Raise your glasses of milk, as the risqué Rare classic Conker’s Bad Fur Day is 20 years old today!
Conker’s Bad Fur Day first released for the Nintendo 64 on 5th March 2001, and is notoriously one of the most vulgar games on the platform. On the surface, Conker plays like a typical Rare platformer of the time, much like Banjo Kazooie or Donkey Kong 64. However, underneath its playful aesthetic is a profanity-infused comedy that’s full of charm.
As a character, Conker the Squirrel fits in better with the cast of Cheers than Looney Tunes. He’s something of a drinker, made extremely apparent by the hangover he’s suffering from during the first level. In fact, Conker’s Bad Fur Day is sort of like one of those 90s teen road trip movies, only with a bunch of anthropomorphic animals.
All Conker wants to do is return home to his Lola Bunny rip-off girlfriend, Berri. Unfortunately, Conker’s trip home involves solving various domestics along the way. From assisting ranchy Sunflowers to battling mighty opera-singing poos, Conker’s got a long shift ahead of him. Not to mention that the land’s panther potentate wants to use him as a replacement table leg (apparently, he’s just the right size).
Rare’s video game sitcom sold below expectations at the time, but received critical acclaim. Conker was praised for its visuals and satirical humour, which stood out from the rest of the N64’s library.
The game has since gained a bit of a cult following, with Rare making two subsequent re-releases of the game. The first re-release, Conker: Live and Reloaded, is something of a censored remake, released exclusively on the original Xbox.
The second Conker re-release is part of the Rare Replay Collection, which contains the original version of the game. Sadly, this version has also been censored, meaning that the initial N64 release provides the most authentic experience.
Conker’s original cartridge is anything but cheap, with prices on eBay coming in at over £100 unboxed. As pricey as it may be, Conker’s Bad Fur Day is a unique collectathon comedy that’s a must-play for fans of platformers and potty-humour alike.
Happy Birthday, Conker, you little tag nut! We’ll pour a frosty glass of milk in your honour!
Featured Image Credit: Rare