During the 2020 Game Awards, Microsoft announced abrand new installment into the classicPerfect Darkseries. Longtime fans of the game developer and Nintendo 64 console will remember thatPerfect Darkmade its debut on the 64-bit home console. with the series' first and only follow-up,Perfect Dark Zero, later releasing in 2005 as a console exclusive. Unfortunately,Perfect Dark Zerogarnered mixed reviews upon its release and fans never saw a third installment. It’s therefore understandable that, after fifteen years of waiting, fans are quite excited to see what Xbox’s newly created studio The Initiative has in store for gamers with this new sequel.
Microsoft happens to own the rights to many other franchises by Rare that have gone without any sequels for quite a long time, so seeingPerfect Darkreturning gives fans a bit of hope that perhaps more Rare IPs will follow suit. Recently, Microsoft has been on a roll with resurrecting dead franchises with bothKiller InstinctandBattletoadsreturning as console exclusivesfor the Xbox One, so perhaps it isn’t too far-fetched to hope for more franchises to make a comeback. Here are just a few of Rare’s old properties that would be great to see return.
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Banjo-Kazooie
Perhaps the most popular of all of Rare’s original IPs,Banjo-Kazooiehas a massive fan base that would love to see the bear and the bird make some sort of comeback. Originally released in 1998 for the Nintendo 64, the series saw one sequel on Nintendo’s 64-bit console before getting swiped up by Microsoft in 2002.
The franchise then got several spin-offs for the Game Boy Advance includingBanjo-Kazooie: Grunty’s RevengeandBanjo Pilot, and finally received a third installment on console in the form of Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts. While the game received relatively positive reviews from critics, the game is widely disliked by longtime fans of the franchise. Unfortunately for fans, the bear and bird haven’t gotten a new installment since then, with Banjo and Kazooie only appearing asguest characters in titles such asSuper Smash Bros. UltimateandSonic All-Stars Racing Transformed.
The addition of Banjo and Kazooie toSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate has made fans even more vocal with their wishes for the characters to make an official return, and the success of other 3D platformers likeSpyroandCrashshows that there’s still a very big demand for games of the genre. Despite the original creators confirming that theyare not developing a newBanjo-Kazooiegame, they have expressed interest in the past about developing a sequel if given the opportunity. In sum, it seems likeBanjo-Kazooieis the next-most likely Rare franchise to make a return.
Conker
Releasing at the tail-end of the Nintendo 64’s life,Conker’s Bad Fur Daywas unlike any other game that came before it: while it appeared child-like and kid-friendly, Conker was anything but that. The game contained tons of foul language, graphic violence, sexual themes, use of drugs and alcohol, and more. The game may appear rather tame compared to modern games, but the title simply oozed charm and creativity. After all, what other game featured a boss battle against a giant, opera-singing piece of poop?Conker never got the sequel that he deserves, with him only ever appearing in Microsoft’sProject Sparkand then in a failed HoloLense title,Young Conker.With the squirrel celebrating his 20th birthday this year, it feels like the perfect time to bring the series back on the Xbox Series X.
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Killer Instinct
Killer Instinctwas one of the best fighters for the Super Nintendo and Nintendo 64, and its return in the 2013 reboot proves that it’s worthy of being a franchise on-par withMortal KombatandStreet Fighter.Killer Instinctfor Xbox One introduced tons of new elements to the series that could be easily expanded upon, and it would be great to seea brand newKiller Instinctgame for the Xbox Series X. Surely, Rare’s got a few new tricks up its sleeves and ideas that will keep this fighting game fresh and on-going for years to come.
Jet Force Gemini
Another Nintendo 64 classic,Jet Force Geminiwas incredibly influential and revolutionary at the time of its release. Unlike some of Rare’s other releases for the console, however,Jet Force Geminiis somewhat of a hidden gem for the console and was never quite as popular as the likes ofGolden-EyeorPerfect Dark.The game, like many of Rare’s other IPs, has a large fan base witha spiritual successor for the game currently in development. It would be great to see the series make a return in the form of a sequel, or an HD remaster at the very least.
Viva Pinata
Introduced in 2006 as an exclusive for the Xbox 360,Viva Pinatais another franchise that hasn’t been touched by Rare in quite a long time. Like many of the franchises on this list,Viva Pinata’s life was incredibly short-lived, lasting only three games over a three-year period despite garnering positive reviews. Even though its legacy isn’t quite as big as other Rare franchises likeBattletoadsorBanjo-Kazooie,there certainly is a largeViva Pinatafan base that’s just itching for a new installment.
There’s no telling if any of these franchises with end up making their returns, however, it certainly seems more likely than ever for them to make a comeback, especially afterthe reveal of aPerfect Darksequel. This hasn’t been the only classic Microsoft IP confirmed to be returning on the Series X, withFablealso getting a new sequel as well.
Perfect Darkis coming to the Xbox Series X.
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