Topic: Conker's Bad Fur Day thread

Conker's Bad Fur day is a 2001 game that was released for Nintendo 64 and re-released last year for Xbox One. I just beat it 100%, that's not difficult, you just need to collect a few wads of notes/bills, everything else is mandatory and automatically collected, which is not bad in this case. Well, I wanted to know what you think about this game. This is the first time I've played it. As many N64 games, it has some issues with the camera that makes the game much more difficult and frustrating, but also the Xbox One version native 1080p display is clear and clean. I think the game is too gore and that just not go with it, but I loved the visuals, presentation, soundtrack and script. It is of those games that have touched me, probably because I didn't expect it, specially the end of the game.

I haven't played Conker for years, even though I have Rare Reply. I do remember thinking that the remake (not just remaster as it had slight differences to the original) looked a lot more impressive on the original Xbox and I was partly disappointed this wasn't included on the Rare Replay.
Camera angles and the visuals are 'poor' but at the time these were not an issue. I certainly don't remember thinking these affected the game. I played Jet Force Gemini recently on Rare Replay and was stunned how bad that felt and looked but at the time I remembered thinking how great it looked and how well it played. Its not just these but so many games that I loved and thought looked incredible (even Seeds of Evil with the 'expansion pack' that was mind blowing back them looks very blocky, clunky and poor today) and you often wonder how you managed to play these. Point is at the time, these were start of the art and played like a dream comparatively. These things weren't frustrating because it was the norm but with the technology and refinement of today, these are incredibly annoying and frustrating. I bought Perfect Dark (N64) on the 360 but couldn't finish the second mission because it was too annoying/frustrating etc - a game I beat multiple times on the N64 and unlocked every secret - Like I did in Goldeneye but doubt I would if that was on this pack. I bet people who play modern FPS games would seriously struggle to find anything 'great' about that now if they played it and wonder why it is regarded so highly.
Part of me thinks games like this should stay in the era they belonged but part of me also thinks people like you should have the opportunity to play them. If anything it shows how games have involved along with technology. Things we take for granted now were unheard of back then and the lack of an additional analogue stick may have affected the more precise camera angles we see today. By today's standards Conker is very tame in its 'adult' category but at the time - especially for Nintendo, it was ground-breaking and unique.
Hopefully though your saw enough in Conker to understand why many in the Xbox community are so disappointed with Rare recently and why they want Conker to return in a more substantial way than these token appearances.

Wholeheartedly agree I loved this game no my N64 when it came out and I have Rare Replay and it was the first game i played on it but when i did my god it was horrible, so i got out my old N64 just to double check but it was the same bad camera angles.
And i to wished that they had included the remake it the bundle also, just goes to show how games have gotten better over the years.

I played it in Rare Replay, but this game is SUPER JANKY. I had no idea where I was supposed to go or do, the controls were awful and the camera was a disaster..
Back in ye olden days I can see why it was a big deal, but now......

@A_BabyRed_Yoshi: I loved the majority of these games back in the day. I had Jetpac when that first came out and enjoyed that - although today I find it very superficial - its still playable though because of its very simplistic design. The Knightlore games were a particular favourite at the time too and the 3D was amazing. However I find these virtually impossible to play and certainly not fun.

I play these Rare Replay games and almost wonder what I saw in them at that time they originally released. Its not the visuals although it probably looks worse on a TV that's more than double the size I had then. They aren't as 'bad' as some modern games - yes I am referring to the 80's retro indie games - but I know they look a lot worse than my memory remembers them. Perfect Dark (N64) I was sure 'Elvis' was a lot more rounded and Jo herself certainly looked more 'human'. I remember thinking that Goldeneye looked incredible and couldn't believe the likeness to the actual people and characters - but now look at them... Games like ISS64 to me looked like I was almost actually watching a football match. Backgrounds looked to have more depth but according to video's and Rare Replay, these are actually just flat polygons with flat artwork on them. I though I was running on grass in Banjo and Conker but now its just a flat green polygon.
I know it shows how technology has improved and gives others the opportunity to experience 'Classics' in gaming history. However I would rather these were re-imagined for the current generation - not remastered as such because I think the environments and characters at least would need to be totally recreated and if you are doing that you might as well make a 'new' game. That way modern gamers get to experience them too without wondering why they are popular and older gamers don't have their memories ruined.

@slpstrm: @BAMozzy: I agree, I was disappointed that the Xbox remake, that I've never played, was not included in Rare Replay. Both versions could have been included. After all, they included both the original Jetpac and the 360 remake. For me, the worst thing about 32-64 bit era 3D games is the camera issues. I didn't have so many issues back then, we were used to it somehow and the smaller TV size also translated into less dizziness, I think. However, there were better and worse camera programming. I think Nintendo's Super Mario 64 and Rare's Banjo-Kazooie/Tooie cameras are still playable but Donkey Kong 64 and Conker's Bad Fur Day gave me headaches, although I do think Conker's Bad Fur Day visuals are still nice. These camera issues is why they are so frustrating and difficult. I beat Perfect Dark (remake) just recently (just before beating Conker's Bad Fur Day) and I think the game is great but the level design a bit too cryptic. I beat it in Agent and Special Agent, that's a lot!

There are Rare games I like more and less, I still have to play Jet Force Gemini, which has received a "modern" control update. The first Rare game I've ever played was Donkey Kong Country. I still play this trilogy and plays perfectly fine, being refined 2D platformers as opposed as tricky early 3D games. Anyway, it's great to have the option to visit all Rare's great games, excluding Goldeneye and the Donkey Kong games, that are not available in Rare Replay. I still have Diddy Kong Racing and Goldeneye on N64, but I only play the racer, and I enjoy the Donkey Kong Country games on Wii U. I also have Donkey Kong 64 on Wii U but this game's camera is poor, as I said earlier. Last but not least, the last Rare game for a Nintendo console, Star Fox Adventures, I do have for GameCube and I love it. I'm happy to have all recent Rare games even though there are a few I played but will never play again. Of course, the team has changed since then, but I'm excited that some of those people are developing Yooka-Laylee now. I read an interview where Rare explained how much they worked for Xbox One's improved Kinect, after the success of Xbox 360 Kinect games. And for what? For one game that was not a big success, Kinect Rivals. We'll see what the few people that remain in Rare and the new people working there can do once Sea of Thieves is released.

I am playing through Conker right now and so far I am loving the detail of the worlds along with the unique sense of humor that the game has. I never played it back in the day but even now I can see why people hold it in such high regard and honestly when I started to get into the game all I could think about was how it felt like a breath of fresh air when compared to many of the games I have been playing recently. I am not saying today's games are bad by any means, they just don't convey a sense of adventure like the N64's 3D platformers in particular did for me. I played through Jet Force Gemini recently as well on Rare Replay and just like every other time I have played it I came away with the feeling that this is one of my all-time favorite games, bar none. I am not much of a graphics junkie and have gotten quite proficient at wrestling the camera angle around so I personally don't feel that any of the N64 games have aged a bit, they are still brilliant to play even today, and alot of the times I enjoy them alot more than the other games on the market right now. I don't mind modern games but they seem to like that special something for me, back when games delighted and surprised me while I can predict just about everything about a new game that is coming out in terms of gameplay mechanics.

I never played Conkers Bad Fur Day on N64. I played the game on the Xbox and liked it, but I never beat. Played Conker again on Rare Replay and is just love it. I say if you are new to the game just give it some time and you will get use to the camera angles and controls. I think it's a hard game, but I was able to beat it this time around. I still find it funny that Conker started off on Diddy Kong Racing. That was such a nice family friendly game, and just look how Conker ended up as. Lol. I'm up for a new Conker game.

Good posts. Last night I beat Perfect Dark Zero, a GameCube project that ended up being a launch Xbox 360 game. I don't really understand all the hatred about it, it's a great game. I really enjoyed playing it, if again I found it a bit frustrating just like Goldeneye 007 and Perfect Dark are. I don't like easy and dull games but I can get frustrated when they get too difficult. At the end, I beat it on normal difficulty setting (Secret Agent) just like Perfect Dark. I remember I beat some levels on the hard difficulty setting (007 Agent) playing Goldeneye 007 back in the day but I had more free time then.

@Dpishere: That sense of humour you are talking about is one of the things I loved about SNES and N64 Rare games. Cranky Kong, Banjo, Kazooie, Gruntilda, those are characters I will never ever forget. I have never played Jet Force Gemini yet but it's included in Rare Replay so soon I will! Of course, those games have not the visuals we're used to seeing today, but many of them have much better visual art and music than today's games, so that's why I appreciate them. Realistically, the only issue they have is the camera and frame rate (just some of those early 3D games), but that's it. There are modern games with some of those issues, anyway.

@shonenjump86: Yeah, I am a Diddy Kong Racing fan. I still have it and play it on my N64 and it still looks gorgeous except for the frame rate. I always play with Conker and now I think exactly what you said, look how he ended up! But that's why I liked Conker's Bad Fur Day's end, because you see the true Conker's feelings.

I'm up for a new Conker and for a new Kong Racing game!

I think the issue with Perfect Dark Zero was that it was a Prequel and felt like a step backwards in many ways rather then the step forwards we were expecting from the leap in technology. I thought it was OK but not as great as it could have been.

I think Rare had a knack for creating great characters and giving them personality. The worlds they created, despite the constraints of the technology, were also interesting. By todays standards they are visually poor but many are still quite unique. I can't think of any Rare N64 game that I wouldn't want remade or rebooted for this era. I would love a Conker's 'badder' fur day, Jet Force Gemini 2, Blast Corps 2 (I think would be great with the destructive elements showcased in Crackdown and better suited to it too), Banjo Ka-three-ee, Perfect Dark (although could struggle in todays market of CoD, Halo, etc for its MP but I know many that would love a new campaign). Even a new Karting game would be welcome - its not like the XB1 has any! Its all 'forza' these days.

Given the choice of revisiting these games, or playing remastered/rebooted modern versions, I would take the modern day ones every time and its not just the better visuals this could provide. At the time the visuals and controls 'felt' as good as any modern game. I guess in 20yrs time, games like the Witcher 3 etc may be like looking back at Conker etc now and playing these may feel as clunky too - assuming I am still alive and gaming of course...

It's not only Rare's sense of humour that I love but they usually go for nature themes and I love that too. Rare has a lot of franchises and that original touch that would provide Xbox One with a more varied and richer games library. That would mean a big difference. Many people bought an Xbox One because of Rare Replay (you just met one) and for what I've read on Killer Instinct forums many others bought it because of the fighting game.

I can't predict if Sea of Thieves is going to be great or not, but I'm sure that Gregg Mayles and Robin Beanland are able to make it great. For the new guys working in Rare I can't say. Perfect Dark surely deserves a new game and, more important for the sake of variety, a new Banjo or racing game would be a very welcome addition! The only characters they could not use are Donkey and family, but Rare has awesome characters like Banjo, Kazooie, Grutilda, Conker, etc. I'm still looking for a Banjo-Kazooie plush toy but I can't find any!

@VanillaLake: I must admit that Sea of Thieves doesn't appeal to me at all. I don't play MMO's and the concept of this has no appeal. Whilst it is good to see Rare branching out and away from their last few 'Kinect' based games, I would have preferred them to have brought some of their existing franchises back. I know Rare are no longer the team they were as Playtonic are 'Rare' in all but name effectively, but they still retain the licence for some great characters, franchises etc.

@VanillaLake: As much as I would love for Rare to make a proper return and start developing the charming style of games that made them famous I can't help but feel that they would be poor sellers. Fans like us would love for it to happen but I am not so sure the rest if the market agrees. Either way I at least still have my memories if them and if push comes to shove then that will have to be enough as the market is nowhere near the same as it was in the era of the Nintendo 64, and that isn't necessarily a good thing in my opinion. That being said there are still loads of super talented developers even today, they just aren't on old school Rare's level of craftsmanship when it comes to games from my point if view. Nintendo normally make rock solid games too so that is why they are my favorite developers right now, they just stick too much to the tried and true formulas while Rare wasn't afraid to experiment.

@Dpishere: Well Playtronics Yooka-Laylee, basically Banjo-Kazooie, reached its kickstarter target almost immediately after going live. It made (I believe) 8x the amount it needed/wanted initially. Playtronic are Rare in all but name and this is a return to the style of game that made them famous.
Its inevitable that after the plethora of 2D platformers that have flooded the indie scene, 3D platformers will follow on from that trend. Trends tend to go round anyway and this year, we see at least 2 releasing in Ratchet and Clank on PS4 and Yooka-Laylee. Its inevitable that that the indie scene will develop there skills and move into 3D too - what easier way than to make platformers?
Platformers themselves are one of the most basic of games. They didn't die out as such but evolved. Instead of having a very loose theme (collect enough gold stars to beat a boss and rescue the kidnapped princess), they added much more of a story. Instead of 'just' collecting rings/coins etc, you have missions, side quests etc. Instead of just 'platforming' you have more scope in traversal. Instead of jumping on enemies you have weapons to kill them etc instead of cutesy visuals, you have more realistic visuals - all of this because of the increase in technology and the developers growing up. Assassins Creed is a a good example of how the tradition 3D platformer has gone. In that, you have more complex platforming but you still have feathers to collect (instead of coins/rings). Crackdown was another example of where platformers went, with its 'Orbs' to collect.
It wasn't as if Platformers totally disappeared as such but they evolved into adding depth - both in story and game-play, and also a more adult visual presentation too. With the popularity of the indie scene and its 2D platforming, as well as many other games that lack depth (not saying they aren't 'fun'), its inevitable that 3D platformers will follow.

@BAMozzy: I sure hope you are right about there being a resurgence because I would love to have a bunch of 3D platformer to choose from. Yooka-Laylee has tons of promise and assuming its team is capable of reproducing the magic then that game will be a day one buy for sure.

@BAMozzy: What are your favourite genres/games?

@Dpishere: I have that fear too, even regarding Playtonic's Yooka-Laylee, although they beat a record with its kickstarter campaign. That would be very sad, because then the only thing that sells are serious realistic games. Yes, we have Nintendo but they stick too much to the tried and true formulas, as you said, and I couldn't agree more. Look at recent Mario games, they can't hold a candle to Super Mario World, Super Mario 64 or Sunshine. Super Mario Galaxy 1 & 2 and Super Mario 3D World are not terrible games but there is no exploration and 3D World is slow and guided, like Mario Party platform mini games. Rare tried lots of genres and they succeeded in most of them.

I have Okami on Wii and I had a great time playing it, specially for the Japanese setting. That's why one of my favourite gaming franchises is Project Zero/Fatal Frame, because it mixes survival horror (one of my favourite gaming genres) and Japanese settings and tales. I bought tons of Wii games and Project Zero 2 Wii Edition became my favourite eventually. I also imported Zero 4, of course.

@BAMozzy I wouldn't call that evolution, really, although I understand what you're saying, I just don't see it that way. At all. I would call them adventure games but just because there are jumps and climbing I wouldn't call them platformers. About things being collected, the most basic and advanced genres have them.

@Dpishere: It's day one buy for me for sure.

EDIT: It's not that I don't like realistic games, I have lots of them.

@Dpishere: Do you have 3DS and Wii U? If you give me your friend code/NNID I can add you and play some Monster Hunter 4 or whatever. I don't know how to private message here, is it even possible?

@VanillaLake: My favourite genres at the moment are FPS, 3rd Person shooters, action/adventure, Horror Survival and RPG's. I can't pick one over another because they are different. Even similar games according to genre can be very different - like Witcher 3 and Fallout, CoD, BF, Killzone and Halo, Tomb Raider, Uncharted or Assassins Creed, Bioshock, Resident Evil, Dead Space or Alien: Isolation...

Action/adventure games have evolved from 3D platformers whether you see it or not. Visually the 3D platformers were originally more 'cartoon' like because they evolved from the 'basic' 2D models that were limited by the number of 'pixels' the old technology could cope with. These cartoon like characters also required less polygons too. 3D platformers had a sense of adventure, exploring the world, reaching certain areas to get the last collectibles - sometimes even having to return to certain worlds once certain abilities are unlocked to reach certain collectibles that were out of reach before. A classic Example of this is SM64. Games like DK64, Banjo Kazooie etc added more 'story' to the Platformer, cut scenes etc and during this era we also saw a shift from gaming being seen as purely a kids toy to something adults could enjoy too. Practically every 3D game nowadays has something in common with SM64 - the game that brought us the ability to control our speed of movement to navigate the 3D world. Whether that's to collect a coin or reach an objective. Platformers basically grew up and the technology enabled them to have more depth, more adult visuals, and more 'variety' to their gameplay - as a result the 'platforming' element is often buried deep within a game and certainly not the primary aspect.

I know Assassins Creed isn't a 'platformer' in the traditional sense anymore, but it still owes its heritage to those days. Instead of having to jump on platforms to reach certain items, the movement mechanics evolved to include climbing. Most modern day games have 'collectibles' but these are a definite throwback to Platformers. I know they are no longer 'platformers' because they evolved into other areas. As they evolved, the 'platforming' became a smaller part of the game to the point where 'platforming' sections are seen as a staple of the action/adventure game. Whether that's Drake navigating a cliff face, running along a collapsing bridge and jumping the gaps or Ezio climbing to the top of a tower to use his Eagle Vision, running along rooftops, jumping from ledge to ledge, pole to pole etc - its still owes that to the platforming era. Generally these are built into the plot or the game in such a way that it can be easily overlooked - especially by the more adult visuals and story - they don't look cutesy, the platforms don't all have 'collectible' rings/coins etc - but they still have 'platforming'.

Next time you play any of these type of games, look out for 'platforming' sections - there are often a lot more than you think!

@VanillaLake: I will add it to my profile so you can add it from there. I am down for some Monster Hunter for sure! Its funny that you mentioned Okami since as you can probably tell by my avatars that it is one of my favorite games. Such an amazing game and I too own the Wii version and it feels very natural using the wiimote as a paintbrush to the point that I wouldn't want to play it any other way.

@VanillaLake I sent you a request to your Wii U account but for 3DS it looks like I need the name of your account as well as friend code but I am guessing it is the same name as the one that is on your Wii U. I'll add you on Xbox for the heck of it too.