Rare Celebrates 40 Years with a Classic Gaming Collection
Blaze Entertainment just dropped some exciting news for gamers: their next Evercade cartridge is set to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Rare. Titled Rare Collection 1, it’s hitting the shelves this November, with pre-orders kicking off on September 30.
Priced at £19.99 / $29.99, this cartridge features a stellar lineup of 12 games that primarily spotlight Rare’s early years—many of which originated under its previous name, Ultimate: Play the Game. This compilation marks a significant milestone as it’s the first time ZX Spectrum games will be playable on an Evercade cartridge.
What’s Inside Rare Collection 1?
The full roster of titles in Rare Collection 1 reads like a nostalgic trip down memory lane:
- Atic Atac (ZX Spectrum)
- Gunfright (ZX Spectrum)
- Jetpac (ZX Spectrum)
- Knight Lore (ZX Spectrum)
- Lunar Jetman (ZX Spectrum)
- Sabre Wulf (ZX Spectrum)
- Underwurlde (C64)
- Cobra Triangle (8-bit console)
- R.C. Pro-Am (8-bit console)
- Battletoads (8-bit console)
- Conker’s Pocket Tales (Handheld)
- Battletoads Arcade (Arcade)
This collection will be compatible with Evercade VS home consoles, Evercade EXP handhelds, Evercade Alpha bartop arcade machines, and HyperMegaTech Super Pocket handhelds. Plus, every cartridge comes with a full-color manual, enhancing the nostalgic experience for players.
It’s interesting to note that the version of R.C. Pro-Am included in this collection is likely the edited iteration from Xbox’s 2015 compilation, Rare Replay. In the original NES game, players collected letters spelling ‘NINTENDO’, but for Rare Replay, it was switched to ‘CHAMPION’.
Andrew Byatt, CEO of Blaze Entertainment, highlighted the significance of Rare’s early works, stating, “Rare’s early games represent an incredible legacy of experimentation and charm. This collection is our tribute to their evolution and offers fans a way to rediscover these classics.”
Looking ahead, Evercade has more cartridges planned, with collections like Neo Geo Arcade 1, 2, and 3, alongside Taito Arcade 1 and 2 on the horizon. Recently, they also launched the Gremlin Collection 2, featuring beloved PS1 titles like Buggy and Hogs of War.