Xbox 360

Fantastic surprise - Microsoft and Rare put together a long demo of Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts, and released it on the Marketplace. Here's a six minute video of it, with more to come. And no, I don't enjoy running over cute animals, I just wanted to show some of the dialogue in the game. Hopefully they've forgotten it when I play the full version...
Update 3: Images & last videos added, Banjo land and race.

Demo images

  • Banjo demo released - Demo images
  • Banjo demo released - Demo images
  • Banjo demo released - Demo images
  • Banjo demo released - Demo images
  • Banjo demo released - Demo images
  • Banjo demo released - Demo images
  • Banjo demo released - Demo images
  • Banjo demo released - Demo images
  • Banjo demo released - Demo images
  • Banjo demo released - Demo images
  • Banjo demo released - Demo images
  • Banjo demo released - Demo images
  • Banjo demo released - Demo images
  • Banjo demo released - Demo images
  • Banjo demo released - Demo images
  • Banjo demo released - Demo images
  • Banjo demo released - Demo images
  • Banjo demo released - Demo images
  • Banjo demo released - Demo images
IamLegend
IamLegend
Commented on 2008-10-29 12:49:10
I just posted the news on the forums and returned back to the main page and there u go 6mins video released.U guys at Gamersyde are the best!
In reply to
pythxvii
pythxvii
Commented on 2008-10-29 13:10:33
Used to be I'd download practically every demo to my 360 and play it at least once, but now I'm between 360's I can't, so I'm glad the high profile demo's are always put up here!

Looks great, I personally am pretty excited for this game, even though I know there are plenty hating the whole thing just cause its Rare.. I can't wait to get a chance to play it!
In reply to
Fenrir
Fenrir
Commented on 2008-10-29 13:29:08
So is it just Banjo Racing 360 or is there actual platforming elements?
In reply to
WinterSnowblind
WinterSnowblind
Commented on 2008-10-29 14:46:27
There are only a few racing missions. It basically plays the same as the older games, except now you have to create vehicles to get to new areas, instead of getting different powers.

It's an unnecessary change to appeal to the masses.. But it's still a lot of fun to play and very amusing. If you're a Banjo fan, you should love it. If you're just looking for something to complain about though.. then get ready to hear the same old complaints leveled at it.
In reply to
Slabs
Slabs
Commented on 2008-10-29 15:39:26
Love what I've played so far, the jiggy challenge where you have to protect Clanker's eyes is toooooough but I can imagine it gets easier as you collect better wheels etc.
In reply to
WinterSnowblind
WinterSnowblind
Commented on 2008-10-29 15:41:51
Making the vehicles is REALLY satisfying, I've been playing around with it all day, I can't wait to see what's possible in the full game. I've basically made a massive tank with propellers on the top, I can activate springs to make it fly, and when if it lands in water I can deploy floats to make it a boat :D

It's just too bad I don't have enough wheels to make it balance correctly, it's back heavy when it's not moving.
In reply to
Biffo
Biffo
Commented on 2008-10-29 16:20:18
Yes I found it very refreshing, I used to be a big platformer fan but have gone off them in recent years but I'm liking this one alot, more so that mario galaxy.

I must admit I'm a big fan of that too wintersnowblind, I've just spent the last 25 mins arsing around designing vehicles to see what they can do and can see myself slaving many hours away to it, add to that the original banjo & kazooie free it all just screams value.
In reply to
ramiuk1
ramiuk1
Commented on 2008-10-29 16:40:33
to focused on transport for me,i miss the old banjo
In reply to
daikide
daikide
Commented on 2008-10-29 16:44:01
Hmm interesting... Did not expect this demo to be out now... DAMN MY DIPLOMA THESIS... EVIIIIL!
In reply to
cchance
cchance
Commented on 2008-10-29 17:41:27
THIS GAME IS SOOOO A F*CKING BUY
In reply to
Slabs
Slabs
Commented on 2008-10-29 17:46:00
The music in Banjoland is just phenomenal
In reply to
Optimusv2
Optimusv2
Commented on 2008-10-29 18:27:36
Whoa.. wtf. I didn't think we would get a demo of this.
In reply to
krash101
krash101
Commented on 2008-10-29 19:30:49
Best console graphics I've seen to date...
In reply to
Optimusv2
Optimusv2
Commented on 2008-10-29 20:31:11
The graphics are pretty insane. Definitely no denying that. The textures look great.
In reply to
Ronsauce
Ronsauce
Commented on 2008-10-29 21:16:50
The whole deal with Banjo getting that magic wrench and the witch getting the cat was so poorly executed... I shut it off before actually playing it because of how bad that bit was.
In reply to
Bakutheswede
Bakutheswede
Commented on 2008-10-29 21:49:35 In reply to Ronsauce
It's a surprisingly big demo that does a good job showing off the different elements of the game, it's actually a lot more like the old game than i expected the vehicles are just a part of the game not the main focus, i am really looking forward to the full game after playing the demo.
Posted by Ronsauce
The whole deal with Banjo getting that magic wrench and the witch getting the cat was so poorly executed... I shut it off before actually playing it because of how bad that bit was.
Yeah brosef that will like totaly teach those damn developers not to use humor in a game anymore, keep raging against the machine guy i'm sure someone will give a damn.......
In reply to
KORNdog
KORNdog
Commented on 2008-10-29 22:12:34
looks nice, but i dont like it.
In reply to
snackysmores
snackysmores
Commented on 2008-10-29 22:13:15 In reply to Ronsauce
Posted by Ronsauce
The whole deal with Banjo getting that magic wrench and the witch getting the cat was so poorly executed... I shut it off before actually playing it because of how bad that bit was.
Jesus, don't be so hard on it. I enjoyed the directing and production in the cut scenes; it's fun and lite hearted. I think this will be much better than most people think. I'm glad Rare had the courage to re-invent this IP instead of just cranking out an average sequel.
In reply to
KORNdog
KORNdog
Commented on 2008-10-29 22:24:51 In reply to snackysmores
Posted by snackysmores
Jesus, don't be so hard on it. I enjoyed the directing and production in the cut scenes; it's fun and lite hearted. I think this will be much better than most people think. I'm glad Rare had the courage to re-invent this IP instead of just cranking out an average sequel.
but for a lot of people this IS an average sequel BECAUSE its been re-invented. i would have loved more of the same. but the added vehicles and 'mish-mashed' art style just dont work for me. so now its just a sub-standard sequal to a franchise i once loved (just like perfect dark zero) i'll rent it...but its not worth a purchse for me.
In reply to
Cheboury
Cheboury
Commented on 2008-10-29 23:09:17
Like wise guys! I hate the direction Rare took! I want that sense of adventure from the previous Banjo series... I don't want to have to put parts together or race, just pure platforming.... and it is not like the Xbox 360 has too many of those! Kameo was quite a joy but not too deep and I was hoping that this Banjo would take off where Kameo left some unfinished gameplay choices.

I will probably still buy the game simply becuase it's a Rare game... will no doubt give it a chance but I am simply not too excited.

Too bad Rare felt like re-inventing the franchise.... leave that for some other IP but don't ever MESS with what BANJO has meant for so many gamers.

I heard some rumors that Get Force Gemini might be in the works... I hope these guys know what they are doing... cause the N64 was almost flawless.
In reply to
JohnRambo
JohnRambo
Commented on 2008-10-29 23:16:22
Looks good graphically. Great lighting and amazing textures. God job rare.
In reply to
Xerx3s
Xerx3s
Commented on 2008-10-30 00:12:55
The usual suspects I see.
In reply to
Ronsauce
Ronsauce
Commented on 2008-10-30 00:33:37 In reply to Bakutheswede
Posted by Bakutheswede
Yeah brosef that will like totaly teach those damn developers not to use humor in a game anymore, keep raging against the machine guy i'm sure someone will give a damn.......
Nice...taking the dickhead route...original and effective!

My problem isn't with humour in a game. The little cutscene I was referring to just wasn't humourous at all. They should have taken a page out Insomniac's book and actually tried to make it funny on a higher level than that of an idiot 6-year old.
In reply to
Doctor_Hades
Doctor_Hades
Commented on 2008-10-30 00:36:41
Being a big fan of the first two N64 games I was a little apprehensive about Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts when I found out it would feature vehicles. I also didn't particularly like the new look Banjo.

Now that I've had a chance to play the demo though I needn't have worried because I love it. I think Rare have done a wonderful job of retaining the platforming elements of the original games, which is what made them so great, whilst adding new elements, namely the wrench and vehicles. Both enhance the gameplay but don't distract from the classic Banjo-Kazooie feel. There's ample opportunities to explore on foot (like climbing the tower in Showdown Town for example where you can see just how big this hub area really is!) but the vehicles allow the worlds to be massive and far more varied than was possible on the N64. Banjoland feels big in a land-based vehicle but once you take to the air, you realise how massive it really is and how packed with stuff it is too. Superb stuff. I ended up playing the demo for 2 hours and would have played it longer had I not being tired. A very generous demo to be sure.

I do have a couple of gripes though. One is that character dialogue text often disappears before I've had the chance to read it. Some of it requires pressing A to proceed to the next bit, which is obviously not a problem, but some doesn't. Annoying really given that none of the dialogue is actually spoken. Another minor complaint is that the tips shown during loading screens are almost impossible to read at times because the loading times are so short!!! Another niggle is that fact that Banjo cannot die. Drown underwater and Kazooie slaps him back to life. Fall from a massive height and Banjo gets up and carries on. In the old games you had an energy bar and life meter which added tension to the game. Because you cannot die in this new game there's no risk at all in doing whatever you like because if you die you can just try again. It doesn't ruin the game but it does feel odd for a platformer. I guess Rare are just trying to make the game as accessible as possible.

Finally, while the visuals are extremely impressive in terms of textures, animation, draw distance and colour, there's some weird stuff going on with the shadows which are rough and jagged until you're near them. Makes the graphics look a little rough around the edges I think but it's not a big deal. There's also some very minor tearing at times too although it seems to be at the top of the screen and very infrequent so it isn't really an issue. The graphics are certainly gorgeous and it goes without saying that the music is too. I recognised several tunes from the older games and they still sound really great. Flying around Banjoland in my own designed plane listening to the music reminded me so much of the classic N64 games and how much I enjoyed them.

A great demo then and one that has me positively itching to play the full game. Roll on 14th November! :)

P.S. I love the new Banjo design too, he suits the game perfectly, square nose and all!
In reply to
Archaos
Archaos
Commented on 2008-10-30 01:10:59
What an awesome game!

I've never played any previous Banjo games, but I'm having plenty of fun with this.

Fantastic visuals, brilliant audio and entertaining gameplay. Recipe for a superb game.

Funny thing is I got to play the game yesterday at the Eurogamer Expo, but I couldn't get into it there. But I'm glad I gave it another chance.

edit: Good write up Doctor_Hades. Agree with you on the Dialogue issues.
In reply to
About the game
Platform
X360
Published by
Xbox Game Studios
Developed by
Rare Ltd.
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