Top 5 Best Rare Character Reboots

by Lerako on Apr 25th, 2012

With the site getting a new glossy makeover and expanded coverage on all things Rare, it only seemed right to craft a new list just as glitzy and exciting. Unfortunately a memo was slipped and they forgot to fire the previous list maker and replace him with a new and improved version as well. Instead, we’re using this bit of time savoring the ‘new site smell’ to reflect on Rare titles of the past that saw their character torn down to the ankles and reinvented for the better. Whether it be for bumping up the gritty realism or just providing a general improvement to their parent title with their new look, you’ll find them here – save for Mr. Pants Rides Again as the Twycross lads are still hard at work crafting his realistic stubble and lovely corpulent folds. These are the Top 5 Best Rare Character Reboots!

 

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#5. DR. EUSTACE CAROLL – PERFECT DARK (2000) – PERFECT DARK ZERO (2005)

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“We can rebuild him, better, faster, and capable of fitting inside most overhead storage compartments.” Such must have been the logic as dataDyne went about transferring the artificial intelligence of one Dr. Eustace Caroll into the cold steel chasis of immortality. Making himself a threat to dataDyne twice over, Dr. Caroll‘s resurrection saw himself providing Joanna with much needed information as both a senile coaster and sentient toaster in Perfect Dark Zero and Perfect Dark respectively. The latter of which he managed to foil dataDyne‘s plans twice over by sacrificing himself to blow up a Cetan ship set to bring about the extinction of mankind. That’s a win for the tin!

 

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#4. JUNO, AND VELA, TRUE CHILDREN OF THE STARS – JET FORCE GEMINI (1999)

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When you find yourself the last lonely line of defense in a universe made mad by an onslaught of anthropomorphic ants, the last thought on your mind is likely improving your keen sense of fashion, or questioning the means of childhood warfare in your current position. Thankfully, Rare hasn’t been put in this situation (that we know of), so they had time to jazz up the protagonists of loosely described Jet Force Gemini before it was released. Fitting the heroes, Juno and Vela in proper glitzy space swag and then aging them with enough angst to send other teenage counterparts running, this reboot was necessary in setting the tone to this classic space race against the miserable Mizar.

 

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#3. JETMAN – (JETPAC (1983) – JETPAC REFUELLED (2007)

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In a mission that seems to have trapped our space faring Jetman in a continuity of space age auto-repair and laser light show in Jetpac, much of the timeless core gameplay that shaped the series has found its way into a similar situation with Jetpac Refuelled on Xbox Live Arcade. Hardly set to blast through space glued to a laser shooting chair akin to a Steven Hawking fantasy however, Jetman has updated his arsenal considerably, with his mounted arm laser ready to shoot a disarray of rays in all directions. Polish it off with a new chrome exterior, roaring jetpac and new bombastic powerups, Jetman has never looked so good – we’re getting itchy trigger fingers just thinking about it.

 

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#2. CONKER THE SQUIRREL (CONKER’S POCKET TALES (1999) – BAD FUR DAY (2001)

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With Conker finding himself squared off against the likes of Banjo-Kazooie and Diddy Kong Racing in the soft and squeezable department, the red squirrel was hard pressed in earning a little individuality before his latest adventure, Conker’s Twelve Tales hit store shelves. And so, abandoning any traces of wide eyed wonder (especially those found planted on inanimate objects) Conker took to excessive drinking, and spent late nights partying. Far from home and humble beginnings after a hangover sees him ragged, the mature audience will appreciate this sordid tale of war, trust, greed, betrayal, love and rolling a great big ball of feces up a hill.

 

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#1. DONKEY KONG (DONKEY KONG ARCADE (1981) – DONKEY KONG COUNTRY (1994)

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While the portly plumber of the Mushroom Kingdom managed to rise to prominence following his stint in Donkey Kong Arcade, the same could not be said for the titular ape sending down barrels from above. Slowly fading into obscurity with Donkey Kong Jr. Math being his latest unsuccessful endeavor, Rare seized the big lug from an impending abandonment and crafted the visual splendor that was to be Donkey Kong Country for the SNES. With praise and reception at a new found high for the prime ape and his pal Diddy, further titles in the series garnered similar fanfare, bringing the simian success back into the public eye for something other than stealing quarters.

Categories: Top 5 Lists