Resistance 2 and Banjo reviews today

By Tom Bramwell Published 5 November, 2008

2pm and 5pm respectively.

It's that time of year! The big guns are queuing up to fire their fun into your shopping baskets, and after Gears of War 2 on Monday we've got another two reviews today that we thought we'd trail for you.

First up will be Resistance 2. It came out in the US yesterday (as did logic, arguably), and is out here on 28th November. We liked the first one (well, I did), but had significant reservations. Has R2 improved enough to claim a higher score? Find out at 2pm GMT.

Then there's a general embargo for Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts reviews at 5pm GMT. We've been quietly excited about this one (apart from when I shouted about it) for a few months, but now it's time to find out whether Rare's decision to wrench the bear and bird out of their platforming comfort zone has been worthwhile. Look out for that at 5pm GMT.

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 (74) Latest comment 3 years ago

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

  • Thunderbolt #1 3 years ago

    This is it boys and girls

    The battle of the big guns!!!

    How will Resistance 2 fare?

    Will it be a 9 like GOW2?

    We shall see...

  • DrDamn #2 3 years ago

    I'm guessing 8/10 for both. Resistance 2 - solid but not much particularly ground breaking. Banjo I cancelled my pre-order after the demo. Love the idea and the looks (possibly best of this gen for me). But found the game frustrating in controlling the vehicles.

    Wonder if the Banjo review will cover the US / Euro price difference? I'll pick it up when it comes down to the US price.

  • Apostle #3 3 years ago

    What did Resistance: Fall of Man score? An 8?
    Edited by 1 at 05/11/08 @ 10:42

  • chrisjm #4 3 years ago

    banjo yay =o)

    F5 armed and ready

  • mingster #5 3 years ago

    some big name major releases in the last few weeks why do they all appear at the same time.

  • Thunderbolt #6 3 years ago

    Thank god Hedbog mentioned the M$ bias lest we forget!

  • Ninja_Tino #7 3 years ago

    I'm sensing 8s all round. I was right with a 9 for Gears. Come on, cooome oooon...

  • chrisjm #8 3 years ago

    I'm actually looking forward to replaying the original banjo as much as the new one :) shame arcade titles only have 200 achievements though, should have more for a game of that size.

  • Thunderbolt #9 3 years ago

    heddbogg,

    I'm more a boxer kinda guy.

    See ya at 2pm :)

  • viper_h #10 3 years ago

    The banjo demo was fucking terrible. Played one mission with some stupid balls rolling into some thing's eyes and gave up, not knowing what the hell to do.

    Boring, rubbish game.

    Why do these game developers insist on making their game demos absolute shit? More often than not, game demos make me NOT want to buy the game, rather than the contrary. There was one fighting game I played where the opponent kicked the crap out of me for 90 seconds, and then the demo was over! Real fun guys. I'll buy your game based off a 90 second demo!

    Idiots.
    Edited by 1 at 05/11/08 @ 11:01

  • Widge #11 3 years ago

    R2 is going to have to be bloody good to make me want to shell out my hard earned on it. Got loads of quality stuff to get through now, and by the time I'll be ready for it Killzone 2 will be on the horizon.

  • Beano #12 3 years ago

    R2 = 7/10
    BK=10/10 (maybe 9)

  • drumbaby #13 3 years ago

    R2 will get a proper slagging yet score an 8, out of guilt/ fear. But will be worth a 9.

  • Widge #14 3 years ago

    I guess R2 will get scored depending on who reviews (says Captain Obvious), whoever did them on IGN loved R1 & R2, on the flip, whoever did R1 here didn't really like it.

  • mcbi4kh2 #15 3 years ago

    60 player online and 8 player on-line co-op is a major part of the game, how do they give it a score before anyone can even play it?
    Edited by 1 at 05/11/08 @ 11:13

  • Les #16 3 years ago

    "What did Resistance: Fall of Man score? An 8?"

    No, a 6 if I recall correctly. Really enjoyed the game personally, though (or maybe because) I'm not a big shooter fan.

    Would be surprised if this one didn't score higher. It's more generic, still has aliens and is heavily focussed on multi-player...

  • Darren #17 3 years ago

    Sweet... I'm really, really looking forward to both, especially Banjo-Kazooie: N&B. Resistance 2 looks awesome from the opening 25 minutes of gameplay I've seen on Gamersyde and that's coming from someone who isn't the world's greatest fan of first-person shooters, not because I dislike the genre but because I've played so many that they feel very samey. Banjo-Kazooie is sensational though if the demo is anything to go by... could very likely be my Game of the Year unless it turns out to be not quite as enjoyable as the current contender, Metal Gear Solid 4! November is a cracking month for games... Gears of War 2, LBP and MotorStorm: Pacific Rift this week, Call of Duty: World at War, Banjo-Kazooie: N&B and the XBLA port of the original next week then Resistance 2 at the end of the month! Sweeeeeeeeeeet! :D

  • Darren #18 3 years ago

    P.S. I'm going with 8/10 from EG for Resistance 2 and 8 or maybe 9 for Banjo-Kazooie: N&B. I can't see either getting a 10 to be honest but that's not to say that I won't consider them worthy of that score! :D

  • Darren #19 3 years ago

    @mcbi4kh2 - 60 player online and 8 player on-line co-op is a major part of the game, how do they give it a score before anyone can even play it?

    Well if someone from EG has been playing the beta then they'll have an idea of how some elements of the online mode play against others but I suspect that the review will focus purely on the campaign and co-op mode for now and be updated at the beginning of December for the online modes proper. Isn't that what they did with Halo 3?

  • Widge #20 3 years ago

    Yeah, without a shadow of a doubt, no matter what you own, its a bumper part of the year for games!
    I've had to cancel so much stuff because my bank account has been well and truly spanked. The stuff that has been getting sacrificed too ain't no shonky shite.

  • Widge #21 3 years ago

    Now this is something that has intrigued me, would we see two reviews, one for R2, and one for R2 online? That was one thing that baffled me about MGS earlier in the year, that even though everything was on the one disc, it got review as separate components.

  • GamerG #22 3 years ago

    My guess, Resistance 7, Banjo 7

  • mcbi4kh2 #23 3 years ago

    @Widge Yeah thay baffled me too as well Widge, hope they don't do that.

    @Darren You're probably right about the review focusing on campaign / co-op, they can't really base a review of online on a beta.

  • JonFE #24 3 years ago

    Are you sure about that general embargo for BK: N&B? IGN have already published their review...
    Edited by 1 at 05/11/08 @ 11:44

  • Steroyd #25 3 years ago

    What did Resistance: Fall of Man score? An 8?

    Eurogamer reviewed the game on the Japaneese launch which got a 7, and then they re-reviewed it on the Euro launch and gave it a 6.

    Nice to know when these reviews come up so I can not be here when this place has a meltdown of some sort.

  • Xerx3s #26 3 years ago

    "What did Resistance: Fall of Man score? An 8? "

    A 6.

  • GamerG #27 3 years ago

    Resistance 2 seems to much of a formulaic shooter to get anything above a 7 and from what I hear the graphics aren't too hot in some places. Also the AI is supposed to be terrible.


    7 it is (maybe a 6 actually)
    Edited by 1 at 05/11/08 @ 11:57

  • Beano #28 3 years ago

    @GamerG : Again, you are forgetting the online element.

  • mazzl #29 3 years ago

    Fable2, Bkazoo, Gears2, fallout3, enough good games :)

  • GamerG #30 3 years ago

    Gamedaily 8/10
    [link url=http://www.gamedaily.com /games/resistance-2/playstation-3/game-reviews/review/6799/2 180/
    ]http://ww w.gamedaily.com/games/resistanc...[/link]


    They highlight the same problems I just did

    Eurogamer normally come in under gamedaily, so I think it is a comfortable 7

  • Widge #31 3 years ago

    I'm sure we can all search around for Resistance 2 review scores to post at each other

  • chrisjm #32 3 years ago

    i predict whatever both of them get no one will be happy ;)

  • NotSoSlim #33 3 years ago

    GamerG

    Of all the reviews you pick that one? May i ask why?

    It will probably get an 8!!!

  • Widge #34 3 years ago

    If R2 gets a 9, I will eat my PSP!

  • Widge #35 3 years ago

    I want a score that will keep it off my "to buy" list. Or at least hope for 2009 being the year of "no console" so I can catch up on everything.

  • Beano #36 3 years ago

    @GamerG : Sure, you can always find a review to support bias towards any title - and the other way around. Fact is you haven't tried R1 or R2 and do not know what you talk about. Fine that you don't find it apprealing (you sound like you don't even own a PS3), but why put a score on something you haven't tried?

    Personally, I don't expect R2's campaign mode to be groundbreaking (neither was R1's campaing mode) - just a lot of straightforward fun. The multiplayer modes is where it really offers something no other console shooter does. Most reviews support this claim and R2 is getting nice reviews so far.

  • bodypopper #37 3 years ago

    GamerG, most reviews have been saying the AI is great - it's the fact that they go for you and leave everyone else that annoys some. And no review score should be given with with what other sites said about it in mind. That's just silly.

  • betahoven #38 3 years ago

    Post deleted at 09:36:16 17-12-2011

  • zuljin #39 3 years ago

    I've got my fingers crossed for R2 being a 9 (IGN gave it over 9)

    That way hopefully I'll have an awesome SP game (R2), an awesome MP game (Gears 2)!

    From the beta I loved the coop, actually... I may just spend all my time on coop for both those games... Bye bye sunlight...

  • Beano #40 3 years ago

    "As for BK, well it's competing with Fable 2 for my GOTY. Superb fun, awesome visuals and plenty to do. The scores mean nothing. Playability means everything. "

    I agree. After completing Fable 2, EG's 10/10 means nothing... it just seems VERY funny :)

    Not that Fable 2 is a bad game... but more a 8... tops.
    Edited by 1 at 05/11/08 @ 12:53

  • shotgun44 #41 3 years ago

    I really enjoyed R1, first game i played this generation and thought it looked stunning at the time. Personally I'm looking forward to this more than GoW2...

  • chris_ace #42 3 years ago

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

  • Darren #43 3 years ago

    @GamerG - Resistance 2 looks fantastic in the 720p videos I've seen on Gamersyde, easily better looking than Halo 3 IMO for example (and far less jaggy... ahem). Granted the textures aren't always amazing up close (they're not in the beta) but there seems to be a lot of variety in there and tons of stuff going on, some huge "bosses" and the framerate remains slick throughout. It was impressive in the beta. No doubt the BD format helps with the variety of environments and the new engine streams textures now unlike the first game so the game looks more detailed... and there's some colour this time round. As with most exclusive games, the visuals seem to make the most of the hardware. I'm sure there is some inconsistency, you name me one game doesn't have some iffy visuals somewhere in it?

    I actually thought the first game looked great for a launch game, a bit monochrome, yes, but technically very slick considering it was Insomniac's first PS3 game and their first FPS at that. It rans smoothly and had nice anti-aliasing (rare for PS3 games). There again, Insomniac rarely disappoint on the technical front... the lag-free 60 player online matches in the beta have to be experienced to be believed... it's really impressive stuff considering most online console games rarely allow more than 16 players and then they're laggy. How Insomniac achieved it with R2 is a mystery. I guess they just "know their stuff". :)

  • Beano #44 3 years ago

    "Oh, I see, so you agree that the score means nothing but in the same breath you think the score is important enough to comment on, am I correct? I cant work out if you are being ironic, attempting to sound 'clever' or merely coming accross as an ass. "

    Being inpolite does make you sound like a ass. Sorry, to insult your GOTY... but no need to get mad about it.

    Anyway - a score does not matter to me WHEN I personally have played a game (like Fable 2) and know EG's score is waaay of.
    I'm not critizing you (or Fable 2) here, but EG scores which are all over the place and lack inconsistancy.

    The difference between you and me is I'm talking about games I have played (Fable 2, R1, R2 online) , and not putting scores to games I haven't even tried... just to try put them down, like you do.

  • Beano #45 3 years ago

    @Darren: Actually R:FoM was Insomniac's second FPS.. the first one was Disruptor on PSX :)

    http://en.wik ipedia.org/wiki/Disruptor_(...
    Edited by 1 at 05/11/08 @ 13:26

  • Kenshin001 #46 3 years ago

    "But as many have noted, the game's best weapons are the real star of the online game, and make it a lot easier to tolerate the utter blandness of some of the maps. The balanced nature of the weaponry makes it an intriguing battle on some levels, with weapons like the Auger making it a real cat and mouse affair - especially with someone, say, capable of rebounding Hailstorm fire with skill."

    Just a heads up for EG, there is no Hailstorm in R2's multiplayer either.

  • Darren #47 3 years ago

    GamerG - "Gamedaily 8/10"

    Just read that review... it's an excellent review in conveying the good and bad points of the game. The A.I. homing in on you thing I've read in another review so I think Insomniac are going to have to fix that via a patch I think. Seems odd that no-one picked up on it during testing even though we all know that in most FPSs the enemies focus on you rather than your teammates anyway as that's one way of making the games more challenging. If you could just sit back and let your teammates do the fighting then there'd be no point playing the games!

  • Tomo #48 3 years ago

    6/10 for Resistance 2 and a 9/10 for Banjo is my gut feeling.

    TEH BIAS!1

  • #49 3 years ago

    Just to echo what I said on the forum, who cares what EG review R2, its scored very well all over the web. EG is just one site.

    I loved the first R1 and it`ll be a buy from me even if they scored it 5/10 or less.

  • Darren #50 3 years ago

    I'm a bit surprised to discover from reading the Gamedaily review that Resistance 2 has no co-op mode for the campaign... I mean, what the heck, even the first game had splitscreen co-op for two people and it was great fun as it was in the Halo series. Or do they mean it has no *online* co-op still? :?

  • deathdealer619 #51 3 years ago

    COME ON R2!

  • Beano #52 3 years ago

    @Darren : R2 has a seperate online 8 player co-op campaign which is class-based and on the multiplayer maps (with dynamic variations/elements). The offline single player campaign can not be played in co-op.
    Edited by 1 at 05/11/08 @ 13:37

  • deathdealer619 #53 3 years ago

    The new banjo demo is pretty poopy.

  • GamerG #54 3 years ago

    @ Darren,

    The complaints I have heard about the patchy graphics come from the 1up yours and FM podcasts, say that some levels could have done with another pass.

    Fpr the record the IGN review was an exclusive early doors review that they struck a deal for, other more reputable sites do not engage in this practice.

    Also I put the gamedaily review up as it was just posted not for any other reason.

  • mcbi4kh2 #55 3 years ago

    @Darren
    I think it means there is a single player campaign (which can only be played single player) and then there is a seperate co-op campaign. Yes there is online co-op. 8 player split screen would be...interesting. I may be wrong though, I frequenty am.

  • Bangaioh #56 3 years ago

    Stop using GMT... this webiste is called EUROgamer so you should start using CET. Besides that curious to see how R2 scores...

  • GamerG #57 3 years ago

    No keep GMT

    Sooner or later the Euro's will have to get used to using GMT, the Pound and English afterall its the way God intended.

  • drumbaby #58 3 years ago

    Hurry up, EG, I demand my Xbox biased R2 review!!

  • Beano #59 3 years ago

    @farticusmaximus : "I was genuinely asking a question about the tone of your comment."

    No, you were calling me an ass. No need to deny it :)


    "No, I'm sorry but you are quite wrong on that point. EG's scores are the score of one person, a reviewer."

    True, that's one way to look at it. But to be honest... people do not compare scores based on WHO reviews the game but what SITE it's coming from. If Game X gets a 8 and Game Y gets a 9, people on EG forums use this as ultimate "proof" that Game Y is superior. I agree that scores are subjective for each reviewer (as any game site) but EG reviewers seems to follow their guidelines to a far lesser degree than any other major sites... inconsistancy.


    "And where did I put the game down?"

    Well, you are clearly trying to put R2 down in your previous posts by referencing a "bad" review and ignoring positive reviews.

  • rotmm #60 3 years ago

    @beddog,

    Fwiw, about a month ago I put together a little spreadsheet taking the Metacritic scores of the top 15 PS3 and 360 exclusives and pitting them against the scores from both Eurogamer and IGN.

    On average, the PS3 score here at Eurogamer was 5.78% lower than the Metacritic score. For the 360 is was 5.43% lower than Metacritic.

    So to me, that shows a clear bias against the PS3.

    Oh wait, it doesn't ;)

  • Moonprince #61 3 years ago

    "I put together a little spreadsheet..."

    Life really that bad? :(

  • Beano #62 3 years ago

    @rotmm : Interesting :)

    All titles or only the exclusive ones?

  • Madafunkola #63 3 years ago

    From playing them at teh expo i'd guess Banjo - 7 or 8 (and that's being generous as I didn't like it) and R2 - 8 or 9. I really didn't like the first one, but the 5-10 mins I played on the sequel were good fun.

  • Steroyd #64 3 years ago

    Your punctuality sucks. :)

  • rotmm #65 3 years ago

    @Moonprince,

    Sad, aren't I? :(

    @Beano,

    Exclusives only. Though the 360 one included Bioshock as it was not on PS3 when I put it together.

    As an aside, the same for IGN was that PS3 games scores 3.71% higher than Metacritic, whereas 360 games scored 0.07% higher.

  • Beano #66 3 years ago

    @rotmm : Maybe you were using Excel which is a MS product and biased against PS3 :D

  • chris_ace #67 3 years ago

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

  • mcbi4kh2 #68 3 years ago

    Did the 360 exclusives I love playing on my PC make the list? I'm looking at you GOW, Mass Effect etc

  • rotmm #69 3 years ago

    @Beano,

    You're right.

    I'll have to do it again with OpenOffice :-/

    @chris_ace,

    LOL right back atcha. I guess you're mocking me in some way ;)

    @mcbi4kh2,

    Of course. They were exclusive at the time of review, and anyway haven't made it to other consoles.

  • udat #70 3 years ago

    Damn, I am leaving the office at 4pm and going away for 4 days with no interwebs. Post the Banjo review early!

  • peteb #71 3 years ago

    Eurogamer,

    Ign and teamxbox have their reviews up already.

    [link url= http://uk.xbox360.ign.com/articles/927/927091p1.html
    ]http://uk .xbox360.ign.com/articles/927/9...[/link]

    [link url=http://reviews.teamxbox.com/xbox-360/16 13/BanjoKazooie-Nuts-and-Bolts/p1/
    ]http://re views.teamxbox.com/xbox-360/161...[/link]

    Embargo broken,

    Go go go go go! :)

  • Darren #72 3 years ago

    Oooooo... I've never particularly liked TeamXbox, they have a tendency to overrate games IMO, particularly if they have guns in them. They gave Gears of War 2 9.8 and said it was more "badass"... yeah... right! /rolls eyes

    Dunno whether to be worried or delighted that they gave the new B-K game 7.4 really. :?

  • Razz #73 3 years ago

    ALMOST TIME!

  • iBiZi #74 3 years ago

    I'm guessing 9 to both of them ^^