Top 5 Canned Rare Characters (That Stuck Around Anyway)
With deadlines and release dates looming constantly in the world of game development, we do have to commend Rare for never cutting any corners when it comes to retaining their degree of polish (albeit without their sanity intact). That isn’t to say that they don’t spend their fair share of quality time on the cutting room floor though, as countless concepts, redundancies and even fully-realized characters have been abandoned in favor of releasing within the decade.
Sometimes this just isn’t enough to keep these short-lived stars at bay however, and even after being cut down in their prime they’ve risen up to see their way into the final product after all – like an unnatural abomination that has taken matters into its own hands! Betray your sensibilities, abandon all notions of chronology in your favorite Rare titles; they’re back, and there’s no stopping them! These are the Top 5 Canned Rare Characters (That Stuck Around Anyway)
#5. THIS TEDI HAS CERTAINLY SEEN BETTER BAD FUR DAYS – CONKER: LIVE & RELOADED (XBOX)
After retooling the cult classic Conker’s Bad Fur Day into the Xbox Live refined, hi-def defined visual splendor that was Conker: Live & Reloaded, it appeared that every nuance and aching detail of the original adventure had been remastered to look its best for a new generation. Looks can be deceiving however, as a quick visit to the Casualty Department during the It’s War Chapter reveals a veteran Tediz soldier untouched from it’s Bad Fur Day roots. If you can manage to brave the horrors of questionable morality and stuffed warfare within, you’ll find this polygonal relic inside a large cyrogenics tube opposite an electric chair in the corner of the room. Floating in stasis with an uncomfortable bit of pipe tunneling through its left eye and right arm, this perfectly preserved vet refuses to let the Bad Fur Day‘s be forgotten.
#4. CAPTAIN BLACKEYE HAD A DREAM ONCE, HE WERE IN THIS FINE GAME – BANJO-TOOIE (N64)
Conceptualized in a scrapped game all its own called Dream, the reviled Captain Blackeye was to be featured as the main antagonist before development was halted entirely to rework the nautical nonsense into the oddball insanity that was to become Banjo-Kazooie. While his role was eventually replaced with that a wicked witch, the redundant pirate antagonist refused to go down with the ship, making a triumphant return in Banjo-Tooie as little more than a blathering drunkard. Found inside the local tavern in Jolly Roger’s Lagoon, this dipsomaniac can be coaxed into a bit of unfriendly chatter which ends abruptly as he falls over apparently seasick. Pestering Blackeye further will have him reveal that he “had a Dream once” and that a Bear “stole his glory“, clearly referencing his high tide spent on the high seas…
#3. A GHOULISH SIGHT WITHIN THE LOWER CORRIDORS – GRABBED BY THE GHOULIES (XBOX)
Thanks to the scattered Bonus Books throughout Grabbed by the Ghoulies that have had their pages ostensibly stuffed with concept art, we can take a look at some garishly ghoulish enemies that Cooper never had the satisfaction of brushing shoulders, knuckles and elbows with. Strangely, one bloated brute covered in boils has seemingly jumped off of the page, appearing in the Lower Corridors where Cooper can come face to face with the Ghouly that was never meant to be. Fortunately the two remain separated by a thick gate, which the bloated Ghoul will incessantly rattle in a bid to share his undying affections (we imagine). While the other Ghoulies on the Missing in Action page have made appearances through portraits and statues, this interminably jailed fright really pushes the bar for his inclusion in the game.
#2. VISITING THE MINIONS’ FINAL RESTING PLACE – BANJO-KAZOOIE: NUTS & BOLTS (XBOX 360)
Gruntilda‘s expendable legion of robotic minions lovingly titled Gruntbots can be found throughout the Bear and Birds latest adventure, inspiring the rancor of many gamers with their constant interference. If you’re on the lookout for the robots that never made it off L.O.G‘s assembly line however, you could do worse than checking out the cemetery nearest the Mad Monster Mansion exhibit in BanjoLand. Paying close attention to the surrounding tombstones will mark the graves for “Dropper”, “Blocker“, “Generator” and “Possessor“, each with a unusually detailed headstone showing off how they would have looked like in-game. Touring BanjoLand further will reveal a few more portraits of the aforementioned Gruntbots at the Click Clock Wood exhibit. A moment of silence for these gentle giants…
#1. ELEMENTAL TROLLS IMPRISONED FOR ETERNITY – KAMEO: ELEMENTS OF POWER (XBOX 360)
Situated at the base of the Enchanted Kingdom, the labyrinthine Dungeon of Eternal Life houses a collection of curious artifacts – including several elemental Trolls which it keeps safely under lock and key. While these prisoners were considered at one point in development, their permanent incarceration allows Kameo to peer through the bars and examine the nearly extinct Trolls. A shivering Ice Troll, immolating Fire Troll and dense Plant Troll can be found in their respective cells, each with an interesting bit of information on their elemental strengths, weaknesses and habitat. While Kameo wouldn’t be granted access inside the cells to show off her own bit of elemental prowess, viewing the Trolls from afar was still a treat. Like the mysterious rattling door, these timeless prisoners add intrigue to the dungeon.
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