The Gamer Scene

Review: Banjo Kazooie – Nuts and Bolts (Xbox 360)

Posted on 17. Nov, 2008 by Dits in Microsoft, Reviews

It’s time to put on your rose tinted glasses! The bear and his bird are back to grace the next generation consoles, but for Banjo veterans, things are going to be very different.

Peter Moore, the once head of the Xbox division recently took a swipe at Rare, saying that “Rare’s skills are not applicable today”. With few A+ releases on Microsoft consoles since their shock move, it hasn’t really been a smooth transition, as many hoped it would be.

Can Banjo change all this?

Banjo & Kazooie – Nuts & Bolts is the third in the series of Banjo games and it’s the first to come over to the Xbox since it began its life on the N64. Old N64 gamers will have fond memories of the bear and many still regard it as one of the best 3D platformers ever created. This time they have taken a very different approach, gone are platforming sections of old, and in comes driving and building. Purists out there have been hitting gaming forums since this was announced complaining about the change and how it could ruin the game, well let’s see if the bear baiters are right.

The story begins with Banjo and Kazooie taking life pretty easily; both have grown fat and are sitting happily eating pizza and playing Xbox, reminiscing about the good old days (N64 clearly visible in the background). A sudden flashback to their previous games quickly describes the story, detailing their past battles with their nemesis Gruntilda (Grunty). Life seems fine, but then an earthquake reveals Grunty’s head, and she’s out for revenge! Banjo is again called up for saving the world but he isn’t what he used to be, Kazooie has also forgotten all of her moves. You lumber your hulk over to battle Grunty, and just as you’re about to strike you are frozen in time by the new nemesis, the Lord of Games (L.O.G). L.O.G is tired of your constant battles and has created lots of his own devious games so you and Grunty to battle it out to finally see who the best is. One problem though, because you’re half the bear you used to be L.O.G has changed the rules. You now have to use vehicles to best the witch. Kazooie being the mouthy bird that she is demands some kind of recompense for losing her abilities and is given a magic wrench which can be used to pick up objects in the world.

You begin your game in a main zone called, Showdown Town, a vast GTA style area with lots of residents and quest givers hidden around. This acts as the main hub for getting into the different levels. Each of the levels needs to be unlocked by collecting a certain amount of Jiggys (golden Jigsaw pieces) in much the same way as Mario’s stars. Pretty standard platforming stuff, collect this, go here, and move on, it’s an OCD sufferers dream. The game has 131 Jiggys to collect which will take some serious devotion to get them all. Also hidden around the map are boxes filled with new parts for your creations which Mumbo can put in his garage to let you build more sophisticated machines.

Along with the Jiggys are musical notes which form the games currency and you can spend these on upgrades for Banjo himself (Speed, Strength, and Endurance) which help you when not in your vehicle. The main thing you will be spending your notes on though is parts for your vehicles.

Vehicles make up the majority of the gameplay and it’s a genius system as you get to create your own vehicles in the games vehicle creation mode. Land, sea and aircraft are all there for your creative talents to design and use in game, each with upgradable engines, weapons, armour etc. The list is pretty much endless. It does take a bit of investment to get to the good stuff so expect to be using some pretty poor vehicles to begin with. For beginner gamers this is going to throw up a few problems as the game really isn’t as easily accessible in the early stages, luckily though the level design is spot on and you will soon be having fun creating your own masterpieces.

The vehicles are the main source of the controversy and needed to be done right if this game was to work, and it does. Banjo physics are applied to each of your creations, so putting 2 engines on your car will inevitably make it go faster, add some balloons, a giant spring and hilarity can commence. It really makes you try to think as most of the quests require a different type of vehicle to complete. One said quest needed me to reach a set speed. So after tinkering with my car with poor results I decided to just opt for a chair and a spring. In seconds I had completed the quest as Banjo was launched into orbit, try beating that time on XBL

It’s this type of freedom that really makes this game what it is and creation is very simple to do. A grid system is used and items can be placed anywhere on the grid in 3D space to make up your vehicle. As long as the major components are there, you’re onto a winner. An excellent blueprint system allows you to save your creations for later use and even send them to your friends over XBL, looking forward to seeing yours (no penis cars please).

Along with the main hub there are 6 worlds to unlock, each with their own different doors to unlock with your Jiggys. Lots of content means that if you’re stuck on a certain quest you can easily switch to another and come back when you have more parts to build a more suitable mode of transport. One point to remember though is that in the main hub you can only use the trolley that L.O.G gives to you at the start of the game. It’s underpowered at first not being able to climb hills etc but in time you will have features added to it that let you explore the wider area.

Graphically Banjo shines in a way most next gen games can only dream of. Vibrant colours and amazing charm really show off the power of the engine and gives us a glimpse of what Rare can do (finally). Each character has their own distinctive look and feel and even the NPC’s populating the world make it feel like a living breathing town. Upon entry to each unlocked stage you are given a nice Dynasty style intro to that world with the characters role and comic tagline, it’s genuinely funny. One gripe is that some of the level design is a little chaotic and you will find yourself banging into scenery over and over which can be frustrating, but having the ability to just change vehicle whenever you please helps this.

If you have played the demo then you haven’t played the game, it’s really a shock to see such an unfinished build being put on XBL to promote it. Handling is much, much tighter and the first level they give you in the demo isn’t unlocked in the game until about world 3! By that stage you will have so many more options with your building that the quests can be completed in much more inventive and fun ways. It beggars belief that they would release such a different demo to the main game, makes you wonder if this will affect sales.

On the subject of controls Banjo handles just as you would expect. Getting in and out of vehicles is done with a press of the Y button, right trigger for accelerate and left to break, standard stuff. Weapons and abilities of your transport can be mapped to any of the face buttons on the fly, and option that is so simple I’m amazed that many other games don’t do this also. In the inevitable fact that you will land face first into a giant cow or something, RB can be used to self right, really helpful for them tight spots. Another nice control feature is being able to fix or tinker with your creation when out of your vehicle. With a press of the B button, you can add new weapons etc whenever you see fit. When Banjo is not driving around, again it’s pretty standard platforming controls, A to jump, X to attack left stick to run and right for camera. LB also centres view. Right trigger is used to activate Kazooie’s magic wrench and will be needed to put Jiggys onto your cart for unlocking stages etc.

It wouldn’t be a Rare game without hundreds of secrets and random side quests to find during your travels, and banjo delivers this once again. There is an arcade where you can play Klungo’s 8-bit style game to unlock extra items. The Jingos make a return and need saving once again, but this time they are being locked up by the fuzz. Comically all the police in the game are pigs and it gives a nice bit of satisfaction to whack one over the head For the older gamers there is even a spot of bingo to play by unlocking different items. There is much more than this as well but you’re going to have to find it yourself.

Quick mention to the music and sound within the game, the soundtrack is as happy as you remember old Banjo games to be, I still have the tune bouncing around my head when I’m at work. A nice touch is how the music changes dynamically depending on where you are on the map, so if you’re in the carnival district, the music changes to fairground style instruments. It’s a nice touch and adds to the immersion. Have to mention the sound of Banjo and his supporting cast as it has been a point in other reviews that he just makes silly noises and doesn’t speak. Why is this controversial? I have no idea! Banjo has always made silly sounds and always should do, hearing Mumbo shout his voodoo brings back so many memories, it’s a great fan service. To be critical about the non recorded dialogue seems silly to me, does Zelda get bashed for not having live actors speaking every line? How about Mario? All I know is that when they made Final Fantasy speak for the first time I could have killed Tidus for ruining the illusion. Let’s not start on Devil May Cry (Slam dunk). The game is quite text heavy and you’re going to have to read a lot of the explanations for the quests, but again kids and adults really should be able to read these with little trouble. I really don’t see what the problem is.

Overall Banjo Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts is a brave move on Rare’s part. Sure they could have made another platformer in the style of old but they didn’t and we have to get over that fact. What they have created is an excellent, fun game that all ages can enjoy. Kids are going to love the art style and silliness of it and adults will love all the in jokes that pop up. It’s the perfect combination that shows like the Simpsons have done for years. Insider references to gaming culture are in abundance, Mario references are clear, even a ? box makes an appearance, the Frag Dolls (Hag Trolls) and the now infamous reference to games in the pipeline.

In the midst of silly season there is a shining light that begs to be different. If you’re sick and tired of the same old shooter and yearn for something different, then Banjo really can fill that void. When Christmas comes make sure Banjo is in your stocking, for the little kids and the big.