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REVIEW: BANJO KAZOOIE NUTS AND BOLTS

Reviewed on Xbox 360. Developed by Rare. Published by Microsoft

Banjo Kazooie is one of Rare’s original megahits from the late 90′s when they could do no wrong. Now, not so much, but at the time, even a tech demo slapped onto a cart sold millions. Banjo Kazzoie and its sequel, Banjo Tooie where some of the finest 3D platformers of the 32/64 bit era. A decade later a sequel has been released to a wave of indifference and is a typical Rare product of this decade. Let’s have a squizz.

Nuts and Bolts is a game about vehicles as much of what you need to accomplish is done so with vehicles that you can build and modify at any time though the game. You collect new parts and blueprints as you progress. You might need a vehicle that is fast in one level, strong in another, one with a large carrying capacity at times, or one with passenger seats. There are races, timetrials, collection, demolition derby fetch quests etc. There’s a lot of breadth and range in what you can do in the game.

The graphics are very colourful and pretty though the framerate seems to occasionally have its mind on other things. There are lots of loading times that can be a little excessive, though installing the game to disc DRAMATICALLY cuts the length of theses down to ‘not an issue.’ Sound is typical Banjo, gibberish vocalisations rather than voices and overuse of the Hanna Barberra sound effects library. And it has fantastic music. New orchestrations of classic Banjo music abound, so good in fact that I’d love a soundtrack album.

But while its ambitious, technically impressive and has a lot of things to do, it has a problem. Its overly complex for what the target market is. Its the 360 equivalent of hooking up your PSP version of Resistance to your PS3 version of Resistance. It sounds impressive until you try and find a use for it. The visuals are overly busy to the point where its all a jumble of colour. The game is basically a mess and stops being fun very quickly, as in “this is shit,” is audible to anyone living nearby as you hurriedly eject the disc and put it back in its case while you scramble to recall where you left the receipt.

It should have been a lot of fun. Rare used to be able to make fun games but now they just make games for no audience. It looks like a game kids (or kids in their mid-30′s) would like but it plays like a game that no one can find any fun in.

Controller1.com rating 0/3 (I wanted to love this game so much. I am heartbroken)