most unique first-person shooters at the time, “Perfect Dark” introduced gamers to Joanna Dark. While she hasn’t starred in as many games as Lara Croft or Samus Aran since her initial debut, this secret agent is still among the most celebrated female characters in gaming. Joanna is one of the driving forces behind this stealth gem, which combines the excitement of spy thriller with the atmosphere of sci-fi action adventure. Of course, Rare’s signature multiplayer mode returns, now more robust than ever.

When people think of the best fighting games in the arcade and Super Nintendo libraries, “Street Fighter” and “Mortal Kombat” are the titles that usually come to mind first. Although “Killer Instinct” may have borrowed a fair deal from those classics, it still stands on its own with mind-blowing combos and merciless fatalities. It also has one of the coolest rosters you’ll ever see in a fighting game. How many games can you think of that bring together an alien, a heavyweight champion, a skeleton, and a human/raptor hybrid? All together the game truly delivers an (say it with us now) ULTRAAAA COMBOOOOO

Now here’s a game guaranteed to ruin friendships, which is probably why people prefer to play “Battletoads” on single player mode. Even when riding solo, this brawler will still be one of the hardest gaming experiences you’ll ever have. Even if you were never able to get past the Turbo Tunnel, though, “Battletoads” maintains high replay value for its striking environments, fun platforming, and hard-hitting beat-em-up action. It’s clear that a game is awesome when it constantly results in broken controllers, but has you coming back for more regardless.

“Coker’s Bad Fur Day” is like “Alice in Wonderland” with a fouler mouth. The game is essentially a road trip of sorts where the hung-over Conker crossing paths with numerous random characters, including a suicidal pitchfork, Count Batula, and of course we have to mention the Great Mighty Poo. Aside from being crudely hilarious and insanely fun, the game references everything from “A Clockwork Orange” to “Saving Private Ryan.” We’re not sure what the Rare developers were on when they conceived this masterpiece, but it’s truly one of a kind.

Rare has taken us to some of the most enchanting environments in gaming and the world of “Banjo Kazooie” just might be their most breathtaking. It’s hard to single out our absolute favorite land in this platformer, which includes the picturesque Treasure Trove Cove, wondrous Freezeezy Peak, and inventive Click Clock Wood. These locations are so involving that you’ll want to collect every item, complete every objective, and see every sight of Gruntilda’s lair. The world would be expanded upon in the exceptional and more challenging “Banjo-Tooie”.

The first “Donkey Kong Country” is undoubtedly among Rare’s most iconic outings, but let’s face it – there’s always room for improvement. It’s only fitting that Diddy would take center stage in the even more impressive sequel with Dixie acting as second banana. Talk about a game that raised the ante in every conceivable department, from the graphics, to the music, to the gameplay. Rare’s partnership with Nintendo might be history, but modern “Donkey Kong” games continue to learn from the example they set.

Before we get to our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:

“Jet Force Gemini” (1999)

“Star Fox Adventures” (2002)

“Viva Piñata” (2006)

“R.C. Pro-Am” (1988)

“Donkey Kong 64” (1999)

If only Rare had attained the rights to every major motion picture, every video game based on a movie could have been as awesome as “GoldenEye.” Actually, when people think of “GoldenEye,” the movie is usually an afterthought compared to the landmark that is the game. What can we say about “GoldenEye” that hadn’t been praised already? It’s shooting, it’s stealth, it’s multiplayer, everything about the game is revolutionary and no other James Bond title has been able to top it since. The game’s legacy is forever embedded in solid gold.

Do you agree with our list? What’s your favorite Rareware game? For more entertaining Top 10s published every day, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.