NSO Five Rare games join Nintendo Switch Online today: R.C. Pro-Am, Snake Rattle ‘n’ Roll, Battletoads in Battlemaniacs, Killer Instinct, Blast Corps

[OctoSplattack]

wasn't the expansion pack only needed to stop a memory leak bug originally? I guess that bug is in the game in a way that emulation can't solve?

The whole thing about DK64 needing the expansion pack to circumvent a bug was garbled office talk according to one of the devs. Expansion pack was a Nintendo mandate, and the bug was fixed in time for launch. Had nothing to do with each other.

 

[9-Volt]

Rare Replay as is can’t be ported anyway because of the structure of the 360 games. Besides, no need for it when they just put the games on NSO anyway which currently has 5:

I think, at some point, Microsoft will start to remaster their Xbox/Xbox360 games to bring to modern platforms, PC included. They can create a Viva Piñata pack with first two game and that party game. Kameo, Perfect Dark Zero and Grabbed by Ghoulies can get remastered individually.

But I'm not sure what MS will prioritize, honestly. Something like Gears and Fable packs should come before them. Fable can find its audience on Nintendo systems easily.

 

[Rareware]

Killer instinct Arcade isnt on Rare Replay?

Nope. KI Gold is on Rare Replay. KI Arcade 1 & 2 were bonus games exclusively tied to the Xbox Killer Instinct: Definitive Edition. But that has been phased out now and are no longer available currently at all. Plus, KI SNES is similar enough, but still different from KI Arcade anyway, so Switch is the only place to play that version aside from the SNES itself.

 

[Rareware]

I think, at some point, Microsoft will start to remaster their Xbox/Xbox360 games to bring to modern platforms, PC included. They can create a Viva Piñata pack with first two game and that party game. Kameo, Perfect Dark Zero and Grabbed by Ghoulies can get remastered individually.

But I'm not sure what MS will prioritize, honestly. Something like Gears and Fable packs should come before them. Fable can find its audience on Nintendo systems easily.

Viva Piñata would be more perfectly suited and appealing to the Switch audience imo than either Fable or Gears. It just has that magic to it that Nintendo fans would eat up. Plus, the touch screen of the Switch would make it an even better and more intuitive experience. The DS version is so good for that reason.

 

[Dinoman96]

Damn i thought killer instinct gold was ki2???

It's the N64 version of KI2, yeah. The same way KI SNES is a port of KI1.

 

[Link_enfant]

Did my part and Ultra Combo'd the first opponent in arcade mode with my boy Sabrewulf.
I love Killer Instinct too much, I hope we get the Arcade version someday (and KI2 of course) but the SNES version has its own benefits and I'm so glad it's finally here.

 

[Maxrunner]

It's the N64 version of KI2, yeah. The same way KI SNES is a port of KI1.

what i meant is i dont remember KI2 in the arcades
Still i would love to play ki1 arcade on switch

 

[HockeyBird]

I think people are way overthinking things and Nintendo is just holding on to DK64 for a later time.

 

[Mer.Saloon]

Snake Rattle N' Roll is bloody brutal. This is one of those games where the isometric perspective is killer. Levels get more complex and do not let up. Enemies hit like a truck and getting my head around how the controls work is tough.

 

[shoptroll]

I wonder if I can remember how to pull off the 30 hit manual combo for Cinder I figured out as a kid back in the day... IIRC it didn't exactly follow the usual start->link->link->finisher methodology.

 

[Rareware]

Snake Rattle N' Roll is bloody brutal. This is one of those games where the isometric perspective is killer. Levels get more complex and do not let up. Enemies hit like a truck and getting my head around how the controls work is tough.

If you make it to the end, good luck with the final boss. I’ve never been able to beat it.

 

[Starbreaker]

I forgot I had the KI game that came with the soundtrack as a kid. Good times. I'm always happy to see more stuff from rareware!

 

[Josh5890]

These are all blanket statements and cannot be applied to all games. Nintendo absolutely fully own the rights to the DKC games, including code.

Yeah, I'm not going to pretend that I'm a legal expert, but I have a very hard time believing that Nintendo does not fully own the DKC trilogy.

 

[Rareware]

I don’t think it’s entirely implausible that Rare could have some ownership over the code without obviously having any ownership at all over the IP and its characters. To the best of my knowledge, the DKC trilogy has to be renegotiated with Microsoft/Rare any time it is re-released. Maybe it has nothing to do with the code and is something else entirely, idk, but it wouldn’t surprise me at all if that’s the reason why.

You can kind of use Diddy Kong Racing as an example, though it’s not code related. Diddy and Krunch are Nintendo owned characters, but everyone else (Timber, Wizpig, Banjo, Pipsy, etc.) still belongs to Rare. Hence why when DKR merchandise was released on FanGamer last year, it was rebranded as ‘Rare Racers’ and only included a few characters that Rare had ownership of (Wizpig, Timber, Banjo, and I forget the other, probably Conker).

 

[Chie]

Considering the DKC games got delisted back on the Wii says that Microsoft has some stake in the games. Nintendo might be the primary rights holder, but Microsoft likely needs to give their blessing.

 

[Rareware]

Saw this video someone posted that points to Nintendo teasing four more Rareware games at the end of that trailer yesterday: 2 NES and either 2 N64, 2 SNES, or 1 of each. Considering that the other two SNES games would require further licensing with the MLB and Double Dragon owners, I’m inclined to believe it’s two N64 games !

 

[Mer.Saloon]

Saw this video someone posted that points to Nintendo teasing four more Rareware games at the end of that trailer yesterday: 2 NES and either 2 N64, 2 SNES, or 1 of each. Considering that the other two SNES games would require further licensing with the MLB and Double Dragon owners, I’m inclined to believe it’s two N64 games !

Leave it to Gamexplain to steal DKvine's madness several days later. (I'm joking folks.)

 

[Rareware]

Leave it to Gamexplain to steal DKvine's madness several days later. (I'm joking folks.)

Of course DK Vine would be the first to see it haha I didn’t see their stuff though or I’d have definitely given them their credit.

 

[9-Volt]

Saw this video someone posted that points to Nintendo teasing four more Rareware games at the end of that trailer yesterday: 2 NES and either 2 N64, 2 SNES, or 1 of each. Considering that the other two SNES games would require further licensing with the MLB and Double Dragon owners, I’m inclined to believe it’s two N64 games !

I think they can license Double Dragon just fine. Arc System Works wouldn't be any trouble, they even licensed DD out to Modus to make a new game.

They seem to be prioritizing never before re-released titles, this batch had two. I think we might see some of the GB & GBA titles next, like Banjo Pilot or It's Mr pants for GBA and Conker for GBC.

 

[Mandos]

There’s no way dk64 and dkr don’t come at some point

 

[ILikeFeet]

Saw this video someone posted that points to Nintendo teasing four more Rareware games at the end of that trailer yesterday: 2 NES and either 2 N64, 2 SNES, or 1 of each. Considering that the other two SNES games would require further licensing with the MLB and Double Dragon owners, I’m inclined to believe it’s two N64 games !

holy stretch batman!

I don't think we need conspiracies to deduce more rare titles are coming. this drop of games was enough proof

 

[Pillydillsy]

Saw this video someone posted that points to Nintendo teasing four more Rareware games at the end of that trailer yesterday: 2 NES and either 2 N64, 2 SNES, or 1 of each. Considering that the other two SNES games would require further licensing with the MLB and Double Dragon owners, I’m inclined to believe it’s two N64 games !

Usually this kinda stuff is complete nonsense, but this actually does seems plausible. I mean there are 4 more constellations that all suspiciously fit the boxes of the NES/SNES/N64

 

[Joe]

I'm imagining the sheer chaos that would have occurred if the sentence "Rare will be one of the partners in the Partner Showcase" leaked a few days ago, and then it turned out to just be this selection of games coming to NSO.

 

[Rareware]

I think they can license Double Dragon just fine. Arc System Works wouldn't be any trouble, they even licensed DD out to Modus to make a new game.

They seem to be prioritizing never before re-released titles, this batch had two. I think we might see some of the GB & GBA titles next, like Banjo Pilot or It's Mr pants for GBA and Conker for GBC.

If they do manage to get license it out, then yeah, that would make Battletoads & Double Dragon SNES possible. MLB is very likely off the books though. So it either way, we’d be looking at 2 NES, 2N64, or 1N64 & 1SNES.

I don’t doubt we’ll see some if their GB/GBC/GBA games make the service at some point. Idk if they’ll come before any of those 4 teased, but they’ll definitely make it. The Donkey Kong Land games in particular since they’ve already re-released once before on 3DS. Would love it though if Grunty’s Revenge and Banjo Pilot were prioritized!

holy stretch batman!

I don't think we need conspiracies to deduce more rare titles are coming. this drop of games was enough proof

Usually this kinda stuff is complete nonsense, but this actually does seems plausible. I mean there are 4 more constellations that all suspiciously fit the boxes of the NES/SNES/N64

Don’t see how that’s a stretch at all. As Polly points out, the sizes of the constellations are literally in-line with those of the NES and SNES/N64 box arts. Nothing conspiratorial about it.

 

[Pillydillsy]

Don’t see how that’s a stretch at all. As Polly points out, the sizes of the constellations are literally in-line with those of the NES and SNES/N64 box arts. Nothing conspiratorial about it.

I meant to say that it wasn’t a reach, apologies if I wrote my message in a hard to read way

 

[Rareware]

I meant to say that it wasn’t a reach, apologies if I wrote my message in a hard to read way

It’s okay. Sorry for the misinterpretation.

 

[Individualised]

To the best of my knowledge, the DKC trilogy has to be renegotiated with Microsoft/Rare any time it is re-released.

Source?

 

[Rareware]

Source?

It was actually posted earlier in this thread, but I’ll repost it:

Spencer noted that Microsoft has worked with Nintendo for a long time, publishing games on 3DS and Switch, and letting classic Rare games like the Donkey Kong Country series show up on Nintendo back-catalogue services. “The licensing relationships between the two companies, they’re there and are kind of ongoing,” he said. “The reason it’s not some interesting, deep conversation is because with us owning Rare and the history between those two things, there are a lot of conversations over the years about, ‘Hey, we want to do “X” is that okay?

https://kotaku.com/xbox-boss-phil-spencer-says-banjo-in-smash-was-an-easy-1835418742

That’s pretty straight forward imo about them having to be renegotiated.

 

[Individualised]

It was actually posted earlier in this thread, but I’ll repost it:



https://kotaku.com/xbox-boss-phil-spencer-says-banjo-in-smash-was-an-easy-1835418742

That’s pretty straight forward imo about them having to be renegotiated.

Could that be an error with the article? Feels like the writer just wrote Donkey Kong Country as an example of a classic Rare game even if Phil Spencer didn't mention it.

 

[Rareware]

Could that be an error with the article? Feels like the writer just wrote Donkey Kong Country as an example of a classic Rare game even if Phil Spencer didn't mention it.

I have no idea, but that’s the closest to actual proof we’ve ever had that I’m of. That aside, it’s just always been a suspicion, particularly with the Wii/Wii U when they were suddenly delisted for awhile out of nowhere and then eventually brought back.

 

[Colonel_Kerfuffle]

Will Blast Corps going to be on the NSO N64 +18 version in Japan?

 

[DecoReturns]

I think people are way overthinking things and Nintendo is just holding on to DK64 for a later time.

I think Nintendo is just looking out for their fans so they don’t realize DK64 is actually a terrible game when they play it again

Spoiler

joking. Kinda

 

[Dinoman96]

Will Blast Corps going to be on the NSO N64 +18 version in Japan?

I wouldn't think so? It's not a particularly violent game (I mean yeah buildings get blown up but it's not like there's blood and guts or anything), in its era it was rated K-A (which would be E nowadays), whereas Jet Force was T.

My guess is that they'll add it to their main service when we get a western exclusive N64 game like Killer Instinct Gold or Cruis'n USA or something.

 

[Hailinel]

I never played Battlemaniacs on the SNES back in the day, but good lord. Slippery controls and bullshit damage.

 

[Jimmy Joe]

Now I need Nintendo to care this much about Konami's N64 output.

If we can get Konami and Treasure's N64 catalogs on here, I'll be satisfied

....I want Ogre Battle 64, too, but I'll take what I can get

 

[Mer.Saloon]

I never played Battlemaniacs on the SNES back in the day, but good lord. Slippery controls and bullshit damage.

Bullshit damage everywhere. Enemies lightly graze you and it's a hit. And everything does so much damage, why even have health bars this long?

There was this one level going down the tree and the ending bit where I needed to rewind so much. And I just gave up as soon as I saw the turbo tunnel.

 

[buildz]

It's a shame that Snake Rattle 'n' Roll has such awful controls, because otherwise it definitely has some neat ideas. R.C. Pro-Am is a certified classic, though.

 

[LuigiBlood]

I think this account has it down:





Gist of it is: Nintendo obviously owns the content, characters, music, etc Rare made for their DK games (hence why it's all appeared in future games without Rare's presence) but stuff like the Rare logos (and other cameos like Killer Instinct in DKC2 and Jetpac in DK64) and prolly the actual game code still belongs to Rare and that's why they have to talk it out with them and Microsoft to re-release their old games.

That's just completely not how it works. This is decided by the contract and I've seen several times Nintendo outright stating they own the code in the credits of certain games that weren't made by them (such as, for example, Chibi-Robo).

I think DK64 coming late is usually because emulating with the expansion pak takes longer. Nintendo shouldn't need Rare's permission to port that game.

I was surprised that we got Majora's Mask as early as we did.

Edit: @ILikeFeet corrected me.

The Expansion Pak is just additional RAM and is very easy to emulate. It's absolutely not an issue.

The whole thing about DK64 needing the expansion pack to circumvent a bug was garbled office talk according to one of the devs. Expansion pack was a Nintendo mandate, and the bug was fixed in time for launch. Had nothing to do with each other.

Thank you for doing the reminder that the whole thing about DK64 needing the Expansion Pak to deal with a bug is just false.

 

[fiendcode]

Other Rare games we could potentially see on NSO:

Xbox Game Studios owned

• Anticipation (NES)
• Banjo-Kazooie: Grunty's Revenge (GBA)
• Banjo-Pilot (GBA)
• Banjo-Tooie (N64)
• Battletoads (NES)
• Battletoads (GB)
• Battletoads (Genesis)
• Battletoads in Ragnarok's World (GB)
• Championship Pro-Am (Genesis)
• Cobra Triangle (NES)
• Conker's Bad Fur Day (N64)
• Conker's Pocket Tales (GB)
• Digger T. Rock: The Legend of the Lost City (NES)
• Ironsword: Wizards & Warriors II (NES)
• It's Mr. Pants! (GBA)
• Killer Instinct (GB)
• Killer Instinct Gold (N64)
• Knight Lore: Majou no Ookami Otoko (NES) JP only
• Kuros... Visions of Power: Wizards & Warriors III (NES)
• Monster Max (GB)
• Perfect Dark (N64)
• Perfect Dark (GB)
• R.C. Pro-Am II (NES)
• SabreWulf (GBA)
• Slalom (NES)
• Snake Rottle 'n' Roll (Genesis)
• Sneaky Snakes (GB)
• Solar Jetman: Hunt for the Golden Warship (NES)
• Super R.C. Pro-Am (GB)
• Taboo: The Sixth Sense (NES)
• Wizards & Warriors (NES)
• Wizards & Warriors X: The Fortress of Fear (GB)

Nintendo owned

• Diddy Kong Racing (N64)
• Donkey Kong 64 (N64)
• Donkey Kong Country (GB)
• Donkey Kong Country (GBA)
• Donkey Kong Country 2 (GBA)
• Donkey Kong Country 3 (GBA)
• Donkey Kong GB: Dinky Kong & Dixie Kong (GB) JP only
• Donkey Kong Land (GB)
• Donkey Kong Land 2 (GB)
• Donkey Kong Land III (GB)

 

[Hailinel]

The notion that Nintendo somehow doesn't own the code to Donkey Kong Country is laughable to me. Where do people get that shit?

 

[fiendcode]

Company called Throwback entertainment owns them. Seems to be one of those random companies that buy out licenses after another closes down.

I wonder if they even realize they have the license after all this time. Sometimes these companies don't know what they have until someone goes in asking.

They don't and they've tried (and failed) to rerelease them before. Throwback owns trademarks and materials related to the games (so, like boxart, manuals, etc) that they acquired in their Acclaim pickups but the games themselves are copyrighted to Rare.

Oddly the only Milton Bradley NES games Rare holds rights over though is Digger T Rock. Captain Skyhawk and Time Lord MB (now Hasbro) kept rights on.

 

[dyle]

Other Rare games we could potentially see on NSO:

Xbox Game Studios owned

• Anticipation (NES)
• Banjo-Kazooie: Grunty's Revenge (GBA)
• Banjo-Pilot (GBA)
• Banjo-Tooie (N64)
• Battletoads (NES)
• Battletoads (GB)
• Battletoads (Genesis)
• Battletoads in Ragnarok's World (GB)
• Championship Pro-Am (Genesis)
• Cobra Triangle (NES)
• Conker's Bad Fur Day (N64)
• Conker's Pocket Tales (GB)
• Digger T. Rock: The Legend of the Lost City (NES)
• High Speed (NES)
• Ironsword: Wizards & Warriors II (NES)
• It's Mr. Pants! (GBA)
• Killer Instinct (GB)
• Killer Instinct Gold (N64)
• Knight Lore: Majou no Ookami Otoko (NES) JP only
• Kuros... Visions of Power: Wizards & Warriors III (NES)
• Monster Max (GB)
• Perfect Dark (N64)
• Perfect Dark (GB)
• Pinbot (NES)
• R.C. Pro-Am II (NES)
• SabreWulf (GBA)
• Slalom (NES)
• Snake Rottle 'n' Roll (Genesis)
• Sneaky Snakes (GB)
• Solar Jetman: Hunt for the Golden Warship (NES)
• Super R.C. Pro-Am (GB)
• Taboo: The Sixth Sense (NES)
• Wizards & Warriors (NES)
• Wizards & Warriors X: The Fortress of Fear (GB)

Nintendo owned

• Diddy Kong Racing (N64)
• Donkey Kong 64 (N64)
• Donkey Kong Country (GB)
• Donkey Kong Country (GBA)
• Donkey Kong Country 2 (GBA)
• Donkey Kong Country 3 (GBA)
• Donkey Kong GB: Dinky Kong & Dixie Kong (GB) JP only
• Donkey Kong Land (GB)
• Donkey Kong Land 2 (GB)
• Donkey Kong Land III (GB)

Pinbot and High Speed are licensed digital versions of Williams pinball tables so they won't be rereleased.

 

[fiendcode]

Pinbot and High Speed are licensed digital versions of Williams pinball tables so they won't be rereleased.

Ah, didn't realize that, should've checked the copyrights closer.

I was too busy figuring out the Tradewest, MB and Acclaim rights. Will edit.

 

[Chie]

The notion that Nintendo somehow doesn't own the code to Donkey Kong Country is laughable to me. Where do people get that shit?

The games getting delisted points to something. Also dk64 missing wii virtual console and hitting wii u virtual console same time the snes versions resurface points to something.

 

[Mer.Saloon]

They don't and they've tried (and failed) to rerelease them before. Throwback owns trademarks and materials related to the games (so, like boxart, manuals, etc) that they acquired in their Acclaim pickups but the games themselves are copyrighted to Rare.

Oddly the only Milton Bradley NES games Rare holds rights over though is Digger T Rock. Captain Skyhawk and Time Lord MB (now Hasbro) kept rights on.

So it seems it would have to be a collaboration between the two which seems possible. I mean, Natsume was able to republish Harvest Moon SNES and 64.

 

[Supreme Bum 01]

DK64 has an emulated version if Jet Pak in it, so it does require additional licensing. I think it's coming someday though.

 

[fiendcode]

So it seems it would have to be a collaboration between the two which seems possible. I mean, Natsume was able to republish Harvest Moon SNES and 64.

Maybe? Throwback honestly strikes me as pretty sketchy and they've claimed to own W&W to a greater degree in the past.

A good example is the republishing of D on PC storefronts (Steam, GOG, etc) with Nightdive and deals for physical with LRG. As far as I can tell Throwback similarly only bought Acclaim's materials and publishing rights to versions of the game but they don't own the game itself at all. Warp did and now their successor FYTO (From Yellow to Orange) does, yet you can't find FYTO's copyright or name anywhere in the modern releases. Acclaim's original PC release also only MS-DOS, drawing into question if Nightdive's conversions to Windows, Mac and Linux are even covered over that ancient Acclaim license.

Even sketchier is that LRG under license from Throwback also republished the 3DO version but Throwback holds zero publishing rights or materials over that version because Acclaim was never involved originally. It was published by Sanyei in Japan, Panasonic overseas and Warp selfpublished the Director's Cut (also included in the LRG reprint) but again FYTO's name or beand isn't anywhere to be found, just Throwback.

Last year when LRG announced the 3DO release I reached out to Throwback and LRG asking about this but predictably got zero response.

 

[Slam Tilt]

That's just completely not how it works. This is decided by the contract and I've seen several times Nintendo outright stating they own the code in the credits of certain games that weren't made by them (such as, for example, Chibi-Robo).

The notion that Nintendo somehow doesn't own the code to Donkey Kong Country is laughable to me. Where do people get that shit?

I am not a lawyer, but I imagine that stuff like ownership of the code and/or the executable binaries would be covered by whatever contract is signed between Nintendo and the developer studio. For instance, Nintendo does not own the code for the original arcade version of Donkey Kong; it is owned instead by Ikegami Tsushinki, a Japanese electronics company that was contracted by Nintendo to write the arcade game. There was a big legal battle about it, with a good writeup here, but the gist of it is that Nintendo technically doesn't own the very first Donkey Kong game they created. That's why the versions of Donkey Kong for the NES and the Gameboy and whatnot are all ports and variants written by Nintendo instead of using the arcade ROMs in an emulator. This is also why the only way you can legally play the arcade DK is via the Arcade Archives release from Hamster -- because Hamster negotiated a separate deal with Ikegami Tsushinki to use the original arcade ROM code.

Bottom line, I'm sure that Nintendo's lawyers are well-versed in this issue now, and any new games developed by contractors have an iron-clad contract spelling out how Nintendo owns everything lock, stock, and barrel... but it's also not a stretch to say that a company could legally not own one of their own flagship games.

 

[Koren Lesthe]

With Majora's Mask already on the Switch NSO, obviously, emulating the Expansion Pack (or the RAM Pack as it was called in France) isn't problematic at all.

If Majora's Mask is on the NSO, so can DK64 and Perfect Dark''.

 

[Dinoman96]

One thing that's worth pointing out is that the credits for the DKC GBA remakes make it clear that Nintendo actually does own the code/program for them.

Though funny enough, unlike the SNES originals, Nintendo has yet to re-release these.