Banjo-Tooie is, if you hadn't guessed, the sequel to Banjo-Kazooie, which is, in my opinion, one of the greatest collection adventure games ever made. (And by a collection adventure, I mean that the game revolves around you collecting large quantities of various things that, when taken out of context, would have no meaning). you have probably deduced by now that I was looking forward to this game, but were my expectations fulfilled? Some were, but I'll address that at the end of the review.
As usual, I will start off with the graphics. In short, they are almost exactly the same as those of the original, which is actually a good thing, though not for the reason you may be thinking. Yes they look good, but more importantly they are one of the few things that make the game feel like the first.
From a technical standpoint, the graphics are bright and colorful. The worlds you enter each have a distinctly unique atmosphere, which adds to the overall game. And, while many of the textures are muddy, they give you a good feel as to what they are supposed to be.
Sound is above average, and, like the graphics, on par with the original. Each world has its own tune, and each of those fits quite well. I may not have liked one or two of them, but I can see why they were chosen.
Sound effects are even more impressive, with the grunts of the enemy, the sound of Kazooie's beak drilling into the ground, and everything else being spot on. The characters still mumble sounds as their lines are being spoken, and while it isn't speach, it does give them somewhat of a personality (Possible?)
Now for the gameplay. The game itself is excellent. As in the first, you explore a large world that contains many gateways to smaller ones. Your overall goal is to collect as much crap as possible, which enables you to get to new places. That's the basic synopsis.
Now, right off the bat I will tell you this: Everything about this game is bigger. The levels, world, bosses, etc; are all much larger than that of the first. And it is here that we get our first problem. The levels are too big. Their size, or perhaps it is their design, actually detracts from the game. It no longer has what made the original so great, or at least, it doesn't have as much of it. In essence, the game doesn't flow well. Sure, it's a blast to play, but it all feels segmented and disjointed, dispite the fact that the large levels are almost entirely one part.
But beyond that, the item collecting and such aspects are quite good. There is plenty of variety in the things to do, be it turning into a submarine and exploring Atlantis, curing a massive dinosaurs stomach indigestion, or running around an ancient temple in a 1st person shooter mode a 'la Goldeneye, this game will keep you entertained.
There is one more thing I would like to note, as it is partially the basis of the title. One of the key new aspects of this game is your ability to split up Banjo and Kazooie, and to control them alone. This opens up the potential to learn many solo moves, as well as more restrictive areas. Occasionally it's a burden, but for the rest of the time it works.
Now back to my expectations for this game, and how they were partially fulfilled. I was looking forward to a great game. Did this deliver? Yes. Just not in the way I was hoping for. However, that doesn't change the fact that this is an excellent adventure title, something fans of the genre should flock to.
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