Top 5 Biggest Tricksters in Rare Games (April Fools Day 2020)

by Lerako on Apr 1st, 2020

It’s April Fools Day, which means you’ve probably stumbled here after enduring a hurdle of new ludicrous games announcements, obvious jump scare videos and thirty-three separate instances of watching a jigging Rick Astley.
It’s all in good fun of course, but a little variety would go a long way. That’s why we’ve decided to take a look back at Rare’s games searching for the most influential pranksters that have given us the run around in their games and left us looking like fools in order to get our creative energies flowing. Be prepared for bait-and-switches, traps masquerading as presents and uncompromisingly fiendish company. These are the Top 5 Biggest Tricksters in Rare Games!.

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#5. THE HAUNTED DOORS OF GHOULHAVEN HALL – GRABBED BY THE GHOULIES (XBOX)

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Most of the rooms in Ghoulhaven Hall are quite tricky in and of themselves; as Cooper makes a beeline for the alluring exit, the door is likely to slam shut and he’ll need to complete a daunting challenge in order to earn his freedom. The Haunted Door is especially insidious, as it usually relies on completion of a difficult task and only then when Cooper is desperate to move on does it leap from the frame, sending a heavy brass doorknob into his noggin. A special mention goes to the Servant’s Dormitories; a very lengthy corridor with some of the strongest Ghoulies in the game chasing after as you attempt to survive the gauntlet. Imagine our surprise when after repeated attempts to reach the end, our survival was rewarded with the slamming of a door and another challenge!

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#4. THE EXPERIMENT – CONKER’S BAD FUR DAY/CONKER: LIVE & RELOADED (NINTENDO 64/XBOX)

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After narrowly managing to survive the harrowing sights of battle during the ‘It’s War’ chapter of Conker’s Bad Fur Day, the hapless squirrel finds himself stranded on a outpost surrounded by patrolling submarines. Conker is hardly alone on this jetty however, as there appears to be a small, frightened little girl trapped in the center of the platform. After Conker approaches and tries to offer his assistance, the base opens up to reveal that the ‘little girl’ is actually being puppeteered by a gargantuan Tedi-Spider hybrid known as ‘The Experiment’ below! Now thrust into an unforeseen boss battle that caught him off-guard, Conker will be taken through a lesson in ballistics by a little girl who seems to channel The Exorcist throughout the battle. This is why we have trust issues!

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#3. POSTMISTRESS FANNIE FRANKER – VIVA PINATA: TROUBLE IN PARADISE (XBOX 360)

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At first glance, Frannie Franker doesn’t appear to be a prankster – she does however appear to have a mailbox for a head, but that’s besides the point. In truth, Frannie is particularly devious, and it all comes to light in Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise where she resumes her duties in the Post Office, sending out crates over Xbox Live and helping gardeners to connect. You can send your friends crates of Chocolate Coins and Candies to brighten their day, or, you can send them a ‘Weed Bomb’ for a bit of cruel fun at their expense. When delivered, there’s no indication that it’s anything other than a gift – it’s only after opening that it bursts open, littering the garden with nuisance weeds! To add insult to injury, Frannie even shouts out ‘Suprise!’ when the vile seedlings take root.

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#2. THE EVIL MINJO’S – BANJO-TOOIE/BANJO-KAZOOIE: NUTS & BOLTS (NINTENDO 64/XBOX 360)

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Introduced in Banjo-Tooie, the Minjo’s were a race of creatures that looked identical to the helpless Jinjo’s that Banjo and Kazooie had rescued in their previous adventure. The only difference is that while the Jinjo’s will plea for help and then reward the Bear and Bird duo, the Minjo’s will begin with a similar plea before turning on their would-be rescuers with an electrical shock! Hardly finished with their mischief, the Minjo’s returned in Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts where they managed to fool the police force of Showdown Town into jailing the Jinjo’s for their actions instead. Fortunately Banjo can dish out some justice in both titles and set things right for the Jinjo families and the ‘Googly-eyed Division of Identity Theft’ that we know has to exist somewhere in the Isle O’ Hags.

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#1. THE TRAPMAKER IN THE ART OF THE TRICKSTER – SEA OF THIEVES (XBOX ONE)

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While little may be known of the Trapmaker in Sea of Thieves, her work speaks for itself. Choosing to embark on the sixth Tall Tale will task pirates solving riddles, digging up treasure, exploring hidden passages and ultimately discovering the location of a prized Shroudbreaker artifact – all fairly fundamental for any Old Salt worth their salt. Once you’ve let your guard down however, the Trapmakers machinations come to fruition! Did you discover the buried treasure? Move quickly, the island is rigged with explosive barrels! Found the Trapmaker’s lair? Every footfall can trigger a spike trap. At least when you arrive at the Shroudbreaker Stone, the Trapmaker concedes and reveals that you’ve won the prize without any resistance. We can believe her, right?… Right!?

Categories: Top 5 Lists