Rare Replay Reviews
A ridiculously generous and thoughtfully presented compilation packed with bona fide classics and obscure gems.
Rare Replay is an incredible package. Its presentation is charming, the extras are amazing, and so many of the games included here are still a blast to play. Whether it's your first time through or you're revisiting decades later, Rare's journey through the past 30 years of video game history is a fascinating one, and Rare Replay does an incredible job of capturing the essence of what makes the studio's work so unique in our medium.
Rare Replay comes packed with 30 different titles from throughout Rare's long and illustrious existence, making it one of the biggest no-brainers in gaming.
Rare Replay is an incredibly high-value retro compilation, which adds to its impressive (but sadly not exhaustive) line-up of classics with new ways to play and interesting bonus content.
You'd be hard-pressed to not uncover something you enjoy in this nostalgia-laden package
Rare Replay is a massive collection of great games and interesting documentaries, but not everything is as good as it could have been.
Rare Replay is an essential piece of gaming history
The best bundle of games releases for an Xbox since The Orange Box. Some are all-time classics, Others are Grabbed By The Ghouies.
Buy it if you're an Xbox One owner who could use a deep dive into classic, super-hard games.
Rare Replay isn't without its minor hiccups, understandable in such a vast collection, but it's something that should be in every Xbox One owner's collection. Even though Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts and Blast Corps have their share of technical issues and the ZX Spectrum titles included have aged roughly, it's going to be almost impossible not to enjoy yourself here.
Perfect Dark was once amazing and as it turns out is still amazing, even though the genre has changed significantly since 2000. It's a simpler game, but that isn't to say simplistic, and it'll certainly take some getting used to for those who have not picked up a three-pronged pad in years. It might be tough to step back in time to relive Joanna's first and best adventure in its original guise, but Perfect Dark proves to still have what it takes to be a really fun, ambitious shooter for solo gamers and especially great with friends. If this isn't in your N64 collection then you're doing it wrong.
Blast Corps is a game that probably would have never stood a chance in today's world of shooters and plot-led borefests, so it brings us a great deal of comfort knowing that such a project got the high-quality Rare treatment back in the day. This is a game that is still immensely fun to play all these years later; the concept is simple and novel, it's highly playable, has great lasting value, and can easily be enjoyed in short bursts. The mixture of puzzle-based and time-limited gameplay provides a unique challenge that even the most veteran gamers will find incredibly testing at times. The end result is absolutely smashing; if you're an N64 enthusiast, there's no excuse for not having this brilliant game in your collection.
Banjo-Kazooie brought together impeccable gameplay, fantastic level design, brilliant music, and a lovely little fairytale story – from start to finish, the game was a joy to play, and that remains utterly true. There really are no gripes we can think of. The controls feel great. It looks and sounds beautiful. It's the perfect length and has scope enough to elicit wonder without the overwhelming bloat of other collectathons. Even after all this time, it's incredibly difficult to find fault in this delightful and engaging 3D adventure. Banjo-Kazooie is one of the N64's very best releases, and one of Rare's undisputed crown jewels. Essential.
A collection of pure gold. Even the few less-famous titles are worth a look, and the inclusion of a handful of last-gen diamonds makes it unbelievable value.
Rare Replay is a lovely collection that I can't help but feel could have been even lovelier.
A brilliant tribute to the career of one of the most important studios in the history of video games. It radiates love for the medium, and despite some minor flaws, it is much more than just a compilation.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
A large, large, rich collection and moreover sold at a bargain price.
Review in Italian | Read full review
A colossal review of 30 years of history of one of the greats of the video game, through 30 key titles in its history. Everything, sprinkled with new options and multimedia content that Rare fans will enjoy like no one else.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Rare Replay is a new milestone for compilations. A great deal of care was put into the project, and 30 games is enough meat to ensure that everyone will really enjoy at least half of them. I sincerely hope this is the start of a revival of the classic Rare we know and love.
Whether returning to games of your childhood, or experiencing these titles for the first time, Rare Replay should be an essential purchase for Xbox One owners.