Did Rare's character designs suck?

[Jorpho]

I've noticed that Gamespy rarely misses an opportunity to dump on Rare's character designs, specifically the likes of Banjo and Conker and Diddy Kong. Certainly, their look is distinctive, but I never not of it as particularly abhorrent. It fared a little bit better than Nintendo's old idea of Donkey Kong Junior, I thought.

What do you think?

[udisi]

I personaly liked Rare's games and character models. Really though I think since I liked their games so much I really could have cared less if the character models were bad.

[chrisbid]

i guess if they equate suck with 'not japanese/anime' then yes, rare character design does suck.

i dont see anything wrong with being different

[64Bits]

I'll have to disagree, seeing as how I think Banjo...and I guess Kazooie as well, were terrific character designs, in a terrific series of games......even though they played just like SM64....

[Kitsune Sniper]

I can only say this:

Naked toad people wearing spiky armlets.

[Snapple]

The original Donkey Kong Country had great character design. They were among the first characters I can remember designed with 3D wire frames.

Conker is recognizable anywhere. He's another great character.

If you want to talk about uninspired character design, I think of Jak. I didn't even want to get the first Jak & Daxter game, because I thought Jak looked like a boring, cliche game hero. Fortunately, someone got me the game, and I ended up enjoying it, but Jak himself still looks stupid.

[DreamTR]

You should see some of the ones from the games they DID NOT release. Mr. Bloopy? And another one with a rat! I'll go to the other computer and put them on here...

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...R/PDC_1627.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...R/PDC_1626.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...R/PDC_1623.jpg

[cyberfluxor]

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...R/PDC_1627.jpg

Meatwad got his own videogame??

Oh, and I don't really have any problems with their character designs. I'm mainly about gameplay, story, controls and how the graphics might have pushed the system, but I like simple too. As a fan of the SM64 game, Banjo and Conker were also games that fell into my realm of great platforming on the N64. Of course that's my opinion and have seen how much some people on the board hate SM64 and the N64 in general but I like what it offers, and I'm not going to bash the PS because it has its share of great titles. Saturn FTW!

[Daltone]

I think "Mr. Pants" represents something of a low point for them, though on the whole I wouldn't complain.

[Sweater Fish Deluxe]

The thing with Rare is that it seems like they tried like hell to cram an over-abundance personality into essentially unimaginative or derivative designs and that really can't work the way truly good character design does. Rare's certainly not the only company who does that sort of thing, but they are a company who has done it repeatedly without fail and in otherwise pretty good games.


...word is bondage...

[agbulls]

Personally, I thought the char design in Cobra Triangle was FANTASTIC.

Other than that, I'm not too impressed.

[InsaneDavid]

Personally, I thought the char design in Cobra Triangle was FANTASTIC.

Agreed, especially the battle against the giant squid.

[RadiantSvgun]

I never thought Rare had bad character designs, but some of the controls were kinda loose. I thought the job they did with most of their N64 titles was very innovative.

[Cauterize]

Would Rare be as successful as they were if their characters were so poorly designed, would sequels be released? Why have they been in the market since the ZX Spectrum days if they were so bad at design!? Why are their early 'Ultimate Play The Game' titles so collectable!?

Something doesnt add up to the poor character designs here!

[YoshiM]

Don't get where Gamespy is coming from. What makes these particular characters so bad?

[chicnstu]

I love Rare's style.

Eyes setting on top of rocks and oranges makes me laugh inside everytime I see it.

[theshizzle3000]

Gamespy is not thinking its like saying the graphics in Katamari Damacy suck. I mean lets be real nobody looks at these games expecting amazing graphics. The whole idea with most of the Rare games is a surreal look.

[Sweater Fish Deluxe]

Would Rare be as successful as they were if their characters were so poorly designed, would sequels be released? Why have they been in the market since the ZX Spectrum days if they were so bad at design!? Why are their early 'Ultimate Play The Game' titles so collectable!?

Something doesnt add up to the poor character designs here!

Ah...if only quality could be equated with popularity. What a wonderful world it would be!


...word is bondage...

[jdc]

Being a passionate 64 fan, I would always look forward to "the new Rare game". My friend and I would enjoy visiting different places in the Rare game world, stand in front of every single particularly wacky Rare character, and hop into first person perspective. As was mentioned before, watching a carrot blink with those eyes was great for a laugh. I found Rare's character design to be unique. Each had that special Rare touch that no-one else really ever matched.

It makes me truly sad that now that Nintendo has given us their most imaginative console ever, we don't get to see what one of Nintendo's most creative past developers would have given us on the Wii. I'd love to one day read that Rare and Microsoft had parted ways, if only to see what might have been.

[Jorpho]

It makes me truly sad that now that Nintendo has given us their most imaginative console ever, we don't get to see what one of Nintendo's most creative past developers would have given us on the Wii. I'd love to one day read that Rare and Microsoft had parted ways, if only to see what might have been.

The 360 is still getting another Banjo game eventually, isn't it?

And the way the critics (and not just Gamespy) are panning the touch-screen functionality added to Diddy Kong Racing DS, perhaps Rare is better off not having the Wiimote to work with.