Rare’s history, low-detail pixel style!
With Rare Replay being announced, it’s naturally a good time to get excited about historic Rareware/Ultimate. Like, say, drawing people from the character-driven series in it. Having said that, two characters here have four games each but none featured in said compilation. I guess it’s because they were mostly made by Rare “subsidiaries”/were not very good. I’ve also decided to cover the B-tier (and below) series, leaving out Banjo, Killer Instinct, etc. More detailed commentary below, but you don’t have to read it if you don’t want to.
Row 1: ZX Spectrum/Commodore 64
Jetman (Jetpac, Lunar Jetman, Solar Jetman). I used the look on the cover of the original game, as opposed to Crash magazine’s comics or the Refuelled reboot.
Sabreman (Sabre Wulf, Underwurlde, Knight Lore, Pentagram, Sabre Wulf GBA). You can sort of see art of him in some of the game’s maps, but this look is how he appears in Banjo-Tooie and Sabre Wulf GBA, with the mustache.
Sir Arthur Pendragon (The Staff of Karnath, Blackwyche, Entombed, Dragon Skulle). No art available, and he has two distinct visual looks that his sprite switches between from game to game. This one is the Karnath/Entombed look with the black cape from the other two games. Not in Rare Replay.
Row 2: NES
Kuros (Wizards & Warriors I/II/X/III). Based on the “generic knight in armour” sprite, as opposed to the Conan-inspired Fabio look from the game covers, which was also used in the Power Team show. Not in Rare Replay.
Rattle (Snake Rattle & Roll, Sneaky Snakes). The snakes in Sneaky Snakes are actually different snakes, but it’s a sequel. This sprite is based on the Mega Drive cover art, as opposed to the goofy-as-hell NES cover art, although the only difference at this resolution is having a differently coloured muzzle.
Rash (Battletoads, Battletoads GB, Battlemaniacs, Battletoads & Double Dragon, Super Battletoads). Opinions are annoyingly divided on who is the leader of the Toads, but Rash has the most consistent design (ie. his colour doesn’t change as much between games), and he seems to be slightly more the “face” of the series. Plus, cool red armbands and shades (not visible at this resolution).
Row 3: N64
Juno and Vela (Jet Force Gemini). The only game/series with two characters in this picture. You can’t really separate them though.
Joanna Dark (Perfect Dark, Perfect Dark GBC, Perfect Dark Zero). This is based on her N64 outfit, but with the longer hair from Zero.
Row 4: Xbox/360
Cooper (Grabbed by the Ghoulies). I wanted to put Amber in too, but it didn’t fit in the layout as it ended up.
Kameo (Kameo: Elements of Power). I do prefer this final look to the Gamecube one with the purple Ugg boots.
Horstachio (Viva Pinata, Trouble in Paradise, Pocket Paradise, Party Animals). One of the four main pinatas from the TV series, Horstachio is jointly the face of the series but also looks the best standing up, which I guess makes this Hudson from the show.
