Top 5 Best Rare Happy Endings (That Were Anything But)

by Lerako on Aug 19th, 2012

It’s a long journey from the title screen to the credit scroll as any seasoned gamer is apt to tell you, and to truly make that journey rewarding requires a glossy ending that ties up all loose ends and stifles any remaining conflict. Donkey Kong Country sees the prime apes crushing King K. Rool and retrieving their entire banana horde, Banjo-Kazooie sees the aviary-ursine duo rescuing little sister and setting Grunty between a rock and a hard place; Rare can be credited with crafting more happy endings than any Disney script could ever hope to.
Before we get too carried away with ourselves however, there are a number of Rare endings that are rather bitter-sweet – sure, you’ll get your big parade and round of ‘For he’s a jolly good fellow’, but a bit of unfinished business from the villain lingers on, often followed by a chorus of evil laughter if you’ve played your cards right.
These are the Top 5 Best Rare Happy Endings (That Were Anything But).

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#5. LEFT TRAPPED IN THE MINE – DIGGER T. ROCK: LEGEND OF THE LOST CITY (NES)

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Spurred into the biggest dig of his storied career, manic miner Digger T. Rock perseveres through chaotic caverns filled with prehistoric beasties, spanning chasms and the constant threat of bumping into Canary Mary to find himself at the fabled Lost City as the legend so implies. While an ecstatic Digger T. Rock celebrates, things suddenly take a grim turn when the entire area goes dark – knocking the pint sized miner on his backside while the smile is washed from his face. Did we just witness a cave in? Has an earthquake blotted out the Sun? A tasty sequel hook is promised, but lacking follow-up Digger T. Rock 2: Rock Harder, we can only assume that he ultimately dug his own grave as the Lost City became his tomb for the rest of eternity. This is what following your dreams does, kids.
 

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#4. IMPROMPTU EXIT – DONKEY KONG COUNTRY 2: DIDDY’S KONG QUEST (SNES)

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Splicing the main brace and dealing with countless nautical naughties will culminate with a final showdown against Kaptain K. Rool in the second Kong Quest – which ends as the scaly Kremling is tossed overboard into the hungry maws of many jaws. Fight through to the genuine ending however, and you’ll discover that the waterlogged K. Rool managed to survive the sharks and has returned with a vegeance in Krocodile Kore. Defeating him a final time will have the entire island sinking while the Kongs watch from afar, only to have K. Rool laughing menacingly as he sails away in an escape dinghy. This cliffhanger ending was ultimately changed for the better in the Game Boy Advance remake of Donkey Kong Country 2, where Funky flies over the fleeing Kremling and drops a bomb on him!
 

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#3. GATE CRASHING THE PARTY VIBE A SECOND TIME – DIDDY KONG RACING (N64)

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Similarly structured to the last title starring the nimble Diddy Kong on SNES, Diddy Kong Racing features two showdowns with final antagonist Wizpig. If you can flesh out the Wizpig Amulet you’ll go head to head against Ol’ Wizzy on Timber Island, which the hog responds to his great upset with a great upset – trashing the party that Diddy and co. are throwing, and fires at them from his spaceship. Follow the big pig up to Future Fun Land and you’ll defeat him a second and final time, which prompts the island into a massive celebration after ridding Wizpig for good. Wait until the scene fades however, and you’ll spot Wizpigs ship patrolling the airspace above as the hog laughs maliciously, preparing his third strike. This ending is unchanged in Diddy Kong Racing DS, which goes to show that the Island was doomed from the start.

 

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#2. A PARTING MESSAGE FROM THE MYSTIC – KAMEO: ELEMENTS OF POWER (XBOX 360)

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While Kameo: Elements of Power may seem a fantastical fairytale detailing a story of good versus evil, scratching the surface a bit more earnestly will reveal a more complicated plot. Seen twisting fate and predicting the future for her own gain is the Mystic, a precognitive prude who has been in rank with the Enchanted Kingdom for generations. When the Elements of Power were to be imparted to Kalus, the Mystic warned the Queen of a terrible future. When the Elements of Power were entrusted to Kameo instead, she then spurred Kalus into a fit of jealousy to resurrect the Troll Army. When the Kingdom finally returns to peace and the credits roll, the Mystic appears briefly to laugh at the end. Without any consequence, the Mystic got away with it all without any comeuppance whatsoever…

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#1. GAMES BY THE GRUNTIES II – BANJO-KAZOOIE: NUTS & BOLTS (XBOX 360)

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Reduced to a head in their last adventure, Gruntilda hops fervently back to Spiral Mountain to face off against the bear and bird duo. Tired of their endless bickering, the Lord of Games hits the scene to end their feuding once and for all with one final challenge for the deed to Spiral Mountain. Even after she’s supplied with a new body to help the odds Gruntilda ultimately fails to defeat the duo, and is banished to L.O.G’s Video Game Factory as a punishment. While Banjo and Kazooie beg L.O.G for a chance to return to their platforming roots, Gruntilda toils away in the factory, which we might add is where the omnipotent L.O.G creates every game, which Gruntilda now sits with power. After promising to create a devious new game, Grunty gets the last laugh, and – wait, is that… Ghoulies II!? Nooooo… NO!!!

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