Banjo Kazooie Nuts and Bolts Demo on XBLM

[modeps]

Yesterday Major Nelson posted that the Tomb Raider Underworld demo was up. Now, we've got another notice from the Major (http://majornelson.com/archive/2008/10/29/demo-banjo-kazooie-n-amp-b-demo.aspx) that the upcoming, value-priced Banjo Kazooie Nuts and Bolts also has a demo up on XBLM.

Content: Banjo Kazooie N&B Demo
Price: Free
Availability: All Xbox LIVE regions
Dash Text: [ESRB: E10+ (Everyone 10+) CARTOON VIOLENCE,COMIC MISCHIEF] Build awe-inspiring vehicles and tackle the Jiggy challenges in any way you see fit! Show your creations off over Xbox LIVE.
Size: 1.07 GB

Now we can see if this building stuff is actually fun.

[lost]

Grrr. Fable 2 doesn't allow background downloads so all this cool stuff is coming out in demo form and I can't play it.

Think I'll make time tonight!

[menage]

Wow, awesome, actually a demo which could be of some use in my decision. I really want this to be good.

[modeps]

I just spent roughly 15 minutes with the demo and my overall first impression is that it seems like this will be a fun game. The art style rules, music is non-invasive and charming, and I'm actually somewhat amazed at how good this game's graphics look. Everything is super colorful, sharp and polished looking, framerate is steady... not much more you can ask for, unless you don't dig on the art style.

The building aspect seems like it could get really deep at some point, the first cart you build, even though its a bit on the simple side of creation, forces you to remember that you'll need a seat, engine, fuel, wheels, and deck. Honestly, I wasn't expecting the need for either an engine or a gas tank but that's just my inexperience talking. While they aren't open immediately, there's a lot of menus to go through in the vehicle creation, each with multiple tiers. For example, you pick engine, you pick the size of the engine, then you pick the engine itself. These, I'm guessing, will get fleshed out as the game progresses and you gather more crates.

One thing I didn't care for was the lack of spoken dialog. The 'cutscenes' are presented with two conversation boxes which sport a bit small of a font on my 42" HDTV. Not sure if I can increase the size as I haven't gone looking as of yet. In terms of style, I understand why they went with text instead of speech, but its just slightly off putting. Plus, the cutscenes lets the dialog advance by yourself, so if you're not a fast reader or aren't paying attention... whoops. Interacting with characters allows you to manually advance conversation though.

Driving the initial vehicle felt pretty good. Gas and brake work as they are expected to, with brake turning into reverse if you're stopped. Turning felt good. The only issues I had were when I was trying to do a three point turn, or a narrow maneuver near some walls. I didn't feel like I had as much control over things when doing the 3-point turn, and the camera got a little wonky trying to correct itself when I was next to a wall.

In general so far, I'm not discarding this demo immediately like I often do. The few minutes I did play made me want to go back in and visit the town again to see what else the demo allowed me to do. I can already see this game being a collector's dream just from the sheer number of items that seem to be scattered throughout the world.

[Morpheus]

I just spent roughly 15 minutes with the demo... sheer number of items that seem to be scattered throughout the world.

That sounds absolutely terrific. Can't wait to try the demo.

The two first games were awesome and it just seems they have expanded on those. Am I correct in that assumption or have they changed much?

[modeps]

That sounds absolutely terrific. Can't wait to try the demo.

The two first games were awesome and it just seems they have expanded on those. Am I correct in that assumption or have they changed much?

I'm a newcomer to the series, so I can't comment on the previous. While I had an N64, it completely passed me by.

[Morpheus]

I'm a newcomer to the series, so I can't comment on the previous. While I had an N64, it completely passed me by.

That's too bad. You should buy the first one on XBLM and play it sometimes. Great game.

[Chimpbot]

I'm a newcomer to the series, so I can't comment on the previous. While I had an N64, it completely passed me by.

If you enjoyed Mario 64 and want eighteen times the number of things that need to be collected, then any Rare platformer will be right up your alley.
I, for one, got pissed off with Banjo and Donkey Kong; Rare took what Nintendo did with Mario and made it slightly less fun.

With that being said, I'm still very much interested in this new entry to the series; the creation aspect seems killer and intruiged me right from the start. When you couple that with the fact that it's a budget release for some reason, you've just made a sale.

[D_Reaper]

If you enjoyed Mario 64 and want eighteen times the number of things that need to be collected, then any Rare platformer will be right up your alley.
I, for one, got pissed off with Banjo and Donkey Kong; Rare took what Nintendo did with Mario and made it slightly less fun.

With that being said, I'm still very much interested in this new entry to the series; the creation aspect seems killer and intruiged me right from the start. When you couple that with the fact that it's a budget release for some reason, you've just made a sale.

Don't forget the fact that you can get the original just for preordering, and I hear that it's a 15 dollar value.

[ElektroDragon]

Grrr. Fable 2 doesn't allow background downloads so all this cool stuff is coming out in demo form and I can't play it.

Think I'll make time tonight!

Play Fallout 3 then, it merrily allows background downloading with no issues.

[lost]

Not until Friday my friend! Apparently us British can't cope with games on Tuesdays.

[Chimpbot]

Don't forget the fact that you can get the original just for preordering, and I hear that it's a 15 dollar value.

Getting the chance to play the original again isn't much of an incentive for me. Still...it's free. Why not?

[yourdarkesthour]

Holy shit. I have been looking forward to this game for EIGHT YEARS. The first two are easily on my top ten of favorite games of all time. And I'm not going to preorder it because I feel like I owe it to Banjo to actually pay for him. Because that makes perfect sense.

[ElektroDragon]

I'm new to Banjo and was totally unimpressed with the demo. I canceled my preorder! It makes NO SENSE, is not funny, and is just downright idiotic. I don't see how I could ever have fun with this game. Maybe I just don't "get" it. The new Spyro is infinitely better than this thing.

[jacob.armitage]

it didn't seem bad, its just that i wanted a traditional banjo game like you would not believe. i just can't get over my disappointment that its not. if this game was with a different IP thank Banjo, i would probably be all over it. hopefully this will bring enough interest back in the series that we will get a real Banjo three.