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Don't Worry About Nuts & Bolts

by Steve Wysowski May 13th 2008 11:14 PM CDT2 Comments

Why is it that gamers are so terrified of change? In every other entertainment industry (whether it be television, movies, books etc.), change is almost always welcomed, despite of the inherent risks that can emanate from it. Yet for one reason or another, gamers can't seem to grasp the concept of change when it involves any kind of alteration that can affect one of their favorite franchises, consoles, or companies. Whether it is due to the amount of reliability a gamer may have placed onto a speific series, or if it is the fact that gamers are becoming a little too close to their favorite franchises; it doesn't matter. It's time to realize that sometimes change can be for the better, and can only help progress the industry as a whole.

I mention this in response to the tsunami of Banjo Kazooie 3 (well, Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts) media, rumors, and leaks that have ravaged the blogosphere this week. As the information in regards to Rare's upcoming platformer started leaking bit by bit, a gradual wave of paranoia started sweeping the gaming community. Complaints, rants, tangents, and messages to Rare entitled "it r tiem dai!" have been surfacing all across the net. It is time to calm down, and truly analyze what is actually happening with the series before we jump to any conclusions pertaining to the possibility that Banjo and Rare may have finally "jumped the shark".

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From the moment the first screenshots of the game were leaked, the game's design had been receiving a large heap of critique. Some people just don't like the overly vibrant colors, and while I personally disagree with that belief, it is understandable as it remains in the realms of opinion (I am one who seems to love game's design choice). Others though, have been jeering the game's style for various reason; but mainly due to the fact that it just doesn't look like the Banjo Kazooie we all love and know. I can't possibly understand what these people want this game to look like to tell you the truth, because in reality; it should look nothing like Banjo Kazooie or its N64 sequel.

It has been eight, long, years since we have last seen a Banjo game hit the shelves; eight years!That is before George Bush was named President, before September 11th, and before we even heard of anything called an "Xbox". Nuts & Bolts will make a two-generation skip for the franchise upon it's release. To begin with, that is a huge task for Rare. With the updates Rare has released, the game now comes in a more colorful package, is far more bright than ever before, and has some bouncy physics that every proper "next-gen" platformer should have these days (just look at Super Mario Galaxy's success for proof of that). I'm not sure if there was more Rare could have possibly done to make a better two-generation leap.

People also have been taking hits at Rare for their radical changes to the core of BK's gameplay. Apparently, there will be far less emphasis on platforming this time around than you're used to, with the majority of Rare's effort being concerned with user creativity in the form of the game's innovative vehicle builder. While the game may be more focused with how well of a vehicle you can build, by no means has Rare ever said that they are ditching Banjo's platforming entirely. In fact, a significant portion of the game's search and collect missions will remain; as in order for you to create the vehicles necessary to advance, you're going to have to find and retrieve many of the vehicle's building blocks and parts. But even if that's too much of a radical transformation to Banjo's roots, you need to remember some harsh realities about BK's platforming roots.

While the original N64 Banjo Kazooie did boast some of the best 3D platforming for its time, the game was heavily influenced by another game during its generation. You might have heard of it, it was called Super Mario 64. From collecting Jiggies (stars) to the changing "power suits" that pretty much mirrored most of Mario's power-ups; many could make a reasonable accusation that Banjo Kazooie was a complete rip of Shigeru Miyamoto's legendary 3D platformer, but with a few bells and whistles thrown in.

But that was perfectly fine then, since at that time Nintendo controlled Rare. Fast forward six years later: Nintendo releases Rare, and Microsoft gobbles the company up for it's own plans with the Xbox 360. I'm pretty sure Nintendo won't be too happy if the next Banjo game still would of had most of its roots embedded with Mario-esque gameplay (especially now that Rare is a subsidiary of one of the company's major rivals). Perhaps, if some large scale change wasn't made, the conflict could have become lawsuit worthy.

This radical reinventing of the series' roots is not only what the series needed legally, but is also what it needed as a video game franchise. The core gameplay of finding "Jigsaws" through simple search and retrieve missions would be incredibly tedious in this day and age, and Rare knew it couldn't use that anymore as the series' bread and butter. I personally believe that it is great to see how Rare has chosen to redefine the genre rather than simply upgrade it to match modern standards. I mean, how much fun would the original Banjo Kazooie be if you went ahead and gave the old N64 another boot? Perhaps, this strive for innovation is showing signs of Rare creeping out of their dark ages.

Also, think about all the replayability one could possibly garner from the game's vehicle editor (that is still unfinished, mind you). With Sony releasing LittleBigPlanet and it's revolutionary level creator this Fall, it's good to see Microsoft combat it right back with a similar title, except with the stature that a franchise like Banjo Kazooie has gained. Take into the fact that the vehicle editor has unlimited possibilities for a creative gamer (it's looking like the feature will be unlike anything you've ever seen before), and this can be the game that can actually share a good portion of the play time you may have been reserving for Gears of War 2 this November. If you mix that in with the solid platforming the game will undoubtedly possess, we are going to get one hell of an overall package.

There is no reason to panic about Nuts & Bolts at this time, and I simply don't get why people are doing so. Most of the changes that have been revealed to us were necessary for Banjo's survival in this current age of modern video games, and they hardly warrant the treatment it has been receiving. If anything, Rare is only enhancing the series to replayability heights that many just don't expect to see come from a platformer in this day and age. Microsoft may finally be delivering the package we've been promised since they first acquired Rare; and panicking about Nuts & Bolts is the opposite of what you should be doing.