Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts Review

By Tom Bramwell Published 5 November, 2008

Throttled.

Version tested: Xbox 360

Cars, as a rule, don't hop up and down. It's not very good for them or the people inside them. Given the option though, we obviously would put springs on the bottom of ours, so when we stumbled into Banjo-Kazooie's Jiggoseum for the umpteenth time and were asked to join a three-lap checkpoint race of the arena, we were pleased to discover there would be hurdles. Made of bricks. But, alas, our satisfaction was only fleeting, as we turned out to be rubbish at car hurdles, because we only had two springs available at Mumbo Jumbo's garage, and it's rather difficult to balance the up-thrust of a pair of ACME Tigger-tails against the delicate immediacy of jet propulsion. Still, we weren't stumped for long. New solution: snow plough. Bye bye bricks.

This isn't a platform game, then. You can eke out hidden extras on-foot in the hub world, Showdown Town, but this is a driving, flying and boating game, with almost no player death or hairy jumps to worry about. You are collecting 131 jigsaw pieces (jiggies) - in much the same framework as Mario gathering stars - but every task begins by asking you to select or build a vehicle to fit the brief. You're never let loose on foot and then given the choice, and if you were, you wouldn't enjoy it, because the vast, ornately detailed openworld level environments would take several minutes to cross, and their thick bridges, riverbeds, hills, pathways, iceflows and buildings are impractical for platforming. They're either there to absorb your rubber, or look sexy as you deliver coconuts to a supply ship, barge Mr. Patch into a cactus with a biplane, or launch yourself off a ski-jump in a homemade toboggan.

'Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts' Screenshot 1

Along with the usual collect-'em-up incentives, the Achievements include a good one involving a cow and a volcano.

Amidst all this detail, which the game happily displays without trickery or obfuscation - even directing a nod to Crackdown's Agency tower at one point - the frame-rate will dip below the stock 30 from time to time, and some of the load-times are appalling, but the overall effect is decent recompense. The first world, for example, is a charmingly fake and beautiful island of patchwork hills and fields with a tumbledown farm in the middle (it only takes a nudge), Playmobil flora and square cows in the meadows, a smouldering volcano to one side, and massive whirring mechanical gizmos off-shore operating a system of rotating metal rods in the sky, from which stitch-covered clouds are suspended by string. The whole level is surrounded by flickering, scan-line-covered panels of deep blue pretend. It's a very pretty place.

Obviously, it's all marionettes and Nanna's quilts for a reason. In Nuts & Bolts, a plump, latter-day Banjo is plucked out of retirement to take on a rejuvenated Gruntilda by the Lord of Games, who claims to have created all videogames, and who has built each of the game's levels to test your reflexes and showcase antics. So we get Banjo Land, which references every platform trope imaginable in a deliberately congested museum of deserts, snowdrifts and football pitches, with winding walkways and knowingly arbitrary and half-hearted traps like rotating saw-blades in a meaningless tunnel. The old Rusty Bucket tanker is icelocked to one side, and each of the game's visual recollections comes with a description of its place in Banjo history. Prior to Banjo Land, you visit the Logbox 720, the inside of the Lord of Games' own console, where every ramp is an interface cable, every obstacle is a circuit, chip or capacitor, the indigenous enemy is a knee-high, green Darwinia reject (a bug, see), and half the missions involve fixing the console's broken cooling system. (Oh no they diiiiidn't).

'Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts' Screenshot 2

Load screens - of which you'll see rather a lot - include tips and messages. One suggests that if you don't like the new vehicle gameplay, perhaps you should buy Banjo-Kazooie on Xbox Live Arcade instead. Touchy!

Whatever you think of the developer's decision to reject platforming, it's harder to argue with the humour and fan service, with some good game-related jokes (Humba's manufactured girl game clan, for instance - the "Hag Trolls"), pre-level video riffs on TV-show title sequences, and gratuitous self-deprecation, as Kazooie bemoans Klungo's ineptitude by noting that there's almost no point doing this level because he'll just break something in the next. Actually, special mention has to go to Grunty's erstwhile henchman, who seems to be doing very well in Showdown Town, running the pier and even hosting his own 2D platformer, Klungo Savesss Teh World, in which players time jumps to avoid getting caught by the forced scrolling.

If Banjo-Kazooie has a star though (with the possible exception of Chester Cheatah rip-off Trophy Thomas), it's the Duplo simplicity of Mumbo's workshop, which you visit to build vehicles. It can seem overwhelming at first, and you can't always find a great camera angle with the right stick, but the system of rotating and positioning car, boat, plane and helicopter parts in three dimensions is easy to grasp - certainly compared to LittleBigPlanet's Create mode, or Guitar Hero World Tour's Recording Studio, to use a couple of recent examples of content suites. Your mistakes - like fitting propellers to thin air, or forgetting to put on a seat - are highlighted and easily remembered in future, and there's an instant-access test-track to iron out the kinks. Not that you encounter serious ones, because you really can stick things together and go. As long as there's an engine, fuel and a seat, and wheels, wings or floaters, you can take to land, air and sea without much thought. First stabs may wobble and flounder, but basics like weight distribution are quickly absorbed and implemented.

Part of that is because the plug-and-drive vehicles respond logically. Adding physics to something as make-believe as Banjo-Kazooie was always going to be a bit peculiar (witness Insomniac's piecemeal struggle in Ratchet on PS3), but Rare's utterly fake science is a thematically coherent arrangement of mass, inertia and gameplay concessions, like flying underwater. With a fast, simple-to-grasp set of engineering rules and unreal-world consequences, there's a lot more headroom for personal touches and sparks of inspiration: a barn door-fronted scooter for demolishing an igloo, a mile-wide biplane for downing dominoes, or a flying bucket for collecting coconuts. When the task design peaks, like the elaborate Jiggoseum events, Nuts & Bolts is essential.

'Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts' Screenshot 3

Grunty shows up occasionally for a showdown with varying effect. The billiards level is pretty cool (we made a tea cosy helicopter), and water polo shows off the versatility of each environment.

But it can't sustain it. In fact, it's really quite a while before it even hits the first of its few peaks. Lessons haven't been learned after Viva Piņata's lengthy and muddled introduction, and Nuts & Bolts drags you through several (admittedly good) interactive jokes before bludgeoning you with instructions, tutorials and other details for half an hour, many of which could have been handled in-line with a bit of Valvish craft, or simply entrusted to observation and intuition. By the time the game recovers, it's only to settle into a rhythm of bland repetition.

The races can be fun, but are too often won by finding a few more engine parts in town so you can increase the horsepower (bearpower?), and restarting a few times to adjust for awkward spills. Just as, if not more common are fetch-and-carry missions, which involve ferrying objects or critters from one spot to another as efficiently as possible, and it wouldn't be unfair to observe that all you're doing, for large spells, is designing bigger and better wagons and trolleys. As much as you want to dive into the editor and create solutions, the problems aren't taxing enough, and only in a few special cases do you have to think beyond speed, size or capacity. As it becomes apparent just how badly the task design misfires, the deepening tedium is exacerbated by other peculiar choices, like forcing you to crank unlocked jiggies out of a vending machine, stack them on your starter cart, and drive them back to Showdown Town centre to put them in the bank. Your reward for winning is to tidy up after yourself.

'Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts' Screenshot 4

Platform die-hards haven't much to cheer about, but it's worth playing around on rooftops and scratching at the corners of Showdown Town for hidden treats.

It's a testament to how corrosive the weak mission design is that a good multiplayer component is scant reprieve, even though it concentrates the game's best elements, with race and sport tasks that might as well be a Greatest Hits of the single-player. Playable on Xbox Live with a party system, it arguably makes for a more compelling offline competition to try and best a time or complete an objective. Given a few minutes with the editor to make the perfect long-jumping car, or golf-club aeroplane, close proximity ensures the rivalry and collaborative ingenuity that LittleBigPlanet nurtured and we had hoped the core of Nuts & Bolts would capitalise upon. It's here where it's clearest that the game's unspoken aim - to transplant the build-to-solve gizmo-construction mentality of your Bridge Builders, Armadillo Runs and Elefunks, onto a Banjo skeleton - was worth sidetracking the last scion of Xbox platforming to attempt.

But whereas a traditional platform game could survive a sequence of poor levels, or even succeed in spite of a majority with a world as lovely as this, with characters so delightful and secrets so pleasing to uncover, Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts is not a platform game. The game it has become instead demands thoughtful, exciting challenges that inspire the player to pitch in and help get the most out of each level, but it fails to provide them, and even though it's worth persevering with for the occasional hurdles race, egg-and-spoon and a game-world in aptly Rare form, ultimately it's a brilliant shell with a mostly hollow centre.

7 / 10

Read the Eurogamer.net scoring policy
Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (193) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Razz #1 3 years ago

    Bastard!

  • david78 #2 3 years ago

    Pretty good then. Preorder saved, plus I'm getting the awesome first game free! Yay!

  • HappyTreeFriend #3 3 years ago

    Boo!! Is it wrong that i still want this?

  • Lexx87 #4 3 years ago

    I thought about getting in first, then I realised IT'S A VERY SAD PRACTICE AND YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED!

    :p

  • 200k #5 3 years ago

    Banjo-Kazsevenie

  • chris_ace #6 3 years ago

    Post deleted at 11:55:13 13-12-2011

  • Kingofnothin #7 3 years ago

    Gutted! Guess I'll have to play the original when it comes out on arcade instead.

  • GamerG #8 3 years ago

    Good score for a unique game,

    However Rare seem to shoot themselves in the foot, sales is the name of the game and if they had stuck to plat forming they could have sold millions as 360 owners are crying our for a genuine platformer and with their graphics engine it would have been phenomenal.

    It could potentially have got 10/10s all round
    Edited by 1 at 05/11/08 @ 17:07

  • neilka #9 3 years ago

    I'll believe a PS3 exclusive is two points better than a 360 exclusive the day a black man becomes president of the USA.

  • kangarootoo #10 3 years ago

    Ummm. Something about EG bias?

  • Lexx87 #11 3 years ago

    Ah bugger, i'll still get it though.

  • david78 #12 3 years ago

    since when is 7/10 bad? Geez.
    I wish it was a pure platformer, though...:(
    Edited by 1 at 05/11/08 @ 17:08

  • SEVQA #13 3 years ago

    Banjo-pooey!

  • WillyWanka #14 3 years ago

    Will still get this, should be a good 'un during the post christmas drought

  • insincere_dave #15 3 years ago

    Now that Eurogamer have spoken, we really have the definitive review of this game!

  • Krelle #16 3 years ago

    7/10 is "bad" in a fucking ocean of 9/-10/10s. Perspective, good sir.

    I had my fears this would not score higher.

  • gingerlink #17 3 years ago

    "New solution: snow plough. Bye bye bricks."

    Like Top Gear then?

    *sold*

  • Razz #18 3 years ago

    Banjo Kenobi

  • chrisjm #19 3 years ago

    i wonder had this been a new franchise if it would of got an 8/10 as the dissapointment from us all that this isnt banjo as we know it clearly gets in the way

  • Hendo #20 3 years ago

    These comments threads sure do suck some balls.

    "7/10 is teh shit, epic fail"

    "First!"

    "Better than.....worse than..."

  • dr_faulk #21 3 years ago

    Hmmm. I was playing the demo the other night, and all I could think was: "Why couldn't they do a proper platform game instead?"

    Also, from the car-building tutorial at the beginning.... cripes, I can't imagine anyone over 18 caring enough to read through all those explanations.

  • ronuds #22 3 years ago

    I'm never coming to Eurogamer A-GAIN! Wahhhhh!!!!!

  • Tomo #23 3 years ago

    Hmm. Damn shame. There is simply too much good stuff to play to warrant a purchase of this. I was never convinced by its new direction either, so this score is doubly damning for me. Heh ho.

  • rotmm #24 3 years ago

    One for the bargain bins perhaps?

  • Widge #25 3 years ago

    still... its nice they tried something new

  • SEVQA #26 3 years ago

    Banjo-chop suey: Nut sacks & Bollocks
    Edited by 1 at 05/11/08 @ 17:18

  • Widge #27 3 years ago

    still... its nice they tried something new

  • PinkSpider #28 3 years ago

    7/10.

    Not shit, but not something I'd rush to buy.

    Saying that Ive never been that much of a 'Rare gamer' . I had however assumed this would have been =>8/10.

  • Fleisch #29 3 years ago

    consider it CANCELLED.

    I'll spend my money on BK and BT when they come out on XBLA. I'm gutted they've stripped out all the platforming goodness. It would've been fine if they hadn't used iconic platform game characters. so so so wrong.

  • chrisjm #30 3 years ago

    'Get yourself a PS3 people. '

    'So much for variety of quality games on Xbox 360. '


    does not compute.

  • Widge #31 3 years ago

    still... its nice they tried something new

  • SEVQA #32 3 years ago

    Widge

    SHUT UP!

  • stepneg #33 3 years ago

    I am glad as if this was another 9 my family would probably be going without presents this xmas, so many must haves my wallet can't take it. I will pick this up cheap next year or in the bargain bin.

  • Skire #34 3 years ago

    this sure is a let down!

  • chris_ace #35 3 years ago

    Post deleted at 11:55:13 13-12-2011

  • RedSparrows #36 3 years ago

    I'll get this at some point, it tickled me in the demo.

    As for all you PS3/Rare/MS/whatever the fuck you've decided to be your deterimistic factor of the day-haters/lovers, shut the hell up.

    It's like there's Laws of Videogaming. That contradict themselves depending on the fanboy. Oh woe.

  • Cappy #37 3 years ago

    Scatjo Kackooie

  • RedSparrows #38 3 years ago

    chris_ace, you're a case in point. /facedesk

  • killyourtv #39 3 years ago

    fail

  • chris_ace #40 3 years ago

    Post deleted at 11:55:13 13-12-2011

  • Prodigy_BE #41 3 years ago

    Snother mediocre Rare game.

    What a surprise.

  • kinky_mong #42 3 years ago

    This review + finding the demo really dull = cancelled pre-order. I'll be missing out on the original for free but I wasn't a big fan of it on the N64 anyway.

    Which now means I've freed up a bit of money for Mirror's Edge if the reviews are positive. I loved the demo.

  • metalangel #43 3 years ago

    Why is Banjo's nose square now? It wasn't in the Nintendo Sixty FOOOOOOOOUR games...

  • Bartacus #44 3 years ago

    Not surprised lovely to look at but a chore to play, why isn't this a platform game with Diddy Kong Racing elements, rather than a mechanno style collect em up.
    Edited by 1 at 05/11/08 @ 17:34

  • Rash' #45 3 years ago

    Can I just say:

    LITTLEBIGPLANET!!!

    LOL!!!

    Had to be done. ;o)

    /Grabs coat.
    Edited by 2 at 05/11/08 @ 17:36

  • Steroyd #46 3 years ago

    Oh Banjo, what have they done to you. :(

  • Darren #47 3 years ago

    The first page of the review totally sold the game to me... this bit in particular showcasing Rare's sense of humour...

    "Prior to Banjo Land, you visit the Logbox 720, the inside of the Lord of Games' own console, where every ramp is an interface cable, every obstacle is a circuit, chip or capacitor, the indigenous enemy is a knee-high, green Darwinia reject (a bug, see), and half the missions involve fixing the console's broken cooling system. (Oh no they diiiiidn't)." LOL

    ... then half down page two the negatives crop in but they don't put me off the game at all, I really enjoyed the demo so I'm sure the full game will be equally enjoyable. An EG 7 is usually a recommendation for me anyway, a good game with flaws, annoying or otherwise.

    Edited by 1 at 05/11/08 @ 17:45

  • the_dudefather #48 3 years ago

    quite liked some of the demo, might get this when its cheap (like it is in the US >:( )

  • penhalion #49 3 years ago

    Totally agree. Played this at the expo and frankly it was shite. I had a mission to move an ice block and controlling the vehicle was so awkward that I simply gave up. It looks like there is loads to do until you actually try to do something. Then you realise there isn't actually anything to do at all!

  • Nikanoru #50 3 years ago

    Why the hell is it that the games I don't give a flying fuck about (most of the shit involving burly men with guns) get sequel after sequel after mindnumbing identical sequel, but every franchise I want more of either gets nothing, or gets fucking messed up under the guise of innovation or fucking bullshit like "people don't want this game type anymore"?

  • Les #51 3 years ago

    EG being critical of a Rare game. Well, there's a first for everything I guess...

    Never understood why this game required the Banjo monicker. Must be a marketing decision. Otherwise, at least it tries to do something different and that should be appreciated in this day and age of no-risk rehashes.

  • KennySim #52 3 years ago

    This looks to be a perfect game for a christmas morning/afternoon. Can't wait!

  • Darren #53 3 years ago

    Krelle - "7/10 is "bad" in a fucking ocean of 9/-10/10s. Perspective, good sir."

    Are you serious? 7/10 is "good" in an ocean of "excellent" 9-10/10s. Common sense, good sir. It doesn't imply badness at all. ;)

  • SEVQA #54 3 years ago

    Well to get to the nuts & bolts of this title, to put it in one word: 'SHITE'.

  • seasidebaz #55 3 years ago

    So another average game from Rare, suppose I've come to expect it now. To be honest, after playing the demo I was kind of put off, so I guess it's saved me Ģ40 anyway...

  • Darren #56 3 years ago

    Since when has 7/10 been an average score?!? EG use 5/10 as average, seasidebaz! ;)

    And why "another"... unless I'm mistaken the previous two Rare games were Viva Pinata and VP: Trouble in Paradise, both of which received very good reviews.
    Edited by 1 at 05/11/08 @ 17:54

  • Wash #57 3 years ago

    Seems to be hovering around the same kinda scores as Viva Pinata which suits me fine, as that game was pretty sweet. Also a game that everyone in the household can play, few and far between so a welcome break from the manrotica.

  • Krelle #58 3 years ago

    Darren: I was trying to answer another post, hence the choice to use "bad". Also, see those ""?
    I know, Darren. Its not easy to make sense over the internetz.

    Altho, I do wonder why I care at all. I rarely play games anymore. Especially not games AS BAD AS 7/10! lol!

  • seasidebaz #59 3 years ago

    Since when has 7/10 been an average score?!?

    Since EG started giving good (as in not GREAT) games 10/10

  • Krelle #60 3 years ago

    tbh, EGs idea of "average" seems to differ greatly from reviewer to reviewer, not to mention day to day.

  • PrivateJoker #61 3 years ago

    Love how everyone was saying this would get a 9 and R2 would get a 7. lol alot.

  • Calgon #62 3 years ago

    First off its a shame especially since Banjo was already up against it with the amount of AAA/high profile titles competing for sales this christmas.

    What can we say about the SDF in this thread though? :D

    I didnt care enough about this title to be dissapointed(If its recieved well by the gamers, then I may pick it up at a reduced price if its fun) but you can be sure the Sony fanboys show their true colours here... and this comments section only confirms that the biggest most deffensive(insecure) trolls are the Sony ones.

    Its just so funny when the shoe is on the other foot they have a totally different attitude(which has been quite freequent so maybe there is a lot of bitterness), the slightest bit of critisism and they are seemingly frothing at the mouth, blaming everybody, threatening to boycott Eurogamer ect.

    So if I did use the ignore feature this thread would be a great way to filter out the childish/insecure/blinkered/or all of those... fanboys but I just like how they prove themselves to be idiots with so many contridictions so often too much to do that(basically pointing out and saying... "see, they really are full of shit";). I havent looked at the Resistance 2 thread but if people are shouting overrated and continue to do so in the months to come hoping it sticks, regardless of whether its just an attempt to dampen any enthusiam for a competitors product as usual or not... it would be so funny to watch these same people complain about trolling or fanboyism in any regard.
    Edited by 1 at 05/11/08 @ 18:08

  • Banksy #63 3 years ago

    And to think, Microsoft paid more for Rare than Gillett & Hicks did for Liverpool F.C.

  • bad09 #64 3 years ago

    "Totally agree. Played this at the expo and frankly it was shite"

    While I couldn't bring myself to play it I agree. I watched and man it was shite, along with legendary I was REALLY surprised how bad this was.

    Still plenty more out there that isn't shite so I don't really care (and the original game is on Live)! \o/

  • Beano #65 3 years ago

    Tried the demo, hated it. Rare killed the franchise!

    Seems to me 7/10 is a generous score, but of course I haven't tried the full game ;)

    Funny I predicted 7 for R2 and 9 for BK... EG can still surprise positively.

  • Widge #66 3 years ago

    Is that the same Calgon who was attempting to dampen enthusiasm in the Wipeout HD thread?

  • PrivateJoker #67 3 years ago

    I aint insecure about my PS3 Calgon. I traded in my xbox for it cus i WAS insecure about that after losing one to the RROD but all credit to the excellent Microsoft customer service who paid for pick up and had me a replacement in just over a week. But that's a weeks downtime none the less.
    This insecure bullshit xbots keep spouting is nonsense, more likely is it's Sony Fanboys taking the bait of certain b.s. comments made to incite such trolling and vice-versa. I.E. Everyone is as bad as the next one.
    Both consoles are excellent and both have excellent exclusives, fact. If you're jealous inside, save up and buy the other console. IMHO, it's worth owning both, i just couldn't afford to own both and had to have LBP whatever the cost.

  • Calgon #68 3 years ago

    @Widge

    Difference being I wasnt trolling I actually said it looks alright... and the major difference being that will be one of the only examples you can find and its a poor one to begin with. :D Nice try though, really I practise what I preach unlike some full of shit so called gamers around Eurogamer.

    @Private full of shit = you, plus you disguise your fanboyism in shit jokes. Why not just enjoy your PS3 then without trolling?
    Buyers remorse is rife in the PS3 camp, the first line of defense is attack... its so obvious.
    Edited by 1 at 05/11/08 @ 18:20

  • bad09 #69 3 years ago

    "IMHO, it's worth owning both"

    Quoted for truth.

    Wii? What?.....

    / lays trap, waits for Smelly to pounce

  • TRUTH #70 3 years ago

    Reading the reviews, it seems the game takes a little time to show it's charm. The reviews below all indicate a very good game.

    Eurogamer - 7 out of 10
    IGN - 8.3 out of 10
    Team Xbox 7.4 out of 10
    NZgamer - 9 out of 10
    Game pro - 4 out of 5

  • Darren #71 3 years ago

    It's a shame that people are viewing 7/10 as average because I feel that the game will struggle to find an audience on the 360 when anything less than 8/10 is perceived as being "not very good". I suspect that even if Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts had been getting 9s and 10s it still wouldn't have sold very well. You only have to look at the lacklustre sales for the two Viva Pinata games to know that Rare's games, sad as it sounds, don't really fit on the shooter-orientated Xbox 360. I guess a lot of people still have a preconceived notion that they make games for kids because they're cute and colourful.

    And the timing for the game couldn't have been worst either, released a week after Gears of War 2, possibly the most eagerly awaited Xbox 360 of this year. Great thinking there, Microsoft. Yeah I realise they're different genres but most people can't afford to buy two games one after the other so Gears is likely to be most people's first choice (unless they hate shooters, obviously).

    Poor old Rare. I wish them well with the game and I, for one, will be definitely buying it but I can't help thinking it won't be a very big hit. On the Wii though, it might have been a different story...

  • Calgon #72 3 years ago

    PrivateJoker btw Ive no console to defend yet could just as easily pick up a PS3 instead but its one or the other for me and the community aspect well it would be unfair to use EG as the measuring stick for the average PS3 owner/Sony fan... but if you dont see the bile in from the likes of Vic, Apologie and Hedbog, even Rash' then I dont know what that says about you my friend... I come to Eurogamer for the discussions as much as the news and reviews and its obvious who the biggest purpertrators are for ruining it.

  • merkdot #73 3 years ago

    seems like there's no real substance to rare's game design methods. If a game turns out to be good fun it's generally just a happy accident while they indulge their "big eyes" fetish.

  • layleeloo #74 3 years ago

    Personally this is my biggest dissapointment. I was lookin forward to this more than most games at the mo after loving the N64 one. I know you cant re hash the same game but it was so great - the memories or playing it in my first bought house etc. I wanted more of the same. Not a car game!! I cant get to like the demo no matter how much I play. It looks great, the charachters are great but the gameplay is so different it may as well not be called B&J (no rude connertation insinuated!) haha.
    Ah well, im sure there will be other atttempts which might go back to how it ought to be.

  • Les #75 3 years ago

    "IMHO, it's worth owning both, i just couldn't afford to own both and had to have LBP whatever the cost."

    IMHO it isn't. Nothing to do with money, everything to do with time. Both consoles have more good games than you'll ever be able to play, unless you're still in school... ;)

  • bad09 #76 3 years ago

    Bullcrap Les! It just takes longer to finish 'em all, besides who wants to finish a Ģ40 game in a week?

  • Stormflood #77 3 years ago

    Kind of what I expected after playing the demo.

  • Der_tolle_Emil #78 3 years ago

    No platformer no sale :(

    Well at least the original will appear on XBLA which is awesome.

  • Monkey_Puncher #79 3 years ago

    Considering Eurogamer gave Conkers Bad Fur Day about 5/10, I should love this!

  • Calgon #80 3 years ago

    I actually agree with Les on that looking at games like Oblivion and Fallout3 and well the stockpile of unplayed games people seem to have, I wouldnt buy a game if I didnt have time to play it, let alone have a pile of them, that I keep adding to.

    Thats me though, I buy a game, give it my full attention and move onto the next once completed.
    Edited by 1 at 05/11/08 @ 18:42

  • Ares #81 3 years ago

    7/10

    ...

    Fuuhhhhh-ck. :(

  • ParanoidZombie #82 3 years ago

    Good game, kudos to Rare. Too bad they didn't manage to turn the great concept into a less repetitive experience, though.

  • Darren #83 3 years ago

    Banjo-Tooie is also coming to XBLA next year too so the Xbox 360 will have all the Banj-Kazooie games. Which is extra nice! :D

  • metalangel #84 3 years ago

    Merkdot, yes. For all the spunking across Rare's tits for the stuff on the N64, only Goldeneye and Perfect Dark were actually that great. Everything else was cutesy-but-with-an-edge-ooh-look-how-clever-we-are platformers where you collected hundreds of coins/jinjos/whatever in a slog that would bore the most obsessive-compulsives. Now they take good ideas like this and Viva Pinata and fail to make anything memorable of them or put hateful things in (oh look, it's Professor Pester and he's smashing yet more of my hard work) to put you off. Shame, really.

  • PrivateJoker #85 3 years ago

    Calgon, I agree there are alot of fanboys in the sony camp, the ones you mentioned etc but i don't pay any attention and hardly reply or rise to it anymore cus' it is pathetic agrreed. But, you fail to mention the xbots who are just as bad at attacking the PS3.It def aint just SNF's out there that's for sure.
    As for me being full of shit and making jokes, i don't see any humour in my last post, just a documented fact about something that happened to me. Come on pull your head out of the sand and see the bigger picture here. Both camps ARE as bad as each other. Now being almost middle aged ( hope that's vague enough ) i honestly presume that most commentors on here are still in puberty or at least i hope they are cus' then at least there's a chance of them maturing down the line.

    Anyway this is a comments page for Banjo and i'd just like to say Banjo was my favourite game on the N64 next to Jet Force Gemini and Goldeneye, all Rare games. Where has all that magic gone. It certainly hasn't gone with Free Radical, cough, Haze shite, cough. it's a shame cus' they were the brightest, secretest, dev's around back in the day, almost mythilogical to a young lad like me. Is there just too much competition out there theses days and shorter deadlines, meaning we get a lot of dross amongst the good? I'm certain though, it's an amazing period of gaming and i don't miss smashing keyboards over the immense toughness of those C64, CPC 464, Spectrum games. boy was it rare to complete anything back then.

  • PrivateJoker #86 3 years ago

    Les: True that there isn't enough time, very true since last month. It's ridiculous how many quality titles are being released over a short period of time. But my point about owning both was that of exclusives and if you really, really wanted to play them all for whatever reason, hardcore gamer, collector, etc

  • PrivateJoker #87 3 years ago

    Monkey Puncher: I loved Conker! Eurogamer gave it a 5 ??!! The freakin' idiots...

  • Les #88 3 years ago

    "Bullcrap Les! It just takes longer to finish 'em all, besides who wants to finish a Ģ40 game in a week?"

    There comes a point in which there just isn't enough time left in life... I still have tons of PS2 games to finish (God of War 2, Shadow of the Colossus, SMT DDS2, Odin Sphere, GrimGrimoire to name a few). And I've got other hobbies too (hadn't touched any console for almost two weeks before playing Warhawk again today - really love that game). I'll concede that maybe if you're able to dedicate all your spare time to gaming it might be worth it.

  • bad09 #89 3 years ago

    Here's a tip Les....Stop buying so bloody many!!! ;)

  • Calgon #90 3 years ago

    still in puberty or at least i hope they are cus' then at least there's a chance of them maturing down the line.

    The one reason I doubt that, is that gaming is a fairly expensive hobby these days, some of these people are adults(I know even the most mature of adults can falter and we should all have that inner child or we wouldnt seek fun/play at all but some just take the piss dont they?).

    Fair enough you seem far more level headed than I percieved in that response, there should be seperate names for fanboys these days, theres subcatagories now and its getting confusing.

    There are Xbots that do that over on the PS3 side maybe but take it up with them whenever its warrented, the "Sonybot" idiots have been at it too long, they need a good shaming and mocking wherever possible. :D

  • Darren #91 3 years ago

    @metalangel - Speak for yourself but I've found most of Rare's games hugely enjoyable exactly for the reasons you say they're not. I love platformers and collecting stuff. Perfect Dark and GoldenEye might be considered classics but, IMO, overlooked gems like Jet Force Gemini, the quirky puzzler Blast Corps. and addictive Diddy Kong Racing were equally wonderful titles too. The first Banjo-Kazooie game bettered Super Mario 64 IMO, having better characters and more interesting worlds to explore plus fantastic tunes, I actually finished it 100% twice, a rarity for me. I even enjoyed Star Fox Adventure on the GameCube despite it being a blatant Zelda rip off and even Conker: Live & Reloaded had its charms, loved that enough to complete the single player. Granted there's been a few lows like the mediocre Perfect Dark Zero and the rushed shallow Grabbed by the Ghoulies but Rare's 360 output has been solid. I still think Kameo is one of the best of the 360's launch games for example. Each to their own I guess.

  • drumbaby #92 3 years ago

    EG are so biased against the PS3 that they're willing to mark down a bona fide AAA++++ Xbox 360 masterpiece like Banjo just to prove that they're not.

    Cunning...most cunning.

  • Steroyd #93 3 years ago

    Depends which conker they reviewed, if it's the N64 one, then DEATH TO EUROGAMER >:(

    If it's the Xbox one than I could probably understand it from the perspective of it litterally being the exact same game with an online componant bolted on (which isn't bad because I fudging loved the N64's multiplayer), re-packaged as a new game.

  • kentmonkey #94 3 years ago

    God these comment threads are depressing these days

  • Ainudil #95 3 years ago

    Rare hates poor people (ie, me), hearing the SD-tv support is lousy with a very small unreadable font.
    *cries*
    This killed Dead Rising for me.

  • merkdot #96 3 years ago

    Darren, why defend template gameplay?

    also, try a paragraph here and there dude.

  • Calgon #97 3 years ago

    See its getting to the point where I cant tell if someones created a handle to post stupid shit to take the piss out of them, thats a really bad sign for them.

    fanboy_heddbogg you are either really good(if you are pretending to be a more braindead version of Hedbog/HandBag) or you are beyond all hope now lol.

  • Rash' #98 3 years ago

    Calgon, Please don't be a dick. I've made one passing remark in the whole thread. Your generalisation of a community of gamers based on your interpretations of exchanges with a small minority is frankly boring. Before throwing accusations at those that you can't come to respect why don't you try to listen and maybe you'll fair a better time on these forums.

  • Rash' #99 3 years ago

    PrivateJokee, how good is LBP?!!! Privite message me your PSN ID if you're willing and maybe we can link up online.

  • Dogs-in-Hats #100 3 years ago

    Oh dear
    :|

  • Calgon #101 3 years ago

    Rash' oh come off it, this past week you've been sinking into their territorry it has to be said, your LBP sulkage in unrelated topics is plain to see, so thats why you were added to the list grow up and dont attempt to condescend me either. You are becoming every bit as dull and repetative as them.
    Edited by 1 at 05/11/08 @ 19:39

  • beastmaster #102 3 years ago

    Banjo! Banjo!
    Banjo is brand new.

    Light and crispy wafer
    Plus roast nut flavor too!

  • jonsaan #103 3 years ago

    Kameo and VP are my fav 360 games.

  • Darren #104 3 years ago

    @merkdot - No paragraphing was needed since I didn't write much or do you have trouble reading sentences? ;)

    But just for you... new paragraph, see? :p

    And another... aren't you a lucky boy!

    I've no need to defend "template gameplay" at all but if that's your attitude then why are you playing games at all because 99.99% of games shamelessly borrow from stuff that has gone before. Rare are no different from anyone else but, at least, they've attempted something different with Banjo-Kazooie: N&B instead of making another conventional platformer.

    But, yes, we get the message, you don't like Rare's games unless they have guns in them. The question is why are you even posting in this thread? :?

    P.S. Is that enough paragraphs for you? And do try putting a capital letter at the start of a new sentence, dear boy. If you don't, it makes you look uneducated. :p

  • Rash' #105 3 years ago

    Calgon, I had a valid point which you clearly didn't see (but then to your credit not many did). I still stand by my point that gaming journalisism is lousy.In the end as I said on a number of occasions it wasn't about the games and that I rate Gears 2 (my exact choice of words were "brilliant";), yet you still persist with this. And come on now. Don't you see the irony in your own actions? Usually posting here in favour of one party over another make you look as bad as the immature poster you so detest.
    Edited by 1 at 05/11/08 @ 19:42

  • shotgun44 #106 3 years ago

    Just bought an xbox so was hoping for this to be good! Ah well, Fallout 3 is a major timesink! I'll just have to download streets of rage 2 instead! AWESOME!!

  • Calgon #107 3 years ago

    Rash' I had a far more important and valid point GROW UP! Actually read what my issue is... favouring one party over the other is pretty normal(whats immature about deciding which you like best?), going beyond that isnt though. Trolling topics for the sake of an arguement is not something I do(Im not trolling the PS3 sections every other day or I wouldnt be mocking them here... its pathetic... you are coming accross pathetic in that poor attempt at spinning this around... "no you are :p" wtf get a grip).

    Really the lengths people will go to rather than admit when they were wrong or went a bit overboard... sheesh.
    Edited by 3 at 05/11/08 @ 19:58

  • Rash' #108 3 years ago

    trebell, Oh, come let it go. I made one passing remark about it for a cheap gag, one I brought it up just now in response to PrivateJokers comment on it. I'm sorry it offends you so, but there was no malice directed at anyone.

  • Rash' #109 3 years ago

    Calgon, OK. What was it?

  • Calgon #110 3 years ago

    Rash' you need to grow up?

  • Rash' #111 3 years ago

    Calgon, Alright, I tried but you're dull and boring. In fact you're sometihing much worse than dull and boring, you're paranoid and deluded. Ignored.
    Edited by 2 at 05/11/08 @ 19:53

  • Calgon #112 3 years ago

    trebell no you were correct he's had it on him for a week now because EG dont rate LBP as highly as he does, talk about spitting your dummy out and since he's asking about how the game is here(off topic... two mentions of it) Im wondering if he's even played it yet. Yet he questions EG journolistic integrity quickly forgetting all about it with reviews like this one(360 game see).
    Edited by 1 at 05/11/08 @ 19:55

  • bicky316 #113 3 years ago

    EG are so biased against the PS3 that they're willing to mark down a bona fide AAA++++ Xbox 360 masterpiece like Banjo just to prove that they're not.

    Cunning...most cunning.

    Haha that was a proper laugh out loud moment when I read that for some reason...

  • Calgon #114 3 years ago

    trebell nor me but alot of the behavior seems pointless in the comments these days, might just start skipping them.

  • Rash' #115 3 years ago

    Rash wrote:

    "Can I just say:

    LITTLEBIGPLANET!!!

    LOL!!!

    Had to be done. ;o)

    /Grabs coat."

    Cheap gag, or out to prove something? Don't let the deluded confuse you.

  • PrivateJoker #116 3 years ago

    private joker shakes hands with calgon...

    omg, you are probably right about most commentators being adults. Depressing right? Yeah, how the hell can the average 15 yr old afford all the quality out there unless they're in boardin school or McFly etc?

  • muscleblade #117 3 years ago

    If its as good as Dead Space its fantastic anyway.

  • seasidebaz #118 3 years ago

    Yay Calgon I missed you and our constant bickering over insignificant technical detail, where have you been? :(

    @farticus:
    From the demo, I will pre-order the game, get Banjo 1 for free, then cancel pre-order. It's not BAD bad, it's just not........... that good. The handling is a bit poo and the vehicles have magnets for wheels.

  • PrivateJoker #119 3 years ago

    rash.... lbp is awesome...imo the best game so far this decade. However if you want to go online with us you need to get the game and message me when u do. I spent about 15hrs making a level in the beta and i loved every minut of it.
    On ps3 browser now and takes too long to message. L8R
    ps. Does anyone know when the u.k. are getting the keyboard attachment for sixaxis ffs? lol

  • DjFlex52 #120 3 years ago

    I wonder if EG realizes how this constant fanboy bickering in every thread makes quite a few of us visit EG less and less :(
    They might think it increases their hit count now but I think it will lose them more in the long run.

  • seasidebaz #121 3 years ago

    @privatejoker:

    It's been said everywhere before, I can't be bothered, but here goes:

    ANY USB KEYBOARD WORKS

  • Calgon #122 3 years ago

    trebell I think thats a bit too much to ask... some dont have the time nor money some really do have a problem with MS or Sony. The very least they could do is just be happy in their own community and their own opinions... agree to disagree and just get on enjoying their gaming.

  • Calgon #123 3 years ago

    seasidebaz howdy :D ah well theres always the next face-off, infact scrap that it's much more amusing just to watch other people bicker sometimes.
    Edited by 1 at 05/11/08 @ 20:29

  • seasidebaz #124 3 years ago

    @calgon

    ehehe I don't bother with those now, nothing multiplat worth getting (except the new Need for Speed... Not a chav, honest!) as I re-bought a 360 and now tend to go for exclusives again! LBP + Fable2 FTW!

  • iter #125 3 years ago

    Confounder said: "Money does not buy the best talent."

    One of the most stupid things I have heard in ages.

  • IronGiant #126 3 years ago

    Ouch.. no wonder there was a review embargo. Bring on Killer Instinct, hopefully Rare can pump out a game that isn't destined for the bargain bin!

  • captainrentboy #127 3 years ago

    Speaking of Little Big Planet, I think we sold a whopping 4 copies today in my store.
    When compared to saaaay Fallout 3 last week, where we sold 130+ copies in one day, it wasn't quite the smash hit we were expecting :/ Maybe it'll pick up on Friday when most folk will assume it's being released.

    Back on topic, to be honest the demo of B&K didn't really do anything for me, I was really looking forward to it too, but I'll probably pick it up next year now, once the ole gaming drought hits.
    Maybe they should do Blastcorps 2!

  • HardCoreGamer999 #128 3 years ago

    banjo will eventually finish with a 8/10 as average in gamerankings.

  • Les #129 3 years ago

    "Here's a tip Les....Stop buying so bloody many!!! ;)"

    True, but they're so dirt cheap and every once in a while I overestimate the playing time I have available to justify a new purchase... For some reason I love buying stuff. Totally irrational I know, but at least it keeps the economy running... ;)

  • mattigan #130 3 years ago

    I've cancelled my preorder, I was really looking forward to this and now I'm not :(

  • SuperBas #131 3 years ago

    I wanted a pure platformer! Boo hiss Rare!

  • septimus #132 3 years ago

    Demo wasn't great, a 6 in my mind, just lacked purpose it seemed. Was a surprise after Viva being as good as it is :(

  • merkdot #133 3 years ago

    But, yes, we get the message, you don't like Rare's games unless they have guns in them.

    no, those were even worse. The sad thing is, other studios get closed down even though they make better stuff than this.

    Good to see that you're learning how to write in a more readable fashion though.

  • bad09 #134 3 years ago

    "True, but they're so dirt cheap and every once in a while I overestimate the playing time I have available to justify a new purchase... For some reason I love buying stuff. Totally irrational I know, but at least it keeps the economy running... ;)"

    I know what you mean, I keep buying even though I know I've already got so much to finish. Even my girlfriend said just today she hasn't seen my collection so big as normally I trade in when finished. Oh well, it will serve me well in the post Christmas drought I suppose!

    ""Speaking of LBP. It's only sold 200,000 copies on it's release compared to Fable II's 1 million LOL " "

    Judging from my area today you couldn't buy it as it wasn't even on the shelves (guess the Wednesday release fooled some retailers)! I managed to find a copy in Argos and they only had 21, after an age of hype it arrived with a whimper. still a great game tho!

  • FenderMaster #135 3 years ago

    This game was always going to split opinions.

    If it had been released from an unknown developer, it would probably have been considered an interesting, fun but flawed cult classic, but the hype combined with Rares and BK's heritage and the games deviation from its platforming roots was bound to end in mild disappointment.

    I don't own a 360, but I hope that people still give this a chance, as it sounds still sounds very interesting

    Rare might not make AAA titles anymore, but it can still make solid B+ titles.

  • Ryze #136 3 years ago

    Rash'

    ^ cock

    Confounder

    ^ cock

  • Ryze #137 3 years ago

    Just put the Arcade version of Killer Instinct on XBLA already.

  • patchbox360 #138 3 years ago

    hopefully now they will have to make Killer Instinct 3 to recover peoples faith... come on Rare, ultra combooooooooooooo!

  • Wash #139 3 years ago

    :S The lack of faith in Rare, and the forgotten Viva Pinata in this thread is disturbing. The very fact a little gem like viva pinata is overlooked says to me Rare will never ever, ever, ever make headway with the ps3/360 crowd.

    Still, least i get to enjoy their games.

    :D

  • DAN.E.B #140 3 years ago

    i had a feeling this would happen
    i said a few months ago it was a massive risk that wouldnt pay off
    oh well im still gonna get it its Ģ25 really because you get the original for free and i was gonna buy that too
    plus i really liked the demo so for that price its a bargain.

  • DAN.E.B #141 3 years ago

    Just put the Arcade version of Killer Instinct on XBLA already.



    +1

  • Stuz359 #142 3 years ago

    They should have made an old school platformer. I didn't enjoy the demo and the review does not have a high enough score to warrent changing my mind. Rare need to bring back Nintendo for quality control

  • Waldo #143 3 years ago

    7 is the new 3.

  • merkdot #144 3 years ago

    It is difficult to see what the main characters have to do with the gameplay premise.

    If it isn't already obvious from my posts, I don't like Rare, but all the same I find their bizarre choices fascinating. Is it possible that the producer is clinically insane? The Lemonheads song 'Rudderless' springs to mind almost instantly.

  • figaro7 #145 3 years ago

    Screw killer instinct, make a new battletoads, but more brawling and less humping snakes! This seems like a good pickup after the holiday season dies down.

  • Calgon #146 3 years ago

    /shrugs :)

    Read the comments then, hardly bashing the game, said it was good but it was just as expected rather than suprising... the main reason for my interest was the amusing comments from the Sony fanboys daily troll bulletins: "PSN game has better graffix than this one ere" only to find people spouting "not possible on 360... teh CELLs true power!", was a little hard to resist.

    Ive been coming here years, if thats best you can come up with(and Im sure he tried... except it was a poor attempt), you've got a seriously weak comeback there as I said. Run along simakperrce, theres a good douche, enjoy your PS3/Wii/PC and spare us your own drivel.
    Edited by 1 at 06/11/08 @ 03:02

  • SPKRFCKR #147 3 years ago

    The hate in the comments section is getting a bit too high these days, eh?

    My stepbrother was looking forward to this , he liked the demo, so its on his Xmas list. The review makes it seem like a pretty good game, but why the move away from a platformer? Has it been explained/justified by Rare?

    The paragraph describing the Xbox level made me lol

  • Widge #148 3 years ago

    Remember, Dead Space got a 7 and loads of people absolutely love that. If you were dead set on this game, don't take a 7/10 as some stamp of universal badness.

  • bad09 #149 3 years ago

    have to agree with Widge, never let a review make your decision for you, sure it may be the deciding factor sometimes but if you really want it buy it and find out for yourself.

    Hell if I listened to EG reviews I'd of missed AC, one of my favorites last year (and Dead Space is NEVER a 7/10 game!!!!!)

  • menage #150 3 years ago

    Most people here we're never buying this anyway, they can't handle colors other than brown.

    Isn't this cheaper than normal? If so I'm still buying it. I loved VP2 so I'm still excited.

    If not I'll wait til it's cheaper or I'll pick it up later along with Gears. Not that I don't seriously want this, but I haven't even started making stuff yet in LBP, and still Fable Deux and F3 to finish.

    I'm very happy for all the PS3 fanboys that they finally have something to shout about, after 2 years of been clubbed to death they deserve a break, good for you guys.
    Edited by 1 at 06/11/08 @ 08:13

  • rotmm #151 3 years ago

    Isn't this cheaper than normal?

    Not in the UK I'm afraid.

  • curtlikesmeat #152 3 years ago

    I played the demo and didn't enjoy it too much. I remember enjoying the original at the time but it seems geared totally towards young children and didn't really hold my interest for more than 10 minutes.

    Would like to see Rare try some new IPs.

    Edit: if they don't want to make games for adults that's fair enough, but it kind of feels like a bit of a shame for some reason I can't quite place. There was a time when every Rare game was a gold nugget and you didn't even need to read reviews you could just buy.
    Edited by 1 at 06/11/08 @ 09:30

  • Darren #153 3 years ago

    @Merkdot - Yes, I'm a quick learner... ;)

    Shame then that you're not. I see you still forget to use capital letters at the start of a sentence. They make your posts just that much harder to read. :p

  • mazzl #154 3 years ago

    to bad for the score, i'm still getting this beceause i love coulurfull games! will be playing the demo first.

    congrats to all the ps3 fanboys, after 2 years of nothing you finally get some descent exclusives ;p

  • chris_ace #155 3 years ago

    Post deleted at 11:55:13 13-12-2011

  • merkdot #156 3 years ago

    yeah, sorry about that.

    also apologies that I can't change the text into comic sans for you.

  • Emth #157 3 years ago

    "6.5 on ign, final nail in the coffin.

    do not want!"

    It got 8.3 on the real IGN site, so go figure. It looks pretty fun to me but I don't have a 360 so meh...

    I'm applying for a placement with RARE next year so if I get in I'll force them to make a true Banjo platformer :p

  • gingerlink #158 3 years ago

    7/10 is very good considering it actually does something different and is not a FPS or a racing game...

    oh...wait...

  • DrDamn #159 3 years ago

    I cancelled my pre-order after the demo - which was beautiful and wonderful to look at but I had a few concerns/frustrations with the vehicle controls. I plan to pick it up in the sales where no doubt it will be priced the same as the US are getting it on release (another little annoyance strangely absent from the review).

    I think what Rare have tried to do should be commended though. We need companies to be brave and try stuff like this.

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #160 3 years ago

    Hmmm... I quite liked the demo, but I wasn't blown away by it.

    I'm afraid this will be consigned to the 'must get round to buying it when it's cheap' pile. Where it'll be sitting under Assasin's Creed.

    I hope, like Viva Pinata, this gets and expanded or improved sequel that fares critically better. Especially it seems like there's the engine for a great game here, provided it gets some better missions . Perhaps if the XBLA game sells well enough they'll consider a platform/vehicle mix something more akin to Jak 3.

  • BastoJ #161 3 years ago

    Since when was 7/10 considered a BAD score?

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #162 3 years ago

    Since when was 7/10 considered a BAD score?

    Since about 1989? I didn't really read games magazines much before that, so it might have been longer.

    It's only relatively recently that the likes of Eurogamer and Edge have been trying to push the '7/10 is not a bad score' angle, but some people still refuse to listen.

  • theiceman #163 3 years ago

    Banjo-Kantsaveme

  • The-Bodybuilder #164 3 years ago

    Sometimes I do think rare try to be innovative purely for innovation's sake.
    Like PDZs art design. Why MS let them do it, I don't know.

  • Steroyd #165 3 years ago

    What does a Eurogamer 7/10 score mean exactly?

    I don't know anymore, hell I don't know what a 10/10 score rating means either.

  • Fleisch #166 3 years ago

    Today is demo day. I intend to sit and play the hell out of it. I've got this pre-ordered but just keep going to cancel it!! Plus the US version is bloody cheap! what's up with that?!?!

  • bitesize #167 3 years ago

    Today is demo day

    is the demo out for silver live users yet? i got no gold membership, really want to try the demo tho. got it pre-ordered (mostly to get the original XBLA game as i loved that) but currently wavering about whether to keep pre-order... sounds right up my alley from the review, but a demo would be goood...

  • corv0 #168 3 years ago

    if you don't want it, then don't buy it.... just stop bitching about it....

    "oh no, the games changed from the previous one, rare are shit".

    if you want the same game, then buy the original, different site have given it better score, but because the great and powerful eurogamer gave it 7 its deemed as crap, if your stupid enough to buy a game based on a single review then your a fool.. go off metactritic..at least then you'll be able to compare score from different sites...

    I think the game looks good, and its original, their not trying to churn out the same old crap, like many of the sequals theat are being released at the moment.

  • DrDamn #169 3 years ago

    There is a score policy link right next to the score itself, so this is what the reviewer meant for his personal score ...

    "Seven not as much heaven
    A seven in Eurogamer speak is something we greatly recommend you have a good look at before you buy, because you can bet many highly regarded games over the years have been awarded a seven. If you're a fan of the genre in question then there's a very good chance you'll get a lot out of it, and often you'll hear a game's vocal following doing their best to boost its chances. Conversely, many detractors will seek to kick it down even further. A seven suggests you're into the idea of the game you should still try and check it out - you might like it more than you think, or be able to forgive its less than brilliant visuals. Or maybe it looks good, but the camera issues were just unforgiving, or maybe the AI wasn't up to much.

    Over the years, in gaming parlance, seven has become almost the real 'average' score, but this is nonsense that we wish was flushed out of the scoring system with many publications terrified of giving certain games - particularly those of a great significance backed by big ad campaigns - less than this mark. Often giving less than seven is deemed to be the point of no return, with this considered to be the psychological barrier at which point people decide to buy at or not. But we're resistant to the idea and believe seven equates to being a very good score, and one that should be given more credit. In Eurogamer's eyes, it's still a great game, but one that is likely to sport a few areas where the game is blatantly let down - to the detriment of its overall quality and enjoyment."

  • FrankCannon #170 3 years ago

    A Ani Bozo Joke

    A Jab Ooze Ikon

    A Kazoo Jibe No




  • Fleisch #171 3 years ago

    right, demo done, lots to do in it but the whole experience felt very hollow and unsatisfying. I'm cancelling my pre-order but ill pick this up when its cheapo on ebay.

  • IronCladChicken #172 3 years ago

    How come Banjo is being sold with a rrp of $40.00 in the US, but a Ģ49.99 rrp in the UK?

  • Mr_Dodger #173 3 years ago

    How come Banjo is being sold with a rrp of $40.00 in the US, but a Ģ49.99 rrp in the UK?

    Rock band says "hi!".

    Basically, because they can.

  • merkdot #174 3 years ago

    I think the point is, since the start of October, 17 games have received a higher score than this, a product of Microsoft's handful of remaining first party developers. People expect better, and are right to do so. First party developers should always be leading the pack due to their budgets and opportunity to tailor their work to one type of hardware.

  • beastmaster #175 3 years ago

    7 is not a bad score. But where there are lots of others getting 8 and 9, hen it gets relegated to "When I finish the good stuff" pile. Demo wasn't too bad, wasn't too good. Therefore, people do rely on the reviews.

    I'm really enjoying Quantum of Solace multiplayer and that only got a 5 here, so I ain't no score whore.

  • TRUTH #176 3 years ago

    I think you should read several reviews for B&K as listed below before any judgment is made!...Dead Space only scored 7 out of 10 by Eurogamer!!!!

    1UP: A-
    VideoGamer: 9 out of 10
    NZGamer: 9 out of 10
    IGN: 8.3 out of 10
    Gamepro: 8 out of 10
    Eurogamer: 7 out of 10
    Edited by 1 at 06/11/08 @ 19:06

  • Woffls #177 3 years ago

    EG are saying this is a worse game than King Kong and Call of Juarez...

  • chrisjm #178 3 years ago

    'EG are saying this is a worse game than King Kong and Call of Juarez... '

    credibility.... down..... drain

  • Fleisch #179 3 years ago

    Its by no means a bad game, just its too big of a departure to use a (I would say) iconic platform character, from which fans were expecting another platform game. I think if they had released a new BK platformer and THEN this, that it would have been received much better by fans. I note that it's the fans of BK games that are in outroar over this not the reviews... seems to imply the above. Come on Rare, you've got a BK engine now, just program some special moves and animate them and release a new BK platformer! Its what the fans want and your only as big as your fans/consumers let you be!

  • IronCladChicken #180 3 years ago

    @TRUTH
    These reviews were by American sites - The game is being sold as a budget title in the US (thus the higher scores)

  • MoGamer2006 #181 3 years ago

    Given that it's nearly impossible to read the f**king on-screen text on my SD telly, can somebody tell me how to get the ball onto my trolley right at the start of the demo?

    Is that even the right thing to do? I can't be sure given most of the text is just tiny blobs!

  • mikeleddy83 #182 3 years ago

    Good review, I'd understand a game having the face but not the heart. Maybe those comments about Rare being old-fashioned messed this game up a little. It's definitely got the looks though and that should secure some sales though I'm interested in seeing how far this limited platforming stunts the game.

  • dryden555 #183 3 years ago

    worth picking up in a few months when the price drops

  • RobPulsar #184 3 years ago

    MoGamer2006:

    I think you have to hold down Right Trigger to pick up objects.

  • Linkified #185 3 years ago

    I find it so sad that a genric platformer that brings nothing new to the table that rathcet and clank have been doing gets a 9, when BK: N&B is new take on the platformer gts ripped up.

    And by the way EG, Platformers are just a series of obstacles where you jump on stuff and collect junk. Something this game does so why say it isn't a platformer is beyond me.

  • corv0 #186 3 years ago

    Eurogamer are Rareists... they've given every Rare game a mediocre review at best, they only seem to give high marks to the people paying for those big ads you see around the sides of their website....

    Review of Eurogamer-

    Gameplay - 4 out of 10 "lacks imagination when it comes to innovative games"
    Graphics - 3 out of 10 "can't see the reviews for the ads"
    Capitalism - 9 out of 10 "good at making a quick buck"
    Overall - 5 out of 10 "was once good, but has now passed its time"

    :)

  • Calgon #187 3 years ago

    Is the game out? I wonder what the sales will be like.

    I really dont know if Rares future is so secure at MSGS anymore and I doubt Rare will either after what happened to Ensemble Studios. Maybe it did deserve the low score, I haven't played it but it would be sad to see if Rare does go the way of Ensemble Studios... Rare need some hits fast, by any means necessary(maybe they should have done a standard platformer if that would have sold, or maybe they would then find the opposite excuse not to like/want it, which wouldnt suprise me, some are just feigning interest as means to bash 360 as usual... like every other 360 exclusive. In which case no matter what Rare do they will still come up with any excuse to discredit them, its just hard to tell apart the genuine complaints these days).

    These days even good games are overlooked, even when Rare do deliver they are up against it with the anti-Rare sentiment around the so called "hardcore"... I dont get it, not even a fan of theirs as I've never owned a Nintendo console but as far as brittish dev houses go they are one of the few iconic ones that we have left = we should want them to do well. Inevitably if the shit does hit the fan then these same people(anti-MS/Rare haters) will blame MS but really, MS cant be accused of rushing them, advertising could have been a little better but the games that are garenteed sales get more advertising... advertising doesnt garentee sales only raise awareness, if the buzz isnt there(instead we have whining and Rare hate for siding with teh eval) then its more likely to be wasted by going overboard on advertising.
    Edited by 2 at 11/11/08 @ 18:03

  • Microshaft #188 3 years ago

    I took extreme amusement in the fact none of my local stores shifted a single copy of this game since it was put out on the shelves, whereas Mirror's Edge, COD5, and even the mediocre Red Alert 3 for some reason, have been flying off the shelves like there's no tomorrow.

    Rare continue to fail hard. Well deserved failure it is too.

  • Picnic #189 3 years ago

    Why is it a well deserved failure, Microshaft? 80% average scores- quite good. If Rare had done the relatively easy option of making a next-gen game very similar to the N64 games then it would have probably still got 80% averages for being solid but relatively unambitious. As it is, they've made a game that divides people into feeling disappointment and giving strong praise. Who are these people feeling disappointment anyway? If they like old school platformers, they won't have ever been satsified by any Xbox console in any case. They'll have been satisfied by the Wii. The chances are that the really disappointed people are those who haven't played a platformer in a long, long time, who have now wondered where their youth has gone and want to hang on to something that they could perfectly experience by playing an N64 in any case.





  • El-Dev #190 3 years ago

    My 360 owning friend said this game would make LBP look "shit atnd boring"...apparently not.

  • SexySquirrel #191 3 years ago

    What is it with some people and there hatred towards RARE ? Is it because they were bought by Microsoft ?

    Nuts & Bolts is excellent , I would have liked a 3d platformer too but they are brave enough to go out on a limb and try something different , they then get slated for it. There is more wit and invention in the first hour of BJN&B than 90 percent of 360 games. People wonder why there is precious little risk taking in the games industry right now .. it's because crap like Quantum of Solace and NFS can outsell this .. it's beyond belief.

    I love the Eurogamer website in general but their reviewers do seem to have a very strange attitude to RARE games. Banjo Kazooie on XBLA = 5/10 ? Haha ! Kameo = 5/10 ? Ermm nope , not for a launch game , it was at least a 7. As for the reviewer giving this a 7 ... oh dear ... but then again Dead Space was only a 7 too ... shame to see games that have been obviously so lovingly made trashed by incompetent reviewers.

  • BillyBrush #192 3 years ago

    Same here...not touched all my other games over Xmas...an absolute corker imo

    almost didn't buy it but tbh i'm not sure i've enjoyed a game this much this gen (well...maybe orange box)...top marks from me

  • Quint2020 #193 3 years ago

    Been playing this for nearly 2 weeks now, definitely a contender for GOTY for me, 7/10 is a ridiculous score, should be a 10 easily, brilliant graphics, wonderfully designed environments, fantastic sense of humour, fun and varied challenges and the vehicle creator is absolutely brilliant.

    Sick of shooting people in the face in grey and brown landscapes? Buy this, it's a breathe of fresh air.