Solid 3D platformer action, with a few notable flaws
Banjo's adventures have aged admirably well. Rare's classic platformer holds up even today as one of the better releases to date in the genre, and young and old gamers alike will find a lot to enjoy here. If you can look beyond some bland design and gameplay choices, this is a solid choice for some platforming action.
GRAPHICS AND SOUND
Banjo and Kazooie's adventures have a vibrant, detailed feel to them, even given the amount of time since the original's release. These aren't modern spectacles by any stretch, but what's here is respectable and holds up well. Some minor issues with jagged edges, I like the colorful, cartoony atmosphere and the various character designs. Some of the worlds lack inspiration and originality, but the designers made up for this by creating some unique experiences within those levels, and by inserting many mini-areas or levels within levels. It adds a bit of variety to otherwise stale and dated levels.
There are some serious issues with the camera that can be quite annoying, especially in tight places or during a particular water level. It can be immensely frustrating, and I wish there were more options for zooming in and out as well as more functional camera controls.
The sound is equal parts frustrating and enjoyable. The unintelligible gobbledy-gook that passes for speech quickly got on my nerves. More variety than grunts and squawks would have gone a long ways towards creating an even quality in the sound department, but sadly, you're stuck with some grinding, repetitive dialogue. The rest of the audio experience is pretty great. Of particular note is the carnival-like music, which is really well done and fits with the general feel of the game. The rest of the game's sound effects are good to great. Punches sound like something straight out of a comical fight scene from a movie, and the world is filled with all manner of other great audio choices.
GAMEPLAY
For the most part, Banjoo-Kazooie's gameplay is rock solid. Most of the levels have enough to do to consistently keep you occupied, and if you get bored or frustrated with one level, there are quite a few to explore. The multiple Jiggies in each world also means that you'll often find yourself with plenty of options even within the worlds to keep entertained. Some of these worlds can be frustrating, like one particular level that has Banjo and Kazooie in or near water throughout its duration. Requiring the player to learn specific moves from each level to advance the outer world is a good idea, in theory, but every so often, finding those new moves can be a royal pain in the ass.
The overworld design is atrocious. Again, in theory, it's a fun idea. Jiggies must be found to unlock new levels and areas. I'm okay with that. But when you have a series of maze-like caverns and caves with very little tying them together or a quick-warp feature, it can get very tedious traveling anywhere.
The game still controls very well, with the exception of its water based sequences. The Xbox 360's controller is a perfect fit for the controls, and there's nothing lost in the translation. There are a great variety of moves to learn and unlock, but it never becomes overwhelming.
OVERALL
Don't let the review score scare you off. This is a very solid 3D platformer, but it's obvious Rare was still getting its feet wet in the genre, because a great number of rookie mistakes hold this game back from true greatness. However, it's still a blast, and it's a heck of a lot of game for the dough. I'd recommend this to any gamer who enjoys the genre, has kids, or is looking for a meaty XBLA experience and doesn't mind a few ugly flaws.
