Top 5 Rare Holiday Havens – Christmas Special
by Lerako on Dec 22nd, 2011
Ignoring the constant yabbering from Outlet Malls and Grocery Stores for the last two months, Christmas is now nearly here with only days to separate us from our current state of complacent holiday cheer to fervent festive frenzy as we tear away at our stash of presents. Perhaps Kinect Sports: Season Two is the latest gift from Rare that’s found its way under your tree this year following its many brothers past, or perhaps you’ve wasted your wish on Peace on Earth and Goodwill Toward Men or other such rubbish. While much discussion has gone on with hopeful Christmas Lists, here’s a flawless segue into this Christmas List which features our Top 5 picks of the best holiday themed levels from Rare! While all of these titles have a charm that lasts all year round, there’s a certain, daresay, magic with giving these entries a playthrough around Christmas – or during if you happen to be especially anti-social. Be sure to check out the festive music under the image of each entry to carry you through as you count down the days before Christmas by counting down the items on this list; it’s better than any bloody Advent Calendar you’ve ever had that’s for sure!
#5. SNOWY HILL, SKID ROW – SLALOM
In Rare‘s first release on the NES in 1987, players were tasked with braving a multitude of treacherous tracks that would see them skiing their way down Snowy Hill, Steep Peak and Mount Nasty. While the sights of endless snow and groupings of Evergreens in the distance are sure to remind us of the holidays, it wasn’t until course three on Snowy Hill called Skid Row that players would meet their newest festive obstacles. Once players had strapped into their skis and cleared the first dozen flags, they’d find the latter half of the course filled with vibrant Evergreens, jolly looking Snowmen and bundled up children sledding back and forth – all plotting to trip up the snowbound skiers at 200 MPH and have them somersault their way right into an infirmary!
#4. WALRUS COVE – DIDDY KONG RACING
For many a Rare fan, the mere mention of Diddy Kong Racing brings back a nostalgic bout of holiday cheer as they found the wild Racing Adventure title under the tree on Christmas of 1997. As if the cheeky chimp hadn’t already warmed himself up to gamers with his timely arrival, Snowflake Mountain brought with it an icy course called Walrus Cove. While the Cove was strangely absent of any Walruses, it more than made up for the fact with an overdose of constant snowfall, colorful lantern ambient caverns, Candy Cane finish line and two massive Ice loop-de-loops that racers would have to brave three times to clear the course. The cherry on top of this festive fruitcake was Walrus Cove‘s music, with enough jingles and bells to satiate any holiday cravings.
#3. MERRY CODE – DONKEY KONG COUNTRY 3
While the mouthful Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong’s Double Trouble had it’s fair share of gorilla glaciers complete with cozy cottages and bundled Snowmen, it hardly constitutes itself for a holiday haven. That was until players entered L, R, R, L, R, R, L, R, L on the file select screen followed by the suggestive MERRY code to unlock a bonus Christmas mode. All seemed calm and bright until players entered a Bonus Barrel, at which point a festive rendition of the Bonus theme would start up offering Dixie and Kiddy new Christmas collectibles to find, replacing Stars with Ornaments and Green Bananas with Blue Presents. Manage to collect all of the mandatory Christmas bonus items and you’d be rewarded with the Bonus Complete music chimed out with bells!
#2. FROSTY VILLAGE – DIDDY KONG RACING
Not to be outdone with Walrus Cove‘s presence, Diddy Kong Racing featured a second overtly festive winter wonderland as its final race course in Snowflake Mountain. Taking on the more sombre times of the holiday mood while at the same time injecting rapid racing animals into the mix is no easy feat, but Frosty Village saw it through in spades. Taking place on top of a snowy strip, Diddy and friends would shred through the slush in tow and descend upon a cozy little village in the light of a full moon. After a quick detour through a chilly cavern complete with dangling icicles, the crew would find themselves on the snow swept streets leading them back to the finish line. The music of Frosty Village completes the picture, with a tune that encapsulates holiday cheer.
#1. FREEZEEZY PEAK – BANJO-KAZOOIE
We’d like to imagine that when players try to escape this winter wonderland in Banjo-Kazooie by flight, they’re not rubbing against any sort of level boundary but instead have found themselves touching the glass of a snow globe. Freezeezy Peak is exactly that, a perfect snowy scape with all of the holiday staples including snowed in homes, elaborate Christmas Tree, stacks of presents and a towering Snowman. During their Jiggy collection spree in Freezeezy Peak the bear and bird will have to decorate a Christmas Tree, take part in two Sled races, scale the snowman from head to toe and take to the skies to take out a few menacing snowball slinging baddies to name a few. Give this one a play and you’ll see why we’ve clocked it in at number one!
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