Banjo-Kazooie 3 screens flood the net

by Justin McElroy on May 12th 2008 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

Source

Tags: banjo-kazooie, banjo-kazooie-3, Banjo-Kazooie-Nuts-and-Bolts, breakingnews, microsoft, Microsoft-Game-Studios, rare, Xbox-360

Reader Comments (71)

looks shit

I bet this ends up being a complete and utter Little Big Planet rip-off.

...I bet this ends up being nothing like LBP. What the hell are you talking about?

If by "complete and utter rip off" you mean SLIGHTLY similar styles (only in that they're both cartooney) then I guess you would be right. But thats not what you mean, so you aren't.

Banjo-Kazooie: Released 1998.
Little Big Planet: Still unreleased.

Even if they were similar, who'd be ripping off who?

Any else notice the "block" looking pieces in the vehicles and the apparent workshop in the last couple shots?

I dare say we have a custom vehicle builder reminiscent of Gummy ships on our hands here. That alone makes me excited for this title.

Holy crap. Rare always did know how to work a console to look its best.

woah, I heard it looked like a racer.
and it does.

All the pics have backgrounds which are very close. There's a big dome in one case and in these, big sky-painted walls. It's as if this game is running on an engine that can't do distance draw, perhaps the Viva engine?

It sure keeps to keep the number of objects down, which means each object can look better. But simultanously, if you look at the original released Viva "screenshots", they weren't rendered in-game and the later game, as good as it looked, didn't look as good as the bullshots did.

I loved Banjo-Kazooie, it was one of the best games on N64. Banjo-Tooie was a letdown, using the seasons gimmick and other things to make you do rather few levels many times through.

Beyond ugly. How do they manage to go wrong with Banjo, especially after so many years in development? The N64 games were superb, this just looks like trash.

anyone else think the "banjo 4x4" is a lil nod to the warthog?

I thought Kameo was good. This, on the other hand, doesn't look too hot from the screens. Doesn't look much better than Kameo in terms of graphics. Rare, I think, have lost their magic.

Huh. Remember when this was called Conker's Bad Fur Day and was a much better game?

Looks fairly impressive. I'm glad the graphics aren't as rubbery as Kameo and PDZ. I love Kameo, but damn... those were some rubbery-looking textures.

I, too, am worried about the art direction of this game.

Seriously, why do Banjo and Kazooie look so... unlike Banjo and Kazooie?
Banjo has oddly sharp "edges" as if he were made from Legos (Lego B-K, confirmed), and Kazooie's face just throws me off.

Still, if they can make it a solid platformer like the last two games in the series (ignoring the GBA games), then I'll get it, regardless of art style.

As long as Banjo is quirky and cheerful and Kazooie is a sarcastic dick I'll be juuust fiiine. I also miss the great voice over/music/audio/graphics/gameplay/rareware-ness.

I'm worried about this sudden focus on vehicles, but otherwise, I'm sure this'll be just as awesome as the original, possibly just as awesome as its sequel, and maybe, just maybe, SURPASS Tooie.

But if they don't change the name to Banjo-Threeie, I'll already have lost some hope.