Chris’s Top 10 Videogames of 2015: #7
Rare Replay
Developer: Rare
Publisher: Microsoft Studios
Xbox One Exclusive
Ok, so I’m cheating with this one a little bit as it is 30 games on one disc, but if you are as old as I am then Rare Replay is a must purchase as far as I’m concerned. The first thing you notice about the package are the incredible production values. Rare could have easily just knocked out the games with little to no extra work and people would have been happy, but they have gone to great trouble to show just how much love and affection they have for their history.
There are a lot of brilliant behind the scenes videos which you unlock by playing the games. These include discussions from makers of the games reminiscing about their time at Rare, or their favourite moments bringing these games to life.
My personal highlights in the collection are: Kameo: Elements of Power, Banjo-Kazooie, Blast Corps, Jetpac Refuelled, Sabre Wulf and Atic Atac. Playing Sabre Wulf for the first time in nearly 30 years almost brought a tear to my eye. If you love retro games or feel nostalgia towards them then I’m sure you will feel the same way.
Here is a full list of the games included: Jetpac, Atic Atac, Lunar Jetman, Sabre Wulf, Underwurlde, Knight Lore, Gunfright, Slalom, R.C. Pro-Am, Battletoads (NES), Cobra Triangle, Snake Rattle N Roll, Digger T. Rock, Solar Jetman, R.C. Pro-Am II, Battletoads Arcade, Killer Instinct Gold, Blast Corps, Banjo-Kazooie, Jet Force Gemini, Perfect Dark, Banjo-Tooie, Conker’s Bad Fur Day, Grabbed by the Ghoulies, Perfect Dark Zero, Kameo: Elements of Power, Viva Piñata, Jetpac Refuelled, Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts, Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise.
It’s fair to say that some of the games haven’t aged as well as others, but there really is something for everyone in this wonderful collection. The bonus is that you can get all of this amazing content for less than £20. In the cynical cash grab world of micro-transactions and downloadable content it wouldn’t have surprised me if they had released these games for a fiver each. The fact that they didn’t do this and have also created an amazing package, well quite frankly they deserve our money. In my opinion you would be mad not to own this incredible slice of history.
Review by Chris (co-host of 60 Minutes With and The Same Coin)
