Mark your calendars, because Jet Force Gemini is coming to Nintendo Switch Online in December. We don't have an exact date, but we do know that Rare's action-packed platformer will be available to Expansion Pack subscribers at some point next month. That's cool news, but is the game actually worth playing? To answer that question, I decided to flip through the pages of Electronic Gaming Monthly, Next Generation, Nintendo Power and more classic magazines to see what the critics said back when Jet Force Gemini was first released. Get ready to shoot at a bunch of aliens, because we're going to space for this exciting episode of Nintendo Switch Online Review Crew.


Having already conquered both 3D platformers with Banjo-Kazooie and first-person shooters with GoldenEye 007, there was only one thing left for Rare to do – combine the two genres! Released in 1999 on the Nintendo 64, Jet Force Gemini sees our spacey hero run, jump, swim and even hang from ledges as he battles his way through a bunch of exciting (and imaginative) science fiction-themed stages. The combination of platforming and third-person shooting was novel at the time, and would later go on to inspired a number of other action games, including the entire Ratchet & Clank franchise. These days, the reception to Jet Force Gemini has been somewhat mixed, with some arguing that it was a rare misstep for Rare, all while IGN called it one of the N64's best games. But we're not here to see what some website said, because this is a show about classic magazines.

If you can here expecting nothing but rave reviews, then think again. Much like its legacy today, the critics were a bit mixed when it came to Jet Force Gemini. Let's start with Electronic Gaming Monthly, where it averaged a disappointing 7.75 out of 10. Shoe gave it one of the lower scores, arguing that “when Rare's in charge of a project, you just know it won't be something small and insignificant. This action/adventure game is humongous, with lots to see and do. Buy this game for the single-player experience, but don't expect much multiplayer-wise ... even with a myriad of options, multiplay Jet Force Gemini is really boring after a few sessions.” Shawn liked it a bit more, concluding that “Jet Force Gemini doesn't have the kind of impact you expect from a Rare game ... at first. But after some play time, it's easy to see what separates Jet Force Gemini from others. It isn't without flaws, though. The lack of variety in enemy types, a flaky camera and unintuitive control can get annoying. Still, it's another Rare gem.”

There were other magazines, like Game Informer, that agreed with Electronic Gaming Monthly's score, but most were either a lot higher or a lot lower. For example, we saw the notoriously grumpy Next Generation give Jet Force Gemini a score of 3 out of 5 and make the case that “Rare would have been better off leaving some of this on the cutting-room floor.” “Like a lengthy, bloated, Hollywood movie, Jet Force Gemini loses entertainment value by exhausting gamers long before the mega-journey is over. If this was half as long, it would have been twice as good. Without a doubt, any respecting gamer should buy this game to witness the result of Rare's Herculean effort. But don't even entertain the idea of completing the game unless you have the patience of a saint – and over twice as much time as it took to finish Zelda.”

If you're looking for more positive reviews, then you have a few to choose from. Incite gave the game a score of 4 out of 5 in their first issue and Edge found it in their hearts to give the game a surprisingly strong 9 out of 10. That's the same score we saw from Nintendo Power. Scott made the case that it's “very challenging and very big. The best pure action game ever for the N64.” Kyle agreed, calling the AI “the most tenacious I've seen,” while Nate concluded that there's “more multiplayer than you can shake a stick at.”

Now, if you're wondering who gave Jet Force Gemini the highest score, then you must be new to this series, because the answer is obviously GamePro. Giving it a perfect 5 out of 5, Air Hendrix explains that “Jet Force Gemini is another fine example of why Rare is one of Gaming's best developers. Spectacular graphics and sound combine with deep, gripping gameplay to make Jet Force a must-own action/adventure experience.”

Personally speaking, I find myself agreeing with Next Generation. There are a lot of elements of this game that simply don't hold up in 2023, and there's just way too much filler in this game. That said, the game is definitely fun for a long time and worth a look, especially if you're a Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack subscriber who has been waiting for a meaty release. You aren't going to get much meatier than this.