
I was given the opportunity to create a vehicle using the game's entire list of parts, which is very sizable. There are tons of different parts: engines, wheels, wings, springs, gyros and, of course, weapons. Vehicles are built on a 3D grid and assembled very much like LEGOs. So long as each piece is adjacent, they can be assembled in any manner you see fit. Pieces can also be rotated along every axis. It's all very easy to use, and there's an onscreen button guide if you ever need a reminder of which buttons do what. There really is no limit on what you can create, though I was told that there will be a budget involved when creating vehicles, mostly for the sake of memory concerns.
The vehicle present in the demo was a fairly simple car with a spring for jumping and a gyro which allows for aerial rotation (think barrel rolls and flips). Within a few seconds, I slapped on some Leonardo da Vinci-esque retractable wings and two massive jet engines. I took my new creation to the test track, resulting in some of the purest sandbox joy I've had since Crackdown. My vehicle transitioned from driving to flying with the greatest of ease. I was flying, gliding, and doing stunts in no time. The test track, by the way, also serves as the lobby in Xbox Live games. I get the feeling many players will spend hours just messing around with their friends on the test track before they even attempt the actual multiplayer. Oh, and if your buddies really like your vehicle design, you can trade blueprints so that you can add it to your collection. These blueprints will even highlight the pieces you haven't unlocked in single player yet so you'll know what you need to collect.
I understand that the vehicle creation is there so that Banjo can take on different challenges in the game -- using a vehicle to transport an object from point A to point B for example -- but I was perfectly happy just futzing with the vehicle creator for the fun of it. Then again, I had the whole list of parts available. The retail version will require players to track down parts in the single player mode before they can be used in the vehicle creator. Given how each part allows for different abilities, the impetus to collect them all is pretty strong.
Honestly, when I first saw Banjo Kazooie: Nut & Bolts when it was first announced, I wasn''t intrigued by the vehicle creation at all. After playing with it for a few minutes, I can safely say that it has set its hooks in me. Quite simply, building vehicles is fun. Whether or not the platforming will hold up, I don't know. If it's even half as much fun as the vehicle creation, Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts could be something special.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-16-2008 @ 1:18PM
sweeks said...
I know a lot of people have given the game heat for the vehicle creation, but I have to be honest, I don't think I would have given this game a second thought without it.
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7-16-2008 @ 1:23PM
jake18oly (XBL,PSN: RSXtypeSfan) said...
This game sounds like it is going to be a blast. I was very excited about this game regardless of the vehicle creation but after hearing your hands on impression I am very anxious to try it out. It kinda sounds like the spore creature creation tool for cartoon vehicles.
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7-16-2008 @ 3:02PM
Richard Mitchell said...
You're not the first person to say that.
7-16-2008 @ 1:24PM
Tony said...
I really can't wait for this one. I watched the new HD trailer for it on LIVE completely confirmed to me that it will be awesome.
Also, I'm really excited about the two original games hitting XBLA. They're finally working in stop 'n' swop!
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7-16-2008 @ 1:40PM
kdubbb said...
Both Banjo 1 and 2 are coming to XBLA? I thought I heard it was just Banjo 1?
7-16-2008 @ 2:10PM
silentshadowxp said...
actually, just the first is scheduled for release, and the stop n swap is working with nuts and bolts, not banjo 2
7-16-2008 @ 2:14PM
Tony said...
Some sites have claimed both games are coming out, so I guess there's confusion?
7-16-2008 @ 2:15PM
Tony said...
Example: this post - http://www.gamerbytes.com/2008/07/banjo_kazooie_and_banjo_tooie.php
Talks about a 1up podcast where they say both are coming.
7-16-2008 @ 1:38PM
Chris said...
this just sounds awesome, if they can keep the comedy up, and the platforming solid this game will be a major winner i just hope they advertise the hell out of it so everyone knows to get a copy.
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7-16-2008 @ 1:58PM
Ian Murray said...
Sounds like to please both crowds the vehicle and platforming aspects should be SEPARATE games.
I hate to say it, but I'm one of the people who probably won't even give the game a shot thanks to this hokey gimmick.
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7-16-2008 @ 8:00PM
RodneyMcKay said...
I know, right? Just like Halo's recharging shield gimmick, Gears of Wars cover gimmick, and Spore's creature creator gimmick.
Too, bad I won't ever pick those games up... Oh, wait, I did pick them up, and they ROCKED. :]
7-16-2008 @ 10:41PM
Ian Murray said...
Those weren't gimmicks, they were actual aspects of the game that differed them and made them stand out in their fields.
This is just some tacked-on junk aspect that cheapens what should be a solid platformer.
But then again, Rare's mantra has always been "collect all of this in-game shit".
7-16-2008 @ 10:56PM
Cian said...
Tacked on my ass, the whole game was built around this new vehicle mechanic. This is a new kind of Banjo.
7-16-2008 @ 2:31PM
webster1990 said...
From what i have seen it seems a lot like the vehicle creation from LEGO Racers but a bit more in depth, which is a good thing
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