Microsoft has come bearing (GEDDIT? BECAUSE BANJO IS A BEAR) bad news, notifying 1UP that the general Xbox Live Arcade release of Rare's classic N64 platformer, Banjo-Kazooie, has been delayed until Dec 3rd. It would appear the high-res re-release has been pushed back in order to extend the period of exclusivity, granted to those who preordered vehicular adventure Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts and failed to receive their bonus XBLA download codes.
Microsoft is currently "investigating" the holdup, urging customers who did not receive a redeem code to contact their retailers' customer service departments. That's always a grizzly task. GEDDIT? BECAUSE GRIZZLY IS A TYPE OF BEAR AND BANJO IS A BEAR.
"It would appear the high-res re-release has been pushed back in order to extend the period of exclusivity, granted to those who preordered vehicular adventure Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts and failed to receive their bonus XBLA download codes."
Well that almost makes me regret making Gamestop refund my money when I tried to go buy the game last week.
They desperately need to fix the lag in the xbla version. I couldn't understand why there was so much lag in a 10 year old game, specially in areas with water.
I agree tmac. Not with the Banjo part as i havent played the 360 remake. But the general idea of old-school games running badly. Paper Mario 64 on the Virtual Console comes to mind. I love that game and downloaded it immediatly when it was available, but the frame-rate in battle sequences is so bad. It's not choppy, just the game seems to run smoothly in slow-motion. Really annoying.
Same here... I never got a chance to play any of the Banjo games on N64, but I loved Mario 64 and DK64 and other platformers. Totally worth the preorder!
So this makes sense to everyone? They screwed up and to make it up to the preorder people they make everyone else wait an extra week. Wow what a great idea. I think my teacher used this strategy on us in kindergarten. I had planned on preordering this but considering that I rarely get my bonuses at gamestop I decided to save my money. I think that Left 4 Dead's preorder bonus was the best idea, just knock $5 off if I preorder. At least I know that I will get it.
I doubt the people who pre-ordered even give a shit about exclusivity. Are they suddenly going to be happier knowing that nobody else can play the game? What an utterly stupid idea.
so guess what? two weeks ago a friend of mine who knows someone at EB had three extra codes, the day after Banjo was released, so he gave me one, and im LOVING IT. HA. its actually unreal, the music is chilling in its nostalgia. Just started the mansion level and have 600 notes total:). not to mention the achievements are really fun, and add to the frantic need to collect, Collect, COLLECT!
As frustrating as Nuts and Bolts is it was always nice to just use the quick launch feature from the NXE to jump right into the original Banjo Kazooie to release the tension.
It just keeps reminding me that Rare should probably go back and make a new Banjo game the way it's meant to be. I appreciate them trying to take a risk and do something new, but it doesn't really work that well.
The new Banjo is awesome. I really don't see what's so frustrating about it. Not that I wouldn't like a BK with more old school platforming, but I like this one as well.
The vehicles drive... oddly, is the best way I can describe it, and getting snagged on anything and everything you bump into can be incredibly frustrating.
It's taking some getting used to. I've gotten better at driving, but trying to pass some of those large cars in the races still trips me up pretty badly. And the escort missions, oh man I can't seem to protect anyone.
I'm with you on that sentiment, tmac. Not sure how far into Nuts and Bolts you are, but the first 5-6 jiggies are the worst part. Things start to get better once you get the high-grip wheels and flight parts.
I was really missing the old formula at the beginning, but I'm slowly finding myself liking the new one more and more. The levels get more interesting too. Especially the Xbox 720 level. It's giving me Jet Force Gemini SS Anubis flashbacks.
Zertoss said it in a nice way, but these vehicles drive and handle like total shit. I've made about 30 vehicles and played with about 20-30 premade vehicles and not 1 handles decently. I like exploring the main town and the worlds, but the missions are awful. To be honest I have no idea why I'm even still playing it...achievements I guess.
"It's taking some getting used to. I've gotten better at driving, but trying to pass some of those large cars in the races still trips me up pretty badly. And the escort missions, oh man I can't seem to protect anyone."
You need to start thinking outside the box. That's where this game shines and where most people miss out. Have you watch any of the replays of people doing the mission on the leaderboards? If not, do so. You'll see great ideas.
For example, on the races, if you have the option to use your own vehicle (for a land race) then use a motorcycle. I was having trouble doing that one race through the dry riverbed. The other cars were too big and so was my vehicle. So I just crashed all the time and my vehicle controlled oddly in the curved riverbed bottom. So I watched the reply of the top guy on the leaderboard for that mission and he used some crazy looking long motorcycle. So I then built one and, in a single race, went from not even coming close to finishing first to winning the race by huge margin and getting the TT trophy.
If you're in a mission where you have to use LOG's choice for the vehicle... right at the start jump out and hit B to enter the car editing tool. The mission and time will pause and you can actually reconfigure your vecicle. So you can make the vehicle more streamlined. I didn't even realize you could do this in a LOG's choice mission until I saw it on a leaderboard replay.
For the escort missions... You mean like where you have to protect that guy running for example? You know that blueprint for the cage vehicle Humba gives you? I modified that. I then drove right behind the runner to that he was running inside the cage. Most of the enemies couldn't even SEE him in the cage so they never attacked. A few times I turned the vehicle a little to the side so that runner would get caught and not be able to continue down his path. This allowed me to jump out and go destroy the enemies before continuing. I finished that challenge with the runner having perfect health.
I used a similar strategy for that mission where you have to protect the egg statue from those bombers. I made the cage tall and put a top on it. Then all I had to do was drive forward and put the statue inside the cage... boom, done, perfect finish.
Seriously, so many of these people dissing BK N&B are just so clueless about what's possible in this game. They're really missing out on a great game.
Ah, I didn't know you could modify the LOG's choice vehicles, I'll have to try that.
I thought of using the cage to protect Mr. Fit (I don't think I can make one big enough for Clanker's eyes), I just haven't gotten around to trying it yet. Too much time spent exploring Showdown Town and not playing the game at all due to work.
About the vehicles in general, I don't think they control poorly at all. I mean, the game's not trying to be Forza, but most of the control issues have to do with the vehicle layout. The amount of power, wheel placement, and weight distribution and play huge roles in how your vehicle controls. That's not to say I don't frustrated from time to time, but overall things that go wrong are gnerally my fault.
Yeah, I don't think that's possible with Clank's Eyes. Though I supposed you could put a cage around one and then just bash away with your wrench on foot. I just built a tank with guns on multiple sides.
But that is the perfect example of when to check the leaderboard for a mission. I haven't watched the replay for that one myself, but I bet if we did we would see some sort of creative solution.
This is an excellent release. I'm not sure what the above poster is complaining about re: lag, but I suspect that they're just crazy.
I'm in the same boat, I'm up to Click Clock Woods and I have a perfect score in terms of getting every note and jiggy. Click Clock Woods is the finest 3d platforming level, EVER. Even though the jumping can be quite frustrating, it's not because of the controls or anything like that, it's my inability to do things correctly.
Also, people should play this just as a reminder of how crappy game cameras used to be in the early days of 3D gaming. I quickly got back into the habit of nursing the camera (the stick is a lot better than the c-buttons for that), but the first level or two were a harsh reminder of how far we've come.
I played this for a short bit the other day, good port save for some fairly inexplicable slowdown from time to time. Time has revealed to me how amazingly bad the dialog in the game is.
I also find it pretty strange that when you select 'quit game' from the pause menu, it shows you a bad ending and says Game Over, as if you died. I just wanted to quit playing, wtf.
I beat this game this past weekend. I've collected everything in the game, save the Stop 'n' Swap items. I've also got Bottles' puzzles to finish. I pretty much played it from start to finish, I just couldn't pull myself away. It's easily one of my all time favorite platformers.
The sudden onset of major frame skipping in certain areas was annoying though. I suspect it's due to the game originally not being designed with 1080p or even widescreen in mind.
I am...So sorry Banjo and Kazooie...I am sorry Rare resurrected, raped and put you both in that abomination of a game they call 'Nuts and Bolts' ...I am sorry I couldn't do anything...We will sue those bastards for all their worth and then we can bring back your honor for such a horrendous thing they did to you.
Is it just me, or is your nose square? The fan's will hate it you butt-ugly bear! - Gruntilda
Rare pokes fun at the wild departure from the other BK games (and the new art style, which I happen to like) throughout the entire game. Or at least throughout the entire beginning of the game, I've only just made it into Banjo Land.
So far, I'm loving Nuts & Bolts, but I'd like to see another BK platforming collect-a-thon too.
You are obviously not a god dam B&K fan and you were obviously not a god dam 8 year old being enthralled by the music and dreamlike worlds and sights.
Everything in Nuts and Bolts is so disgusting and the Rude Goldberg crap is outlandish. Rare is paying through their ass this time with it at least being a B- grade reviewed game....This game is not anything special...
I hope Rare continue to do their own thing, just to spite these fanatics. Nuts and Bolts may not be a straight up platform game, but it's still classic Banjo and it's a lot of fun to play.
Banjo does not show his face every dam month playing tennis or volleyball or some shi....It is forgivable to stick that stereotypical Italian in a dress and say that every idiot will play it anyway.
...But when they have that one shot in 10 years to bring back something memorable and true to a fashion that makes us remind what a great game it was...They fell far on broken knees.
Crap I really wanted to buy it but I didn't want to get Banjo 360 yet but I REALLY wanted Banjo XBLA. I'm going to see if my Gamestop stil has the pre-order codes so I can get one.
good luck. i went to pre-order the game and was told i wouldn't get the code. so what is the use of pre-ordering without getting the incentive? now this happens. i contacted customer service and was told if i had a pre-order receipt i could get the code e-mailed to me. oh well....
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
samfish @ Nov 20th 2008 9:47AM
"It would appear the high-res re-release has been pushed back in order to extend the period of exclusivity, granted to those who preordered vehicular adventure Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts and failed to receive their bonus XBLA download codes."
Well that almost makes me regret making Gamestop refund my money when I tried to go buy the game last week.
Tiptup300 @ Nov 20th 2008 1:45PM
I preordered, picked it up and they said they ran out of the bonus cards, I tried emailing gamestop about it, I hope that works.
Zertoss @ Nov 20th 2008 9:49AM
I'm flipping you the bird right now, Ludwig.
GEDDIT? BECAUSE KAZOOIE IS A BIRD.
Nap @ Nov 20th 2008 9:53AM
I don't get it
j.howlett @ Nov 20th 2008 1:00PM
you should get an extra heart or something
ThornedVenom (Harley Quinn Defense Force) @ Nov 20th 2008 6:40PM
But haven't you heard?
http://www.tbitw.com/
KishiScott @ Nov 20th 2008 9:53AM
I don't think I can bear another pun...
But, that kinda stinks for people who didn't pre-order the game.
Maybe Microsoft is fixing some of the bugs in the re-release version.
tmacairjordan87 @ Nov 20th 2008 10:24AM
They desperately need to fix the lag in the xbla version. I couldn't understand why there was so much lag in a 10 year old game, specially in areas with water.
Foetoid @ Nov 20th 2008 7:06PM
I agree tmac. Not with the Banjo part as i havent played the 360 remake. But the general idea of old-school games running badly. Paper Mario 64 on the Virtual Console comes to mind. I love that game and downloaded it immediatly when it was available, but the frame-rate in battle sequences is so bad. It's not choppy, just the game seems to run smoothly in slow-motion. Really annoying.
Jason W @ Nov 20th 2008 10:11AM
Ive been playing it more than the real game. I cant wait until part 2 goes up.
Shawn Handyside @ Nov 20th 2008 5:35PM
Same here... I never got a chance to play any of the Banjo games on N64, but I loved Mario 64 and DK64 and other platformers. Totally worth the preorder!
Steve @ Nov 20th 2008 10:18AM
So this makes sense to everyone? They screwed up and to make it up to the preorder people they make everyone else wait an extra week. Wow what a great idea. I think my teacher used this strategy on us in kindergarten. I had planned on preordering this but considering that I rarely get my bonuses at gamestop I decided to save my money. I think that Left 4 Dead's preorder bonus was the best idea, just knock $5 off if I preorder. At least I know that I will get it.
T @ Nov 20th 2008 10:33AM
I'm pretty sure "$5 off" refers to the 5 dollars you put down on the game at the time of reservation.
I seem to recall hearing this pitch used before...
Dr. Stabbingworth @ Nov 20th 2008 11:36AM
I doubt the people who pre-ordered even give a shit about exclusivity. Are they suddenly going to be happier knowing that nobody else can play the game? What an utterly stupid idea.
flameofdoom666 @ Nov 20th 2008 12:49PM
I like the idea of having it exclusive. Personally, people can see my banjo achievements and they cannot even buy the game! Bragging righttssss!!
Steve @ Nov 21st 2008 10:18AM
No It is an actual $5 off. I have already purchased it. Thanks for speculating like you know what your talking about though. Typical Internet BS.
amart @ Nov 20th 2008 10:26AM
so guess what? two weeks ago a friend of mine who knows someone at EB had three extra codes, the day after Banjo was released, so he gave me one, and im LOVING IT. HA.
its actually unreal, the music is chilling in its nostalgia.
Just started the mansion level and have 600 notes total:).
not to mention the achievements are really fun, and add to the frantic need to collect, Collect, COLLECT!
tmacairjordan87 @ Nov 20th 2008 10:28AM
As frustrating as Nuts and Bolts is it was always nice to just use the quick launch feature from the NXE to jump right into the original Banjo Kazooie to release the tension.
It just keeps reminding me that Rare should probably go back and make a new Banjo game the way it's meant to be. I appreciate them trying to take a risk and do something new, but it doesn't really work that well.
Vidikron @ Nov 20th 2008 12:39PM
The new Banjo is awesome. I really don't see what's so frustrating about it. Not that I wouldn't like a BK with more old school platforming, but I like this one as well.
Zertoss @ Nov 20th 2008 1:01PM
The vehicles drive... oddly, is the best way I can describe it, and getting snagged on anything and everything you bump into can be incredibly frustrating.
It's taking some getting used to. I've gotten better at driving, but trying to pass some of those large cars in the races still trips me up pretty badly. And the escort missions, oh man I can't seem to protect anyone.
ChooChooCharlie @ Nov 20th 2008 1:06PM
I'm with you on that sentiment, tmac. Not sure how far into Nuts and Bolts you are, but the first 5-6 jiggies are the worst part. Things start to get better once you get the high-grip wheels and flight parts.
I was really missing the old formula at the beginning, but I'm slowly finding myself liking the new one more and more. The levels get more interesting too. Especially the Xbox 720 level. It's giving me Jet Force Gemini SS Anubis flashbacks.
tmacairjordan87 @ Nov 20th 2008 1:09PM
Zertoss said it in a nice way, but these vehicles drive and handle like total shit. I've made about 30 vehicles and played with about 20-30 premade vehicles and not 1 handles decently. I like exploring the main town and the worlds, but the missions are awful. To be honest I have no idea why I'm even still playing it...achievements I guess.
Vidikron @ Nov 20th 2008 1:41PM
@zertoss
"It's taking some getting used to. I've gotten better at driving, but trying to pass some of those large cars in the races still trips me up pretty badly. And the escort missions, oh man I can't seem to protect anyone."
You need to start thinking outside the box. That's where this game shines and where most people miss out. Have you watch any of the replays of people doing the mission on the leaderboards? If not, do so. You'll see great ideas.
For example, on the races, if you have the option to use your own vehicle (for a land race) then use a motorcycle. I was having trouble doing that one race through the dry riverbed. The other cars were too big and so was my vehicle. So I just crashed all the time and my vehicle controlled oddly in the curved riverbed bottom. So I watched the reply of the top guy on the leaderboard for that mission and he used some crazy looking long motorcycle. So I then built one and, in a single race, went from not even coming close to finishing first to winning the race by huge margin and getting the TT trophy.
If you're in a mission where you have to use LOG's choice for the vehicle... right at the start jump out and hit B to enter the car editing tool. The mission and time will pause and you can actually reconfigure your vecicle. So you can make the vehicle more streamlined. I didn't even realize you could do this in a LOG's choice mission until I saw it on a leaderboard replay.
For the escort missions... You mean like where you have to protect that guy running for example? You know that blueprint for the cage vehicle Humba gives you? I modified that. I then drove right behind the runner to that he was running inside the cage. Most of the enemies couldn't even SEE him in the cage so they never attacked. A few times I turned the vehicle a little to the side so that runner would get caught and not be able to continue down his path. This allowed me to jump out and go destroy the enemies before continuing. I finished that challenge with the runner having perfect health.
I used a similar strategy for that mission where you have to protect the egg statue from those bombers. I made the cage tall and put a top on it. Then all I had to do was drive forward and put the statue inside the cage... boom, done, perfect finish.
Seriously, so many of these people dissing BK N&B are just so clueless about what's possible in this game. They're really missing out on a great game.
Zertoss @ Nov 20th 2008 1:47PM
Ah, I didn't know you could modify the LOG's choice vehicles, I'll have to try that.
I thought of using the cage to protect Mr. Fit (I don't think I can make one big enough for Clanker's eyes), I just haven't gotten around to trying it yet. Too much time spent exploring Showdown Town and not playing the game at all due to work.
Thanks for the tips, Vidikron.
Vidikron @ Nov 20th 2008 1:47PM
About the vehicles in general, I don't think they control poorly at all. I mean, the game's not trying to be Forza, but most of the control issues have to do with the vehicle layout. The amount of power, wheel placement, and weight distribution and play huge roles in how your vehicle controls. That's not to say I don't frustrated from time to time, but overall things that go wrong are gnerally my fault.
Vidikron @ Nov 20th 2008 1:52PM
Yeah, I don't think that's possible with Clank's Eyes. Though I supposed you could put a cage around one and then just bash away with your wrench on foot. I just built a tank with guns on multiple sides.
But that is the perfect example of when to check the leaderboard for a mission. I haven't watched the replay for that one myself, but I bet if we did we would see some sort of creative solution.
Rollins @ Nov 20th 2008 10:35AM
Microsoft seems to be very good at botching giving out codes, huh?
Oh, and the full page ads, Joystiq? Not cool.
T @ Nov 20th 2008 10:49AM
Agreed. First the hummingbird, then Circuit City...now Ozzie.
And sometimes I don't even have to click a jump, it just loads with the main page.
Mr Khan @ Nov 20th 2008 11:36AM
In before someone with adBlock bitches
BPMOmega [gamertag] @ Nov 20th 2008 3:29PM
You guys should just get Adbl--oh, Goddammit.
SilverFireshot @ Nov 20th 2008 10:38AM
I should be just about finished with the game by then. :D
T @ Nov 20th 2008 10:49AM
First the Fable Redeem Code issue, then problems with the RB2 redeem codes...now this.
Hmm....
J.Goodwin @ Nov 20th 2008 10:52AM
This is an excellent release. I'm not sure what the above poster is complaining about re: lag, but I suspect that they're just crazy.
I'm in the same boat, I'm up to Click Clock Woods and I have a perfect score in terms of getting every note and jiggy. Click Clock Woods is the finest 3d platforming level, EVER. Even though the jumping can be quite frustrating, it's not because of the controls or anything like that, it's my inability to do things correctly.
Also, people should play this just as a reminder of how crappy game cameras used to be in the early days of 3D gaming. I quickly got back into the habit of nursing the camera (the stick is a lot better than the c-buttons for that), but the first level or two were a harsh reminder of how far we've come.
And the quiz show at the end remains fiendish.
J.Goodwin @ Nov 20th 2008 2:41PM
Quick update, I got all the notes and jiggies and honeycombs, so now I'm down to just finishing the quiz show and final boss.
This is, to put it mildly, the tough part.
russtophiles @ Nov 20th 2008 10:59AM
I played this for a short bit the other day, good port save for some fairly inexplicable slowdown from time to time. Time has revealed to me how amazingly bad the dialog in the game is.
I also find it pretty strange that when you select 'quit game' from the pause menu, it shows you a bad ending and says Game Over, as if you died. I just wanted to quit playing, wtf.
Zertoss @ Nov 20th 2008 11:04AM
I beat this game this past weekend. I've collected everything in the game, save the Stop 'n' Swap items. I've also got Bottles' puzzles to finish. I pretty much played it from start to finish, I just couldn't pull myself away. It's easily one of my all time favorite platformers.
The sudden onset of major frame skipping in certain areas was annoying though. I suspect it's due to the game originally not being designed with 1080p or even widescreen in mind.
Lavat @ Nov 20th 2008 11:34AM
I am...So sorry Banjo and Kazooie...I am sorry Rare resurrected, raped and put you both in that abomination of a game they call 'Nuts and Bolts' ...I am sorry I couldn't do anything...We will sue
those bastards for all their worth and then we can bring back your honor for such a horrendous thing they did to you.
russtophiles @ Nov 20th 2008 11:40AM
Man, you old school Banjo fans are worse than Fallout fans. Ohhhhh change! Scary!!!!
Zertoss @ Nov 20th 2008 11:46AM
Is it just me, or is your nose square? The fan's will hate it you butt-ugly bear! - Gruntilda
Rare pokes fun at the wild departure from the other BK games (and the new art style, which I happen to like) throughout the entire game. Or at least throughout the entire beginning of the game, I've only just made it into Banjo Land.
So far, I'm loving Nuts & Bolts, but I'd like to see another BK platforming collect-a-thon too.
T @ Nov 20th 2008 1:02PM
There's a difference between "change" and "expansion".
Nuts & Bolts doesn't build on previous game mechanics...it REMOVES THEM.
Like I've been saying since day one. I have a bear with a freakin' BIRD strapped to his back and I have to build a plane to get around.
That's not "change", that's "bs".
Lavat @ Nov 20th 2008 12:50PM
@rustophies (Whatever the hell your name is)
You are obviously not a god dam B&K fan and you were obviously not a god dam 8 year old being enthralled by the music and dreamlike worlds and sights.
Everything in Nuts and Bolts is so disgusting and the Rude Goldberg crap is outlandish. Rare is paying through their ass this time with it at least being a B- grade reviewed game....This game is not anything special...
Zertoss @ Nov 20th 2008 1:07PM
Mario Galaxy launches, and the internets are filled with "It's the same game I played 10 years ago! Fuck this shit!"
Nuts & Bolts launches, and the internets are filled with "It's not the same game I played 10 years ago! Fuck this shit!"
I love the internet so much.
Snowblind @ Nov 20th 2008 1:11PM
I hope Rare continue to do their own thing, just to spite these fanatics. Nuts and Bolts may not be a straight up platform game, but it's still classic Banjo and it's a lot of fun to play.
Lavat @ Nov 20th 2008 1:37PM
@Zertoss
Banjo does not show his face every dam month playing tennis or volleyball or some shi....It is forgivable to stick that stereotypical Italian in a dress and say that every idiot will play it anyway.
...But when they have that one shot in 10 years to bring back something memorable and true to a fashion that makes us remind what a great game it was...They fell far on broken knees.
Zertoss @ Nov 20th 2008 1:57PM
Mario had been in just as many collect-a-thon 3D platformers as Banjo and Kazooie before Galaxy launched. My comparison stands.
Donald @ Nov 20th 2008 12:11PM
People say that it's not funny if you have to explain it.
Those people are full of it, because I'm laughing my ass off.
Juanblue85 @ Nov 20th 2008 1:06PM
Crap I really wanted to buy it but I didn't want to get Banjo 360 yet but I REALLY wanted Banjo XBLA. I'm going to see if my Gamestop stil has the pre-order codes so I can get one.
Lucipher @ Nov 20th 2008 1:32PM
good luck. i went to pre-order the game and was told i wouldn't get the code. so what is the use of pre-ordering without getting the incentive? now this happens. i contacted customer service and was told if i had a pre-order receipt i could get the code e-mailed to me. oh well....
BPMOmega [gamertag] @ Nov 20th 2008 3:31PM
Wait a second...
Banjo's a bear?! WTF I thought he was some sort of marsupial!