OVERALL: 80%
Some general information before I start, we already know that Rare has left it's hometown, Nintendo and we know that no longer such titles as Perfect Dark and Conker will be released on the GC again, but we also know that although Rare. Inc did quite on the GC it stood up with the GBA! Rare said that it will still make GBA games and Bonjo-Kazooie: Grunty's Revenge is one of them. Unfotunately Nintendo can't publish Rare's titles so THQ did and although Rare has gone downhill since it's departure but it still manages to make a Bonjo game still worth playing. Like most Rare platformer, you need to collect items and stuff. And here like in all previous N64 games, you have to collect eggs, musical notes, 3 types of honeycomb and much more as you progress. Most of the times when you meet a new character the chances of him/her asking you to collect something like 5 chicks for a mother hen or shells for a shell collector etc.
Once again Grunty's out for revenge and and her ghost has taken controls of a huge Grunty mechanical bird, kidnapped Kazooie and took him to the past. Before Banjo and Kazooie ever ruined her plans. Now Banjo has to stop her by collecting Jiggies! Old moves are available here such as Pack-Whack and with Kazooie's help he can shoot eggs and do a Rat-A-Tat Rap, but first you need to have collected enough musical notes in order to do such moves. We are familiar with Banjo's 3D appearance on the N64, Unfortunately it's no longer 3D here as the GBA has difficulties modelling the 3D large worlds. So instead they had it in 2D isometric graphics which actually turned out to be fabulous! All stages are colourful and well detailed and designed.from a sandy beach level to grassy fields level and a town filled with buildings! But that's not all, The levels are well detailed and so are the well animated enemies. One problem is that the levels are isometric so you can't judge the height and you will end up trying to jump on a platform you can't actually reach! The other problem is low fences and such, you can't jump over them thank to the invisible wall blocking you from jumping and now you have to move all the way around to the fence gate to enter. The major problem which might disturb Banjo's fans is the shortness of the game! We know that the levels are large, detailed and filled with well animated enemies but the GBA cartige has its limits and at the cost of all these well graphical features comes the cost of the games length. There are only SIX levels in the game which can be finished with no big challenge! And unlike the N64 version which can take you more than 50 hours to complete this game actually can be finished easily with less than 6 hours! But the extras will probably keep you going on for a while. Familiar characters are here too like the Mole and Witchdoctor. There are stylish swiming areas, moves and minigames here too. Unfortunately the other major problem is the unavailability of multiplayer. No connectivity too. And the good feature the the frequent extras, there are many and enough to keep you occupied.
Gameplay (7):
It's difficult to convert a 3D environment into a 2D so 2D siometric is found here and the downs are that it's difficult to figure out the heights of a platform so you will end up trying to jump on each platform where you simply can't reach. The other let down is the invisible wall blocking you from jumping over a low fence. On the other hand the controls are great and if you can tolerate those mistakes above then you will enjoy this Banjo entertaining game. Many moves are here including those fans are familiar with like Pack-Whack and Roll attacks along with tag attacks using Kazooies help.
Graphics (9):
It recreates the huge world of Banjo in a brilliant 2D style with detailed levels and well animated enemies eveywhere. Though the isometric views makes it tougher to figure out the heights of the platforms making you end up jumping and trying to reach a platform you can't actually reach. This game is one of the colourful games on the GBA with it's detailed sandy beaches and grassy fields along with other huge and detailed levels.
Sound (8):
Sounds like it's N64 cousins, you'll recognise some of the tunes and music played withing the game. The game still has it's Banjo humour in it, and the sound effects are great. No complaints.
Life-Span (8):
Large areas though only sic levels! And unlike it's previous relatives which usually lasts up to 50 hours and more this can be finished with no challenge under six hours. Forunately the extras are fun to play and will keep you occupied for a while. The game came short at the cost of the huge and detailed levels along with the well designed 2D isometric levels filled with well animated enemies. It's colourful and you'll enjoy playing this platformer!.
Overall (80%):
Banjo is back and may be his last debut on a Nintendo console, however the game suffers from some let-downs and we already know that Rare puts graphics on top of everything else. Converting the 3D environments into 2D is nearly impossible so they used isometric 2D here, which is actually brilliant! But this caused a problem with the views since it's difficult to tell platforms heights. Some tunes will be familiar to fans. Huge levels with colourful sandy beaches, grssy fields and other levels, with nicely animated enemies eveywhere though this comes at the cost of the games length where the game has only 6 various levels and can be completed within 6 hours. Fortunately Rare platforms offer a lot of collectables where here you can collect many stuff in order to unlock extras, moves, new areas etc.
Advice:
If you are a Banjo $ Kazooie fan then this is unmissable. Other than that you may consider getting it since it may be their last performance on a Nintendo console. Though if you are expecting it to be as long as the N64 game then forget it.
Good Points:
1- Superb and well detailed graphics with huge levels and well animated enemies eveywhere. Colourful!
2- It's still got the charm and humour of the old Banjo games.
3- Lots of collectable and extras including new moves, new areas and minigames which are fun to play.
4- The wondering around feature where you can meet new characters is fun and even old faces are here including the Mole and the Witchdector.
Bad Points:
1- Short! Can be finished within 6 hours.
2- The isometric design can get anoying at times.
3- No multiplayer.
4- No new ideas, same old stuff.
-Thanks For Reading & Hoped It Helped-
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