Game news Do you know the trashiest hero ever released on a Nintendo console? He has something to celebrate
Nintendo didn’t just have bold and flawless heroes on its home consoles. In 2001, British studio Rare flooded the N64 with dirty jokes, possessed characters and (for the time) trashy scenes with production meant to be consumed without moderation.
If you’re conker, it’s for life
The most sulphurous alcoholic little squirrel of the early 2000’s just celebrated his 22nd birthday! Released on April 6, 2001 in Europe on the Nintendo 64, Conker’s Bad Fur Day, designed by Rare, made headlines. At the very beginning of its development, Conker was a good-natured platform game with a small squirrel, typical of Nintendo productions, as the main character. He could jump, swim and perform a whole range of actions inspired by the famous mustachioed plumber who had just revolutionized the 3D platformer with Super Mario 64. Despite this, the team responsible for the project encountered some difficulties. Despite good ideas, one of them doesn’t really come up with anything original. At the same time, Rare is developing Banjo, a 3D platform game that is also very similar to Mario 64. Realizing that it would be counterproductive to continue development on two projects that are so close to their intent, the studio decides to reconsider Twelve Tales Conker 64 to differentiate itself from the existing.
Then an artist from the development team, Chris Seavor, takes over. He suggests emphasizing the comic aspect of the game with more subversive, violent elements. Conker returns a hive to the queen bee, what happens next? The insect takes out a tower and blasts its opponents. Company bosses Tim and Chris Stamper witness this revamp of Twelve Tales Conker 64 and call for bolder scenes. Chris Seavor then has fun incorporating many parodies of movies ranging from Terminator to Godzilla to Saving Private Ryan and Matrix. This refreshing way of incorporating gags inspired by cinematographic works encourages the creativity of Rare designers. The studio continues to develop the game without a real script, Chris Seavor synthesizes the crazy ideas of his colleagues and adds his own. This way of working produces somber sequences that will remain in the annals.
It’s a really big bunch…
When the makers of Banjo presented the new version of Conker to the trade press for the first time, the journalists were amazed. Those who were expecting to see a clone of Mario 64 are treated to an insulting title about beating a giant boss made out of feces with toilet paper rolls. “Is it really a game coming out for a Nintendo console?‘ ask the experts present.
Did we know how to have fun back then? Excerpted from Consoles Max #22
Yes, Rare’s irreverent software dreamed up by Chris Seavor is a major delirium. Conker mixes different gameplays in an adventure made up of sequences that are as varied as they are disturbing. According to its creators, this keeps the title fresh from the beginning to the end of the adventure, constantly renewing interest. We only mention the cases when you have to cover your opponents with feces or even hit the purses of a cauldron after urinating on goblins. In recent interviews, Chris Seavor admits that the game’s humor took a hit and that he would like to change certain sequences, like the sunflower one with an overdeveloped chest that the squirrel uses as a trampoline.
Although the creative freedom that Nintendo has given the British studio has often been mentioned, the Kyoto-based company is only releasing the game in the United States. In Europe, THQ takes care of the publication in the European territories without translating it into the different languages. Sales are said to be disappointing and observers point to the lack of support from Nintendo at the time of release. The sexual innuendo and gore elements that punctuate the daring adventure of the alcoholic little squirrel also didn’t help the promotion.. What should we keep in mind when we talk about Conker today? That he’s a crazy UFO in the N64 toy library. The remake, titled Live & Reloaded, is playable on Xbox Series X|S. It has refreshed handling and a welcome French translation. While alcohol should be consumed in moderation, conker should be tried at least once in a player’s lifetime. For information, the original version is available in Rare Replay.
