Which classic N64 Rare games would you like to see in Switch Online?
Looking at the library of N64 games currently available if you’re a Nintendo Switch Onlne subscriber at the Expansion Pack level, we now have access to not one, but two 64-bit Rareware classics in Banjo-Kazooie form. and now GoldenEye 007. Just a few years ago, it might have seemed like a pipe dream, but the appearance of Banjo and Kazooie in Smash Bros. Ultimate apparently helped establish a “relationship” between Nintendo and Microsoft – owners of Rare for over 20 years now – that developer Twycross’s work reappearing on the Nintendo platform isn’t such a strange idea anymore.
There’s also a selection of games from the developer’s golden years that could potentially land on Nintendo Switch Online. Most of them are available on Xbox as part of the sublime Rare repeat package, and some of them, particularly those that include the Nintendo IP, may be more likely to come to Switch than others.
So we’ve decided to round up the beautiful stragglers and ask you which one you’d like to see NSO in the most ideal of ideal worlds. You’ll find the poll at the bottom, but first, let’s remind ourselves of candidates from an era where Rare couldn’t seem to be wrong. Here are the nine games in chronological order of release dates, starting with The Real Killer…
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Rare
Port killer instinct 2 Of the slot machines, Killer Instinct Gold was the second KI to appear on Nintendo platforms (well, third counting the Game Boy port) after the Super NES original. There weren’t many great fighting games on the N64 – the legacy of Smash Bros. is by far the console’s greatest contribution to the genre, but platform fighting games are a sub-genre of their own these days – and KIG is one of the system games. several famous fighters.
Chances are we’ll get this is on NSO seem a long way off considering the series was revived on Xbox in 2013. Imagine if KI were announced instead of, say, DK64? We like a bit of KIG (actually, we like saying “KIG” too), but we don’t think this will be the first in the poll at the bottom of the page.
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Rare
Blast Corps involves clearing a path for a slow-moving truck carrying a malfunctioning nuclear missile into a detonation safe zone – an area that is blocked off by buildings and other structures ready for destruction. As with many 64-bit games, its early polygonal visuals might look a bit stubborn these days, but don’t let its appearance put you off. This incredibly stupid concept makes for one of the most fun games on the N64.
We’d love to see this get even more mainstream on Switch, but that seems unlikely given some of the stronger players below. For example…
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Rare
Diddy Kong Racing did almost exactly what Banjo-Kazooie would have done for Super Mario 64 for Mario Kart 64; namely, take a Nintendo-created template and expand it with color and creativity for more than just a tribute. DKR turned the single player game into an adventure, and the addition of aircraft and hovercraft required much larger and more complex racing tracks. The game also featured the console debuts of Banjo and Conker, now owned by Microsoft.
We saw the DS remake come out in 2007, and given Diddy’s presence, we think it would be a strong “maybe” for a potential NSO re-release.
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Rare
An underrated entry in the Rareware library, Jet Force Gemini paired a cute design with a chunky, energetic third-person blast on a worldwide quest to defeat the insectoid lord Mizar. The adventure of Juno, Vela, and loyal good boy Lupus isn’t without its flaws, but JFG is a surprisingly deep and enjoyable adventure worth exploring if you’re a Rare fan looking for the gems that passed you by at the turn of the millennium.
I have to be honest, we don’t have much faith in this game coming to the Switch given the fierce competition.
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Rare
Some blame Donkey Kong 64 for the downfall of the 3D platformer collecting craze, and while it’s hard to argue that Rare may have gone too far with a plethora of non-essential collectible gizmos, this is the game that turns everything into an eleven. and there’s something admirable about his uncompromising “more is more” approach. With five playable Kongs (you know them well), huge worlds and lots of mini-games (including emulated versions of the original arcade Donkey Kong and Rare’s jetpack), the DK64 was a hell of a deal back in 1999, and we think it probably deserves a reappraisal after a couple of decades of bashing.
Given that Nintendo owns all of the characters in this one – and the fact that he showed up on the Wii U Virtual Console – this is a prime candidate for a little Switch Online love. Come on Cranky take it to the refrigerator.
