Banjo Kazooie: Grunty's Revenge
23/02/02
Tim Scahefer
If you have played the Banjo games on the N64, then you can't argue when its said that those games are classics. Most Nintendo gamers thought that a Gamecube title was next up, but it has since been announced that a GBA game, Banjo Kazooie: Grunty's Revenge, will be the next game in the series.
GAMEPLAY
Banjo Kazooie: Grunty's Revenge(BKGR) will stay true to the fantastic games on the N64. They were awesome platformers, rivalling even Super Mario 64. BKGR will not differ from this, and will be a platformer that includes all your favourite aspects from the duo's previous outings. Mumbo, everyone's favourite shaman, will return, and if you can meet up with him he will transform you into a variety of creatures. The game will retain its puzzle solving elements, so you can expect tasks like you encountered in the first 2 games. The Jinjo's return the music notes are welcomed back and will once again play a major part of the game, and the Jiggies are the major item you will need to complete the game. Sounds like Banjo Tooie, hey? Well this is where the game differs. For one, the game now has an isometric view so Banjo will be able to explore more freely, and also he will be able to see things better. Rare has also promised to make the puzzles in the game more fun, challenging and entertaining. Also, Rare will provide us with more moves, so there will be some originality in that aspect of the game. Some moves will return from the originals, like the Bill Drill, Wonderwing, Beak Buster, and more of the most popular. It has the formula of the other Banjo games, but enough originality to make it a must have for fans of the series.
GRAPHICS
Banjo Kazooie's graphics were outstanding, and Banjo Tooie's were even better, but suffered slightly from framerate problems. In BKGR, the graphics look brilliant. Rare has catered for the dark screen of the GBA, and the graphics are colourful, and the characters distinguishable from the surrounding environments. The environments are impressive, and are 3D looking, and are detailed enough, but not as to take away from the characters. The character movement is very smooth and Banjo can almost be compared to the way he moves in the 64 bit games. Framerate is said to be solid and unwavering, which is a good thing, as these problems in Banjo Tooie sometimes got frustrating. Just take a look at the game in our screenshots section and you will be reassured that this game is looking great.
STORYLINE
The events in Banjo Kazooie: Grunty's Revenge are somewhere in between the events of BK and BT. The story has somewhat changed. Instead of Gruntilda being rescued by her sisters, her sidekick, Glungo, rescues her from under some rocks. Grunty plans to go back in time, so she can stop herself being defeated, somehow destroying Banjo and Kazooie in the process. Rare has obviously tried hard to familiarise people with what happened between BK and BT, and it seems this may be the stepping stone for the rumoured Banjo Threeie on Gamecube.
OUTLOOK
Another Banjo game, on a system you can take anywhere? What more can we ask for? This will be a kick arse game from the guys at Rare.
Anticipated Rating: 93/100 |
