Arguably one of the most important video game companies to come out of the United Kindgom, Rare is responsible for hits such as Donkey Kong Country, GoldenEye 007, Perfect Dark, Killer Instinct, Diddy Kong Racing, Battletoads, Sea of Thieves and many, many more – and the company's legacy is now being celebrated via the Evercade family of retro gaming systems.
Rare Collection 1 contains 12 games – Atic Atac, Gunfright, Jetpac, Knight Lore, Lunar Jetman, Sabre Wulf, Underwurlde, Battletoads, Cobra Triangle, R.C. Pro-Am, Conker's Pocket Tales and Battletoads Arcade / Super Battletoads – covering the early part of Rare's history as well as its pre-history, when the firm was operating under the Ultimate Play The Game banner.
In fact, it may have been more accurate to call this 'Ultimate Play The Game Collection 1', as seven of the included games are from that period, when founders Tim and Chris Stamper made the humble ZX Spectrum do things that seemed absolutely unimaginable back in the '80s.
From the tightly-constrained gameplay of Atic Atac to the groundbreaking isometric visuals of Knight Lore and the fast-paced blasting action of Lunar Jetman, the Spectrum games included here are a shining showcase of just how talented the Stamper siblings were when it came to extracting the maximum performance from Sir Clive Sinclair's home computer.
Sure, they don't look like much in 2025, but despite the passage of time and advance of technology, none of these games have really aged in terms of good, old-fashioned playability – but if you're looking for something a little more advanced, then the 'Rare' portion of this collection just about fits the bill.
Battletoads on the NES is punishing at times, but still a lot of fun. Meanwhile, Cobra Triangle and R.C. Pro-Am are isometric racing games, each with a distinct approach.
Conker's Pocket Tales is the sole Game Boy Color entry, and while it feels a little like a watered-down alternative to Zelda: Link's Awakening, it's still good for a few days of entertainment – even if the version of Conker shown here is far more 'polite' than the one who would ultimately star in Bad Fur Day.
Finally, we have what is arguably the crowning glory of this collection, Rare's Battletoads arcade game from 1994. A side-scrolling fighter with utterly stunning 2D visuals and some fantastically smooth sprite scaling, it was never released back in the day after performing poorly during the testing phase, and was only made available to the public in 2015 when it was included in the excellent Rare Replay collection on Xbox One.
It's timely that I mention Rare Replay, because its existence will no doubt factor into your purchasing decision when it comes to Rare Collection 1. All of the games included here are on that collection, with the exception of Conker's Pocket Tales – and it's worth noting that Rare Replay can be picked up for very little money these days (and is backwards compatible with Xbox Series X/S).
The Evercade pack is also missing much of the content that made Rare Replay so appealing; there are no developer interviews or 'snapshot' mini-challenges, and you can't rewind gameplay (although save states are present, as is the case with most Evercade releases).
Of course, Rare Collection 1 has the added benefit of being playable on the move thanks to its release on Evercade, and that may well convince you to pull the trigger – but hardcore fans of the company may well wonder if this is enough to make a purchase worthwhile.
Conclusion
The hit rate of Ultimate Play The Game and Rare is the stuff of legend, so it goes without saying that this pack includes some stone-cold retro classics. It's a shame, then, that Rare Replay has been available for a decade now, as it's arguably a superior way to experience the company's rich history. The availability of the games elsewhere notwithstanding, Rare Collection 1 is a wonderful compendium of truly classic titles, and I'm keen to see what other games will be included in future packs.
Comments 38
Man I wish we got such a collection (or even better Rare Replay, but unfortunately that's way more unlikely due to both technical and licensing reasons) also on Switch 1 and/or 2 - anyway, thanks for the review and happy for those going for this!
I desperately want an Evercade… every time I read about it, it keeps getting better and better and I love the whole mentality behind it. Honestly need to read more into it as I’d want whatever one allows me to play on the TV and on the go, if thats an option. I’d go right for the Sunsoft collection and this one.
Thanks for the updates on Evercade!
A big reason I hear about Rare Replay not being on consoles other than XBox is that it uses emulation? Is it the same case here and wondering if this has released on Evercade (and sounds bloody brilliant!) could this collection or similar come out on Switch and PS?
I don't own an Evercade and this is the first release on the platform which has piqued my interest but can't justify buying one just for this!
When MS first announced going multi platform, my first thoughts were Rare Replay, having grown up with those games and loving them. As cool as Halo and GoW et al coming to non XBox consoles is, Rare Replay is the one I wanted the most!
I got an Xbox One for Rare Replay and was so happy that I upgraded the hardware. You get native 4K in the Xbox 360 titles on Xbox One X and Series X. 100% recommended for retro collections and backwards compatibility... and new games, of course!
@ChromaticDracula Currently I don't think there is one model that does this still sold new anymore (TV and on the go in one device). My original EXP and the very first Evercade both have a mini-HDMI out, so while they are handhelds they can run on the telly through a cable.
However the current EXP-R handheld (and the cheaper, different form-factor Super Pockets) don't have a HMDI-out.
TBH I got a cable but never played that way. I use my EXP on the move and the Evercade home console (the Evercade VS, or rather VS-R now) on the telly.
For what it's worth, the games save onto the cartridges, so you can just up-plug the game, move it to an Evercade handheld and carry on!
I haven't ordered this as I have Rare Replay, but I am tempted just to support the endeavour...or see about getting it for Christmas perhaps! Battletoads Arcade is great fun. (I'd probably play the Speccy games on The Spectrum via a USB stick, but they are good to have here!)
@Damo Conker's Pocket Tales was released BEFORE the transition from Twelve Tales (the original version that was condemned by critics for being too child-friendly) to Conker's Bad Fur Day.
Pocket Tales was released in 1999, the foul-mouthed Conker was announced in 2000 (as a good but wrong guess for EGM's annual April Fools prank).
Cons: "Doesn't offer much over Rare Replay"
I will forever comment when I see Cons like this one. Did they advertise that it offered more? Is this a review of a single product or a comparison against another?
No, it doesn't offer more over Rare Replay, but that wasn't the release's intent. Reviews, in my eyes, should always cover the product as it is, not what it isn't.
@Grackler hey thank you so much for this info! I remember seeing a model with the mini hdmi out, that’s why I was saying… Now knowing the saves are on the actual cart and not like an SD card or local storage, that is the best news to me and solves my only “concern.”
Honestly going to start shopping for one now, thank you again!
About Conker's Pocket Tales, can you toggle between Color and DMG versions? I heard that when you play the game on a DMG Game Boy, the world has a different layout or something to that extend.
Is Sabre Wulf the ZX Spectrum version or the GBA version? Loved the latter, not at all familiar with the former but I find it kinda difficult to get into Speccy games these days.
"Doesn't offer much over Rare Replay" ---- My guy... when Microsoft eventually renders my physical copy of Rare Replay for Xbox One unplayable, this Evercade cart is gonna save my bacon (plus Im in a part of the US where Broadband isn't exactly everywhere yet, I use mobile data to get online).
@qaopjlll Spectrum version.
While I refuse to support Evercade, this is a pretty good collection of Rare's games.
Always enjoyed the Battletoads arcade game, it's the Battletoad game I wanted as a kid. I didnt get a chance to play it till way later through emulation and then again on the Rare Replay.
@ChromaticDracula if you want that the OG evercade does that. Current evercades make you choose. Exp for handheld. Vs for tv. Alpha for its own little arcade paradise
@ChromaticDracula no worries, really hope you enjoy it!
"It was never released back in the day after performing poorly during the testing phase, and was only made available to the public in 2015 when it was included in the excellent Rare Replay collection on Xbox One."
This isn't quite accurate. At least in the US, the arcade cabinet was publicly released (by Electronic Arts of all companies). I have vivid memories of playing it at a train-themed restaurant in New Jersey around 1997 or so.
@JohnnyMind agreed. It feels like we've been slowly getting it in bits and pieces via Nintendo Switch Online over the last few years. I keep holding out for the Conker games. Spectrum titles are probably never going to happen.
Should of been called the Ultimate collection vol 1
@whitespy12 nice, my house is a bit train-themed with some nice maps, so i'll be playing that on my alpha next month thinking about your experience
@RZ-Atom Rare Replay and contain many of the same games, and are based on the same developer, so surely it makes sense to compare them - especially as many people out there might already own Rare Replay.
It's not unusual to compare a product to rival products on the market - in fact, don't most reviews do this?
@whitespy12 The way I understand it, the initial release was the testing phase. I can only speculate that the cab you played was a test one which was never recalled? Happy to be corrected, of course!
@Damo the screenshot of Underwurlde looks like the C64 version, is that what’s included rather than the Speccy version?
@slider1983
Really, why's that?
I just sold my job lot off, the entire thing of licences expiring and cart prices going through the roof was starting to bug me. Probably would have been worth a lot more if I'd held on for several more years, but with a kids 21st and Uni graduation in the same year... Ouch.
@Slider2711
I didn't even know it had been ported to C64, gonna have to give that a spin.
@Aiodensghost
Why / how would MS render anyone's physical copy unplayable?
@Damo Sure, but saying it's a con because it isn't another product? When the collection was announced and then released we knew what games it featured.
Why give it a negative point because of something it isn't?
@mjparker77 I don't tend to support people that have mistreated me. Anyway game prices will just keep going up on certain game systems.
@slider1983
Ah that sucks. Dunno where you are, but I never had any issues in the UK. Just got tired of the increasingly mediocre releases, the arcade carts were the only line I had any interest in.
@ChromaticDracula If you buy the older version of the EXP, it has a HDMI out but no controller connection. You are literally playing a handheld connected to the TV. The home console version is the best thing to buy in my opinion. I think Blaze as a company are very hit and miss. This system still doesn't have simple quality of life updates like turbo function, dip switches, that work across all games. The initial design didn't allow for it and they've been trying to implement them for literally years now. Customer service is pretty dreadful. This being said though, I do enjoy it and have a good collection of games. It's all about the arcade releases for me.
@mjparker77 I was cheerleading Evercade over on their Discord but I said I didn't like the 2012 Tomb Raider game. They have someone there that buys the carts to destroy or throw them out of windows but me not liking a game they think is great was enough to get me banned. Ironically even though I didn't have the money to get into buying their products I was always supporting and praising them on their Discord.
They're very ban happy. They originally banned me from their Facebook page because I criticised the version of Soccer Kid they were putting out. They unbanned me once I apologised. If you don't have the same opinions as they do about society or entertainment you become a target so that's what happened.
@slider1983
With reason, that game sucks
I've never really bothered with their official pages, they've told a lot of half truths and outright lies about their products over the years
@mjparker77 They block easily. I really like Evercade but they need to get away from allowing just one game or political view. I got banned for less worse than what other users have done.
If I ever finally get an Evercade this will be a definite day one pickup.
@mjparker77 yeah, it was a pretty straight port for, what I’ve seen, all single colour sprites, just a direct translation from the Spectrum. And I notice the screenshot has gone form the review now!
Battletoads is brutal at times???
I can reference this game obliquely to any gamer of a certain age and they just give a knowing head nod. I completed Super Ghouls n' Ghosts (once) and I can't tell you much about what happens after level 3 of Battletoads.
...I'm totally getting this.
It's definitely less value for money than Rare Replay, which I own and enjoy a lot still nowadays, but yes, the portability is a good point here, and let's face it: most Evercade fans will buy any cart for completion reasons anyway.
I doubted a little initially because I already have 11 of 12 games on a much better package, but I'd like to play them on the go, so I preordered already. And the Conker portable adventure kind of justifies it.
We can expect more overlapping on upcoming -and already confirmed, although without titles announced- Rare Collection volumes.
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