Jet Force Gemini Portable was in the works in 2000
Assembler Forum shares a lost treasure
Now here’s something you don’t see every day. Thanks to Dano2k0 of the Assembler Forum, we now know that Rare was developing Jet Force Gemini for the Game Boy Color nearly a decade ago. According to the screenshots uploaded by Dano2k0 (which was a “Cheat Version 2.3,” whatever that means), the game looked to be from a top-down perspective, much like PD GBC. Juno seems to be initially playable, yet if the N64 version is anything to go by, it’s reasonable to assume that Vela and Lupus would be playable down the line. In regards to the cart, Dano2k0 mentioned that the game “actually seems somewhat complete in terms of sound and menus.”
With this information in mind, the question that is begging to be asked is why this game never came to light. There are a couple of possibilities. As Unseen64 mentioned, Perfect Dark and Conker’s Pocket Tales, Rare’s previous GBC titles of N64 games (or former N64 titles, in the latter’s case), were met with low interest and low review scores, which could’ve very well resulted in its cancellation. Another possibility is that JFG on the N64 was unfortunately not the blockbuster that Rare wanted it to be, and was canceled due to low sales of the original. Yet another possibility lies in the copyright of the year 2000. It was during this time that Nintendo revealed both the Game Boy Advance and the GameCube. With this in mind, it’s possible that it could’ve been canceled in order to continue development on a more powerful portable. Yet, unless we see a GBA version, the latter possibility is probably the most unlikely.
Either way, while it’s sad to know that hardcore JFG fans, as well as the rest of us, could’ve had an extra game in the series to play, it’s nice to know that it existed to begin with. Special thanks goes out once again to Dano2k0, who was kind enough to let the internet know what could’ve been ten years ago.
Somehow related news
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- Rare fixes a bug in Jetpac Refuelled file ()
13 Comments
so many cancelled games 
I would have totatlly bought that game!
Comment by Tyler — 14.Mar.10 @ 12:03 am
Miss the old Rare logo. *sniff*
Comment by SummerSky — 14.Mar.10 @ 1:09 am
My money’s on the 2000 theory, otherwise Rare would defineatly have released it. Unfortunately the 2000s was the year Rare was bought by Wankersoft. However that did not stop them from releasing Sabre Wulf as well as other games on the Game Boy Advance, so it is a questionable subject at the time being.
Comment by Hamilton — 14.Mar.10 @ 4:16 am Maybe it was just a test, and something that never really got off the ground? A side project to see if they could squeeze it onto the GameBoy’s screen.
Even the title screen uses art created for the N64 original, although it’s possible it was just a placeholder, of course.
Jet Force would be ripe for a sequel with the Wii or PS3 pointer technology. Still unsure about Natal, and whether it’s capable of that sort of accuracy.
Comment by SummerSky — 14.Mar.10 @ 4:39 am
Sad How rare cancel a lot of games
Comment by Maria — 14.Mar.10 @ 6:25 pm
Damn, I bet it would play like a charm.
Comment by Niwi3 — 24.Mar.10 @ 3:57 pm
wow i saw this on a website a long time ago that game looks awesome
Comment by Banjo-Kazooie — 29.Mar.10 @ 5:46 pm awesome stuff
Comment by Banjo-Kazooie — 29.Mar.10 @ 5:49 pm
i think this game was not that secret, i remember reading a preview from some E3 from a magazine…
Comment by 604 — 02.Apr.10 @ 7:11 pm
When will Jet Force Gemini for Nintendo 3DS badly need to play on the Nintendo console will be released 3DS 3DS NINTENDO Game is best for all the public will be successful and better for 3DS NINTENDO.Please.
Comment by Salvador — 14.Nov.10 @ 5:21 am When will JET FORCE GEMINI Nintendo Wii 2 in me a long absence from this title I’m a fan of this game I hope very soon will come out later that I was not going for X-BOX has been confirmed but I prefer Nintendo Wii, thank you very much.
Comment by Salvador — 10.Jan.11 @ 2:12 pm
I am sad
Comment by Hudson — 13.Mar.10 @ 6:45 pm