Top 5 Most Iconic Rare Autumn Levels

by Lerako on Oct 16th, 2013

There’s something a bit wistful about the autumn months, summer frivolity is over and nature prepares itself for the harsh winter months ahead. Squirrels gather acorns to hide across the changing landscape, dusk comes sooner than later and homicidal deciduous trees start suffocating their leafy kin which results in the array of spectacular colors from the resulting depravity. Because the outside world is hostile and not to be trusted, we hardly condone venturing out to observe the season, we’ve constructed an even better alternative using Rare‘s best renditions of the season in our favorite games. These are hardly your average autumn levels however, as each experience has been made unique within their own titles, inspiring tales mirth and legend – so we’re told. Traipsing elephants, sentient evil trees and festive ambushes, we’ve got them all covered! Excited? Of course you are! These are the Top 5 Most Iconic Rare Autumn Levels!

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#5. BOBBING BARREL BRAWL – DONKEY KONG COUNTRY 3: DIXIE KONG’S DOUBLE TROUBLE (SNES)

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Found hidden amongst the appropriately green foliage of Kremwood Forest, Bobbing Barrel Brawl features the only seasonal shift in the woodland of DKC3. The brief interlude sends Dixie and Kiddy Kong through the marshy neck of the woods, with enough amber and auburn to seem gilded compared to previous entries. As if this black sheep didn’t seem strange enough, the majority of Bobbing Barrel Brawl is toured solo by Ellie the Elephant rather than the Kongs, who is tasked with dipping into chilly pools and setting sturdy barrels afloat as the title so implies. While the leaves unfortunately can’t be shaken from the trees in response to her thunderous footsteps, nor boisterous barrel jumping, we enjoy the autumn ambiance of Bobbing Barrel Brawl enough to revisit it at least once a year, as is custom to the changing season.

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#4. OLD MAWOOD IN THE FOREST TEMPLE – KAMEO: ELEMENTS OF POWER (XBOX 360)

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It’s likely that Kameo has seen plenty of unpredictable change occur across her kingdom – with the Troll‘s resurgence making her transforming prowess nonexclusive during the events of Kameo: Elements of Power, though preparing her for the change in season might have come as a bit of a shock. The autumn months come too swiftly when an insidious deciduous oak named Old Mawood appears at the end of the Forest Temple, which had previously harbored thriving greenery. Rustling up Trolls from its mighty boughs, Old Mawood‘s autumn leaves shed in heaps as Kameo is tasked with shaking things up in her own way. Old Mawood will eventually lose all of its foliage as it rakes in the damage, leaving Kameo the victor. Pummeling a sentient tree until it succumbs to pattern baldness. Sounds like Fall to us!

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#3. LIGHTFOOT VILLAGE – STARFOX ADVENTURES (GAMECUBE)

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Like the public opinion of Justin Beiber, the Lightfoot Village tribe of Stafox Adventures are stuck in a perpetual Fall; while summer has been kind to the neighboring Cape Claw beach, ascending the ladder towards the heavily-guarded village will herald autumn leaves from above. On arrival, Lightfoot Village seems like a fantastic place to earn a little solitude, with its long foggy pathways dotted with trees prepared for winter that will never arrive, but linger long enough and you’ll find a Lightfoot ambush waiting for trespassers. After the Lightfoot Chief has managed to capture Fox and label him a thief, an all-inclusive visit to the Walled City seems an odd means for punishment given the circumstance. Regardless, Fox can find an orchard and large span of marsh inside that are best enjoyed alone. If we could only ditch Tricky…

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#2. THE MAPLE LAKES GOLF PACK DLC – KINECT SPORTS: SEASON TWO (XBOX 360)

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After Rare managed to tee off with Big Park Games in order to create Kinect Sports: Season Two, it would seem that this joint-effort double-hitter wasn’t completely stuffed to bursting without some intervention via DLC. Flash forward a few mere months to December with the release of the Maple Lakes Golf Pack, and you have a melancholic look back at autumn during the frigid winter months. Challenging new courses like Turbine Vista, Crater Springs and Autumn Island would test the mettle of athletic-hopefuls, with 6 further holes and a new 18-hole mode showcasing hundreds of turning trees. Want a better view? Whenever you managed to slice your way to the hole, your perspective would soar through the air alongside the pitched golf ball, offering a breathtaking look at the fields of autumn trees below!

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#1. CLICK CLOCK WOOD IN AUTUMN – BANJO-KAZOOIE (N64)

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Claiming a quarter-stake in Click Clock Wood‘s namesake, the Autumn domain also managed to define everything synonymous with the season in Banjo-Kazooie. Exploring the surroundings would reveal quirky woodland creatures getting ready for the upcoming winter months, new pathways accessible via neatly raked piles of leaves and no signs of stopping from the constant fall above. Click Clock Wood Autumn was also meant to bookend the lazing nature of Summer with the calm expanse of Winter, and venturing in during this time felt like serious planning to be done – this notion was reflected in the game as Autumn had a whopping 48 Notes to collect, while the other seasons harbored 16 apiece. Throughout all time, it’s likely this particular season of Click Clock Woods will stand as our most iconic autumn level.

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