PixlBit

Do you hate this game? Shame on you.

I, like many gamers today, grew up with many video game mascots across the NES, SNES, and Genesis; however, none ever had the lasting impression that Banjo-Kazooie seemed to have. A dopey bear and a saucy bird are paired up in a world where an evil rhyming witch is trying to improve her appearance by swiping the bear's sister and using her in an evil experiment.

The first title was full of personality, fun characters, and enjoyable platforming. Banjo-Tooie later released, took B-K's formula to the next level, by introducing a new world, more advanced techniques and tougher environments and puzzles. Shortly thereafter, Rare completed production on their final titles for Nintendo and were released back into the wild.

When Rare was picked up by Microsoft, a new adventure starring the duo was not at the top of the agenda, though it was still scheduled for somewhere down the line. Eventually Rare began development on what we know today as Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts.

At first, it was unknown exactly what the title was. Rare proposed it as a return to its classic style - a platformer through and through. Unfortunately, when players first took control of Banjo, they immediately realized that something had changed. The series had shifted focus to be predominantly a vehicle and mission-based title. While players were still collecting notes and jiggies, they certainly weren't doing it via Mumbo transformations or flights on Kazooie's wings.

As a massive Banjo-Kazooie fan, I had kept an open mind and was still excited to try out the latest title in the series. It was love at first sight. All the charm and personality that was present in the first two titles was still here, and though the gameplay had changed, it was also still fun just in a totally new way.

I must admit, one of my favorite childhood pasttimes (aside from gaming) was building stuff with Legos and K'nex. Whether it be a lego house, a pre-packaged kit, or just creatively assembling K'nex into unique contraptions and devices, I always had a blast creating something. Nuts & Bolts harnessed that creativity and allowed players to use their imagination to build any type of vehicle they desired.

For me, this made building things that much more interesting and rewarding. Each contraption I built was able to be remote-controlled and would serve a purpose in an in-game mission. Nuts & Bolts had merged gaming, building, and one of my favorite worlds and sets of characters into one convenient (value-priced) package.

Of course, it was apparent that even though I was a huge fan of the game, I was one of very few. Apparently, with its 80 score on Metacritic, the game was a critical success, but fan reaction was harsh to say the least.

Gamers were not happy to see the pair repurposed. They wanted more platforming and less stupid car driving. Honestly, I don't blame them, I wanted more platforming too. However, like I said, I kept an open mind, knowing that I wouldn't be getting the same experience I had gotten in the past.

Due to the fan backlash, the game didn't sell very well. The typical Xbox 360 owners were quick to pass over the title, and staunch Nintendo supporters weren't provided with the experience they desired, so many didn't make the leap to purchase an Xbox 360 in order to experience the game.

It's truly a shame that most people seemed to overlook this phenomenal title. It's so unique and original, it's unlike anything before it. Players who grew up loving to build things, could definitely find a place in their heart for the title. Perhaps if Rare didn't attach such a beloved IP to the concept, they would've been able to grab more positive attention, and more fans of the company would've been willing to endorse their latest concept.