Review

Xbox 360
By Coxster

If you were to ask me what one of my favourite game developers in the world would be, my answer would have to be Rare Studios, and I'm sure I'm not the only one in the world that would say such a thing.  From Battletoads to Blast Corps, from Conker's Bad Fur Day to Donkey Kong Country, from Goldeneye to Perfect Dark, Rare have been behind some of the biggest games in history and minus one or two exceptions, Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts carries on that grand tradition for the talented English team.  They might have been bought by Microsoft, but there is no way that Rare have rested on their laurels.  Both consistent and consistently original, Rare have spoiled gamers for quite some times by providing games that are as unpredictable as the last and Banjo-Kazooie not only serves as proof of this, but also provides great fanservice to the bear and bird faithful.

This isn't the first time that Banjo & Kazooie have appeared in a game that is more of a racer than a platformer, for those that remember Banjo-Pilot was released back in 2005 for the Gameboy Advance, I didn't really like it but others raved about it, such is life.  So it feels very good to sit here today and tell you that this first appearance from the loveable duo on the Xbox 360 is a brilliant and unexpected move from Rare, even if it does run the risk of splitting Banjo fans into two different camps of love and hate. As they say, love is a battlefield.

You see, what makes this game different is that instead of focusing on being a platformer, this is a game that is about being creative with some engine parts and a set of wheels, a propeller, some wings - you name it and chances are you can probably create it.   You need only look on YouTube to see the whacky concepts that people have made into a reality and you can see the potential that Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts possesses.  On the downside of this though is that some of the controls and framerates are a little unpolished and unless you follow every word of the plentiful tutorials and reminder messages, you might get a little bit lost.  It is short lived though because the game does do a good job of holding your hand until you can walk (or in this case roll, float or fly) on your own two feet.  

The story starts off ten years after the events from the last game and Banjo and Kazooie have let themselves go.  Banjo now packs a bit of a paunch and the Kazooie sits around playing videogames all day - this is what happens to heroes when they have done their jobs too well.  It wouldn't be a Banjo and Kazooie game without Gruntilda - who hasn't fared very well as she is know only a head minus a body, not that she would let such a little thing get in the way of her revenge.  It's at this point that things get a little weird with the appearance of L.O.G - the self proclaimed Lord of Games.  To call him a bizarre character is gross understatement.  He has a pong game for a face, an old television for a head, a crown and some royal robes and creepily floats around everywhere.  He stands between the sad sight of Gruntilda and Banjo and Kazooie and makes them duke it out in a competition of his choosing.  The winner gets the deed to his video game factory - the loser gets a big fat zero.  It's a weird story but the perfect excuse to create a game around vehicle creation.

The story and dialogue are full of in-jokes and gags that point inwardly.  This is a game that doesn't mind laughing at itself - something I'm always a fan of.  I don't take myself too seriously and it's always fun to play games that do the same thing.  Some of the humour can be pretty low brow and other jokes will go over younger players heads but overall it's still retains a lovely charm that keeps you playing along.

At the core of the game is the vehicle creation tool.  Your first couple of attempts at creating something workable are going to be disasters, it's not until you start coming to grips with the many options that you'll be making something that will be worth showing off.  You can quickly snap pieces into place and organize them in whatever manner you wish.  Once you're pretty sure that you have made something that can do the trick, you can test it out before heading back into the level.  Once you get your head around the toolsets, you'll be putting together all manner of peculiar creations within minutes.  From bulky tanks to wonky planes that don't look like they should fly, the only limit on what you can create will depend on how far you can stretch your imagination.  I made a trampoline car - that didn't work out too well but it was a laugh to see in action.  If you want to progress though you're going to have to put together something that will adhere to your mission objectives, but the best thing about this is that you can usually tackle those objectives whenever you want too and in various different ways.   Sometimes you'll have defend certain objects and characters, other times you'll have to put the pedal to the metal and win races, but the best part is seeing your creations in action.   Sometimes they'll work, sometimes they won't but either you'll be laughing at the antics.  It really is as addictive as Little Big Planet.

The downside to the freedom of being able to make anything you want is that the physics aren't always fair.  Because of this you'll have to make sure that your creation is weighted properly, that the springs (if you have any) are evenly distributed because you're really going to have trouble controlling that bad boy.  Needless to say that there is a bit of trial and error and if you're having trouble you can select from some pre-made creations that are better suited to the task at hand.

The vibrant graphics look amazing and Rare have done a great job (as usual) with the visuals.  The worlds are lush and pulsating with life.   It is quite flamboyant overall but there are a few shortcomings such as the occasional clipping that happens sometimes in newly created transports and there are very rare (forgive the pun) moments of slowdown.  Otherwise you have a game that is beautiful to look at with characters that are animated perfectly.

I was very excited by the online functionality that has been included here.  You can share some of your best creations with friends online and you can also race against them.  Its great having some hotted out rigs made for the sole intent of racing against your friends who have pimped their rides out to the max as well.  The net code is very good and I didn't have any trouble finding people to play against and no significant lag when I was playing them.  Sometimes I find myself being more interested in laughs than actually winning, and some of the things I've come up with are hopeless when it comes to racing but always win when it comes to getting a laugh from my friends online.  I won't go into the particulars but if you want to see what I'm talking about I'll see you online!

Overall:

Rare - you have done an outstanding job with this beloved franchise.  While it's not a perfect game by any stretch of the imaginiation, it still has all the makings of a true classic.  Fun and contagious gameplay, seemingly endless amounts of user generated content and a good community supporting it. The sweetest bit is that this game retails for $69.95 - a budget price for a AAA game, how could you refuse? I'm giving this one 4/5 for it's originality, value, and most importantly, how much fun this game is.

Have you played this game? Why not submit your own review on Arcade Horror here?

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