Reviews
Back in its hey-day Rare was THE third-party developer in the Nintendo 64 crown with stellar titles such as Goldeneye 007, Donkey Kong Country and Killer Instinct Gold to name a few. Banjo-Kazooie almost out-Mario-ed Shigeru Miyamoto’s landmark Mario 64 and was met with universal praise for its tight controls, great platforming and zany humour when it launched over 10 years ago. Banjo-Tooie was the follow-up sequel and now we’re blessed with its release on XBLA.
Those not familiar with the series should note that it stars Banjo (a loveable bear in tight shorts) and his wise-cracking sidekick Kazooie (some exotic looking bird) who are on a quest to find the evil witch Gruntilda. Together they can perform various moves including jump-stomping enemies or peck them to death with Kazooie in Banjo’s backpack. Banjo-Tooie follows on its adventures right where the first game left off with the evil witch Gruntilda being rescued by her sisters from underneath the supposedly death-dealing boulder. She then wreaks revenge by casting a spell on Banjo’s house which kills their friend Bottles before fleeing, so it’s up to Banjo and Kazooie to find old Grunty yet again. The game never takes itself too seriously and the plot is suitably ridiculous and despite its cartoony graphics the humour is appealing to kids and adults alike.
Banjo and Kazooie have a new arsenal of moves this time around as they are unlocked through their mole friend, Jamjars, strategically placed amongst the levels where the new skill will need to be used. The biggest change however is the ability for Banjo and Kazooie to part ways with their own selection of skill sets and the puzzles reflect this new mechanic. And puzzles are where the heart of the game lies as this was 3D platforming at its early peak. Various areas which are inaccessible at first glance need to be thought through and sometimes you will need to rely on transforming into different objects and creatures and utilise their unique skill sets to progress. For example, Mumbo Jumbo the shaman from the first game who transformed B&K into different creatures is back although time around he’s a playable character when the need arises. The transformation duties are now left to a girl named Wumba Jumba whose transformation powers are clearly on another level. Her first magical act transforms you into a burly rhinoceros for example. You can also collect eggs to shoot enemies or take flight by collecting feathers and finding the appropriate launch pad. Much like the first game though, it’s all in the pursuit of jigsaw pieces (Jiggies) which are required to unlock new areas in the world and progress in your quest to find Grunty. Note that this unashamedly copies Mario 64’s star collecting but we can forgive Rare when they execute it so masterfully.
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