Banjo Kazooie - Nuts and Bolts

[frostbite]

I played the demo. I don't like it. The character designs are really blocky, the text is really tiny, and it's just not funny like the old games are. It doesn't have that Rare magic.

And I hate that cart you have to drive around in.

[Glorb]

I played the demo. I don't like it.

That's a shame. I have yet to play it, but it sounds cool to me.

The character designs are really blocky

Yeah, I noticed that in trailers; Banjo looks like one of those origami-ish folded-paper boxes with rounded edges. Not sure what they were going for, there.

the text is really tiny,

Are you sure it's not your TV?

and it's just not funny like the old games are. It doesn't have that Rare magic.

I really didn't think the old games were that funny, but whatever.

Personally, I think this game looks good and has a cool premise, but since I have yet to play it, I can't make up an opinion yet.

[ShadowBrain]

I have no 360 and haven't done a whole lot of research on this game, so here's my 100% opinionated and just-to-get-it-off-my-chest analysis: Banjo and Kazooie are friggin' ugly, it's completely bizzare to take characters from a platforming series and put them in some sort of Armored Core/Yoshi's Story rip-off, and as I said before, Rare needs to stop referencing Nintendo every five seconds, considering they chickened out when not enough people were buying GCNs and switched to making lame games with balls jokes for names and/or questionable overall design on the 360. In addendum, the "small text" problem is the same thing Dead Rising pulled: Buy an HD-TV, get super-vision, or you're screwed.

[bobman37]

Are you sure it's not your TV?

I think it's a pretty widespread problem, they just made the text way too small.

But it's not a problem for me, since I'm playing on a big HDTV like everyone else with a 360 should.

[Mr. Wiggles]

Rare needs to stop referencing Nintendo every five seconds, considering they chickened out when not enough people were buying GCNs and switched to making lame games with balls jokes for names and/or questionable overall design on the 360.

Man, I hate it when people don't get their facts straight.

Rare didn't jump ship, Microsoft bought a 50% stake in the company and the day after the release of Star Fox Adventures. Nintendo sold the remaining stock to them.

Please tell me what other games besides Banjo Kazooie have Nintendo references in them. As far as I've heard/seen, Grabbed by the Ghoulies, Kameo, Perfect Dark, Viva Pinata, and Conker have no such references in them.

Also, those ball jokes have been around since the first Banjo Kazooie, they just happened to get more blatant as time went on.

[Nintendoobsessed]

I played the demo, and every time a character talked, I had to play charades to figure out what thier jibberish meant. This was not my home TV, but I'm not going to get the game anyway. They've completely trashed the character designs.

The series had so much more potential...

[ShadowBrain]

Man, I hate it when people don't get their facts straight.

100% opinionated and just-to-get-it-off-my-chest analysis

Please tell me what other games besides Banjo Kazooie have Nintendo references in them. As far as I've heard/seen, Grabbed by the Ghoulies, Kameo, Perfect Dark, Viva Pinata, and Conker have no such references in them.

I was referring solely to Nuts & Bolts (though I am pretty confident there was a nod or two in those).

[BP]

The great thing about it, though, is that Rare knows the fans don't generally like the art style. But they have the guts to go with it anyway.

I need a 360.

[Lizard Dude]

I had a good time with the demo, the text looked fine to me, Gruntilda actually made a joke about Banjo's art design, I was slightly perturbed at how feminine Kazooie looked, and there were multiple actually funny jokes.

Haven't bought it yet, but will someday.

[PaperMario]

I had a good time with the demo, the text looked fine to me, Gruntilda actually made a joke about Banjo's art design, I was slightly perturbed at how feminine Kazooie looked, and there were multiple actually funny jokes.

Haven't bought it yet, but will someday.

I've heard the text looks fine on some HDTVs, so I assume you own one. I have an SDTV, so the text is very small. I'm not very upset about it because Rare is currently working on a patch for the text that'll be released in a few weeks. In the mean time, I have other things to do.

[Zarkanthesmasher]

Rare is dead, guys. A half hearted attempt to revive one of their beloved characters isn't going to change that.

[The Chef]

Viva Pinata would like a word with you.

[Zarkanthesmasher]

A couple games about pinatas does not an awesome game company make. Sure, they're probably some of the better liscensed games released, but if Rare has to mess up their core franchises like Banjo to make a decent game based on a kids cartoon, then I couldn't care less.

Seriously, I haven't heard one review yet that said Nuts and Bolts was a worthy sucessor to the original N64 games. Sure, many of them liked the game, but they all said that it pales in comparison to the first games in the series. The huge potential from building unique vehicles was completely blown by unoriginal missions and a lack of platforming. Considering that the Banjo series started off as platformers, that's extremely sad.

[The Chef]

They weren't platformers, they were adventures. I can only think of about three examples of actual platforming in all of BK1, the rest was performing other tasks or mini-games. This game is pretty much the same thing, except with vehicles that you build instead of moves you learn from Bottles. Just because it's not exact replica of the first two Banjo games doesn't mean Rare is "dead', because if they were, they wouldn't be making games at all.

[BP]

Seriously, I haven't heard one review yet that said Nuts and Bolts was a worthy sucessor to the original N64 games.

Oh reviews. Always much more reliable than experience.

[Zarkanthesmasher]

Oh reviews. Always much more reliable than experience.

For me, they're all I have to work on in this case. considering that I don't own an XBOX 360 and haven't played the demo. Sure, if only a few of them were saying this, then it wouldn't matter, but in this case most sites seem to be agreeing that Nuts and Bolts isn't as good as the first two games. I think that at least counts for something, if not nearly as much as experience. But seriously, since you said you don't own a 360 either, how can you be so sure that experiencing the game will generate a contrary opinion?

They weren't platformers, they were adventures. I can only think of about three examples of actual platforming in all of BK1, the rest was performing other tasks or mini-games. This game is pretty much the same thing, except with vehicles that you build instead of moves you learn from Bottles. Just because it's not exact replica of the first two Banjo games doesn't mean Rare is "dead', because if they were, they wouldn't be making games at all.

I'm talking figuratively here, not literaly. Rare may still be making games, but it doesn't mean that they're worth playing.

[BP]

For me, they're all I have to work on in this case.

This isn't a history essay. When you have nothing to build a case, don't try to make one up! As for me, I saw the intro to the game and that whirling feeling of yearning churned up in my gut. I have faith in Rare. I believe, based on what I've seen, I would love Nuts & Bolts. I've got to get a 360 somehow.

Edit: That was sort of a hurried response. Of course I'm not basing my opinion just on the intro. But that was what got me the most.

[Zarkanthesmasher]

This isn't a history essay. When you have nothing to build a case, don't try to make one up! As for me, I saw the intro to the game and that whirling feeling of yearning churned up in my gut. I have faith in Rare. I believe, based on what I've seen, I would love Nuts & Bolts. I've got to get a 360 somehow.

I find this highly ironic considering that you're basing your opinion on an INTRO. You can't judge a game on one opening movie any more than you can judge in on lots of reviews from credible video game sights - probably even less.

[BP]

Edit: That was sort of a hurried response. Of course I'm not basing my opinion just on the intro. But that was what got me the most.

[Lizard Dude]

A couple games about pinatas does not an awesome game company make. Sure, they're probably some of the better liscensed games released, but if Rare has to mess up their core franchises like Banjo to make a decent game based on a kids cartoon, then I couldn't care less.

WTD? The cartoon is based on the game!

[Glorb]

Actually, the game is based on a cartoon which is based on a German educational game which is based on an obscure 1984 Disney movie which was based on a line of Japan-only action figures.

[Zarkanthesmasher]

(quoted post)

Yes, I know, but I don't see how that makes my post any less relavent. You said that my line about the reviews got to you the most, so I simply responded to that.

[ShadowBrain]

In response to all:

1) Reviews come from somebody's experience.
2) Viva Pinata, good though it may be (or so I've heard), was intentionally designed to move toys and TV shows, both of which fell on their face.

Rare may still be making games, but it doesn't mean that they're worth playing.

I've got a whole different company in mind when it comes to that sort of statement...

Also, this:

[BP]

Well, looks like we've got two ShadowBrians roaming around being cautiously pessimistic. I'm leaving the forums.

[ShadowBrain]

Hey, leave zarkan out of this.

[Glorb]

BP, if you leave the forums, you'll upset the delicate ecosystem we've got going here. SB would have no one to keep his Nintendo snipes in check, and I'd have no one to snipe in regards to their snipes about SB's snipes. Before you know it, we'd all go krazy.

[BP]

Leave him out of it? Wasn't I talking to him?

Look all I'm saying is you don't know if you'll like a game until you play it. Are you guys the same with food, too?

[Kojinka]

I don't plan on getting a 360 anytime soon.  Although X-Box arcade has the original Banjo Kazooie games, it just wouldn't feel right to play them on a console not made by Nintendo.  I'd rather buy the N64 versions on eBay (If I ever get a PayPal account).
If I get the chance, I'll try a store demo, but I won't be able to form a solid opinion, since I've never played the first two.

[BP]

And that's another thing. How wouldn't it feel right? The Banjo games were never Nintendo games and never will be Xbox games--they're Rare games on Nintendo and Microsoft consoles.

But, you know, whatever. Play the first two however you want, just play them. They're great games. But looking at the beautiful graphics in Nuts & Bolts... I'd pay for B-K/B-T to look like that...

[ShadowBrain]

I thought B&K/BT were at least published by Nintendo...

Just for the record, it's not that I hate this game on sight, it's just that it has a couple of distracting quirks. I actually think the the core concept sounds somewhat enticing. Besides, there's one main reason I'm not buying it: I've got a Wii.

[BP]

No one's stopping you from owning multiple consoles. I mean, you complain about upcoming Wii games all the time. Get a 360.

Unless you'd start doing the same thing with upcoming games for the 360. In which case, please, remain "loyal" to Nintendo.

[ShadowBrain]

360: *Darth Vader NOOO*
PS3: Very possibly maybe (yes, there has been consideration around these parts)

Honestly, it's almost become a perverse sort of entertainment, more fun than most of its actual games, to try to see how much fun I can squeeze out of a Wii and a Wii alone. I could get a 24-hour feed of my TV room and it would play right after The World's Fattest Man or one of those other tragic shows with somber piano music.

Besides, like it's worth buying a 360 just for Nuts & Bolts.

[Kojinka]

No one's stopping you from owning multiple consoles. I mean, you complain about upcoming Wii games all the time. Get a 360.

Unless you'd start doing the same thing with upcoming games for the 360. In which case, please, remain "loyal" to Nintendo.

At first, I thought you were aiming this toward me, to which I would've replied, I have a PS2, thank you very much.

The only things stopping me from owning multiple consoles of current gen are money and there are not enough games on either PS3 or 360, as of now, that interest me.

[Fifth]

...So, has nobody here actually played the game?

I must admit, I'm enjoying it.  The traditional platforming is pretty much nonexistent at this point except for some exploring in the hub area, but I'm getting into the whole vehicle thing well enough.

The levels themselves are a fairly strange state, as getting Jiggies/Jinjos is entirely challenge-based.  This means that, while the levels are quite large and intricate, you can see exactly where you need to go on the map (and, quite early in the game, can simply fly straight to the point), and that the game enters a self-contained challenge in order to get your prize.  I'm not really sure how I feel about what's become of exploring in levels (you'll still need to explore anyway to find notes, but otherwise it's mainly for fun), but creating/tweaking tailor-made vehicles for a particularly tough challenge is proving pretty fun.  And, naturally, with the amount of freedom allowed in vehicle creation, there's quite the range of interesting solutions to any one problem.

I'm not really sure if I have an opinion on the art style; it's appropriate to the game, and I don't really object...  And I'm glad to see that the humor is more or less intact.


Anyway, it's quite fun, but I'll reserve judgment until later.

[Zarkanthesmasher]

Well, looks like we've got two ShadowBrians roaming around being cautiously pessimistic. I'm leaving the forums.

Nope, I'm not like ShadowBrian at all. I'm actually very positive about Nintendo right now, especially after their last press conference. It's Rare that I don't like, and they no longer have much to do with the big N.

Oh, and Fitfth, thanks for the impressions. It doesn't sound that bad from what you said, but it doesn't sound that good either. Mainly because, as I suspected, it seems to have a heavy dose of repetitiveness, and a light dose of familiarity. One question - does the flying have more to it than just flying - say, dodging obstacles and enemies? Because if not, then that bites.

[Fifth]

When you're just flying (or wandering at all) about a level, there's not really much challenge, though ease-of-navigation depends on the level (some are really spacious, allowing you to fly far above, while others are cramped and filled with obstacles).  Enemies are dismissible and weak when wandering, too, not helped by the fact that you can't legitimately die when outside of a challenge (Kazooie just slaps you back to life).

Within challenges are when things matter more, when you're given a certain path to fly or drive, or an item to recover, or something to protect, or destroy, when they throw at you whatever they can to stop you, break you, or throw you off.  Of course, you could probably have guessed as much.

And as repetitive as they may seem when hearing about the game, the challenges vary enough to stay fairly interesting.  And, um, challenging.  Though that may be a matter of opinion.

[BP]

Nope, I'm not like ShadowBrian at all. I'm actually very positive about Nintendo right now, especially after their last press conference. It's Rare that I don't like, and they no longer have much to do with the big N.

Still, the very idea of "cautious pessimism" just makes me... want to squeeze some sort of doughy substance and throw it at a wall. You trap yourself in a hole where you're looking for negatives and only see negatives and, just, agh. Why would you do that to yourself?

[Zarkanthesmasher]

Still, the very idea of "cautious pessimism" just makes me... want to squeeze some sort of doughy substance and throw it at a wall. You trap yourself in a hole where you're looking for negatives and only see negatives and, just, agh. Why would you do that to yourself?

That's not the way I am at all, Bird Person. In fact, when I first saw the early previews for Nuts and Bolts, I had a lot of hope for the game as well. Now that reviews are pouring in, however, I'm quickly losing faith in this game.

However, Fifth's reply may have given me a bit more hope for Banjo's latest adventure. It's good to see that at least some people are enjoying it, and I'm glad to hear that the challenges are varried and challenging enough.