Banjo-Kazooie 3 screens flood the net

by Justin McElroy { May 12th 2008 at 8:20AM }

When we said that Microsoft was springing some serious pre-Gamer's Day leaks, we meant it. While NeoGAF members were getting the skinny on Viva Piñata and Scene It? sequels, they also tracked down a backpack-ful of new screens for Banjo-Kazooie 3, Rare's adorable action platformer. We've put the whole mess of them below for your enjoyment.

The Joystiq hive mind is split on BK as a series, but even the doubters among us have to admit that these screenshots look ... well, they look magical, OK? There, we said it. They look like magical fun. Are you happy now?

Gallery: Banjo-Kazooie 3

Tags: banjo-kazooie, banjo-kazooie-3, breakingnews, microsoft, rare

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Esat Dedezade @ May 12th 2008 8:22AM

The memories....

Ryan LN @ May 12th 2008 2:29PM

I'm just hoping that the memories don't get shat upon by another hamfisted effort on behalf of our friends at Rare. I swear, on the N64 they could almost do no wrong, with Goldeneye, Jet Force Gemini, Blast Corps, Conker, Banjo- even weak ol' Diddy Kong Racing was fun. But ever since them my ardor for their stuff has been cooled by Starfox Adventures, Perfect Dark Zero, Grabbed by the Ghoulies, and Kameo. It used to be that if I saw something with the golden R on it, it was automatically a must buy. Nowadays... we'll just wait and see. The screens are nice, and I do remain hopeful, but I'm taking this all with a large helping of skeptical sauce.

NoHitHair @ May 12th 2008 3:02PM

Wait... What's this "Rare" company? I have distant memories of Perfect Dark and Conker's Bad Fur Day floating around in my head but I could've sworn those games were made by a company that wasn't a collection of worthless hacks held together vainly by Microsoft's failed purchasing venture.

Ryan LN @ May 12th 2008 3:27PM

Now I wouldn't go so far as to call them worthless hacks. Kameo was not a horrible game; I would even place it in the neighborhood of "good"- it just wasn't *great*. GBTG was pretty much a waste of everyone's time, while I have a personal vendetta against Star Fox Adventures- but to be fair I'm not sure how much of that is the fault of Rare and how much of that is the fault of Nintendo for meddling. All I know is that it has been a long, LONG time since they've come up with anything that has really been worthy of a pedigree that they worked long and hard to establish. Here's hoping.

Tiptup300 @ May 12th 2008 3:38PM

I see a LOT of vehicles. This is not good.

Co @ May 12th 2008 6:57PM

You guys fail to see the talent-sucking disease that is Microsoft. There isn't one Rare game on a Microsoft console that can hold a candlestick in the wind to even Star Fox Adventures. (How do people knock that game? They obviously haven't played it...)

Nintendo bred so much creativity and funding towards Rare, and Rare was probably the only company that knew Nintendo's hardware better than Factor 5.

Ryan LN @ May 14th 2008 2:33PM

Oh, I haven't played Star Fox Adventures? What, did you have some sort of covert electronic surveillance in my home in the early part of this decade? I just think it's so convenient for people to dismiss another's points of view with the "he obviously hasn't played it" brush off when the fact is people just have differences of opinion. Yes, I *have* played Star Fox Adventures (SFA), and with exception of Killer Instinct, I have played to completion and owned every Rare game between Donkey Kong Country through Perfect Dark Zero. With all the fanfare and hype surrounding the release of SFA, you would have thought that it would have been a mix between Zelda, Star Fox, and a big fat orgasm- but instead all we got was a huge ball of "meh"-it offered nothing new to any genre that hadn't been done before or done better, and was a jack of several trades but master of none. Granted, it had pretty decent graphics for the time, but again there was certainly nothing about the game that justified the eight eons in took to for them to finish it.

While I can't say I know any of the good folks who work at Rare, nonetheless I've frequented their website for years and I *like* them- their philosophy about games, their senses of humor, the cryptic hide-the-ball they play with the media and the gaming public. They seem like guys you could have a beer with. Be that as it may, they have just failed to show me anything "special" in the last six plus years. Feel free to disagree all you want, but one of the best predictors of future behavior is past results. I will probably be sucked in and no doubt buy Banjo 3 when it comes in, but if I squander $59.99 on a mediocre title it will be my fault for not learning after the 4th time.

T @ May 12th 2008 8:25AM

While the environments look great....why does Banjo have corners?

acefondu @ May 12th 2008 8:50AM

I agree with you, I like the backgrounds but Banjo is unnecessarily stupid looking.

xFenixKnightx @ May 12th 2008 8:58AM

LEAVE BANJO ALONE!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12175406@N08/1896258636/

Cahlito @ May 12th 2008 9:30AM

i was thinking the same thing. Ahhh the memories of hours spent beating the orignal Banjo Kazooie. Anyone remember that Halloween level?

flameofdoom666 @ May 12th 2008 10:03AM

Yep! Mad Monster Mansion- amazingggg.

I loved Banjo Kazooie and Banjo Tooie- and the same team is doing this one. I will buy it without hesitation. I love me some Rare!

People who say they are not a good company is on crack.

xFenixKnightx @ May 12th 2008 11:08AM

Hey T

Ck this teaser trailer, hes BEEN having these croners lol!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePgIGmYv-sY

xFenixKnightx @ May 12th 2008 11:12AM

*corners

J.Goodwin @ May 12th 2008 11:26AM

Because Banjo had corners on the N64. It's the same reason that his world is made out of blocks.

This is pretty amazing stuff artistically, IMHO. If you didn't play Kameo, I invite you to go back and check it out. It's biggest flaw was that no one could particularly figure out what kind of game it was (it's a character action RPG, btw, kind of a hybrid of Zelda and Mario with a large Kirby influence).

Hopefully reviewers will already understand what a Banjo game is, and this won't be a problem. They haven't released a truly bad game on 360 yet. Their launch titles were still in that launch title mindset, so you kind of have to judge them on that level.

I'm not at all surprised about a new Pinata game, since I think Microsoft always intended this to be an annual franchise, if not series. I think they wanted Kameo to be that way as well, but it didn't work out.

xFenixKnightx @ May 12th 2008 8:27AM

The memories indeed. This is great news! I hope this doesn't get delayed or anything and hopefully it comes out around Nov, or Dec.

Zarim @ May 12th 2008 8:36AM

I will regrettably be withholding my excitement. The originals rocked, but lately Rare can't seem to make a good game.

flameofdoom666 @ May 12th 2008 10:04AM

I disagree. Their games are great.

They might not be as amazing as they once were, but "cannot make a good game" is very irrational and untrue.

Johndude @ May 12th 2008 10:31AM

Agreed

Especially if they give banjo a voice, thats nearly as bad as giving Sonic a voice

I want the grunting banjo of old and having to read everything, thatd be awesome

Tim The Enchanter @ May 12th 2008 10:48AM

They just need to get their groove back, much like Stella did. They're making good games, but not GREAT games like they used to. I want a good Perfect Dark and Killer Instinct!

tmacairjordan87 @ May 12th 2008 2:33PM

Rare hasn't made a game truly worth mentioning since the original conker's bad fur day on the N64's deathbed.

voodoo_craig @ May 12th 2008 8:37AM

Okay, now I'm very excited!

TheHuntIsOn @ May 12th 2008 8:44AM

I find it hard to get excited by Rare games these days. Gotta say this one looks beautiful. And magical. But it still says Rare.

Portach.king @ May 12th 2008 8:53AM

Well from a quick glance the level design looks like it keeping spirit with the original title, which seems good, though the revised character design has yet to win me over (having said that, they weren't the most appealing character designs in the first place ;) )
From the looks of things this will be Microsoft's big game for tomorrow. I'm genuinely surprised, do they expect this to be this years Super Mario Galaxy? If they do, I just hope that Rare have altered the tone a little from the original titles. It tried to hard to go for the broad humour (talk toilets, belching Hippos etc.) whereas games like Mario work so well because they have confidence in their style and charm. If Banjo 3 nails that too (along with the originals level of gameplay) they may have a real winner on their hands.

FOXHOUND @ May 12th 2008 9:09AM

Battletoads Saga for XBLA, plz. :\

colinbell @ May 12th 2008 9:20AM

Expect another third rate flop from a once great developer. What were the last few titles from rare? PDZ, Kameo, Viva Pinata. Its sad really, but understandable when you realise that the core team of developers of Goldeneye is not longer part of Rare.

joshua @ May 12th 2008 9:30AM

Viva Pinata was awesome, the fact that it didn't sell is a travesty in the gaming world. As for

flameofdoom666 @ May 12th 2008 10:07AM

Yes, PDZ wasnt as good as the original- but it was not BAD. Also, Kameo was amazing for what it tried to do- why don't you play and beat it-. Its great.

colinbell @ May 12th 2008 10:23AM

Well I concede you may be right about Viva Pinata - pretty innovative game. Lets see - these guys were the kings of the console market in the pre-PS2/XBOX era.

Misfit Toy @ May 12th 2008 9:20AM

Does it get any better than a bear and a bird in his backpack Justin? Haha...I said bird in his backpack. Haha.

"Is that a bird in your backpack or are you just happy to see me? Whoa...geez...it is a bird!"

samfish @ May 12th 2008 9:27AM

I don't like that Banjo still looks like a hillbilly rapist and I'm kind of 'meh' on the overall visual style, but I'm still excited.

This is Rare's last chance to prove that they're still a great developer, though. If they screw this up by making it anything less that perfect, I think people will permanently write them off.

xFenixKnightx @ May 12th 2008 9:58AM

No doubt though, if it were a Nintendo game instead of MS you would be ALL over it.

samfish @ May 12th 2008 10:06AM

Uh...since I've said it to you personally in the past, what part of "I will very probably buy a 360 just for Banjo" do you not understand?

And yes, I would be all over it if it were Nintendo. Nintendo has nothing to prove at this point when it comes to making quality games.

It's Rare, though, so some doubt is understandable.

flameofdoom666 @ May 12th 2008 10:09AM

Samfish- I am a Nintendio Fanboy at heart- and Rare still makes Nintendo-esque games. I boug ht a 360- and Kameo is fantastic. Try it out- you will love it! Its a throwback to their N64 days as far as I am concerned. I loved it.

Its hard for a platformer company to get by these days- that is their real problem.

Vcize @ May 12th 2008 10:15AM

"Nintendo has nothing to prove at this point when it comes to making quality games."

Eh, says you. Personally when I find 10+ year old 2-generation ago versions of their biggest franchises to be better games even in today's world (MK64, SM64, OoT) than the current adaptations of those series that is a problem too me.

I realize however, that I am in the minority. And perhaps that is just a symptom of how ahead of the game they were in those genres back then, but it would be nice if they could at least catch up to where they were 10 years ago.

samfish @ May 12th 2008 10:17AM

I've played Kameo and I like it.

...it's just not worth buying a system for. I would, however, pick it up if/when I get a 360.

I've always maintained that I'd buy a 360 based on two things: Banjo 3 and whatever Platinum Games is doing.
And speaking of!
http://kotaku.com/5008698/sega-and-platinum-games-join-forces

So if Rare doesn't fuck Banjo 3 up and Platinum puts one of those games on the 360, I reckon I'll be buying one!

TheHuntIsOn @ May 12th 2008 10:31AM

Yes Fenix, because what Rare put on the Gamecube was nothing but brilliant.

They've evidently had their time. A shame though that both Rare and Free Radical are now both terrible.

xFenixKnightx @ May 12th 2008 10:41AM

"what part of "I will very probably buy a 360 just for Banjo" do you not understand?"

Who in the hell cares if you buy one or not?!! The point I was making is that if it were a Nintendo game you first post would of went something like this.

"Those screens look amazing and I cant wait to get my hands on this."

Nuff said.

*Starts looking for old Banjo footage on youtube to reminisce some more

samfish @ May 12th 2008 11:25AM

""Those screens look amazing and I cant wait to get my hands on this.""

Gee, do you think that might have something to do with my having a Wii and thus have a reason to be more eager for it?

What the Hell is wrong with you? I said I don't like the visual style. Stop being a tool and trying to play some absurd fanboy card on me. I don't know why the Hell you're under the impression I never say bad things about Nintendo. I've criticized them plenty of times in the past.