Topic: Is there anyone who is comparable to Rare in the 90s?

This is something I've wanted to ask for a very long time. Because even getting past the nostalgia and whatnot, it is stunning to think of what Rareware was able to do for as long as they did. They really put out so many beloved titles, in fairly diverse genres in such a relatively short amount of time. It's likely because of how gaming is right now (where you either are making gigantic games that cost 100 million+ dollar or a small indie team that has less total employees than there are N64 Rareware games) but I have no idea who would be comparable.

I mean, there are plenty of good developers that put out a variety of games. But looking at say, Next Level Games, they don't release games that often. I'd argue most developers fit that mold. And developers that do release games often tend to either suck or focus very specifically on a genre (Telltale and Platinum immediately come to mind).

I feel publishers are the only ones that can actually pull this off anymore. The big console companies still release varied games despite relying on cliches and popular genres all the time (Nintendo released an open world JRPG and a shooter, Sony published a dark western inspired Japanese action RPG and a Heavy Rain-like horror title, Microsoft is publishing weird random 2d indie platformers etc). Even is Ubisoft releasing war inspired puzzle games, Capcom being the publisher of the only remotely mainstream visual novel-y game in the west, SE taking advantage of its western devs while still kind of being the JRPG guys.

But is there any developer that's comparable?

Ultimate in the 80s?

I would compare it to some of my favorite Indie devs. Wayforward and Renegade Kid, but they still don't produce near Rareware numbers. I think a lot of that has to do with the current industry. People don't like it when you re-use assets and development is harder than ever. A lot of people think development got easier, while in some respects that is true, it is harder to stand out now. Wayforward and Renegade Kid produce smaller games that are enjoyable and both have put out a good number of 3DS and Wii U titles in recent years

I don't think anyone is truly comparable if you're trying to say "who made this generation's Banjo or Goldeneye". Nobody is giving great 2nd party games to Nintendo or anyone else really in massive droves that are receiving 8s 9s and 10s in their reviews almost every single time the way Rare did. They filled the first 3 Nintendo consoles with a lot of stuff, same with GB. Pretty much nobody has done that since. The great devs of today do it differently still. Even when people try a DK64/BK-esque 3D platformer, it's never the same and never feels like a competitor. Imo @ all of that of course.
Plenty of good devs now who do great games, get great reviews, etc etc, just isn't the same.

I'm pretty sure you've started a thread asking this question before.

EDIT* Ah, not quite, I remembered a similar post from a similar thread years ago.

https://www.nintendolife.com/forums/general_discussion/which_d...

Is there someone comparable now who makes that variety of games?

Does Nintendo count?

As in the past, I would say Konami. Metal Gear, Suikoden, Vandal Hearts, Mystical Ninja, PES, Gradius, Parodius, Castlevania, Contra and many more. Capcom were also a big, innovative, and varied studio. You could argue people hate these two companies because they used to be so great and let it all go to waste.

Now studios have learned that you can just reskin games like Ubisoft does with Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, and all the others and not have to develop new gameplay. The time of games makers creating variety is long gone.

I was thinking of this one: https://www.nintendolife.com/forums/retro/is_there_a_new_rare

But it's asking a slightly different question.

Unless I'm missing something though, the answer is... Nintendo? Their output is phenomenal even now, all things considered.

I would say Platinum right now. The only bad game I can think of them doing recently was Legend of Korea but hey everyone has a bad game now and then.

got dem rare game$ dawg.

Legend of Korra wasn't a bad game for fans of the show.

The only real misstep would be the Ps3 port of Bayonetta (even they call this their worst game).

@Waluigi: I think any game ported from the Xbox 360 to PS3 was bad but that was due to the horrible architect of the PS3.

...Playtonic. owo

Kim Jong-Un approves.

Retro Studios? I mean, they have made the Prime series and Donkey Kong Country Returns.....

I'd say 2 genres from 5 games in 15 years is way off Rare's golden age standards.

Maybe PS2 era Naughty Dog. Nowadays they won't touch anything that isn't realistic.