12 Video Games Created By Accident

When a game goes through drastic changers in graphics or genre, you can usually see a sliver of what the prototype was going for. However, the original version of Diddy Kong Racing has virtually nothing in common with its retail form.

Although Rare's beloved title was a vibrant and cartoony racer, it was pitched as a real-time strategy title, centred around a time-travelling caveman!! According to Rare developer, Lee Musgrave, the initial pitch "was in the style of Command & Conquer and not related" to what we got.

Over time, it evolved into a Disneyworld-inspired adventure called Wild Cartoon Kingdom. By 1997, the project was reshaped into a driving game called Adventure Racers. Shortly after, it was changed AGAIN to Pro-Am 64, serving as a sequel to the NES racer, RC Pro-Am (which nobody remembers).

When Banjo-Kazooie missed its December 1997 deadline, Rare felt obligated to release a AAA title that Christmas. But since Pro-Am 64 wasn't a well-known brand, Rare knew it wouldn't grab consumers unless it incorporated an iconic character.

This inspired the team to not only implement Donkey Kong's sidekick, Diddy Kong, but to make him the titular star. This decision altered the game's design to fit the DK aesthetic, and incorporate other staples from the franchise, including Bananas and Kremlings.

When you compare how it started to how it ended - and how many people cite Diddy Kong Racing as the REAL best kart game on N64 - the two properties couldn't have had less in common.