Banjo-Kazooie

If Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts is Rare’s answer to capturing broader audience without chasing their core fans away, all I can say is what I always say: Rare are simply in a class by themselves. They’re every bit the maestros they were when style and technique defined a studio or publisher, if not more so. They just really know how to make really great games their way, period. And their way happens to be the epitome of solid, tight, perfectly-tuned gameplay within pristine, handmade storybook environments.

With Nuts & Bolts, which is the first and only game of its kind, Rare make a bold statement, swinging the door wide open for skilled gamers within a game that a three-year-old can play. That’s the beauty of Nuts and Bolts—but also the reason it’s nearly impossible to review. Because the game becomes whatever the user wants it to become, all I can really comment on is the workmanship, which is impeccable as usual; the visuals, which are breathtaking; the value, which is immeasurable; and my personal take on the whole “have-it-your-way” format.

At our house Nuts & Bolts pulls double duty. I play to advance; clearing missions about 50 percent of the time; exploring 30 percent of the time and building the rest. I like to stockpile parts, then spend an hour building what I like to think appears engineered. Once I build a vehicle, whether it’s for protection, flight, speed, passengers, raw power, or brute force, I commit. I also like to explore because Rare keeps surprising me. I’ve managed to get on top of so many structures by way of rooftops and stacking within Showdown Town, and within the worlds—the more I explore and play the more I can’t stop myself. I have planes, helicopters, watercraft, motorcycles, cars, trucks, and some vehicles they don’t have names for, and nothing is held down; it’s like a gigantic world of toys and props, and there are no barriers. I like running my trolley into Grunty too, especially when she’s drawing nasty pictures of Banjo and Kazooie. Of course I want another Rare platformer, badly. Jet Force Gemini, Kameo, Conker, or Battletoads (if the license isn’t tied up) would make my century. Or what if they made a game like Nuts & Bolts, only centered on platforming worlds rather than vehicles? Then they could make a world for each! Now that would be something.

In the meantime though, I’m just glad they’re still making games their way. The other gamer in our house, by the way, my eight-year-old son Hunter, who’s way too good at games for his age, would starve if we didn’t tear him away from Mumbo’s Garage. I suppose a lot of kids, especially given the popularity of Legos and Bionicles, will become mad builders in Nuts and Bolts. There’s a real art to it, especially when you get into some junior aeronautics, and having the test facility right there is great, along with the paint shop. Then of course, there’s the Lord of Games—aka LOG—who’s always bragging about his game worlds and reminding us how things used to be (he created the FPS you know); the many shops and establishments to visit—maybe play a little N64 Banjo or get a workout—and all of the elaborate gear-works and constructs around town to forage for parts and Jiggy’s. And if that ever gets boring you can always play the game (there’s a big one in here) or there’s always Grunty, Klungo (Klungo’s good now by the way), Boggy, Pikelet, Mr. Fit, Jolly Dodger and an entire town full of bi-pedal rhinos, pigs, and other strange creatures to annoy and harass, and that are always more than happy to reciprocate.

• Showing Page 1 ( of 1 )
• 1

blog comments powered by Disqus