Chameleon Games, a studio comprised of ex-Rare developers from the studio's N64 heyday, have just announced their upcoming game Tamarin. The title is an action adventure of sorts, that appears to combine elements from multiple Rare classics. You play as a monkey fighting for his family's survival, as their verdant land is invaded by giant ants. It has the platforming of Donkey Kong 64, the vibrant, adorable visuals of Banjo Kazooie, and the bug-blasting action of Jet Force Gemini. Oh, and the legendary David Wise is very obviously doing the soundtrack, which made my 90s kid heart skip a beat there. Graeme Norgate is doing the accompanying sound effects.
That said, I'm not entirely sure these gameplay styles will all gel together. The platforming of DK64 and Banjo is all well and good, but the shooting doesn't look like it captures the guilty-pleasure cartoon carnage of Jet Force Gemini; the best part of that game was how its relatively cute art style clashed with just how depraved some of the violence got. Tamarin definitely has the cuteness down--that little monkey is exceedingly adorable--but the combat doesn't appear to capture the insanity, or challenge, of the game that inspired it.
That said, Tamarin already looks a hell of a sight better than Playtonic's janky Yooka-Laylee. Now can some of these cool ex-Rare people give me the Perfect Dark spiritual sequel I've been craving for nearly 20 years?
Tamarin doesn't have a release date yet, but you can pre-order it for PS4 and PC for $29.99, with a Deluxe Edition costing $39.99.
Introducing Tamarin: a 3D action-adventure crafted by golden era Rare veterans
Explore, leap and shoot to save your family from
the insect invasion
London, United Kingdom - April 24th, 2019 - Leap into action and discover nature as independent developer Chameleon Games announce Tamarin™, a third-person action-adventure game set in beautiful Nordic scenery, starring the world's cutest monkey. Pollution and destruction from ever-expanding insects sets the agile monkey into a fight for his family’s survival. Scheduled for release on PlayStation 4 and PC this summer, Tamarin channels the energy of 3D platformer classics and explorative Metroidvania shooters, hand-crafted by a team which includes an all-star cast of veterans from Rare’s golden era.
Explore an incredible interconnected 3D world, brimming with primate platforming and bug-splattering shooter action. Leap with the agility of a tamarin as you journey into the Northern wilderness on scenic routes through forests, fjords and mountains. Along the way you will chase mysterious electrical fireflies, discover a secret underground world of dancing ants, rescue innocent birds, and restore the tamarins’ once idyllic natural habitat.
Tamarin is directed by Omar Sawi, who has brought on an all-star cast from Rare’s golden era to help execute his creative vision for Tamarin and recapture the style and magical experiences they were famous for. Creators of iconic characters such as Diddy Kong, Banjo-Kazooie, and Battletoads are responsible for Tamarin’s concept art, pre-production and character design. Donkey Kong 64 artist Richard Vaucher leads the art production and provides energetic, responsive animations. Donkey Kong Country composer David Wise adds to the atmosphere with compositions of melodic beauty and a brand-new style of catchy industrial beats. This is complemented by impactful sound effects by action-title veteran Graeme Norgate (GoldenEye 007, Killer Instinct).
“A lot of species are going extinct and their natural habitat is being lost and I’ve always wished to make a game series inspired by the most wonderful species and scenery on Earth,” said Omar Sawi, Founder of Chameleon Games. “Tamarin combines cute characters, beautiful locations, a catchy soundtrack and a combination of fun exploratory platforming and action shooter gameplay into something that appeals to a wide multi-gender demographic.”
Tamarin will be available on the PlayStation Store and Steam for PC at $29.99 / £22.99 / €27.99. A Deluxe Edition that includes the soundtrack will be $39.99 / £29.99 / €35.99.
Pre-orders are available now on the official Tamarin website, and include the following bonuses:
- 10% off!
- Instant access to free Tamarin wallpapers
- Exclusive first listen to a tune from the game's soundtrack
- Tamarin cheat codes
