Top 5 Reasons We Love Rare (Top 100 List Special)
Long, long ago in the forgotten month of April in 2011, we released our very first Top 5 list. In the following month we released another, and then another. We kept up this pattern of obsessive compulsion every month since, and in three years have finally managed to arrive at our 100th list. This list in fact! Oooh, it’s got to be good then hasn’t it? It should give some sort of purpose, outlining the reason that we’ve kept it all up for so many years. The short answer to this is that we love Rare – to us they’re more than just a development studio – they give this site purpose, and they’ve inspired us to make this entire journey worthwhile. The long answer could probably be broken down into five categories, with an extended explanation for each and some lovely images to the left – likely presented in descending order to number one.
Hmmm, this seems familiar. These are the Top 5 Reasons We Love Rare (Top 100 List Special).
#5. THEIR DEDICATION TRULY KNOWS NO BOUNDS, AND IT SHOWS THROUGH EVERY TIME
Existing under the pseudonym of Rare, Ultimate: Play The Game and Rare: Designs on the Future, the unaltered philosophy of quality through dedication has remained throughout Rare‘s storied career. From Ashby-de-la-Zouch to their current residence at Manor Park, this unreal level of commitment has seen the treasured developer earning well-deserved accolades and achievements. The games industry can be a daunting place, with the stress of looming release dates ever-present – but Rare‘s employees have flourished with sacrifice, they have put untold hours into creating some of the greatest titles ever made without looking for recognition. It’s a collaborative process to make something outstanding. They truly are masters of their craft, and they deserve every acknowledgment for their tireless devotion.
#4. THEY STAY CONNECTED WITH THEIR FANS THROUGH ALL AVENUES OF SOCIAL MEDIA
Twitter, YouTube, Facebook – they share more than just two syllables apiece, they define the world of social networking as we know it. Ever on the cusp of new technology, Rare has managed to take on their newest challenge in stride, with #BattletoadsTuesday, #RareCakeFriday and even #RareSwag setting the trend, making their online presence known in whatever format you choose to visit. Community polls, an active blog and prizes ranging from T-shirts to Chewits are known to make appearances as well, with Rare‘s community team driven to keep their fans in the loop on the latest news or entertainment via #mondayroominvasion and #throwbackthursday. Whether you’re following them for nostalgia-fueled retro goodness, or getting your daily fix of current affairs, connecting with Rare has never been easier.
#3. THEY BRING ABOUT INNOVATION AND INGENUITY THAT SHAPES THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY
It’s inarguable that Rare‘s titles have caused some major splashes within the games market over the years; Donkey Kong Country raised the bar to a graphical height that had never been seen, GoldenEye: 007 redefined the first-person shooter for the home console, Kinect Sports Rivals brought with it the most in-depth face mapping software ever created. In all instances, Rare‘s innovation has inspired other developers, raising the stakes and pushing their talent into new and unexplored terrain. These sister studios could then follow suit, or take the technology even further, making their titles more polished and refined. In this regard, Rare‘s innovation has made the entire industry stronger and it’s safe to say that the current face of gaming would be vastly different if their influence had never been felt before.
#2. THEY ARE AS RELENTLESSLY COMMITTED TO THEIR FANS AS THEIR FANS ARE TO THEM
As of this writing we’ve pestered Rare with ninety-nine Top 5 lists and they’ve reciprocated every single countdown on Twitter before recounting them all at the months end on their website. This exchange means the world to us, and we’re just one site of many that contacts Rare on a daily basis. Elsewhere, they feature fanart live every Friday, aspiring musicians and reviewers can count on their work being showcased and summarized every month. Before the launch of Kinect Sports, Rare extended an invitation to their first community day to several sites, allowing fans to visit the studio, tour the facilities and face off against the staff who had developed the game and even take home some #rareswag. It was an incredibly kind gesture that shows that Rare is as devoted to to their followers, as their followers are to them.
#1. THEIR GAMES.
This is likely the most obvious answer, but it’s difficult to define what makes Rare‘s titles different from any other developer. There’s definitely a distinct style, and you’ll find humor and charm throughout and there’s a high degree of polish that is to be expected. Whatever the style or genre, Rare creates timeless characters, worlds and narratives, it’s a mix of unforgettable music, art and design, brought to life from the contributions of extremely talented musicians, artists and designers that manifest into something exceptional. With some titles nearing thirty years of age, they still manage to retain the essence of what makes playing them such a profound and powerful experience. It’s inspiring on many levels, and it creates a lasting impression of Rare for anyone who plays. It’s one of the many reasons that we love Rare.
Categories: Top 5 Lists
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