Rare started off as Ultimate Play the Game in 1982 before it restructured itself into Rare in 1985. Then, in 2002, Microsoft bought them out. Because this acquisition seemingly came out of nowhere, a lot of Rare’s projects, meant forNintendo, had to get scrapped. Microsoft couldn’t have Donkey Kong on the Xbox as one example.
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That may have exploded the fan base. Could that happen today? Actually, yes, it is possible since the two companies are getting friendlier what with Banjo and Kazooie heading intoSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate. Anyway, dreams aside, let’s take a look at ten Rare projects that never came out. More details, including art, screenshots, and maybe even footage, can be found atUnseen64unless otherwise noted.
10Project Dream
This began as aZeldalike RPG for theSuper Nintendo. It then morphed quickly into something for the N64, but development was still lacking. The human protagonist was then turned into a bear and eventually the RPG aspect was dropped.
Yes, this was the very early prototype forBanjo-Kazooiealbeit a completely different game.
9Donkey Kong GameCube
There is no art for this one, or any real information at all. What is known is that a sequel toDonkey Kong 64was going to be on GameCube. Groundwork didn’t get very far as it was stated in the intro that Microsoft sort of screwed some things up for Nintendo fans regarding Rare.
Presumably, though this would have been like its predecessor, but bigger.
8Donkey Kong Coconut Crackers
Donkey Kong Coconut Crackerswas a puzzle game being made for the Game Boy Advance. Work was almost done, but as the merger withMicrosofthappened, they were no longer able to use Donkey Kong as the star.
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It then released asIt’s Mr. Pantsinstead which is more or less the same thing. This then is more of a reworking of a game instead of a canceled one.
7Conker: Twelve Tales
Conker’s Bad Fur Daywas also going to be a drastically different game. This original idea fell in line with other cute 3D platformers of the era.Conker: Twelve Taleswas simple and not as foul mouthed as he would later become.
Due to delays and a fear that it wouldn’t be any different fromBanjo-Kazooie, the entirety of the game was retooled to become the dirty platformer that fans know today. There is tons of footage out there of the original game.
6Banjo Threeie
Similar to Donkey Kong’s situation, Banjo was also going to get a GameCube sequel. All that remains of the project is a tech demo that was running on the GameCube’s hardware.
BecauseNintendodidn’t own the IP, Rare was able to make a third game in the franchise, but it turned out completely different than what was envisioned for the GameCube. The fan base forNuts and Boltsis rather split because of this.
5Dinosaur Planet
This was the original name for what would becomeStar Fox Adventure. It began on the N64 and was actually running on the same engine asThe Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
Instead of Star Fox, Krystal would have been the hero along with her brother Sabre. Like Conker’s prototype, there is a lot of footage out there for this before Sabre got axed and Krystal got fridged. This too has a split fan base for Star Fox enthusiasts.
4Diddy Kong Pilot
It’s Mr. Pantswasn’t the only GBA game Rare had to rework. Banjo Pilot started off as a portable sequel to Diddy Kong Racing. Instead of multiple vehicles, it focused on flying.
The first prototype even hadMariocharacters in it before it was reworked to just include Rare stars. Even though it was almost done, it eventually was reworked to be more about Banjo and friends.
3Diddy Kong Racing Adventure
This game actually started with another studio, Climax, but then was moved to Rare in a sense which is why it is making the list. Plus it was based on their first game. Anyway, it was for the GameCube and was ultimately rejected by Nintendo.
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There is prototype footage out there for the pitch. Instead of karts, planes, or boats, Diddy and the rest of the gang would ride animals. It was a similar idea to theDonkey Kong Countryanimal power-ups in a way.
2Sabreman Stampede
However, this was almost not the end forDiddy Kong Racing Adventure. Somehow Rare got ahold of the project and converted into an Xbox 360 title. It would have starred one of Rare’s earliest game heroes,Sabreman. That was a ZX Spectrum series, which was about as robust as something on the Atari.
Anyway, riding animals would still be a focus butSabreman Stampedewould also be an open-world action adventure. For whatever reason it just never came together.
1Monster Hunter: Rare Style
And now for something that was completely canceled. This game doesn’t have a name, but the idea was to make it into aMonster Hunterclone wherein players would track down and fight huge bosses.XboxAvatars would have been the heroes albeit transformed to fit the game’s aesthetic similar to how Nintendo used Miis.
The game was never officially announced and only some concept art exists.
